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Guillermo
member
6 inch anaconda or 29
The Boys In the Bar in Bear Country...
My friends in Alaska like Mountain Guns and S&W 625's (for fast reloads) with Buffalo Bore maximum loads.
Bear Spray is a great back up, they were concerned about distance to target and possible wind problems.
They believe placement and practice outweigh any possible ballistic advantages and costs of acquisition and feeding of more exotic guns.
Then they saw the picture of what One OunceLoad suggested; they went nuts and wanted one of those:
My friends in Alaska like Mountain Guns and S&W 625's (for fast reloads) with Buffalo Bore maximum loads.
Bear Spray is a great back up, they were concerned about distance to target and possible wind problems.
They believe placement and practice outweigh any possible ballistic advantages and costs of acquisition and feeding of more exotic guns.
Then they saw the picture of what One OunceLoad suggested; they went nuts and wanted one of those:
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RedAlert
Member
I suggest a .22LR. This way you won't be falsely bolstered into thinking you are safe because of the cannon in your shoulder holster.
Increase your trail awareness. Hike smart.
Ralph
Increase your trail awareness. Hike smart.
Ralph
bad_aim_billy
Member
Since you're hiking, I'd make sure you get the heaviest gun available, I'm sure you won't notice the extra weight. Maybe a double rifle in .600 Nitro?
Whatever you do, DON'T get a can of bear spray, as it's simply way too light on your hip, you want to be sweating with exertion as much as possible.
Whatever you do, DON'T get a can of bear spray, as it's simply way too light on your hip, you want to be sweating with exertion as much as possible.
D R Greysun
Member
A BIG jar of 'Peanut Butter' with an easy open lid. Throw it at the bear and get out of Dodge!
D R
D R
Cocked & Locked
Member
stchman
Member
Agreed, get at least a .44 Magnum. You can also get a .454 Cassull as it has more power.
Taurus (Raging Bull) and Ruger (Super Redhawk or Alaskan) both make good Cassull revolvers.
If you want a S&W 500 it would be even better.
Taurus (Raging Bull) and Ruger (Super Redhawk or Alaskan) both make good Cassull revolvers.
If you want a S&W 500 it would be even better.
OregonJohnny
Member
I was just out camping in pretty remote black bear country here in Oregon a few weekends ago. Although I had a Ruger Redhawk 4" loaded with Buffalo Bore 300-grain solids on my hip, I felt my best defenses were: cleaning up really well after cooking, putting everything that remotely smelled like food, including the clothes we were wearing while cooking, into a sealed-up truck at night, and talking loudly to each other while out hiking the trails. Let them know you're there, and you'll likely never see them. Practice awareness, be clean and careful with food smells, make plenty of noise while on the trails, then worry about the hardware on your hip. And remember, a .357 Magnum in the hands of someone who has practiced A LOT beats a .500 S&W in the hands of someone who hasn't.
I think the best weapons for black bear defense (not hunting) in the hands of an experienced shooter, in order, would be:
1. 12 gauge pump with hardcast rifled slugs
2. 45-70 lever-action rifle
3. Other lever-action rifle (.44, .45LC, .357, .30-30)
4. Any of the super-duper magnum handguns (.500, .475, .460, .454)
5. .44 Magnum revolver
6. .45 LC revolver (properly loaded-up)
7. .41 Magnum revolver (properly loaded-up)
8. .357 Magnum revolver
I think the best weapons for black bear defense (not hunting) in the hands of an experienced shooter, in order, would be:
1. 12 gauge pump with hardcast rifled slugs
2. 45-70 lever-action rifle
3. Other lever-action rifle (.44, .45LC, .357, .30-30)
4. Any of the super-duper magnum handguns (.500, .475, .460, .454)
5. .44 Magnum revolver
6. .45 LC revolver (properly loaded-up)
7. .41 Magnum revolver (properly loaded-up)
8. .357 Magnum revolver
Phydeaux642
Member
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- 1,886
I know that the prevailing wisdom is that a 12 gauge slug is the best bear defense possible, but could someone make the argument based upon ballistics and bullet profile for the slug being so fantastically preferable to--say--a marlin guide gun in 45-70? Here's why I say it's not...
Near as I can figure, there are really two numbers at work with regard to a bear defense gun: energy and sectional density (sectional density being the result of caliber and weight). Higher energy is a good thing against a big creature. Increased sectional density means better penetration and a better chance of hitting something vital.
A 12 gauge slug at 450 gr. has around 3000 ft-lbs of energy. Great. But that's in a caliber of ~.75 inches! Sectional density on one of those is around 0.12.
A 45-70 430gr load from buffalo bore makes 3500ft-lbs. It's got a diameter of .458. Sectional density on that is .293. That's almost 2.5 times the SD of a 12-gauge. More energy, better penetration, more loading options and bullet choice. Seems like the a guide gun in 45-70 is a better option for bear defense, no?
Also, (to make this relevant to the revolver forum) a 460 S&W load from BB gets you a 360gr. projectile and a muzzle energy of 2900ft-lbs. Sectional density is around .23. Seems like even a 460 wheel gun might be a better option than a 12 gauge.
I don't mean to offend anybody's point of view, but what am I missing?
NMGonzo
Member
I bought a 5 1/2 redhawk .44 ss for that very reason.
Very unlikely to bump into one in my neck of the woods ... till my GF realized that I can run faster than HER!!
Very unlikely to bump into one in my neck of the woods ... till my GF realized that I can run faster than HER!!
gearchecker
Member
You will hear many different opinions here and they are all valid for each persons needs.
You still haven't told us where you will be hiking and likely to encounter the black bears.
South Carolina, Georgia, Montana, where?
I spent a few hours with a friend. He carries and shoots a Taurus Raging Bull in .454 Casull 6" barrel.
We went out plinking with it, and after 6 shots I was done with it for a very long time.
Go to youtube and watch some videos of people shooting theirs.
The Casull is a very heavy handed revolver in any barrel length. Shooting it without hearing protection will deafen you, as well as get you thinking about pulling the trigger a second time. Carry one around for an entire day and you will probably want to use your gun salesperson for bear bait the next time you are out hiking.
It's just too much, even for the bigger brown bears up here in North Idaho. I think if you can carry it and then shoot it you are certainly going to walk out of the forest. Probably with a bear tooth on a string around your neck.
I'd recommend something a bit lighter for Black Bears. The .357 loaded hot will certainly set down most blacks with little trouble. As long as placement is good & lets assume it will be. The .44 Mag will penetrate deeper but weight significanly more and carrying around for 2-4 days will wear on you.
Hikers try to lighten their load by ounces of weight. What are you willing to leave back home so you can carry the extra weight of a .44 or .454 revolver and the ammo too.
The .357 has the proven firepower for black and even smaller brown bears. It is the lightest of the revolvers capable of protection. And they are managable for noise, recoil and accuracy.
Your choice, consider wisely. It's you out there in the woods, not us.
You still haven't told us where you will be hiking and likely to encounter the black bears.
South Carolina, Georgia, Montana, where?
I spent a few hours with a friend. He carries and shoots a Taurus Raging Bull in .454 Casull 6" barrel.
We went out plinking with it, and after 6 shots I was done with it for a very long time.
Go to youtube and watch some videos of people shooting theirs.
The Casull is a very heavy handed revolver in any barrel length. Shooting it without hearing protection will deafen you, as well as get you thinking about pulling the trigger a second time. Carry one around for an entire day and you will probably want to use your gun salesperson for bear bait the next time you are out hiking.
It's just too much, even for the bigger brown bears up here in North Idaho. I think if you can carry it and then shoot it you are certainly going to walk out of the forest. Probably with a bear tooth on a string around your neck.
I'd recommend something a bit lighter for Black Bears. The .357 loaded hot will certainly set down most blacks with little trouble. As long as placement is good & lets assume it will be. The .44 Mag will penetrate deeper but weight significanly more and carrying around for 2-4 days will wear on you.
Hikers try to lighten their load by ounces of weight. What are you willing to leave back home so you can carry the extra weight of a .44 or .454 revolver and the ammo too.
The .357 has the proven firepower for black and even smaller brown bears. It is the lightest of the revolvers capable of protection. And they are managable for noise, recoil and accuracy.
Your choice, consider wisely. It's you out there in the woods, not us.
I mean, we're talking about a gun that's supposed to be saving your life here--a guide gun in 45-70 is $520 or so. $300 for a Remington 870 pump, right? Marlin's are generally really reliable, and most people seem to think the guide guns are pretty light.
Points to the shotty for versatility, though. Not sure that's the point of a "bear defense" gun, though.
Cocked & Locked
Member
uhh...what's a "shotty" ? sounds kinda limp
gearchecker
Member
Shotty - Shotgun
Guillermo
member
when I read a thread like this I do not think "what gun do I need for black bear" but rather "what gun do I need to stop all predators UP TO black bear". Also every gun is a compromise.
The North American Primate is more of a threat than bear. With this in mind, I would think that a gun that could be used for survival if lost on the trail, dispatch a primate or a black bear is really what the query is about.
To me the versatility of a revolver is a nice feature. Easily "dutch loaded" and a careful shooter can release the cylinder and spin it to the type of round they want. Perhaps the first round a shot shell.
I really like a long barrelled 44 magnum revolver. My preference is the Anaconda. This week I was popping a dead tree at 50 yards with open sights, no problem with an 8 inch Anaconda that a friend let me use. What a sweet gun! Less recoil than a 4 inch 357.
Nothing against the Smith 29 or any of the big Rugers. I would be happy to have any of them on my hip on the trail. The combination of power, weight and controllabilty make a 6 or 8 inch 44 the perfect compromise for hiking.
The North American Primate is more of a threat than bear. With this in mind, I would think that a gun that could be used for survival if lost on the trail, dispatch a primate or a black bear is really what the query is about.
To me the versatility of a revolver is a nice feature. Easily "dutch loaded" and a careful shooter can release the cylinder and spin it to the type of round they want. Perhaps the first round a shot shell.
I really like a long barrelled 44 magnum revolver. My preference is the Anaconda. This week I was popping a dead tree at 50 yards with open sights, no problem with an 8 inch Anaconda that a friend let me use. What a sweet gun! Less recoil than a 4 inch 357.
Nothing against the Smith 29 or any of the big Rugers. I would be happy to have any of them on my hip on the trail. The combination of power, weight and controllabilty make a 6 or 8 inch 44 the perfect compromise for hiking.
RoostRider
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- Mar 28, 2008
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- 670
I hunt Black Bear with a .357 mag.
I carry a .38 snubbie for protection from them, and or whatever else might be out there at other times (read- people)... most anything (and more so black bears than most) will be scared away by a simple loud noise.... a gun being WAY louder than needed in most cases... having it toss hot lead at close to 1000 FPS is just bonus.
I carry a .38 snubbie for protection from them, and or whatever else might be out there at other times (read- people)... most anything (and more so black bears than most) will be scared away by a simple loud noise.... a gun being WAY louder than needed in most cases... having it toss hot lead at close to 1000 FPS is just bonus.
countryrebel
Member
I would say 44 MAG min but you could use 357mag with hard cast bullets. A relatively affordable gun would be a Taurus 4" in either caliber. With the 44 you could go up or down in power over the 357.
Cosmoline
Member
This is a critical question, but I think the OP has taken off. As a grown man I would not worry about black bears unless I was in an area with exceptionally large or aggressive ones.
Yup. Even the Alaskan is a brick. I would be happy with a 3" to 6" .357 revolver loaded with 180 grain or 200 grain hardcast fn solids.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
The guide gun in 45-70 mentioned above would be a great choice.
If you are set on a handgun buy what you can shoot well. If that means a .357 Magnum buy that. If you can handle a .44 Magnum well then buy that. Going with your original post you will be able to practice more and more easily afford to shoot a .357 Magnum. The price of the revolver in .357 Magnum will be less than a .44 Magnum too.
If you go with a .357 Magnum I would buy one which carries either 7 or 8 rounds and load it with 180gr Hard Cast ammo with a wide meplat. Grizzly Cartridges makes just a round and if you reload your own ammo you can buy the bullet used in Grizzly ammo from Cast Performance.
If you are set on a handgun buy what you can shoot well. If that means a .357 Magnum buy that. If you can handle a .44 Magnum well then buy that. Going with your original post you will be able to practice more and more easily afford to shoot a .357 Magnum. The price of the revolver in .357 Magnum will be less than a .44 Magnum too.
If you go with a .357 Magnum I would buy one which carries either 7 or 8 rounds and load it with 180gr Hard Cast ammo with a wide meplat. Grizzly Cartridges makes just a round and if you reload your own ammo you can buy the bullet used in Grizzly ammo from Cast Performance.
jim in Anchorage
Member
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- 2,849
Wow, a bear thread. Go figure. All I can say is in a non-hunting situation, go with a handgun. Shotguns and rifles have a bad habit of being left in camp, leaning on a tree.
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