Best 6 Handguns for Bear Country

[KillerFord1977]

View attachment 8677
Now....this is a hand cannon.....

Full of grape shot, that would have a devastating effect.

 

[Sld1959]

I hunted with a custom 4.5 inch Redhawk in .44 mag for hunting, including black bear, for 25 years. For heavy bear loads, like some made by Buffalo Bore, I preferred the Redhawk to a SW 29, having owned both, the Redhawk just handled heavy recoil better.

 

[BangBang]

Some Buffalo Bore loads that Ruger will handle and others won’t.

 

[adam sr]

I have a S&W 460 with a scope. If you are using just it to hunt bear with (I did) good choice. But if it is just for a trip in the woods or a second gun when hunting I think its too big. A smaller gun would be better to carry less weight and if you are going to shoot a bear that is about to attack you a smaller gun would be easier to get out and the bear would be close to you so a longer barrel would only hinder you. Just my thoughts.

 

[Susquash]

I have carried large frame revolver and semi-autos as bear medicine in Alaska. Used my Dan Wesson 445 Supermag loaded with 300 grain hard cast loads. Last couple of years have carried Glock 20 10 MM with 6 inch barrel using Buffalo Bore rounds in a chest rig. I felt comfortable that both would take out bear if the need arose. Fortunately I did not need them.

 

[papadan]

I used to spend time hunting rattle snakes in East Ky mountains. I always carried a Super Blackhawk 44magnum, just in case of a bear or mountain lion. Saw a few bears over the years but never had an encounter with any. Only real action my Blackhawk saw was a few Whitetail Deer in the 80s and 90s. Always wanted to get a bear, but just never got the chance.

 

[Tactical-Reviews]

Looks like something that @Tactical-Reviews might have in his collection

I wish, that's cool. I plan to get a blunderbuss kit at some point. But I kind of want to build a full-scale cannon first.