Can my Glock 23 40 S&W or P2000 H&K 40 S&W bring down a Black or Grizzly bear?

Question

Am going camping and thinking of taken a handgun for protection. Want to know if these handguns can protect me against a bear.

Answer 1

I have answered many "bear defense" questions over the years, but you are the first person who has asked about the 40 S&W for taking down a bear.

A bear isn't a tank and it is not some mystical animal that can not be brought down. If you do an internet search, you'll find a number of stories about people bringing down black and brown bear with a 22 rimfire. This isn't something I'd try, but it has been done.

What you need to look for in a bear defense handgun is something that is a compromise between power and recoil. Two hits from a 357 Magnum is much better than one miss with a 454 Casull.

To be honest, a handgun isn't my weapon of choice when in bear county. If it was, I'd personally opt for a 41 Magnum. I would call the 40 S&W adequate at best. However, if you are familiar with the weapon and can shoot it well, in the end, that is much more important than more muzzle energy.

Chances are, you won't have to worry about a bear attack. I have walked more miles and fished more salmon streams in Alaska than I can remember. I have yet to be attacked by a bear or have anything I'd even classify a close call.

You are smart to carry a firearm, "just in case". While I have never had an issue with a bear, I have always carried a rifle or handgun. Better to have one and not need it and need one and not have it.

Answer 2

If a grizzly charges you when you're carrying a .40 S&W pistol, play dead and hope it's not real hungry. I don't know if playing dead will work for polar bears, but you really won't have anything to lose by trying it. Yes, a .40S&W can kill a grizzly. The problem is that it will probably die from blood loss hours after it is shot, from an infection days after it is shot, or maybe it will be injured too badly to hunt and die of starvation months later. However, it will not drop in it's tracks, and you will never know what happened to the bear, but by then it won't matter to you. There are guns that were designed for hunting grizzlies, but hunting and defending yourself are not the same. If I were charged by a grizzly, I would want a gun that was designed to kill an elephant, or at least a large caliber gun firing a heavy bullet, like say a .450 Marlin or a 12 gauge with slugs.

Answer 3

i would take a rifle, or at least a 44 magnum handgun. The 40 is on about the same power level as the 357 mag. If you do shoot a bear of any kind with a 40 smith, dont wait till the gun is empty to start running like hell.

Answer 4

Maybe, most likely it would be alright on a black bear, but it might be a Little small for a Griz.
And I am sure you know NEVER shoot a bear in the head, especially with a small cal. handgun

Answer 5

Wil it bring it down? Hell NO, will it piss it off? Hell YES you need magnum power my man 357 mag 41mag 44 mag etc,oh and dont shoot it in the head because the slope of the skull will only deflect the bullets, shoot in the center of mass ,or just rattle your pots and pans to scare it away

Answer 6

yup,it will bring down anything on this continent,but so will a .22 lr.The question you should consider is how much damage can he do before he falls down ? The .40 S&W may not have the penetration to do the job quickly,or effectively.

Answer 7

Can it? Sure. Would I bet my life on it if I had something larger available? No chance. But if it's what you've got, take it, the one you have is better than nothing.

Answer 8

better than nothing-IF you get attacked

Answer 9

yes, take a head shot

Answer 10

if you can hit it in the head