Side Arm for Grizzly Country

[Deleted member 115374]

Back in the 70's and 80's this was the talk.
Old school talk.
If modern semi-autos were jamamatics our military and police would still be carrying wheel guns.
Fast forward to 2020 and semi-auto pistols are extremely reliable.
Carry what you like.

Yea, you are probably right. But I am an old school guy and if I can eliminate 1 thing that could go wrong at the worst possible moment then that is what I do. Plan for the best - prepare for the worst. To each his own, it comes down to your comfort level with the weapon - unless it jams !

 

[ArtOliver]

357 will be fine. I do most of my hunting in Grizzly country. I carry a glock 29 10mm. Anything will be better than nothing - no handgun will make their legs come out from under them, unless it is a shot to the head that penetrates their thick skull. You just have to convince them you bite back and live to fight another day. I would choose the gun you shoot the most accurately and pick a good hardcast or solid bullet.

Defense Against Bears with Pistols: 97% Success rate, 37 incidents by Caliber

Using a pistol to defend against bear attacks seems to be a viable option.

www.ammoland.com

I agree...they won't stop in their tracks for sure but if you put a few into them they will think twice. I have a .44 mag but would rather use my 10mm...but I will agree stick with one you shoot most accurately and use hard cast bullets

 

[VLD Pilot]

I agree with most every thing you said w/ exception to the " Nothing wrong with the less lethal option ". We have plenty of cases here in Mt where the less than lethal option didn't work and people ended up in the emergency ward. We also have cases in AK and Wyo where the non lethal option AKA Bear Spray was used and in fact turned lethal for the user. Members might want to read thru the whole thread - it is a long one - before commenting.

I'm no bear expert as I only have black bears in my area. Black bears aren't Grizzly bears. I don't ever want to kill a sow trying to keep her cubs safe unless it gets serious. Don't get me wrong, I soiled my tighty whities. Wasn't a good scenario nor was the one where I was charged just baiting a bear pit. Both left me years less in life. I got bad luck no doubt. I carry spray and a sidearm in my state. In Grizzly country, I wouldn't carry spray but rather a long gun and sidearm. Long gun would be my defense choice in Grizzly country. If bow hunting obviously a sidearm would accompany me. I don't claim to have much knowledge of any bears behavior other than baiting and hunting black bears in my state. It's the only place I've had encounters of the worst kind.

 

[Laguna Freak]

I agree with most every thing you said w/ exception to the " Nothing wrong with the less lethal option ". We have plenty of cases here in Mt where the less than lethal option didn't work and people ended up in the emergency ward. We also have cases in AK and Wyo where the non lethal option AKA Bear Spray was used and in fact turned lethal for the user. Members might want to read thru the whole thread - it is a long one - before commenting.

Well said. Bears are easily enticed to violence. It is who they are. That is the most important thing to know and prepare for. Every other occurrence arises from this basis. Anyone who doubts this truth should consult Mr. Uptain.

I ain't giving a bear a chance to draw my blood if I can help it.

 

[Mustang72]

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge about the all coppers penatrator bullets? I know they won't hit as hard as a 305 grain hard cast but they should recoil quite a bit less. My mountain gun is quite a handful with hot 305s!

 

[DirectDrive]

A plausible feel-good argument...

My son's Glock 20 wasn't manufactured in the 70s and 80s. Experienced a 30% failure to feed and fire rate when loaded with heavy recoiling bear rounds last September. He finally lost confidence, and purchased a revolver.

My brother was a gunsmith for 37 years. Semi-autos came in for failure to function repairs much more often than revolvers. He carries a revolver for bears. No pistols.

Are semi-autos more reliable than 40 - 50yrs ago? I would hope so. Are they as reliable with all variety and flavor of ammo as a revolver? When they get dirty and fouled in the field, will they be as reliable as a revolver exposed to the same conditions? No. They never have been, and never will be. So if comparative reliability matters, semi-autos lose to revolvers. Are they reliable enough to bet your life on? I think you've made up your mind. Use what you please, and I wish you the best. Makes no matter to me.

If I were to carry a semi-auto anything, it would be constantly well maintained and thoroughly tested with my bear defense ammo of choice. And that function testing would be a necessity way more often than with my revolvers.

Jeebus, you didn't have to write a book.
I get that you don't trust semi-autos.
Again, use what you have confidence in.

I have a 629 and a G20.
Trust them both.

 

[Pdvdh]

Jeebus, you didn't have to write a book.
I get that you don't trust semi-autos.
Again, use what you have confidence in.

I have a 629 and a G20.
Trust them both.

Jeebus? You got a shorthand definition for that? Don't make it too long...
Perhaps you get it, and possibly understand why. That's not mandatory, by the way.
Lastly, remember you volunteered to read my response.

 

[Xjetmech]

I try not to hunt where there are things that would like me as an appetizer. that being said, IMO, the best "Side Arm", would be a buddy, with a bigger gun than you have, "at the ready" !

 

[DirectDrive]

Jeebus? You got a shorthand definition for that? Don't make it too long...
Perhaps you get it, and possibly understand why. That's not mandatory, by the way.
Lastly, remember you volunteered to read my response.

I actually didn't read it all.
Just saw the wall of text.
Don't be so sensitive, it's just a discussion about bear defense.

 

[27 Gap]

So are we largely agreed then that the best bear round for self defense is the 10mm, except when you don't believe in semi's, in which case it isn't?

 

[Pdvdh]

Jeebus? I'll try not to be too sensitive for you. I'll try to shorten my replies.
Better yet, why don't you respond to your responses to me. Then you can craft them juuuuuust right - for you. That would make this thread much better, for you.

 

[DirectDrive]

So are we largely agreed then that the best bear round for self defense is the 10mm, except when you don't believe in semi's, in which case it isn't?

LOL
That's pretty much it.

 

[Laguna Freak]

So are we largely agreed then that the best bear round for self defense is the 10mm, except when you don't believe in semi's, in which case it isn't?

I thought we agreed that the 44 Rem Mag was the best. Except when you don't believe in revolvers, in which case it isn't. ???

 

[DirectDrive]

Now if you're from the Phoebus Clan, you might wanna have a gunfight to settle it.