Side Arm for Grizzly Country

[matemike]

I've made two moose trips to Alaska. Carried a Ruger Alaskan in 44Mag and it carried well. Even on the days with a lot of trekking. Never had to use it though.
We did have a big black bear that was pestering our cabin. It was pushing on the windows and wanted in despite us yelling at it and trying to run it off. Once it broke a window and got an arm in he was dispatched with an 18" 12 gauge 00 buck shot. Hit in the neck from 10 ft away. DRT.

 

[CTK]

CTK ,

A .460S&W with a 2 1/2" barrel with muzzle brake ?
If the bear were inside of 10 feet from you when you fired that "HAND CANNON" , even if you missed , the muzzle blast and concussion shock-wave would probably knock both you and the bear unconscious .
The winner of the encounter , you or the bear , would be determined by who awakened first to finish the job at hand !!!

Just my attempt at humor ,
DMP25-06

agree. Sort of a hand grenade.

 

[Coldfinger]

A

So you are going to have your rifle in one hand while you are field dressing an animal? With one in the chamber and safety off? Or across your lap while you are riding in and out On horseback with one in the chamber? Just curious how you envision it? I am not trying to start a fight, but you guys who don't hunt in grizzly country should probably think through these scenarios before you chime in and give bad advice. I have seen them and had their tracks right in top of mine in the snow while I was out hunting. You have to plan on it being a close quarter quick attack. Thus the guides recommendation for a handgun for protection.

A bear is a bear and I have blasted teeth out with muzzle blast and it was a rifle with the safety on! I'm sure a lowly 325 pound black bear was just wanting to play because in the movies they're harmless.A bear track in your tracks is just that nothing more. I have hunted with handguns from 9mm to 500s&w and none of them have the destructive power of a rifle! And no one dresses an animal with one hand on a rifle nor a pistol out of a holster. Envisioning it with either gun is useless when it's a surprise and your bent over not paying attention. Do professional bear guides carry a handgun or rifle for backup for clients?

 

[CMDR Kibo]

I've always used my S&W Mountain gun in .41 mag loaded with Buffalo Bore ammo whenever I've been in bear country. I never thought it was too heavy and I'm very comfortable and familiar with it. Thankfully, I've never had an up-close, hostile bear encounter so I can't advise you further in that area.

I would take your .357 mag and feel confident with your choice. Don't fall into the analysis/paralysis trap of over thinking it. Any sidearm is better than no sidearm in this situation.

I do remember seeing an analysis of bear encounters not too long ago that stated a 97% effectiveness rate for sidearms in known about bear encounters. Take it for what you will.

Hopefully you won't have any kind of bear encounter at all.

 

[sea2summit]

Totally underforstand, those lighter weight 44's are a bit much to go single action let alone double!

There's a reason why I say that most people won't do well with a revolver (though it's tough as heck for most all to admit just that)

Already posted this but round two. Doesn't matter what weapon, this applies and is how you get better with any weapon.

 

[Jim Wright]

Glock 20 in a chest rig

 

[tomsd]

I am going on a horseback Mule Deer hunt in Grizzly Country. I will be with a guide. I am told that it is advisable to have a side arm for protection from the grizzly bears. The simple choice looks to be a 44 mag, with hard cast bullets, but I'm interested in hearing what you guys are using, and what advantages and disadvantages you have seen. I am limited in the weight that I can carry, so that is a consideration. I have a 6" S&W 357 Wheel gun, and hoping it is reasonable to use that for protection.

I have not read all the comments but a .357 is like a .22 to a Griz. Even a .44 mag is probably light. Some old timer in Michigan killed a big Griz years ago - way back - nd i had numerous .44 mag bullets in the big head.

If it was me - I would be carrying a .50 S&W, a big bottle of Bear Pepper Spray and somewhere maybe even a short pump shotgun tucked away on the saddle.

 

[softtail103]

Trapper length lever action 45-70 in a scabbard. There is no question whether it's enough.

 

[XSIVSPD]

I'll say it again. I'll take the biggest caliber that I'm PROFICIENT with. For me, that's my 10mm or a 460 Rowland. For many people that's a 9mm. If they can get 4-6 aimed-ish shots off on a bear vs 1 from a 500s&w they're far more likely to stop a charging bear with the 9mm.


After all, short of a shot to the central nervous system to turn a brown bear off, you'd have to literally blow a leg off to get one to stop. If you think a heart shot bear won't charge for another 1+ minutes you need to do some research. The 9mm with some good lead hardcast is the right choice for a lot of people.

 

[sjb8215]

I am going on a horseback Mule Deer hunt in Grizzly Country. I will be with a guide. I am told that it is advisable to have a side arm for protection from the grizzly bears. The simple choice looks to be a 44 mag, with hard cast bullets, but I'm interested in hearing what you guys are using, and what advantages and disadvantages you have seen. I am limited in the weight that I can carry, so that is a consideration. I have a 6" S&W 357 Wheel gun, and hoping it is reasonable to use that for protection.

I also had this question prior to my Alaska Brown Bear hunt. I have both a 44 mag and a10mm. After much practice and research I choose the Glock 40 in 10mm with a chest holster. I shot the Glock better and it was easier to carry. I did not need it during my hunt but I felt secure knowing if the situation got hairy I had at least a chance to defend myself with a handgun

 

[CoachChris]

Some old timer in Michigan killed a big Griz years ago - way back - nd i had numerous .44 mag bullets in the big head.

Michigan?
He didn't shoot it there.

 

[freddiej]

I, personally was by all accounts, "under gunned" while up in Griz country. I carried a 41 magnum in a chest holster. I reckon since I really never had to use it on a big brown that I was very lucky. I did use a 45-70 single shot a few times, a 338 win mag a few times. I have seen people using 10MM glock 20's in recent years. mostly it's been a second guy using a carbine/trapper length 45-70 lever or a 450 Marlin, or a barely legal 12 gauge pump with slugs and bird shot. I have to admit the 460 and 500 Smith and Wesson magnum X-framed revolvers are appealing to me. the one consern I have is the shot you have to take. whether it is a full frontal shot (face and head) , partial side shot (shoulder, 1/4ing to chest), or full side shot (neck preferably, shoulder/rear quarters, or chest shot) whether or not the shooter is skilled enough. I know I would take a great many hours practicing with what ever shot I would have to take. eye sockets are pretty hard to hit, shoulder shot have to be equally precise, chest shots not so much, and then neck shots; the best shot I know to stop an enraged bear. I will catch hell for my assertions but of all the shots I have seen on big angry inland brown bears or any big brown bear; the neck/spine shot has been the most effective in stoping a bear immediately. that one shot to disrupt the central nervous system has been the only shot that has reliably stopped any bear I or any of my friends have taken to put down any angry brown. no other shot I have taken has ever come close. I have even had to assist on a bear take down where he was hit 17 times before I was on scene without any loss of mobility. I waited for the neck/spine shot for a good 5 seconds (felt like hours) so I could stop him without any more problems. that was a sad day for me and my friends. I would like to forget that day but it is seared into my memory as the day nothing went right or as planned. for those pilots out there.. just think.. flight plan as filed on your worst day flying.

 

[greengiant]

Already posted this but round two. Doesn't matter what weapon, this applies and is how you get better with any weapon.
View attachment 199680

THE PLAIN AND SIMPLE TRUTH!!!

 

[Mike Matteson]

I have a 500 Smith in a 4". The recoil is great, and swings the pistol upwards. So I am kind of rethinking which firearm to carry. I have a 40, but thinking about 10mm. Heavier powder load in the 10mm.