Handguns?????????????????//?

Question

What would a good black bear protection handgun be for a beginner handgun shooter besides a 44 magnum


and what would the smallest caliber be that could kill one

Answer 1

I don't live in black bear country but a good friend of mine than hunts them in Idaho all ways takes his glock 20 (10mm) to back up his 7mm mag rifle. I would hesitate going smaller. And only advise a 10mm for someone who is very experienced as shot placement gets more critical in the lower powered guns and a beginner should not be so armed. If you reloaded I would say a 357 would be the smallest but only because you could load heavy controlled expansion bullets at higher velocity than the factories usually load them. But then you would not be a beginner.... If you are in bear country and feel you may have a chance encounter take a 12 ga shot gun loaded with slugs, as they will do the trick every time.

Answer 2

For the beginning shooter, I would seriously recommend either the .357 or .41 Magnum. The + to the .357 is the fact that you can also use .38 special ammo for practice prior to shooting any .357 ammo. As far as ammo to carry for protection in the .357, and I am assuming the weapon will have a barrel length of @ least 4", that a good 200 grain hard cast load with muzzle velocity of about 1200 fps as offered by Cor-Bon, Buffalo Bore or some other speciality hunting ammo which will give you sufficient penetration and power to keep you from becoming BBS.
Now for my personal preference since 1971, the 41 Magnum.
And here, I will even name the particular weapon I have carried for over 30 years; a Ruger Blackhawk w/ 4/5/8" bbl. preferably carried in a cross draw holster. Now for the drawbacks of the .41. There is no .41 Special ammo available, which means that any factory ammo is going to have recoil only slightly less then the .44 Mag. There are options to solve the problem of recoil. Either learn how to re-load your own ammo or find a friend or licensed dealer who can make custom loads to help you become comfortable and skilled with the firearm of your choice. My favorite factory ammo is made by PMC, a 210 grain Jacketed Hollow Point round which has always proved to be very accurate and of reasonable velocity. Although I shoot little factory ammo any more due to my making my own re-loads, I do keep a couple boxes of Cor-Bon .41Mag 265GR Hard Cast loads just for the curcumstances you ask about. This load will give complete penetration on the largest black bear walking from any angle. Most Black Bear Outfitters recommend a minimum of .40 caliber with at least a 200 gr bullet traveling @ least 1000 fps which makes the .357 a little on the light side. But remember, a .357 in hand beats a .44 mag left in camp. Whatever you choose, before you decide to put yourself in a situtation where you may need a firearm, learn how to use it and practice until it becomes second nature to hit your target each and every time you draw it and fire a shot. You may not have time to think about what is happening until its too late; you must simply be able to react. Eskimos have used a .22 cal. rifle to kill polar bears; but I sure wouldn't suggest doing so.

Answer 3

The minimum handgun protection for Black Bear is the .357 Magnum. The Glock Model 20 in .10mm would serve you better. It is as potent as the old .41 Magnum and it holds more bullets. Other viable handguns for hunting backup are:

The old .38-40, the .44-40, the .45 Long Colt (NOT the .45 acp) and the .44 Special.

Good luck.

H

Answer 4

I use a 357 Magnum for black bears, Deer and Wild pig with a Quality 150 grain Hollow point bullet or a 180 grain Partition.
My brother has taken Alaskan Brown Bears with a 41 Magnum several years back.
The most important factors is shot placement and Quality ammo.
I would not go below a 357 Magnum or 150 grain bullet with the 180 being better.
I use a Ruger GP100 with 6 inch barrel or my Blackhawk with a 6 ½ inch barrel.
Both are 357 Magnum.


D58


Hunting with Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle loader and Bow for over 3 decades.
Reloading Rifle, Pistol and shotgun for over 3 decades.

Answer 5

Any big game can be killed with something as small as a .22LR round, if the shot was well placed. However, I would NOT carry anything less than a 4" barreled .357 Magnum. A .41 Magnum would be more desirable for bears, if you find the .44 Magnum too hard to handle.

Answer 6

You don't want to know the smallest that will kill one. What you want is the minimum that's reliable. 357 would probably do, but I'd feel better with a 41 magnum. Moreover, though the 210-220 grain loads would do, I'd prefer a 140-150 grain hard cast flat nose bullet in it. That puts it into strictly handloading territory, but there you have it.

Answer 7

I dislike revolvers a great deal due to a lack of ammo capacity and slow reloading time. I would suggest a Glock 20 in 10mm automatic caliber for protection against black bears. 10mm has a velocity of about 1500 fps and 600 foot pounds of muzzle energy in a 180 grain hollow point bullet. I also like the .45 automatic in terms of stopping power because although it isn't a high performance bullet like a .357 or a .41 magnum, it has size and weight which will drop a predator just as good. If it were me going with a .45 automatic hand gun, I would prefer the Taurus PT-145 because it is small, light and can carry 10 rounds of .45 ACP ammo.

Answer 8

I'd go with the .357 Magnum with 158gr slugs. Revolvers in .41 Magnum are uncommon now and the shells are definitely getting harder to find as well as expenisve. Not to mention the fact that .41 Magnum full power loads (factory stuff) are so similar to .44 magnum factory loads.

Answer 9

Perhaps you should reconsider the question. Not the lightest that will theoretically kill, but the most gun you can handle might be better. A baseball pitcher might could kill one with a rock, but that doesn't mean you could.

Answer 10

.357 mag. is smallest you would want to consider, but don't. stick with the 44 mag. just shoot 44 specials in it until you get comfortable with it, then switch to 44mag. loads and practice, practice,practice and use ear protection!!