Good cheap bear gun for Grizzly country

[Xcaliber]

AK74, the lil poison dart kills a charging GRIZZLY. it took 13 shots, some were misses but the bear went down.

Another hiker shot an Alaska bear dead. Cue the pointless debates.

OPINION: Instead of stupid debates about every individual's pet political issues, maybe we should all be discussing sensible behavior on heavily traveled public trails.

www.adn.com

Alaska: Hiker Kills Bear with AK-74 - The Truth About Guns

Shot placement, shot placement, shot placement. Failing that caliber. Failing that lots of shots on target. To wit: “The hiker, who has not been identified by Alaska State Troopers, had set out from the Rainbow trail head at Milepost 108 of the highway Sunday morning, said Tom Crockett, a park...

www.thetruthaboutguns.com

 

[Borealbound]

I’d use bear spray before choosing 9mm. In fact, bear spray may be my first choice period.

I concur, I would actually suggest carrying bear spray anytime anyone goes to the Rockies or cascades.

I used to live in British Columbia, with both black bears and grizzly’s in the region. Had several black bear encounters, but sadly never a grizzly. A lot of people up there I knew would carry a shotgun loaded with slugs or a semi auto rifle or lever gun. The US having different laws, while a .44 would be a great choice, if $500 is your budget you might want to consider a shotgun. I personally carried an SKS or 870 when I went camping up in the north west. I would always have bear spray on hand and a good knife or two as well.

If you want some entertainment, watch Project Grizzly.

 

[medium187mph]

A buddy of mine lives in Alaska and rides with an AR on his 4 wheeler and a few mags... that’s about it and he eats bear LOL

 

[Dan Muk]

A $350/$400 XD tactical or service length with 14 rounds of underwood extreme penetrator will kill the S##T out of a brown bear.

 

[Crochet556]

SVT-40

 

[Porter Rockwell]

Hard to beat a Glock in 10mm or 357 sig loaded with underwood ammo or buffalo bore, relatively inexpensive. I’d rather have 13 plus rounds of a more meager caliber than only 6 rounds of short barreled 44 magnum. Seems short barreled revolvers spend too much of their energy once the bullet has already left the gun and will mitigate some of the improved performed of a 44 magnum over a 10mm.

 

[Porter Rockwell]

A $350/$400 XD tactical or service length with 14 rounds of underwood extreme penetrator will kill the S##T out of a brown bear.

Agree- comparing apples to apples - I’d bet you get far more hits on target us an semi-auto handgun with an agressive moving bear than one would with a double action revolver. 5 shots of 10mm hitting the target would have more impact on the bear than 1-2 shots of 44 magnum.

 

[jaxyaks]

Capacity won't matter as much if you can't put a round in the central nervous system. I figure your only gonna get 3 maybe 4 seconds if that, to identify that it is indeed going to charge, draw and deliver a round to the central nervous system before you are shooting with the bear on top of you.

Absent a rifle or shotgun, I compromise with the 44 mag. I would prefer the 454 or one of the linebaugh's.

I like the comfort capacity gives, but in this particular use, I am of the opinion that deeper penetration and a larger energy dump will get you further to your goal.

 

[General Jackson]

Hey guys, taking the family out west in July. We're going to be exploring a lot of Western Montana and coming down into Wyoming & Idaho. My daughter is 10months old now and will be in the child backpack for day hikes. Anytime I went out there in the past(before I had a kid) I just had bear spray. Since we have a little one now I want to carry a firearm in addition to bear spray.

It needs to be: a handgun for size/convivence
large enough caliber to do some damage on a big animal if worst case scenario
it needs to be affordable(like under $500 or) (this trip is adding up quickly)


I've always like .44 magnums. I don't know what alls out there but want to read your opinions and what you'd carry. thanks

Glock M20 loaded with 180gr. & a few15 round mags. I’d want the fire power.

Your hands would be trembling and a revolver only has 6 rounds. Lever action is even slower if you shoot one like me. ;-)

I’d go with the Glock 20.

 

[Porter Rockwell]

Strap 8 honey buns to a rc car...for a diversionary tactic

Lol

No gun is actually needed for this. Just pick your least favorite fatest and slowest relative to go with you on all of your hikes. You don’t have to outrun the bear as long as you can out run Uncle Larry, you and your family will be fine.