BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[Psycho D]

Looking to buy a new handgun as a bear hunting backup. It seems that everyone suggests a 44 mag, but i was thinking of a gun that would be more pleasant to shoot (and more likely to be practiced on). i was thinking about a .45 or a 41 mag. Would these be adequate for knockdown power? i was also thinking of getting a pistol over a revolver, but was worried about reliability in the field of an auto. Would an auto be a bad idea in the field? All comments would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
d

[BLASTMASTER]

I don't know about knock-down power against a bear, but as a law enforcement officer I carry a handgun (H&K compact 40cal) and the primary criteria used by our agency in thier research included a combination of stopping power, reliability, conceilability/weight. I practice regularly, and although I have seen an occasional jam, in the thousands of rounds I've fired, mine has never jammed or miss-fired in any way. There are 12 rounds in the mag and 1 in the chamber. I regularly practice emergency reloading and jam clearing proceedures. On a timer controlled turning target I can draw and fire 5 rounds from the hip accurately at close range in 2 seconds. My first russian boar was taken with a 5 shot .38 revolver at 15 feet. I had to reload in between and dropped more rounds on the dirt than I got in the gun. (I'll never do that again)

I am not a gun expert and I am just learning about bears, but in my experience an automatic can send more lead to the target with good reliability. You may want to continue your research on what to buy, but I believe it's most important to practice for the situation to the point where your reaction would be second nature. After all, a big gun won't do any good if you don't get a shot off.
BTW I hope I don't sound too arogant, it's just an opinion.

[moderator]

Hey Psycho D, welcome to the board!

I think Blastmaster hit the nail on the head.

Only thing I would add is that just focus on laying down that first good shot with a bow or rifle and you won't have to worry about the backup.

[fire6469]

YOU POSED A VERY GOOD QUESTION. I WONDERED THE SAME THING ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. I PERSONALLY USE A 44 MAG. HOWEVER IF YOU ARE NOT USED TO SHOOTING SOMETHING THAT BIG I WOULD NOT USE IT FOR A SIDE ARM. AFTER ALL YOUR SIDE ARM IS FOR A QUICK USE IF NEEDED. A .45 SHOULD BE FINE AS FAR AS KNOCK-DOWN IS CONCERNED. A 44 MAG IS A GOOD SIDE ARM BUT MAKE SURE YOU ARE PROFICIENT WITH IT BEFORE YOU TAKE IT OUT.

[Sandman]

Folks, if you are using a handgun for backup in bear hunting your not going to get a chance for very many rounds to be fired before your in real trouble. The .44 mag is a good round, but the reason more powerfull handgun rounds have been created is because it has been found that it is not powerfull enough to stop dangeros game at close quarters. The 454 is at the other end of the power curve and is way uncomfortable to shoot. The new 480 ruger seems to fit the bill just fine and I have gone to it for my bear hunting. It also seems to be very accurate. My advise is to get one of the big boars and practise enough to become comfortable with it. Your life could be in the balance. As far as use of a 45....just enough to piss him off!

[eddiehsf]

I would go with the 44 mag. I also would make sure it was Double action like the S&W 629.

Thats my .02

Ed
http://www.highsierrafirearms.com

[AdkGuidesForHire]

I have limited dealings with brown bears but two of my buddies are from Wyoming and one has been chewed on twice.

they say a 44 will get a sow off your head, but you've been bit already. first hand experience there.

all around choice was go ruger 480 or 454 practice making one shot at 5 feet.

incidentally both times the bears were on him before he knew they were there. he got the gun out both times but that was luck as much as anything, if he'd been pinned on his face instead of back he wouldn't have got it out.

just their 2 cents.

[harv3589]

I work for law enforcement agency also and we carry the Glock model 22 .40 cal. and if it comes to the point that you are pulling your handgun to stop a bear...well good luck because you'll need it. I have seen a bear shot in the head at very close range with a .40 cal and well you better just kiss your butt good bye.

I see S&W has now come out with a .50 cal. that they claim will stop a charging bear...like to talk to the guy that tested that one.

[donmillion]

Stopping a man is not the same as stopping a bear. Bears have a lot more hide, fat and muscle between the outside and the inside, for one thing. For another, they have much thicker and heavier bones. So, what is quite adequate as a sidearm against human aggressors may be completely inadequate against a bear.

There are "medium" loads available for the .44 mag. Perhaps you would find these more comfortable to shoot. They would still deliver more punch than a .45. The other question is, are you talking about .45 Long Colt (as in a typical SAA) or .45 ACP? I would consider the ACP to be unacceptable for bear defense, but the .45 Long might be just enough--it's a pretty potent load.

[expatriate]

I always thought "bear sidearm" was an oxymoron. There are some good points made here about employment. I've been told a grizzly can cover 50 yards in three seconds -- not much time to draw and put rounds on target. As for accuracy under such circumstances, the kill zone for a handgun against a bear is pretty small, and gets even smaller when you're startled and a large bear is snarling and charging you at 30 mph.

That said, though, I'd much rather have a .44 mag or better on hand rather than simply hope the bear stops chewing soon.

[harv3589]

Another thing to remember is if you make that choice to try and shoot a bear with a handgun and don't kill it right away and it gets ahold of you...the chances then that your going to live through it are probably nil.

The best defence is to use your head out there and be aware of what is going on around you. And ya sometimes things happen out of your control.

[expatriate]

Not that it would be a significant factor in a survival situation, but there's also the legal aspect to consider. In Montana, at least, shooting a griz is about on the same level as shooting a man. If by some miracle he hesitated and you killed him before he got hold of you, you'd have to explain to DFW why the endangered species has a hole in its noggin and you don't have a scratch. Of course, as has been pointed out, playing "rag doll" with Smokey makes it tough to draw a weapon. So it's a lose-lose situation: deal with the bear or deal with the bear's lawyers.

[Tommy]

I have always hunted with a 38 on my side. when i took up Bear hunting
I bought a 357 mag and after a few trips off the baitsight in the dark, I realize
I should have bought a 44 mag for peace of mind....i may trade the 357 for a 44 mag this year. I carry the rifle sling over the head and carry a couple of buckets into the baitsite. if I'm ever "surprized" by a bear in the dark then the plan is to drop the bucket and grab the pistol....taking the rifle over the head
just ain't fast enough for my liking. There is a storey going on around these parts that a guy going into his bait last falll saw a bear coming at him wide open. He dropped his buckets and drew his 44 mag and emptied it at the bear that dropped 12 feet from him. :o

[tnhoundsman]

i carry a 45colt and have never had problems with it's performance.

[ster]

::-k what barrel length are you 44 mag guys using? im fixing to get one and i think a 4" would be easier to carry, quicker to get out if needed fast , a good hiking/fishing carry,all around camp gun, serve well for personal defense if necessary, but the six will be steadier and will have a little less recoil. whats your preference and why?