Good cheap bear gun for Grizzly country

[greg vess]

When living/visiting friends in Black Mountain, NC, I slip a .380 in my pocket for taking out the trash. The black bears there are usually shy or uninterested in "palmettomoon-tartare." If I thought there was a chance of encountering a brown bear I'd be carrying .44 Rem Mag at minimum.

I do agree. I have seen some mighty big bears and you realize just how big and menacing they really are. Kinds like gators. First big one I saw had a back the width of a really big John boat. His feet were the size of trash can lids. It was impressive to say the least

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

I've never had much luck shooting a few rapidfire rounds from a 44 magnum very quickly like I would do if a bear were attacking me (not the bear merely menacing me from some distance away and giving me a chance to retreat or take him down with a well aimed head or neck shot).

The few times I used a Smith & Wesson model 629 with a 6 inch barrel to blast off 3 to 4 rounds as quickly as I could pull the trigger, I got a group of the size of a kitchen trash can from 7 yards.

Doing the same thing with my model 66 using full power 357 magnum loads gives me a group the size of a dinner plate.

I've never fired a series of shotgun slugs in rapid succession before, but I have done it with full power OO buckshot, and I believe that I could hit a target very well while shooting a 12-gauge as fast as I could pump the gun (which is pretty fast; I use a pump action to shoot skeet and sporting clays and I've broken a bunch of the "true pairs.")

 

[GAgunLAWbooklet]

My point in the above post is that I recommended a 12 gauge shotgun not only because of the incredible stopping power of a slug,

but being a long gun that is used with two hands,
it will be more controllable during rapid fire.

 

[GeneralPatton]

My point in the above post is that I recommended a 12 gauge shotgun not only because of the incredible stopping power of a slug,

but being a long gun that is used with two hands,
it will be more controllable during rapid fire.

I agree on the 357 for accuracy. I have an old Colt Trooper Mark III that I can shoot fleas off a dogs ass with. Trying to pop off two rounds of 44 into a target charging you as you retreat would be a bit of a challenge.
And I agree that the street howitzer would be a weapon of choice as well. Nothing like that to put large holes in anything in front of you......though I did read somewhere that the shotgun rated third behind rifle and powerful handgun in such attacks based on some formula some dude came up with........of course it is on the net so 95% of what is out there is BS most of the time. A KSG with one tube full of 00 and the other full of slugs would do the trick.

I do agree. I have seen some mighty big bears and you realize just how big and menacing they really are. Kinds like gators. First big one I saw had a back the width of a really big John boat. His feet were the size of trash can lids. It was impressive to say the least

I remember when I was a kid out on the Santee Cooper Lake in SC with my grandfather in his little 12 foot john boat one time. A gator swam past us that was a solid foot or more longer than the boat. I bout had a conniption fit and my grandfather was just like meh, he's got no interest in us. The pucker factor was still high for me.

 

[jaxyaks]

I think Alaska is a bit of the exception for most of us. While perhaps some do, I don't go to Alaska to hunt. I hunt in the South East. Agitable black bears are out there, though most are run off with just a warning shot. But as the other poster said, to each his own. As I find with self defense, someone being shot at doesn't really stop to ask what caliber bullet you are sending their way. In the case of a bear, 3-5 rounds into it's face and front torso are likely to make it think twice if not kill it, regardless of caliber as was evidenced in the article I linked. (and if it's charging your target in the head and torso) Predatory animals will pursue a target until the damage to itself becomes a greater risk, less so perhaps a sow with cubs but even then she can't afford to take the damage and not care for the cubs. Many of the cases in the article said police were dispatching them with .40 cals and 1-2 shots. I most certainly wouldn't choose to face a 1000 pound Grizz with my 9 or 45, but that is of no concern in GA, SC or NC where I hunt. From what data shows, there are basically no Grizzlies in 47 states so most folks are never going to run into one. AK, MT, and WA appear to the only states with any left. Maybe CO in a tiny section. https://westernwildlife.org/history/ The link has a map.

Again though, to each his own. Carry a damn hand cannon if you want, I really have no problem with that. Some budget hunters simply cannot afford a $1500 handgun (a quality one that shoots every time from a reputable manufacturer) for 1 or 2 uses a year.

I agree, if you are not in Grizzly country it is not too much of a concern as to the performance of the firearm you are caring.

The OP is actually going to Grizzly country and seeking an affordable handgun adequate to defend from a Grizzly charge.

The updated version of the article shared has more cases that have been found showing the viability of the handgun for bear defense. The largest sampling size is the 44 Magnum with 30 cases cited. It is probably an impossible task but it would be interesting to see what ammo is being used in each case. I know that one of the 9mm cases (Phil Shoomaker) was a 9mm using Buffalo Bore's 9mm load.

IMO if you are going somewhere there is no chance of a big bear encounter, carry whatever you want, or whatever you carry everyday. If you are going to grizzly country IMO the minimum would be 10mm in a semi and minimum 44 mag in a revolver.

Updated numbers on the previous article ( I think they updated it this year as more info was obtained). It is a good database that I hope they keep going as time goes on.

Handgun or Pistol Against Bear Attacks 104 cases, 97% Effective

In the latest update on how effective pistols and handguns are when used to defend against bears, 104 documented cases show a success rate of 97%.

www.ammoland.com

 

[jaxyaks]

My point in the above post is that I recommended a 12 gauge shotgun not only because of the incredible stopping power of a slug,

but being a long gun that is used with two hands,
it will be more controllable during rapid fire.

The 12 gauge with the appropriate slug is THE affordable medicine for bear defense for sure. I focused on handguns in my responses due to the OP's requirement of a handgun.

I carry both in Grizzly country, handgun stays on me at all time, shotgun stays nearby on ATV in camp or sometimes carried depending on the circumstance, (It is a pain to fly fish with a slung shotgun for instance, but hiking in overgrown areas is one place the shotgun would be carried etc along with bear spray.)

 

[jaxyaks]

I remember when I was a kid out on the Santee Cooper Lake in SC with my grandfather in his little 12 foot john boat one time. A gator swam past us that was a solid foot or more longer than the boat. I bout had a conniption fit and my grandfather was just like meh, he's got no interest in us. The pucker factor was still high for me.

I kayak with gators all the time, first few times they kinda worry you, and your mind likes to play tricks when they slip underwater and disappear near by or slide off the bank. After kayak fishing the everglades a few times you get used to them, and learn when to back off and give them the area. You do have to keep an eye on them when there are several moving around a small section of water.

I have had to back out of an entire section of water I wanted to fish because there were just too many alligators congregated in one spot, basically blocking my path to where I wanted to go. Noting like putting tarpon in the air and watching a fish with one eye and a gator with the other...lol

 

[lostchild]

I agree on the 357 for accuracy. I have an old Colt Trooper Mark III that I can shoot fleas off a dogs ass with. Trying to pop off two rounds of 44 into a target charging you as you retreat would be a bit of a challenge.
And I agree that the street howitzer would be a weapon of choice as well. Nothing like that to put large holes in anything in front of you......though I did read somewhere that the shotgun rated third behind rifle and powerful handgun in such attacks based on some formula some dude came up with........of course it is on the net so 95% of what is out there is BS most of the time. A KSG with one tube full of 00 and the other full of slugs would do the trick.

I remember when I was a kid out on the Santee Cooper Lake in SC with my grandfather in his little 12 foot john boat one time. A gator swam past us that was a solid foot or more longer than the boat. I bout had a conniption fit and my grandfather was just like meh, he's got no interest in us. The pucker factor was still high for me.

I, for one, would pay to see someone shoot fleas off a dog’s ass.

Regarding experiences with large critters, a friend and I were fishing at the old (now destroyed) Texas tower off Tybee. We looked down, and a shark swam directly under his 13’ Boston Whaler. Due to refraction, it seemed to be a good bit longer than our boat. We decided to call it a day.

 

[Dice]

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

I would get a 44 magnum revolver and spend whatever it takes to get one. The funeral will cost you way more! Don't get cheap with your family safety. Stay at home if you can't afford reliable protection for them. or go by yourself and take your chances.

 

[yardboss1]

Damn , I should have gone to Disney Land