Bear Defense Gun Questions

I have hunted archery out west the past few years carrying only bear spray, but am thinking I’d like the additional protection of a sidearm. I have an old 10-8 .38 special but would like to upgrade. A few questions:

1. What would you folks recommend for a good bear defense sidearm? Currently I’m thinking of a G29.

2. For those of you in the greater twin cities, where would you recommend for a place to sell/trade my old gun and pic up the new one? I’m not really wanting to deal with internet listing and shipping.

Thanks for your guidance.

this will be like a ford/chevy/dodge debate and everyone will tell you different things. my opinion is a G29 would be a good option.

G29 is a great gun.

Ben K. wrote:

1. What would you folks recommend for a good bear defense sidearm? Currently I’m thinking of a G29.

2. For those of you in the greater twin cities, where would you recommend for a place to sell/trade my old gun and pic up the new one? I’m not really wanting to deal with internet listing and shipping.

Thanks for your guidance.

The standard answer to question #1 will be bigger, bigger, bigger. Why go with a 10 MM, when you can go with a 454? And why go with a 454 when you can go with a 500?

In reality, if you talk to guides with vast and real experience in bear country, they will tell you that the best bear “sidearm” is a short 12 gauge shotgun and the second best is a well-oiled handgun because it will hurt less. when the bear… insert that old joke here.

Most bear-country guides I have spoken to carry either a 12 gauge or a big-bore revolver.

So as to a handgun, if you want an auto, you could certainly do worse than a G29/10MM. If you really want a dedicated bear defense gun, then personally I’d carry what the guides carry and go with a wheel gun in 44, 45, or 454.

To question #2, I’d say dealing with internet sellers and buying online is a practical reality if you want a gun anytime soon without making finding it your sole mission in life.

I, too, was hesitant to go the internet route in the beginning, but I found a good FFL dealer and as time passed it got easier to determine who the reputable sellers are online and only deal with them.

My mom’s husband had a ranch in grizzly country, he owns a 500. My hand was bruised for a week after shooting that stupid thing.

As usual Mr Grouse summed it up perfectly. There’s a .44 posted here, that hopefully someone else buys before I do and get myself in the dog house

http://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/ruger/

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

<then personally I’d carry what the guides carry and go with a wheel gun in 44, 45, or 454.

Why wheel and not auto? More reliable when needed?

Deuces wrote:

My mom’s husband had a ranch in grizzly country, he owns a 500. My hand was bruised for a week after shooting that stupid thing.

I shot one once with a friend at the range. My hands hurt for days afterwards. I’ll pass on shooting it again.

jake47 wrote:

Why wheel and not auto? More reliable when needed?

IMO, yes. I have never had a revolver jam or miss fire. Never.

S&W 44mag with a 6-8 inch barrel.

-J.

I used to carry a glock 20c and then switched to a 41 mag loved the 41 mag and shot it well I just liked the feel of the glock so I picked up another 20. Make sure you are using a good solid penetrating bullet for bear backup.

jake47 wrote:

Why wheel and not auto? More reliable when needed?

Mainly just more revolvers available chambered in large calibers I’d think. Finding a 454 auto would be somewhat challenging…

gunsmith89 wrote:

Make sure you are using a good solid penetrating bullet for bear backup.

Yes! Rapid expansion “self defense” bullets are exactly what you DON’T want. Like bullet for African dangerous game, you want monolithic solids for bone crushing and deep penetration.

.45 Colt revolver with hard cast bullets is good bear medicine.

Thanks for all of the responses. Some great food for thought. I’ll try to update this when I have figured out which direction I’m going.

I just ready an article the other day on a guide that killed a grizzly that charged them on a track. I will try to find it. His client hit the bear between they eyes on the first shot and several other times in the body and it did not do anything to the skull as well as penetrate the fat cap from his 45 with +P defense rounds. (I would never recommend a 45 to begin with)

The guide was shooting 190gr buffalo bore. Give me some time I’ll try to find it on face book if it isn’t banned by PETA…

found it

Attachments:

1. 

   b3.png
   

2. 

   b2.png
   

3. 

   b1.png
   

Interesting that the guide states he is glade he had a semi and not a wheel. Pretty opposite to what I read above. I hope to never be in that position. That must have been terrifying. Would be hard to dress a bear when my drawers are full.

Thanks for sharing. Crazy how little those first 3 shots from the 45 affected the bear.

jake47 wrote:

Why wheel and not auto? More reliable when needed?

Also, no safety to mess with on a DA revolver (at least not on the ones I have shot).

Ralph Wiggum wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>jake47 wrote:</div>
Why wheel and not auto? More reliable when needed?

Also, no safety to mess with on a DA revolver (at least not on the ones I have shot).

alot of autos dont have a safety either

I shoot a 7.5″ Ruger Super Red Hawk in a .480 cal. It gets the job done and then some. Not as fast as .454 but it throws more lead. I shoot Hornady’s 325 grain bullets for deer hunting in close quarters with it as well.