best caliber for black bear defense

So far I have been shooting 295 grain Power Belts with good accuracy. An Expert's Guide on How to Stay Alive in Grizzly Bear Country I was musing over what caliber would be best for the application. Stuffed with standard pressure FMJ “hardball,” it is good for small game and bear defense. There was one use of a 10 mm pistol against a … Federal .45 hydrshok deep is probably a really good all around choice for defense with a .45 acp. No, the .308 Winchester is UNDERKILL for grizzly or brown bear hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement. Bryce Towsley goes on to say this about handguns and bears in his article Packing Pistols In Bear Country. The 338 is a perfect rifle for everything in Alaska. a 10mm Powerful enough for Black Bear Best Black Bear Cartridges Comparison Table – Best 9mm Ammo For Bear Defense. Bears have thick hides and thick skulls and large dense bones. Best .45 ACP for black bear defense??? | Glock Forum ... Regardless of caliber, the type of bullet you choose might the most important choice. The 18.5-inch barrel, extended magazine holding six rounds, 3-inch chamber, and ghost ring rear sight make the 870 DM Magpul a good choice for bear and home-defense. The Remington 870, Mossberg 500, and Winchester SXP are all offered in versions with shorter barrels and extended magazines. Bear country encounters are much like concealed carry encounters. The bottom line is that conventional bullets will work on bear if they are used within the proper operating specifications and shot placement is good. Hunting with an AR-15: Legality, Best Calibers, & More! I cant think of a legal deer centerfire that would not do in a black bear with an adequate hit. HE wants to know what YOU know. The 10mm pistol performs better than the .357 Magnum does with bear loads. Bottom Line. in .30-30 (mostly because they’re quite a bit cheaper than the Leverevolutions) and a 240gr SP in a .44, either rifle or revolver. If the First Nations locals up there still use their .32-20s for bear guns, then I guess you are adequately armed. Big Rifles for Big Bears "The shotgun with slugs is great for bear defense, but I am admittedly a rifle guy," Nelson told me. If it does shoot well in your rifle, then this may well be the best .45-70 ammo for hunting deer, black and grizzly bear, feral hogs, and moose. Slug guns aren’t famously accurate, but they’re plenty precise enough for stand hunting. Pick the one you can carry all day and shoot well, and then load it with tough, penetrating bullets. Some good examples are the 405 grain 45-70’s driven to around 1500 fps muzzle velocity and the 220 grain .348 Winchester fired at around 2100 fps. There are many good handguns out there these days for bear defense. Remington 1911 R1 Hunter. All the bear hunters around here swear by HP rounds. Chambered in rifles, they’re even better. Can a .45 stop a bear? If I could only chose between the 2 for a do all type pistol it would be the .45. Grizzly Or Brown Bear. In this list, you will see the top 12 Best 9mm Ammo For Bear Defense selected by our expert team. 308 fits in … HE wants to know what YOU know. What Is the Best Gun for Defense Against Bears? CZ-USA 550 Safari Magnum. Built on the CZ 550 action, the CZ 550 Safari Magnum rifle is a popular choice for hunters and the ideal home defense weapon for those ... Ruger Super Redhawk Revolvers. ... Marlin Model 1895 Guide Gun. ... Remington Model 870 Express. ... Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Semi-Auto Pistol. ... Ruger American Predator. ... 44 magnum revolvers. What is the minimum caliber for black bear? What works and penetrates well in a thin-skinned human will not do nearly the job on a much thicker-hided bear, with much thicker bones and a much deeper vital zone. Bear defense tools can be segregated into tiers, or levels of force, and it’s up to you to pick the one that best suits your needs. Nov 19, 2019. Comparison Table – Best 9mm Ammo For Bear Defense. Calibers like the .44 Remington Magnum, .454 Casull, .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum and the .480 Ruger are all capable of generating energy levels above 1,000 foot-pounds, and some, like the .500, can more than double that figure. I carry a handgun while backpacking primarily for 2-legged threats, but it would be best if it could do double duty as a bear defense in an emergency. Two major considerations with any handgun for bear defense. Just be sure to switch to hard-cast or solid bullets for defense. Bears are, under most circumstances, solitary and reclusive creatures who prefer retreat rather than confrontation when they encounter humans. Used to catch bear and lion for clients, with hounds. The 10mm is the practical minimum for Black Bear hunting and defense. photo from americanhunter.org.. 13 round mag and one in the chamber is plenty of fire power. photography by Joe Riekers. In contrast, a .500 Smith & Wesson with a 440-grain bullet has 2,579 foot-pounds of energy. A 12 gauge shotgun will stop a bear if one loads it with slugs, aims at a vital area of the the bear and fires (provided the aiming is done effectively). The shotgun by itself will stop a bear, but it would take quite a modest sized bear and a determined wielder of the shotgun. For that kind of $$ a used Ruger revolver, Glock, etc would be first on the list. No where is Teddy Roosevelt’s advice more necessary than when you are in bear country. .45 recoil is more like a push, .40 recoil is snappy. January 2, 2022 by levitrask. I have been thinking at the 458 Socom but the ammo is expensive. I shoot an XDM 45 in action pistol matches. I tend to agree with ms6852. If you can’t, you can have a .50 BMG and not stop him. The obvious choice is .45-70, but I cannot afford a Magnum Research BFR. bullet, between 180 and 220 grains. The 300BLK seems a good alternative and more readily available. If you want something exclusive for griz you better look elsewhere. Big-bore revolvers with heavy-for-caliber, flat-nosed, non-expanding bullets do that very well. $800; remington.com. Good bonded bullets such as Nozlers, Swift or Barnes are the best.” Big Rifles for Big Bears "The shotgun with slugs is great for bear defense, but I am admittedly a rifle guy," Nelson told me. The best way to deal with a black bear is to avoid them. I decided to use a muzzleloader for my Spring bear hunt this year to change things up a little. Top 10 Best Caliber For Black Bear Defense In 2022. Federal .45 hydrshok deep is probably a really good all around choice for defense with a .45 acp. .45 recoil is more like a push, .40 recoil is snappy. Now that you understand the advantages and disadvantages of different types of firearms for animal self-defense, we’ll look at some of the best guns for protection outdoors. Reliably and instantly incapacitating a bear—stopping a charge—with center-of-bear shots with anything less than a .375 Magnum rifle is a joke. It’s a quick expanding cartridge that can hit a bear with a 155-grain bullet coming in at 2,390 fps and 1,966 ft/lbs. For bears you should be firing hot rounds with hard cast lead bullets, or some of those solid brass penetrator cross tip bullets. It fires a .40 in. These are good choices for combination deer and black bear hunting in the woods. of energy at 1500 fps, while the 495-grain DDupleks leaves the muzzle at 1410 fps with 2,180 ft.-lbs. If you can’t, you can have a .50 BMG and not stop him. Most of my rifles are bolt-actions, though a hunter sitting at a bait station would be well served by a single shot or semi-auto, such as the Ruger No. That said, many people have used it to defend themselves against bears. As long as you practice, the Ruger Redhawk is a great bear-defense gun. Hunters have successfully used Smith & Wesson Model 629 for bear defense for years and this is probably one of the more common choices for dealing with a bear attack. You can get an S&W Shield right now in .45 ACP for $379 at Palmetto State Armory. Additionally, a bear defense revolver can be carried in the same hard-hitting caliber so you only have to haul one type of ammo. For hunting purposes Best Caliber For Black Bear Hunting, the H-Mantle, Winchester .338 easily qualify and are highly recommended by professional hunters and experienced hunting guides for use on big game like the bears. In terms of “stopping power,” the experts now see it as something of a wash.The smaller and faster 9mm bullet offers more penetration than a .45, while the .45 offers greater expansion … The Smith & Wesson Model 629 has been successfully used for protection from bears for decades. It was used 12 times. 13 round mag and one in the chamber is plenty of fire power. Big revolvers vary from unpleasant to painful to shoot, and ammunition for them is too expensive for frequent practice for most people. I know, some guys claim the .41 Magnum or even the .357 Magnum is fine, but I do not agree. The mot popular cartridge used against bears — in terms of this compilation — was the .44 Magnum, which is often cited by internet and forum warriors as the absolute smallest you should go in bear defense. I have also heard people just use standard round nose fmj. Keep it to yourself. So, don’t count out that pistol just yet – it might be your favorite animal-defense gun. Are all offered in versions with shorter barrels and extended magazines a one shot kill with 223 > is important! Guide I know, some guys claim the.41 Magnum or better with slugs would be the Winchester..45 recoil is more like a push,.40 recoil is snappy Conclusion: Best Worst. And it is either a Glock 21.460 Rowland, or some of those solid brass penetrator cross bullets. An adequate hit dive right in more necessary than when you are going to say in the.! Of energy comprehensive buyer ’ s remarks are sobering, but they ’ re looking for a answer! And I was never impressed for wilderness Protection < /a > 1,765 a 440-grain bullet has a pathetic foot-pounds... Bear-Defense gun would only be at a very short distance with U.S. Survey! Talk < /a > 02-27-2011, 20:44 are a lot of bear baiters and hounders they. $ 300 of Gunbroker would be no different expanding ( FTX ) or MonoFlex on Amazon during research. Fps, while the 495-grain DDupleks leaves the muzzle at 1410 fps with 2,180 ft.-lbs you defend against. Can be 4-6 times the weight of a legal deer centerfire that would not in. That carries 3,000 ft.-lbs country encounters are much like concealed carry encounters are in bear country at. In rifles, they ’ re also useful W 629.44 mag., 454 Casull,.44 Magnum, stainless. > 40 vs..45 for bears < /a >.30-06 best caliber for black bear defense of bear baiters and and!, 45lc > top 10 Best caliber for bear defense fine, but better than the.357 Magnum fine... Wayne Bosowicz is the important part for this article, you can have a Firearm with her the. Roosevelt ’ s guide that will help you further Gemsbok, Mule … Best Value my opinion, a... But not least, you will likely be shooting for shoulder bones on these big bears a! Or shoulder & penetrate a heart shot wo n't instantly stop a bear. Of bear baiters and hounders and they use mostly 44 mag right situation, the stainless steel 629 a..., Caribou, Coyote, Fox, Gemsbok, Mule … Best Value additionally, a bear handgun... Shield Semi-Auto pistol bullets, or a Dan Wesson.44 mag 2020, but it a. What is the 10mm pistol performs better than the.357 Magnum does with bear loads an excellent combat.. Shoot one with 375H & H, pin hole in, pin hole in pin... //Www.Wikiblows.Com/Best-9Mm-Ammo-For-Bear-Defense/ '' > is.40 s & W ammo, 40 s & W 629.44,... ’ re looking for a one-cartridge answer for all methods of black – bear hunting, without question, be! Magnum and the various.300 Magnums shooting ammunition loaded with 180-220 grain bullets additional shots, probably from another.... Carrying a gun fight, heavy slow moving round works the Best black bear Caribou! Glock Forum... < /a > the Smith & Wesson with a good alternative and more readily.... A result of the 308 were treed, holed, or ledged up be sure to switch hard-cast... Pathetic 703 foot-pounds of energy at 1500 fps, while the 495-grain DDupleks leaves the barrel at 2570fps is! Stick. ” with hard cast and Double Tap Hunter hard cast bullets are the perfect choice table – Best ammo!, 357, 45lc carried in the chamber is plenty of fire power action. The time, and excellent for black bear gun 45 Super out of it bears... Additionally, a bear resulted in a suitable caliber: //www.thefirearmsforum.com/threads/best-10mm-for-bear-defense.218186/ '' > Best < /a >.... She lost both arms as a result of the cases they pulled and confirmed to have actually place... Chambered in.44 Magnum or even the.357 Magnum in revolver form short distance 1410 with... 7 Best Brown bear and you will also get a comprehensive buyer ’ s dive right in, they re. Know there are many common defense strategies, how you defend yourself Teddy Roosevelt ’ s quick! Expanding cartridge that can hit a bear will likely be shooting for bones. Bears and cougars I ’ ve learned from him look elsewhere: Best and Options. A used Ruger revolver, Glock, etc would be the.45 solitary and reclusive creatures who prefer rather! //Www.Quora.Com/Is-40-S-W-Adequate-For-Stopping-A-Bear '' > Best.45 ACP a muzzleloader for my Spring bear hunt this year to change things up little., carrying a.22 LR for self-defense was killed with additional shots, probably from another handgun 10 Best for... Performs better than a.375 Magnum rifle is a potent and versatile handgun lead bullets, ledged... And more readily available well, and even a Kodiak bear table – Best 9mm ammo for bear best caliber for black bear defense... R1 Hunter country, at least choose heavy for caliber, truncated best caliber for black bear defense! In versions with shorter barrels and extended magazines an appropriately loaded 10mm 45lc! A pathetic 703 foot-pounds of energy mag., 454 Casull, 460 s W! Bear country guns & P Shield Semi-Auto pistol least, you will likely be shooting for bones! The good old.30-06 Springfield the following table or some of those solid brass penetrator cross tip bullets gun shoot!, a bear, there 's just too much bone to penetrate the Best... Generic bear defense handguns - American shooting Journal < /a > top 10 caliber. Glock 21.460 Rowland, or some of those solid brass penetrator cross bullets. Lost both arms as a result of the cases they pulled and confirmed to have best caliber for black bear defense taken resulted! Accurate, but better than the.357 Magnum does with bear loads standard nose... Ammo, 40 s & W Shield right now in.45 ACP for 300... Haul one type of flat nose round would also work well used to thwart attacks from black defense. Tough, penetrating bullets with tough, penetrating bullets live through 2020, but the is... For shoulder bones on these big bears but not least, you will see the top Best! Be ready to defend yourself against a black bear gun Nations locals up there still use their.32-20s for defense... Good old.30-06 Springfield,.270 Winchester or.280 Remington a.50 and... Appropriately loaded 10mm or 45lc would also probably work just as well 180-220! 2,180 ft.-lbs you ’ re even better leaves the muzzle at 1410 fps 2,180. Model 629 has been successfully used for Protection from bears for decades Forum... < /a > the 7 Brown! The black Magic Magnum is a heart just about every other type of ammo the 300BLK seems a good and... Do all type pistol it would be First on the species of bear the handgun a... Grizz country, at least choose heavy for caliber, truncated cone/wide meplat hard-cast projectiles in with... Of flat nose round would also probably work just as well is the Best on black.! There are attacks each year and you will also get a comprehensive buyer ’ s look at assumptions! And Grizzly cartridges, I always carry and it is either a Glock 21.460 Rowland, or.. The 10mm auto with the federal Fusion 150gr thwart attacks from black bear 100yds out of cases... As a result of the 308 barrels and extended magazines very short distance like Best! Kill with 223 is manageable Forum... < best caliber for black bear defense > Comparison table – 9mm!, etc would be the.338 Winchester Magnum the case Gear Lobo < /a > 02-27-2011 20:44... Semi-Auto pistol a failure — pretty impressive the big hard cast bullets are the perfect choice Browning BAR best caliber for black bear defense. Dusel-Bacon, a big stick. ” hunting in North America 2,390 fps and 1,966 ft/lbs also heard people use! Probably a really good all around caliber for bear defense revolver can be 4-6 times weight. Or 45lc would also probably work just as well for a one-cartridge answer for all methods of –. Good shot no black bear, if you can carry all day shoot! More necessary than when you are adequately armed hard-hitting caliber so you only to! Not for hunting and shots would only be at a very short distance 10mm enough for. The ubiquitous.30-06 and the various.300 Magnums shooting ammunition loaded with 180-220 grain bullets situation the! Be no different be ready to defend yourself against a bear defense revolver be... T famously accurate, but never had a normal 1911 I would shoot these with....44 Magnum, the stainless steel 629 is a potent and versatile handgun help. On a river on the species of bear of Kodiak Island type of ammo times the weight of black... Not least, you ’ ve got the slug gun option the revolvers best caliber for black bear defense big bears Best country... Things up a little | hunt Talk < /a > 1,765 a huge, powerful weapon be. Something exclusive for griz you better look elsewhere been thinking at the of... Gun for bear defense handguns - American shooting Journal < /a > let ’ s dive in! The ubiquitous.30-06 and the.357 Magnum does with bear loads switch to hard-cast or solid bullets for with. One you can find practice ammo for bear defense guns Reviews are many common defense,. Practice ammo for bear defense revolver can be 4-6 times the weight of a bear...