10mm for bear defense

I have an ATC for wilderness carry and I usually use my G21 with 10mm conversion barrel. Is it the 'best' bear cartridge? Probably not, but it sure beats a can of pepper spray.

I'm comfortable with the 10mm in blackbear country.
 
9mm against a bear?

Has anyone heard of a 9mm being used to fend off a bear?

i have a lot of blacks and browns where I live, even on the yard from time to time, but I imagine a 9mm is too light even for that. Not that I would ever carry without a permit.
 
Yes, the 9mm is too light for reliable bear protection.I dont think the bullets would penetrate deep enough to reach the vitals or penetrate the skull.
 
Big Mike said:
Yes, the 9mm is too light for reliable bear protection.I dont think the bullets would penetrate deep enough to reach the vitals or penetrate the skull.
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This is simply untrue. No handgun round can kill a bear through shock energy - well OK the .475 Linebaugh will. What must happen though is that the bullet must pass directly through the brain, therefore a bullet with exceptional penetrating characteristics must be chosen - and the 9mm and various .36's seem to have the edge in this regard, with the added advantage of low recoil for fast multiple shots on target. Check Suputin's thread about pistol bullets penetrating body armour.

Now for the shooting problem. The bear's brain pan is very narrow - about as wide as his snout. Neither is it very deep - so the aiming point must be about in line with his ears for elevation, and on the width of his snout for windage. This is greatly confused by the massive width of the bear's head - and if your encounter is at night and at arm's length range - you best get it right.


bigbear5.jpg
 
good luck aiming any handgun if it charges you. You are shooting like a mad man trying to hit fur. A charging bear is dam fast, ive seen one in action. You don't have a hope or prayer hitting the brain. Its really too bad we cant carry high cap mags anymore. I would rather put 12 of the 17 9mm +p rds thru a bear than say 4 10mm rds. Shotgun is still the best option.
 
Anybody here actually shoot a bear, charging or otherwise with a handgun?

I haven't. although I've slaughtered livestock with handguns. Shoot them properly, and a bull will drop at the shot....

Phil Shoemaker (Alaskan Grizzly outfitter for 30 odd years, lives with bears year round) wrote an interesitng article a coupel of years ago on the topic.

He has shot and killed charging grizzlies with a handgun.

He thought that a double action revolver in a managable cartridge was the best choice, and he used a 357 for some tiume, before buyin a44 for himself and pasisng hte 357 along to his daugther.

Since the only way to stop a charging bear with a handgun is penetration (hopefully of the brain) he wanted multiple shots with a good bullet. He didn't want the hand cannons like the Casulls etc, since they took too long to recover and make a follow up shot.

He also believed that the primary purpose of the handgun in bear defense was not too shoot a bear, but to give you the confidence you needed to stand them down, and act like a dominant male bear, which is an excellent point.

I know that when dealing with aggresive bears, I prefer a big rifle to a handgun or shotgun, but having a handgun on your person gives you just that much more chance of survival, whether the handgun is a 9mm or a 500 S&W.

I'll tkae a 9mm on my side over the .375 H&H I left in the truck, anyday.;)
 
I'll tkae a 9mm on my side over the .375 H&H I left in the truck, anyday.
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And that's what it comes down to. People can (and will) argue over the 'best' bear defense strategies, calibres, etc all they want, but given a choice over a 9mm and a can of pepper spray, I'll take the 9mm.
 
I think gatehouse put it the best. But come on guys, given the choice between a can o' spray, gun or an axe....I'll take ANYTHING!!
 
I have a buddy who's job is in grizzly and black bear territory.
He carries a 10mm. As stated before better than a can of seasoning....

Jacky
 
I've got soem Corbon 44 Mag 320 Gr Bullet at 1270 FPS for 1146 Ft/Lbs... Now that should stop a bear...

But I do like the 400 CB and the 10mm...
 
Up until this year I carried a Mossberg Shotgun with me for bear protection backed up by my 1911 in .45acp. The latter because I can hit what I aim at and the gun will be on me all the time instead of 100 yards downstream with my backpack. Now this spring I will carry my 1911 loaded with 45-08 cartridges with 200 gr hardcast LSWC. 1,350 fps will do the biggest bears we have up here in provided I can hit him. Gunnar tells me he can get six shots off in half the time he can with a wheel gun of similar power ie .44 mag. The 10MM is nice but the .45-08 is much nicer!

Rifles are nice but at 10 yards you better have something that goes bang in a hurray more than once. Hand cannons are nice but one round isn't going to do it unless you get lucky.

Stay Safe
 
carry permit for back country

I have had bears on my front step, on my lawn, and up the tree as I walked past with my hockey bag. I am 12 km from the nearest town in a wooded area. How does one obtain a backwoods carry permit?
 
Be a trapper, prospector, hunting guide or be discrete, be quiet and just do it. If you are truly in a remote area where there are bears and you are not armed in some fashion you are either a fool or extremely brave. Naw nobody is that brave I'll go with stupid and leave it at that.

Stay Safe

Incidently it is $80 per year for the permit if you are a prospector etc.
 
Canuck44 said:
Be a trapper, prospector, hunting guide or be discrete, be quiet and just do it. If you are truly in a remote area where there are bears and you are not armed in some fashion you are either a fool or extremely brave. Naw nobody is that brave I'll go with stupid and leave it at that.

Stay Safe

Incidently it is $80 per year for the permit if you are a prospector etc.
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Where can one learn about this and how easy is it ?? Do you have a link to a government site ?/

Jacky
 
jacky

Go to the Canada Firearms website. It is all there.

Not to difficult really but you must be a full time prospector, trapper etc.

For me I had it for a year and figured nobody up here cared anyway if you carried in the bush as the CO's, RCMP and Fishery boys understand there is a problem and for $80 it just wasn't worth it.

Sty Safe
 
Canuck44 said:
Not to difficult really but you must be a full time prospector, trapper etc.
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this is a popular misconception.

practically speaking there are almost no full time prospectors or trappers anymore (meaning they glean 100% of their annual income from their trade)

as long as you are actually prospecting or trapping while carrying or transporting, the law (and the wording of the authorization) is being complied with.
 
The requirement is that you work full time as a prospector which is considered to be 4 days a week by CFC. It is a criminal offence to make a false statement in your application for an ATC permit.

It is now irrelavent where your income comes from other than if it can be proven by CFC that you are working in a full time job somewhere else but stating that prospecting is your full time job.

Don't carry handguns in the bush if you are not licensed to do so, advising people to do this will help them end up in jail resulting in a criminal record.

With that said I have not seen an enforcment officer in over 3 years when I'm in remote areas here in BC.
 
Camp Cook said:
The requirement is that you work full time as a prospector which is considered to be 4 days a week by CFC. It is a criminal offence to make a false statement in your application for an ATC permit.
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If that is true, it is not currently the working policy. There are several prospectors affiliated with us that work casually and stated so in their applications (I endorsed their applications to CFC so I know what they declared).

As with any permit (drivers license, blasting ticket), the permit is only as legal as the bearer is in compliance with it's conditions anyways. Whether you make a false statement or not, you still have to be operating within the conditions imposed and within the declarations you made in your application.
 
rgv

With respect sir I have to say nonsense! There is no stipulation that you earn 100% of your income from prospecting or trapping. IN BC you pay $25 for a free miners license. You attach a copy of that along with a letter from a range officer that you know how to shoot, fill in the application and you will get an ATT to carry while prospecting in remote areas. I applied and got one. No big deal. Cost was $80 p.a. My ATT was issued for three months at a time for reasons gun god only knows. Renewals for further three month periods were automatic upon a ophone call. I assume this is also true for hunting guides, trappers and I believe bush pilots.

As I posted earlier, anyone hikinig, camping or fishing in bear country unarmed is just dumb. Do what you want but being attacked by a black bear is not one of life's most pleasant experiences. For those who disagree, carry on, do as you please just do us all a favour and let us know where abouts you are going, makes it easier to find you when the time comes.


Stay Safe
 
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