Handgun For Hunting In Grizzly Country

[RIFLE MAN]

What would be your handgun of choice if you were hunting in
bear country? Not necessarily hunting for big bears, but hunting
in an area where they are known to live.

I would be comfortable with a 44 mag, seven and a half inch
barrel, loaded with well constructed bullets over 300 grains.
The cartridge has enough power, the recoil is bearable, and
in a sturdy revolver I believe it would be formidable and
capable of taking the largest carnivores!

Kindly,
Rifle Man

[TGFOGAL]

I'd be carring a 5" s&w500 by John Ross, great size and performance.

[Thebear_78]

I regularly carry a glock 20 10mm.  I have also carried a 4" smith 629 and a 4" smith 500 S&W.   Of all of them I tend to carry the 10mm more than anything else.  I sold the 500 S&W due to its excessive weight.   I have rifles that weight less than that boat anchor.

[jcn59]

I'd be carrying my Tikka .338 mag., so I wouldn't need to carry no stinkin handgun but I'd carry one just for fun anyways.  My S&W Mountain gun, 44 mag., 250 grain WFNGC over 22. grains H 110.

[Lloyd Smale]

sorry i wouldnt be comfortable carrying any gun if a bear was comming for me and given a choise between my 500 linebaugh and a good 3030 lever gun id take the lever gun anyday.

[Glanceblamm]

bout time for another bear thread  wonder if we will break 200 replys on this one Truth is that the bear attack stories in outdoor mag's sure did sell in the 60's & 70"s.

If there is anything to be gleaned from these stories, it is usually that the rifle is out of reach when the Griz shows up. While I might have a .44 or a .45 strapped on, the preference would definately go with the rifle.
The guy's relocating problem bears (often with a boat) will use a 12ga with alternate Deer slug\Buckshot rounds as a backup for the tranqulized animal. This has worked well in a few reported cases.

[Ak.Hiker]

A good quality 4 inch 44 Magnum revolver like the S&W 629 or Mountain Gun would be a good choice. Not to heavy and the 4 inch will be much faster to get into action than the long 7.5 inch hunting barrel. Make sure to load non expanding bullets like the 250 Keith or the 300 to 320 grain LBT's. Any of these non expanding bullets at 1100 to 1200 will offer quite a bit of penetration. Even though many consider the 10mm Glock to light for bear protection I do carry mine at times during bear season. I have a Glock 29 and load it with 200 grain FMJ's at 1200. These are good penetrators as well. So are the 200 grain hard cast loads if you prefer a hardcast. The Glock is very easy to get into action and light on the hip. They are also easy to clean in the field if you end up taking a spill in a creek when out hunting. 

[luckydawg13]

YA A 44MAG WOULD WORK A 454 460 SW 500 BETTER

[Larry Gibson]

Rifle man

Grizz country is for the most part fairly rugged so if you get a handgun to carry in addition to the rifle keep it protable enough that you will carry it all the time.  I also suggest you depend on your rifle instead of the handgun.  The handgun may be fine for security at night when in a sleeping bag but at all other times depend on, and have with you, the rifle. 

The .44 magnum with a 4 - 4 5/8ths inch barrel is generally portable enough in a high ride belt holster (have a good leather 1 3/4 - 2" belt too).  I carry 240 gr factory magnums when I have to but other wise I carry a stout load of H110 under the 270 gr GC'd Lyman 429244 in my 4" Anaconda when in bear country.  I still never leave my rifle more than arms length away and would go for it first.

Larry Gibson

[mcwoodduck]

6" Smith and Wesson Model 29 is what I carry.
240 grain JSP.
But don't think you will drop your rifle and pull a handgun.
The rifle even the "wimpy" 30-30 has more horse power than the 44 mag.
I keep my pistol for times when I don't have my rifle.
the 500 s&w has the same horse power as a 30-06.
but you will have to be good with it to defend your life.
As Capstick would say.  "Shoot the largest rifle you can shoot well", I say shoot the largest handgun you can well.
 here is mine.

[ducati]

My hot loaded .45 colt Redhawk, and a slow liberal politician.

[dan3]

In addition to my rifle - I'd be carrying either my 5 1/2" Ruger Redhawk or my 5 1/2" Ruger Bisley Blackhawk - in .45Colt - with 325gr WFN HOT handloads.

[Lloyd Smale]

I wonder how many guys that jump in and recomend differnt calibers have actually used handguns on truely large game. Ive killed 6 buffalo with handguns rangeing from 44 mag to 500 linebaugh and have watched buffalo hit well with a 500 keep right on grazing until they fell over dead. They are NOT game stoppers in any caliber. IF your ever faced with trying to stop a mad wounded grizzly with ANY handgun youd best hope you have enough composure to be able to place a bullet in its brain, and how many here can claim to be that good of a shot under pressure of being mauled. If you dont hit it in the  brain with the one and only shot your probably going to get its going to get you period! Try some shooting with a handgun at moving targets even not under pressure and see how tough it is. I would have to guess that half the people giving recomendations would be hard pressed to keep 6 shots in a target the size of the brain of a bear at 25 yards on a stationary target let alone a 800 lb angry bear comming to kill you. I chuckle every time i see one of these posts. Most would be better served leaving the handgun in the truck so you can run faster. If you are the type to recomend someone use a 44 mag or any other gun to protect them from dangerous game i hope you get the guys address that your recomending it to because you should at least be obligated to send his wife flowers for the wake.

[jcn59]

You mean we are supposed to shoot the BEAR?

[mk454]

well, i've shot several buffalo, one waterbuff and a number of elk with handguns and i can say sometimes they stood there, sometimes they dropped and whenever shot head on they fell like a sack of taters.  love him or hate him, mark sullivan's videos clearly show 600 nitro's hitting buff in the chest and not even showing a trace of damage.  you can't rely on any rifle to stop the bear unless you're hitting the cns, in that instance a .44 mag is as good as any.  i personally would use one of my 454's and barnes xpb bullet loads.  they mushroom to over an inch, penetrate plenty and never ever fail.  nice modest federal or corbon load would be perfect.  when is was a freshman in highschool we took a trip to yellowstone, just outside the park's borders some rangers had traffic blocked off and there was a line of cars, a female grizzly and cub were feeding on something just off the road.  despite the warnings an idiot 2 cars ahead of us got out to snap pics.  mama turned and charged from about 30 yards and the jumped in the car and closed his door.  she hit his little car so hard in raised off the ground a couple of feet and crumpled in the door so far it wouldn't shut anymore, lucky for him she ran off when the car came back down in a thud.  went back to her cubs and they ran off allowing traffic to get moving.  sure would feel better with a 454 than a 3030 for sure in that scenario.

[ole 5 hole group]

Well, I’ve never killed anything over a 1,000# with a revolver.  Unless a buffalo rancher allows me to shoot one of his, free of charge, I probably never will kill anything weighing that much, as I've never come across a super large bull moose.  I’ve shot up a couple automobiles, if that counts?  My revolvers range from a 22lr to the 500 Linebaugh Maximum with most calibers in-between. 

I have no doubt that if a bear, black or brown, decides to kick your butt because you’re in his space and does so at a range of 50 feet or less, the two of you will make “up close & personal contact”.  Assuming you’re a well trained pisterlo - by the time you recognize the threat and start to react, he’s already passed the halfway point to you and he will not be slowing down.  About the time you start your draw or just clear leather, the bear will make contact and you will probably be slammed to the ground and your revolver will probably be missing for the duration of your bear dilemma.  In this scenario, a double action revolver with HC bullets in 357 caliber or larger, attached to your sick arse with a lanyard is probably your best bet for killing the bear providing you have Lady Luck as your companion, you’re able to keep your composure and get that revolver in your hand – otherwise you’re probably going to need a few stitches to get everything back in place and hopefully you'll have both eyes and your jewels intact.

My 2nd choice among the revolvers I own, would be my model 25-2 (4”) converted to 45 Colt with 335 grain HC bullets flying at 1,226fps with lanyard.  My 1st choice would be to stay the hell away from the bear by using whatever common sense I have because I have seen them scared and running at light speed through heavy brush & saplings – their speed is absolutely astonishing – at least to me.                 

[jcn59]

This is the best description of a worst-case scenario I have ever read, ole 5 hole group.  You are familiar with bears.

Here's another scenario:  You are bowhunting in "black bear country anywhere".  It's late October, the leaves are on the ground, visibility is good and the bucks are starting to rut.   You are walking to the oak ridge where you will hunt.   Your eye catches a black charred stump 125 yards distant.  It's a bear and it stands up to get a better look at you.  It can't see you well and it can't smell you yet.   It starts walking toward you.  At about 75 yards it figures out what you are and it's not happy.  It is now walking stiff-legged towards you and moving a bit faster.  You hear what sounds like a baby cry and as you look past the bear, a bit to the left you see two cubs  up in a tree.  Moma bear is 75 feet away and your hand, already on your revolver begins to draw.  She is now 30 feet away, you can see the hair standing up on her back, and she's making scary noises with its teeth.  Your mind is begining to race.  Your front sight is now on the bear.  Will she stop and turn around and walk off?  Will a shot over her head scare her off?  There's not much time left to decide what to do, but I bet you are darn glad you have that big revolver in your hand for now.

Story time is over.  When I clap my hands twice, you will wake up and go about your business.

[Lloyd Smale]

My thought isnt that a rifle will knock something down that a handgun wont its that under the stress of something attacking you very few people are going to be composed enough to accurately shoot a 454 or any big handun. A rifle is just much easier to shoot precisely especially under pressure. For most people to have an animal close enough to GUARANTEE a brain or spine hit its probably so close its to late anyway. Sure id rather have one then a stick a knife or a can of pepper spray but if im going into an area where a bear attack is even remotely likely id much rather have a lever gun or shotgun. It isnt like having a small lever gun or shotgun on a sling on your back is like carrying around a cadilac. Id gladly hunt any animal on earth with a proper revolver but im not egotistical enough to claim im going to be a bit composed if something was trying to eat me. Now im talking brown bear. For the most part black bear are easy to kill and arent generaly much over 300 lbs here. Ive shot enough of them to know that a 44 mag in the chest will usually kill them on the spot and if not they generaly get out of dodge when there hit. That been said i live in an area that has A LOT of black bear and i have never walked in the wood worried about being attacked or felt i need to carry a gun capable of killing one. If you know black bear youd know that if you walk up on one in the woods its about as rare as getting hit by lightning. If you do 999 times out of a 1000 all you have to do is walk in the other direction. Most people hurt by black bears are idiots and yuppies that want to check out yoggy.

well, i've shot several buffalo, one waterbuff and a number of elk with handguns and i can say sometimes they stood there, sometimes they dropped and whenever shot head on they fell like a sack of taters.  love him or hate him, mark sullivan's videos clearly show 600 nitro's hitting buff in the chest and not even showing a trace of damage.  you can't rely on any rifle to stop the bear unless you're hitting the cns, in that instance a .44 mag is as good as any.  i personally would use one of my 454's and barnes xpb bullet loads.  they mushroom to over an inch, penetrate plenty and never ever fail.  nice modest federal or corbon load would be perfect.  when is was a freshman in highschool we took a trip to yellowstone, just outside the park's borders some rangers had traffic blocked off and there was a line of cars, a female grizzly and cub were feeding on something just off the road.  despite the warnings an idiot 2 cars ahead of us got out to snap pics.  mama turned and charged from about 30 yards and the jumped in the car and closed his door.  she hit his little car so hard in raised off the ground a couple of feet and crumpled in the door so far it wouldn't shut anymore, lucky for him she ran off when the car came back down in a thud.  went back to her cubs and they ran off allowing traffic to get moving.  sure would feel better with a 454 than a 3030 for sure in that scenario.

[zoner]

i read a similar post somewhere. They recommended a 22lr handgun for bear country and always hunt with a "buddy"....when the bear charges you pop your buddy in the leg with the 22 and run like h..........................

[Redhawk1]

I love all the he man talk here. I get a good laugh out of all the speculating that goes on, and the stories of how some game were shot and stood there. Truly good reading and that is it.

Ask people that live in Grizzly and Brown bear country, they carry either large bore rifles or Shotguns. Sure some carry handguns, and they have worked in the past stopping bear.

While hunting in Alaska for Caribou, I carried my 300 Win Mag all the time, and if I did not have my 300 Win Mag close to me, I had my 2 1/2 inch Ruger 454 Casull loaded with herd cast bullets.  We focused on how to avoid an encounter, but be ready for anything. Using your head works better than any gun, but having a handgun is better than not having anything at all.

Every animal act's differently when shot, I have watched Bison shot, some absorbed the shot like they were not even hit, I see the same shot with the same round drop one in it's tracks, as I have with numerous other game. You can't judge all animal behavior to just one experience.

So speculate all you want and blow smoke up each others back sides as you wish. But I will do what I think is best for me. I also keep it real, if you put yourself in the situation that you are getting ready to be attacked by a large bear, just hope you can get a shot off. , because that may be the only one you get off.

Some animals will run at the sound of the gun, and some with come no mater what. But once again I will say. Use your head and watch were you are walking, and always be aware of your surroundings. 

[ole 5 hole group]

Kinda tough to read & reply to your post Redhawk1 due to your choice of words and I mean no disrespect with that statement.  I know a few people in Alaska and they rarely carry a firearm while out & about – their choice.  I think most, if not all responders are giving their opinions and experiences.  Hunting big game is a whole different world than facing a full-on charge by a big game animal whether it is a moose, bear or a deranged psycho(should have some kind of season on them).  Sounds to me as though we have people on this forum who have a lot of big game hunting experience with both rifles & sixguns.  I don't think I can include myself in that group due to my limited experience with really big - big game but each of us has had some unique experiences of one kind or another while taking big game and we’re sharing them for what they’re worth.  Aside from our brave warriors keeping us free, I wouldn’t think one would “put” themselves in a situation to be attacked unless there was no other route to be taken and your hand is forced but every now & then some unlucky SOB finds themselves in a bad ass situation not of their choosing and usually ends up on the short end of the stick.  What we try to do is stay on the long end of that stick and personally, I do so by putting up a bear fence around my tent – keep an adequate five gun handy while in the tent, just in case the impossible happens and stay the hell away from them during the day and I’m not blowing “smoke”. 

[Redhawk1]

ole 5 hole group, I don't and won't take offence to what you posted.  I have read a thousand handgun and Grizzly threads, and they all turn out the same. A few guys that bloviate, and half hearted what if's.

A rifle or shotgun loaded with the right loads is the best choice, followed by a handgun and then pepper spray.
My only real point was, use your head, and don't be foolish when in Grizzly country.

I was hunting in Alaska, we did have a big Grizzly come into camp. We did everything right and backed out of camp and the bear left. Kept us on out toes, the rest of the days there.

[COR]

I vote to to end ALL Bear/Handgun topics...unless they are black bears and we are hunting them with said Handgun.

PLEASE NO MORE GRIZZLY BEAR/BROWN BEAR, WHICH HANDGUN, WHICH 700GR BULLET POSTS!!!!!

I AM A LIBERTARIAN AND EVEN I HAVE MY LIMITS!!!!!!!

STOP THE MADNESS!!!!!!!!

[Swampman]

A  4 3/4" stainless Ruger Super Blackhawk or old Vaquero in .44 Mag with 300 grain hard cast bullets is plenty.

[drdougrx]

Soooo...anyone here have any actual experience shooting brown bears with handguns?  I mean your own self?  Oh and more than one....after all...data isn't data unless it's repeatable.

So...I had a trip to Alaska booked for Brown Bear and Moose.  I did cancel it cause I needed the money for a one of my daughters tuition payments.  I booked a guide out of Red Devil AK...Roland Welker.  My BIL thought we should take handguns....for protection....as though his 338 and my 375HH wouldn't be enough.  Roland said, "Don't waste your time carry'n all that extra weight....won't stop a bear near as well as your rifle."  Made sense to me. 

Now...if you're hunting and the bear isn't agitated...different story I suppose....but as a stopper...I kinda don't think so....any one with any experience?

[mcwoodduck]

I vote to to end ALL Bear/Handgun topics...unless they are black bears and we are hunting them with said Handgun.

PLEASE NO MORE GRIZZLY BEAR/BROWN BEAR, WHICH HANDGUN, WHICH 700GR BULLET POSTS!!!!!

I AM A LIBERTARIAN AND EVEN I HAVE MY LIMITS!!!!!!!

STOP THE MADNESS!!!!!!!!

I reserve my right to arm bears and why shouldn't we talk about what those different bears could be packing when we are in their woods?   

[ole 5 hole group]

Now I’m confused, not an unusual condition for me.  If one doesn’t appreciate seeing hundreds of threads per year on different forums relative to bears, why even open them?  If you open the thread and don’t appreciate the content, why reply?  Maybe we should discuss whether a guided hunt is a “true” hunting experience or just a shooting exercise, as the guide probably has studied the area pretty good with “game cameras” and knows the location and habits of the local big game or else he just knows his area very well.  Either way the question can be asked - does the guide provide a babysitting service for the well healed individual doing the shooting?  If you’re not well off financially, why spend the money on a canned hunt? – is that a sportsman way of obtaining meat instead of purchasing it at the market?  I suppose the same could be discussed relative to “preserve hunting”.  Maybe when a thread related to hunting is started we should clarify whether or not it’s a guided hunt, preserve hunt or the ole fashion fair chase and then discuss the merits of the OP’s question or thoughts. 

Myself, I don’t care how a person conducts a legal “hunt” or how he harvests the game, as I will support his choice – I also don’t care what type of threads are started on different forums and I will try to contribute in a positive manner when I do post.     

[RIFLE MAN]

A well-reasoned, balanced, and brilliant reply.
Thanks Ole 5 Hole Group.


Have a GREAT weekend,
Rifle Man

[bilmac]

Thing about a handgun, it is that it is supposed to be on you all the time. Suppertime around the fire , your rifle is probably 20" away somewhere. Now some of the shooters mentioned here are so big, that a guy will probably shed them too. I handled a S&W titanium 44 the other day. That is a gun that would be far more likely to stay on your hip all the time. I only wish they had mad them when I was working in Ak.

[mcwoodduck]

These threads pop up every so often for Guys like me that grew up on the east coast, or west coast and want to go hunting for elk or mule deer in areas where there are Grizzley bears.  While the grizzley bear is on the California flag there has not een one in the state for over 100 years.  This is much like guys that have hunted  100's of white tail deer and wanting to hunt elk or moose are not sure what to expect and we get books, ask questions and on.  None of these books talk about bears in the area and what to expect if you see one.
We have read about them, in many stories and in places like Lewis and Clark where the big brown bears scared the corp of discovery in how agressive they are.
My friend I hunt with grew up in Grizzley country and they scare him, bears in general scare him.  I had to hide tracks of a grizzley from him so he would not stop hunting in an area we saw steaming elk poop.
The idea of having a handgun for personal protection and a reason to get a big bore are one in the same.
As I said in an earlier post you are not going to drop your rifle to grab a hand gun if you see one.
On the other hand as others pointed out.  A handgun will be on you when you do other things.  head for the outhouse, gather firewood, or helping carry downed animals back to camp or the truck when hauling a rifle or shotgun is awkward.
I am sure you have seen the pictures of the hunter and the guide with a moose down and a grizzley that attacked them.
The guide looks shocked and the hunter is holding a 44 Revolver that he used.  While rare it does happen and if you feel better with extra fire power on your hip or under your arm.  What harm is it if he wants to know what others carry and have used and carry one himself?