The Best Handgun Cartridge (and Ammo) for Grizzly Bear Defense

[Talyn]

Another "opinion" on a never ending topic...

What firearm should you own for grizzly bear defense? What cartridge should you be shooting? And, what ammo?

The Best Handgun Cartridge (and Ammo) for Grizzly Bear Defense

If you ever find yourself in bear country, we share with you the best cartridges and ammo that you can deploy for grizzly bear defense.

www.alloutdoor.com

Note: While the author mentions the 180 gr. Heavy Buffalo Bore load, he overlooks that Buffalo Bore has an equivalent 220 gr. 10mm as the Underwood 220 gr, that he claims is the best, which is "relative". BB also has a 200 gr. Hardcast.

Note 2: A father & son, out hunting near Cody, WY recently, defending themselves in a griz attack with a 10mm, recently.

 

[papa]

Another "opinion" on a never ending topic...

What firearm should you own for grizzly bear defense? What cartridge should you be shooting? And, what ammo?

The Best Handgun Cartridge (and Ammo) for Grizzly Bear Defense

If you ever find yourself in bear country, we share with you the best cartridges and ammo that you can deploy for grizzly bear defense.

www.alloutdoor.com

View attachment 69819

Note: While the author mentions the 180 gr. Heavy Buffalo Bore load, he overlooks that Buffalo Bore has an equivalent 220 gr. 10mm as the Underwood 220 gr, that he claims is the best, which is "relative". BB also has a 200 gr. Hardcast.

Note 2: A father & son, out hunting near Cody, WY recently, defending themselves in a griz attack with a 10mm, recently.

Do you know what direction from Cody?

 

[Talyn]

Do you know what direction from Cody?

South, somewhere 20 miles outside Meeteetse.

Son’s quick thinking saves father from grizzly attack in Wyoming hunting encounter

A father and son from Cody, Wyo. came within yards of death when they were charged by a grizzly bear during a hunting trip near Meeteetse.

www.ktvq.com

 

[Sld1959]

Rezin bowie to his brother James after the Vidalia sandbar fight... gave him his hunting knife. He is quoted as saying to James, "Here, take old Bowie...he never snaps", meaning the knife would not misfire

Real man dont need a gun .

better than getting into that whole 10mm pistol vs revolvers thing again lol.

I do doubt the guy in texas i made this for ever charged a bear with it lol.
.

 

[Pitdogg2]

Damn nice blade! What steel is it, out of curiosity?

 

[Sld1959]

Damn nice blade! What steel is it, out of curiosity?

If I remember right, been about a decade, it was ATS34. It was called the Texas Trade Knife because we were doing a blind trade. Neither knew what the other was sending. And everything had to be made, found, or traded for. The steel was traded from another guy by fixing the handle on a knife he had.

 

[USMC6094]

I read once about a game guide that packed a 9mm loaded with Buffalo Bore hard cast ammo, when it came down to brass tacks, the Buffalo Bore killed the bear, and there were no injuries, at all....

Granted it's no glamor load, but it still killed said bear.......

 

[Recusant]

Talyn, please feel free to correct me if I’m off the mark here, but the guy in the picture has a high power rifle. So if you have a rifle that will do the job I guess a handgun is a hunters last resort before the griz starts chewing your legs off. I’ll stick with the black bears in the mountains of western Va. since they usually run from me!

 

[KillerFord1977]

Another "opinion" on a never ending topic...

What firearm should you own for grizzly bear defense? What cartridge should you be shooting? And, what ammo?

The Best Handgun Cartridge (and Ammo) for Grizzly Bear Defense

If you ever find yourself in bear country, we share with you the best cartridges and ammo that you can deploy for grizzly bear defense.

www.alloutdoor.com

View attachment 69819

Note: While the author mentions the 180 gr. Heavy Buffalo Bore load, he overlooks that Buffalo Bore has an equivalent 220 gr. 10mm as the Underwood 220 gr, that he claims is the best, which is "relative". BB also has a 200 gr. Hardcast.

Note 2: A father & son, out hunting near Cody, WY recently, defending themselves in a griz attack with a 10mm, recently.

I think the rifle in his hands is shot #1.. just saying.
Then drop that bolt action and unload the pistol

 

[Talyn]

Talyn, please feel free to correct me if I’m off the mark here, but the guy in the picture has a high power rifle. So if you have a rifle that will do the job I guess a handgun is a hunters last resort before the griz starts chewing your legs off. I’ll stick with the black bears in the mountains of western Va. since they usually run from me!

The picture is from the article which the author described as an AI generated image. Therefore it's just for effect.

My second post has the incident's article which occurred in early Oct. so it's could be they were bow-hunting since in many western states gun-season starts in late Oct or early November.

 

[Jester560]

I would be carrying a 454 Casull loaded with a 300gr XTP Magnum bullets at 1500fps.

 

[trader]

so would I - bigger the bears in the area - I'll choose more powerful loadings. A 10 mm despite being my fav semi is a small grizzly or black bear choice. If grizz is around 600-1000 lbs then it will be the casull.

 

[HansGruber]

.41 or .44 mag any day over 10mm.

 

[trader]

.41 or .44 mag any day over 10mm.

totally agree - for me that would be the 45 LC+P so about the same as a .44 mag (1200-1300 ftlbs) a 10mm is a back up for any large bear and not a first choice. IMO and I'll add a decent rifle will be best in large bear country despite the legends and luck of smaller pistols being used.

 

[Jester560]

so would I - bigger the bears in the area - I'll choose more powerful loadings. A 10 mm despite being my fav semi is a small grizzly or black bear choice. If grizz is around 600-1000 lbs then it will be the casull.

For a semi auto, a 460 Rowland would be a good choice. I would prefer it over a 10mm any day and I am a 10mm whore.

 

[Talyn]

Another encounter recently.

Two hunters who shot 530-pound grizzly 24 times share their stunning story of survival - East Idaho News

ISLAND PARK — Dangling from the jaws of a 530-pound grizzly, 20-year-old Riley Hill’s body flung from side-to-side as his hunting buddy Braxton Meyers fired round after round into the bear’s hulking frame. The grizzly’s ferocious teeth sunk deep into his arm, puncturing the skin to the bone, as...

www.eastidahonews.com

Considering the majority of griz encounters are very close range and sudden, how many revolver folks can do a "Jerry Miculek" and empty a 454C or 44mag with nuclear BB/UW loads into a griz at "bad breath" range?

 

[HansGruber]

Another encounter recently.

Two hunters who shot 530-pound grizzly 24 times share their stunning story of survival - East Idaho News

ISLAND PARK — Dangling from the jaws of a 530-pound grizzly, 20-year-old Riley Hill’s body flung from side-to-side as his hunting buddy Braxton Meyers fired round after round into the bear’s hulking frame. The grizzly’s ferocious teeth sunk deep into his arm, puncturing the skin to the bone, as...

www.eastidahonews.com

Considering the majority of griz encounters are very close range and sudden, how many revolver folks can do a "Jerry Miculek" and empty a 454C or 44mag with nuclear BB/UW loads into a griz at "bad breath" range?

Let’s be honest.

If you’re emptying a 10mm with full power loads, it’s spray and pray at best.

Your best shot will likely be your first, and in that case, I’d rather have a much more powerful round.

 

[Jester560]

Let’s be honest.

If you’re emptying a 10mm with full power loads, it’s spray and pray at best.

Your best shot will likely be your first, and in that case, I’d rather have a much more powerful round.

Exactly!

 

[3L120]

Rezin bowie to his brother James after the Vidalia sandbar fight... gave him his hunting knife. He is quoted as saying to James, "Here, take old Bowie...he never snaps", meaning the knife would not misfire

Real man dont need a gun .

View attachment 69823

better than getting into that whole 10mm pistol vs revolvers thing again lol.

I do doubt the guy in texas i made this for ever charged a bear with it lol.
.

That’s not a knife, this is. Ordered from MartinCutlery in Lubbock. Took 3 months to get to me in the Nam. Great at brush cutting in the jungle, never used it for its intended purchase, but carried her for 9 months. Now reposes in a display case! Randall had a 2 year delivery date…

 

[Sld1959]

That’s not a knife, this is. Ordered from MartinCutlery in Lubbock. Took 3 months to get to me in the Nam. Great at brush cutting in the jungle, never used it for its intended purchase, but carried her for 9 months. Now reposes in a display case! Randall had a 2 year delivery date…

Not bad, not a huge fan of the pistol grip handle but nice blade. Looks to be about the same size overall as the one i made.