Sidearm for guide in bear country
- Thread starter JustKen
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Zaydok Allen
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That's probably plenty for a black bear or wolves, but if it were me, I'd probably step it up to a 4" 357 magnum revolver, with 180 gr hard cast ammo, or if you really want a semiauto, look at a 10mm Glock with 180 gr hard casts. You'd get better penetration with both than a 45 acp. I like wheel guns though, so the 357 is a no brainer for me.
You could go up to more juice certainly, but for black bears and wolves, you really don't need it.
You could go up to more juice certainly, but for black bears and wolves, you really don't need it.
A .45 colt, choose your action style, loaded with some of the factory stuff from Garret or Buffalo Bore. Of if you handload, a really hard cast wad cutter pushed as fast as you can without leading.
Stay away from hollow points. They are okay for cats, but bears need more penetration.
Stay away from hollow points. They are okay for cats, but bears need more penetration.
Agree with both replies
I have a 3" S&W 686 Plus and load it with Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast. Based on the research I've done; that is plenty of fire power for the four-legged creatures you've mentioned in your post. I like my 3" because a) the recoil is very smooth and I hardly feel anything and b) it is so much easier to carry in a side holster and easy to pull out in a second.
Here's a very good link that talks in detail about shot placement:
http://www.ballistics101.com/images/bear_images/bearshotplacement.pdf
Good luck & happy hunting!
Cheers,
Nick
I have a 3" S&W 686 Plus and load it with Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast. Based on the research I've done; that is plenty of fire power for the four-legged creatures you've mentioned in your post. I like my 3" because a) the recoil is very smooth and I hardly feel anything and b) it is so much easier to carry in a side holster and easy to pull out in a second.
Here's a very good link that talks in detail about shot placement:
http://www.ballistics101.com/images/bear_images/bearshotplacement.pdf
Good luck & happy hunting!
Cheers,
Nick
.455_Hunter
Member
Hi Nick N.! Welcome to THR!
OP- What is the two-legged threat profile for the area you are going?
Unless a region in truly "inaccessible" (like extreme mountain terrain, not flat woodlands), the meth cooks and alternative farmers can be active in all semi-isolated areas.
OP- What is the two-legged threat profile for the area you are going?
Unless a region in truly "inaccessible" (like extreme mountain terrain, not flat woodlands), the meth cooks and alternative farmers can be active in all semi-isolated areas.
S.L. Variant speed loaders
BTW, if you plan on going hunting, make sure that you get a couple of S.L. Variant speed loaders. Unfortunately, they don't sell them anymore (they were made in Germany) but from time to time; you might be able to find them on eBay. When you're under duress, you want to make sure that you have two loaded ones, ready to go on the opposite side of your carry arm. I don't trust HKS or any of these cheesy ones that you could get for $10-20. The S.L. Variant loaders used to go for $30 or so when they were available. I was lucky; in that, I found two on e-Bay and bought them from a guy who had sold his 686 Plus (7-shot). I got two at $56 each and I'm so glad I did because they are solid. No twisting, no turning. They are spring loaded. You just open up your cylinder and press the loader against the cylinder and it injects the loads into your cylinder within a second. You can then throw them down and start shooting. They're very sturdy and nothing will happen to them. Obviously, make sure you pick them up after you've unloaded your gun!!
Nick
BTW, if you plan on going hunting, make sure that you get a couple of S.L. Variant speed loaders. Unfortunately, they don't sell them anymore (they were made in Germany) but from time to time; you might be able to find them on eBay. When you're under duress, you want to make sure that you have two loaded ones, ready to go on the opposite side of your carry arm. I don't trust HKS or any of these cheesy ones that you could get for $10-20. The S.L. Variant loaders used to go for $30 or so when they were available. I was lucky; in that, I found two on e-Bay and bought them from a guy who had sold his 686 Plus (7-shot). I got two at $56 each and I'm so glad I did because they are solid. No twisting, no turning. They are spring loaded. You just open up your cylinder and press the loader against the cylinder and it injects the loads into your cylinder within a second. You can then throw them down and start shooting. They're very sturdy and nothing will happen to them. Obviously, make sure you pick them up after you've unloaded your gun!!
Nick
MICHAEL T
Member
Now to be fair and we must always be fair. What pistol should the bear be armed with to handed those pesky home invasions by humans 
TomADC
Member
I'd use my Ruger Blackhawk 45C 5.5 inch barrel in a cross draw holster, I reload a 250 gr Speer with a bunch of winchester 296.
tuckerdog1
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I bought a Glock 20SF, because we were going camping where there was the possibility of black bear. Never saw a bear. But got a Glock 20SF out of the deal
Tuckerdog1
Tuckerdog1
highlander 5
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Though I'm not a hunter your choice of handgun depends on what type of bear but in my opinion I wouldn't carry less than a 41 mag.
Peakbagger46
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If your feeling like going light, a J-frame .357 would do nicely, like others have said 180g cast bullets.
RustyShackelford
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Taurus Judge or S&W Gov DA-SA revolver ....
Id look at a DA/SA revolver 2.5" to 4.0" Taurus Judge or S&W Governor revolver.
You can carry it w/o a huge effort, add a laser aimer/laser grip, night sights.
You can use shotshells for snakes or small game, .45LC for bear or hogs, then .45acp for CCW or personal defense.
Both the S&W Gov & the Judge lines have been around for awhile.
Another idea if you are right handed is the Glock 21 gen 03 or 20 10mm gen 1-3 version. You can use it with .45acp or 10mm then quickly convert it to GI's .50GI caliber. Guncrafters Industries offers kits to allow a Glock owner to shoot these big calibers out of one pistol, .
The ballistics of the .50GI are impressive. It should work well for bear or wild game.
Note; GI states the .50GI caliber kits do not fit the Glock gen 04 series. Only the older 1-3 versions.
Id look at a DA/SA revolver 2.5" to 4.0" Taurus Judge or S&W Governor revolver.
You can carry it w/o a huge effort, add a laser aimer/laser grip, night sights.
You can use shotshells for snakes or small game, .45LC for bear or hogs, then .45acp for CCW or personal defense.
Both the S&W Gov & the Judge lines have been around for awhile.
Another idea if you are right handed is the Glock 21 gen 03 or 20 10mm gen 1-3 version. You can use it with .45acp or 10mm then quickly convert it to GI's .50GI caliber. Guncrafters Industries offers kits to allow a Glock owner to shoot these big calibers out of one pistol,
.The ballistics of the .50GI are impressive. It should work well for bear or wild game.
Note; GI states the .50GI caliber kits do not fit the Glock gen 04 series. Only the older 1-3 versions.
I carry a Glock 30SF while bowhunting and sometimes load it with the Buffalo Bore +P 255 grain hard cast lead flat point. That gets 925 fps MV out of my gun, which is traditional .45 LC velocity, and it should get a lot more out of a 41. That bullet should penetrate like crazy based on a water jug test of which I am aware. Also, unless the OP is in a capacity challenged state, the 41 has a standard magazine capacity of 13. FWIW, the black bears in my woods don't run that large.
Crayfish
Member
No way I would ever carry an auto for bear defense. If you have ever had a bear charge you you don't get more than one, two shots tops and then its a get off me up close and personal shot if your lucky. No time to have a jammed in the fur auto out of battery. There has been in the past two grizzly bears killed in Montana in self defense that were dropped with one shot to the skull with .357 loaded with 180 or 200 grain hardcast lead. The lower 48 grizzly are much smaller than their northern cousins but, still that combo will penetrate the skull of any bear if you have the stones to make that shot. I work in bear country every day and that combo is OK with me. YMMV. For me its a wheel gun with at least a 4" barrel no lower than .357 but, it has to be one you can shoot well one handed so for a lot of us that kills a .44 mag. If you have seen how fast a surprised bear can cover ground even a slung rifle is too slow.
Deaf Smith
Member
Well if I didn't already have my 629-1 4 inch .44 and El Paso 1942 holster...
Then I'd be real real interested in the Ruger Toklat .454. and a chest holster.
But in realty either one (and alot of other handguns) would do fine.
Deaf
Then I'd be real real interested in the Ruger Toklat .454. and a chest holster.
But in realty either one (and alot of other handguns) would do fine.
Deaf
.455_Hunter
Member
Well if I didn't already have my 629-1 4 inch .44 and El Paso 1942 holster...
Then I'd be real real interested in the Ruger Toklat .454. and a chest holster.
But in realty either one (and alot of other handguns) would do fine.
Deaf
Very Nice!
I love that you ditched the hideous orange ramp insert for black!
My 629-0 4" should be back from the gunsmith soon with full night sights.
Deaf Smith
Member
Thanks .455 but my 629 came with the black insert!
I have a 'presentation' grade 4 inch 629-1 that does have the red insert front sight.
Deaf
I have a 'presentation' grade 4 inch 629-1 that does have the red insert front sight.
Deaf
cluttonfred
Member
Here we go again.... Statistically, the most effective sidearm at helping you live through an encounter with a bear is bear spray. Bear spray also has the added advantage of helping the bear live throug the encounter with the intruder in his home (you). So pick your sidearm for defense against two-legged predators and leave the bears (and wolves) be. An unpopular opinion with many on this board, I know, but that's how I feel.
Aaron1100us
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Bear Country = .500 S&W
I think the Glock 41 is a fine choice, pretty much any .40 or .45 would work very well. Another option is 10mm, but if you want something to shoot on the side you might be better off with a .40 or .45.
Revolver wise, I'd got .44 Magnum on up. But since the chances of running into unsavory people are just as high if not higher than running into black bear, the G41 would be a good idea. If you want more power, shoot .45 Super through it, it's a great option.
Revolver wise, I'd got .44 Magnum on up. But since the chances of running into unsavory people are just as high if not higher than running into black bear, the G41 would be a good idea. If you want more power, shoot .45 Super through it, it's a great option.
bannockburn
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In a revolver I would go with a 4" Model 686. In a semi-auto a Glock Gen 4 G29 or G20.
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