.357 vs 44 mag vs 10mm Bear gun

[Yankee1956]

What's everyone's opinion on a good handgun with bear stopping power? Up here in NH is only black bears and from what I've read they are timid, but what about if they encounter curious dogs? I frequently walk on my land with my pups and I'm not sure my ED 9mm carry would be optimal if faced with a situation of protecting myself and or my dogs. I was thinking about the 3 calibers I mentioned above. I like the G20 10mm but I have also never owned a wheel gun. For me 15+1 sounds like a better choice over 6? Yes I know there is speed loaders but I've never been in a high stress situation so I think it would be easier just mag dumping lol. Something I also read is any handgun cartridge over 200 gr and 1,000 fps will stop any bear.
Would like others opinions on this subject!

 

[Darksideblues42]

If a Glock 20 is good enough for Arctic Circle Sirius Sled Patrols in Canada, Greenland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden as a polar bear deterrent, I am pretty sure you will be okay with it for Black Bear.

 

[Yankee1956]

If a Glock 20 is good enough for Arctic Circle Sirius Sled Patrols in Canada, Greenland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden as a polar bear deterrent, I am pretty sure you will be okay with it for Black Bear.

Funny you mentioned that, I also read Denmark sled patrols use 10mm for polar bears. Yup good enough for black bear!

 

[Darksideblues42]

Funny you mentioned that, I also read Denmark sled patrols use 10mm for polar bears. Yup good enough for black bear!

Yeah, the Danes do it in Greenland

 

[76Too]

My pasture/land/hiking carry. G20. Will kill damn near anything if I could hit my target. I need more practice with it though.
Loaded w/full house 220gr Underwood Flat Nose Hard Cast Boolits 10mm Auto 220gr. Flat Nose Black Cherry Coated Hard Cast Hunting Ammo


I have at least 20 or 30 miles hiking relatively rugged terrain with this rig and it holds up extremely well. It DOES shift and require adjustment once or twice every few miles, but it’s just simply twisting it back into a comfortable position.

ETA: Also works very well as a deterrent to meth heads and tweakers alike!

 

[Mark from MA]

Im with our resident Kentuckian. G20 10mm.

I carry the G20 woods walking......although I didn't know you could feed the Bears Black Cherries! I'll be getting some fruit from Underwood.

The only time I carry my wheelguns is when I'm hunting with the lever action in the same caliber.

 

[meh]

I love revolvers. I really do. The last gun I bought was a S&W 327-TRR8, which wouldn't be a bad choice with the right ammo, but for carrying around outside all the time for defense against 4-legged things, I'd go with the Glock 20 over any revolver. I just wouldn't find any pleasure in shooting it recreationally. That would be a drawback, but I'd manage.

 

[tuna]

I'd say the 10mm. Just because I don't have one, have never had one, but want one and it's on my short list to buy.

For what I do have, is a Ruger Blackhawk in .45LC that with CorBon 300 or 350 grain bullets I feel comfortable to be able to stop any NH bear or Chevy. Plus I get to carry a cowboy gun, and it really makes my inner child happy to wear a six shooter. Unfortunately, the Blackhawk has the transfer bar instead of a hammer mounted firing pin, so I'm able to carry all 6 chamber loaded.

 

[Brin747]

My son lives up in Alaska...he and all of the fishing and hunting guides he knows carry 10mm for just in case.

 

[Toast]

I would think shot placement would be far more important than the difference between the 3 calibers you mentioned.

 

[commodon]

What's everyone's opinion on a good handgun with bear stopping power? Up here in NH is only black bears and from what I've read they are timid, but what about if they encounter curious dogs? I frequently walk on my land with my pups and I'm not sure my ED 9mm carry would be optimal if faced with a situation of protecting myself and or my dogs. I was thinking about the 3 calibers I mentioned above. I like the G20 10mm but I have also never owned a wheel gun. For me 15+1 sounds like a better choice over 6? Yes I know there is speed loaders but I've never been in a high stress situation so I think it would be easier just mag dumping lol. Something I also read is any handgun cartridge over 200 gr and 1,000 fps will stop any bear.
Would like others opinions on this subject!

You missed adding .40 as an option

 

[AJK129]

You missed adding .40 as an option

.40 will have you fending off bears in P-town not the woods

 

[Mark from MA]

.40 will have you fending off bears in P-town not the woods

I'd take a .40 over a 9mm fending of real bears.

 

[Dench]

I would think shot placement would be far more important than the difference between the 3 calibers you mentioned.

Sure. But when you're about to die from some giant ass animal running at you shot placement isnt exactly a thing.

 

[kalash]

My woods LARPing gun is a 10mm Glock. That said, unless I'm going to northern Maine I just carry my normal pistol like any other day.

 

[Darksideblues42]

I have a Glock 20c and have to say, the compensated barrel does wonders for keeping follow up shots on target.

 

[Boghog1]

9mm, it's a fricken black bear, they are unlikely to hurt you. You are more than likely going to need to shoot a two legged perp while in the woods than having to shoot a bear. I have chased them off with nothing more than a crazy look in my eyes, the fact I was only wearing underwear may have helped too.

Black bear attacks on humans are rare but often begin as scuffles with dogs, experts say

Predatory attacks on humans by black bears are extremely rare, but experts are providing an explanation as to how some of them may start.

abcnews.go.com

 

[PATRON]

I was always a 357,44 Mag type of guy, and never paid attention to the 10mm.
Always thought it was one of those fad type of rounds that would just go away,
until I picked up a 1911 in 10mm, and WOW that's a nice round.

 

[Broc]

9mm. No need to complicated it.

But, if you must, anything else will be good ... 357, 44, 45, 10mm, 454, 480, 460, 45/70, 500, 50 AE ...

 

[HorizontalHunter]

Whichever you shoot best. A smaller bullet in the right place is better than a big bullet punching holes in the sky.


Bear spray is probably the best deterrent.

 

[frenchman]

50 AE, 500 S&W, or 460/480/454. Because fugg my wrist, fugg that polar bear, and fugg the two icebergs behind him.

 

[LittleCalm]

Get whatever you are comfortable carrying. A G20 is a lot to carry around for extended periods of hiking. A G29 is a little more compact if you want to stick with 10mm. It’s mostly a feel good thing anyway, as black bear attacks in NH are virtually non-existent as black bears run from humans. Only other larger animal is a moose and again moose attacks are extremely rare.

 

[Yankee1956]

Ended up going with the G20

 

[Yankee1956]

Hopefully I can get some backyard range time in this weekend. Eager to shoot this baby. Also have to order some of @76Too ammo

 

[BigTimber]

My first remote camping trip to the north Maine woods was in 1991 (North of Katahdin) and I’ve gone every year since sometime twice a year. Real remote stuff and I’ve never had a problem with a bear. So I ditched the boat Anchors long ago and now just slip my smith 340pd[357] in my pocket when fishing/Kayaking or the Glock 43x with BB deep penetrators when we’re on hikes. I sleep just fine. Grizzly county however and it’s a 44 mag. I like the 10mm and owned a few but it’s just not in the same league as the Dirty Harry.

 

[In God We Trust]

Black bear just need a swift kick in the ass and a loud yell. Either that or throw him a pic-In-ik basket.

 

[Ecosystem3]

I can't stand this peer pressure! Fine, I'll buy a 10mm pistol too. Jeesh!

 

[Yankee1956]

Black bear just need a swift kick in the ass and a loud yell. Either that or throw him a pic-In-ik basket.

Not trying to be a pant shitter, I'm just a MA transplant and not used to all this wilderness.. but I'm learning!

 

[moojpg2]

9mm, it's a fricken black bear, they are unlikely to hurt you. You are more than likely going to need to shoot a two legged perp while in the woods than having to shoot a bear. I have chased them of with nothing more than a crazy look in my eyes, the fact I was only wearing underwear may have helped too.

Black bear attacks on humans are rare but often begin as scuffles with dogs, experts say

Predatory attacks on humans by black bears are extremely rare, but experts are providing an explanation as to how some of them may start.

abcnews.go.com

I had a young black bear run up on me while I was pissing in the woods once, yelled at it to f*** off and kind of hopped towards it while I was pissing, dick in hand, bear must have been scarred for life. Realized after he took off that I had stepped off hiking trail to take a leak in the middle of a super active game trail lol all I had on me was a 5 shot .38, but even with that I wouldn't have felt under gunned for a 175-200ish lb black bear.

 

[CRSIII]

You forgot something.