10 mm semi or 500 Magnum for bears?

If you were out in the woods, what gun would you prefer for protecting yourself against Grizzley’s? 10 mm or 500 Magnum? or 357 Magnum?

Or just bear spray?

9 Likes


Either my .460 mag or my .44 mag. I carry a 10mm everywhere anyways. This is assuming I have no rifle or shotgun on me.

9 Likes

Grizzley Bear=.500 Mag. :bear:

I wish they would have said what caliber. :thinking:

A man picking huckleberries in Montana shot and killed a grizzly bear after it attacked and injured him badly enough that he had to be hospitalized.

The 72-year-old man was alone when the adult female charged him Thursday. He killed the bear with a handgun, according to a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks statement Friday.

6 Likes

Only way I would attempt to spray a bear is with bullets from a sub-machine gun.

3 Likes

F-18 Hornet

9 Likes

High powered rifle is the best bet. Slug from a shotgun would be my second choice. Though most bear charges are bluff charges and against a bluff charge bear spray would be the best choice.

10mm seems to be gaining significant popularity in AK for brown bear protection. The most important thing is having a bullet that can penetrate far enough to hit something vital. A hard cast lead 10mm bullet can do that easily. Then you need to put that bullet in the right spot and 10mm gives you more chances to do that with higher capacity, lower recoil and faster follow up shoots than 500 magnum or similar high power revolvers.

If I was taking a trip to AK my choice would be bear spray and a 10mm for brown bear defense. The 10mm would also be a better choice over the 500 for two legged critter defense which is the most likely threat we are going to encounter in the woods or in the city.

6 Likes
3 Likes

Bear Spray. It works.

Though when I truly went to bear territory I also carried a .44 mag

The trouble with long guns is I bet real $$ if you are truly out in the backcountry/bear country, you are going to set it down. What is physically on your person and available to draw from virtually any position is what really counts.

4 Likes

There are a fair number of bears shot in self defense stories. Surprisingly enough, caliber doesn’t seem to matter very much in the results

4 Likes

10mm Auto 200gr. Flat Nose Black Cherry Coated Hard Cast Hunting Ammo

image
500 S&W Magnum 500gr. Flat Nose Gas Check Black Cherry Coated Hard Cast Hunting Ammo

500 S&W Magnum 700gr. Wide Flat Nose Black Cherry Coated Hard Cast Hunting Ammo

4 Likes

Do you know the difference from brown bear scat and Grizzley bear scat?
Brown bear scat will have berries and salmon in it and grizzley will have a pepper scent and you will find bells and whistles in it.

12 Likes

Bear Spray is more successful.

Gun guys have a hard time not choosing and laboring over the gun.

Still…bear spray is proven more successful. Just sayin

(I still chose/choose to have both)

4 Likes

The gun you can hit the bear with reliably that has enough velocity and mass to penetrate deeply into the bear. One that you can retain control of should your first shot not yield the desired results. A super blaster isn’t any good if you can’t hit a charging bear with it.

8 Likes

Don’t be ridiculous, Biden said you would need an F-15 or a nuke. Bear =Gubment

6 Likes

This guy killed a brown bear in self defense using a 9mm handgun. He has some very good points about the kind of gun he chooses to carry in the wilderness, and why.

4 Likes

I don’t care who you are, THAT is hilarious!

3 Likes

Not living in bear country, I have no opinion on best defensive tactics or munitions. A friend who frequents fishing spots in SW Indiana has told me of several encounters he ha had with bobcats hanging out in trees nears the boat ramps and popular bank fishing spots. With those felines, you’re lucky to even catch a glimpse of them before they drop on your head. They’re fast. Like, marsupial fast.

4 Likes

Back in the early 2000s I remember seeing pics, taken after the fact, of a polar bear finding a soft taco in a tent. He fought the bear off with a hunting knife. That bear did some major damage though.

Soft taco is defined as a camper asleep in his sleeping bag

7 Likes

Two guys out hiking and a Grizzley appears out of nowhere, one guy knowing he is a faster runner takes off running while the other starts running too but trips and falls knocking himself un-conscience. The bear passes the guy who falls un-conscience and chases down the fast runner who, like anyone else, not fast enough.
So, you can outrun your friend, but you cannot outrun a bear.
Actually, running away just makes you look more like a meal, Do not run!

image

6 Likes

Anyone of the three works

1 Like