A huge thank you to everyone stopping by. Source of my info that makes for some good reading: www.ammoland.com/2021/06/handgun-or-pistol-against-bear-attacks-104-cases-97-effective/
When I was in the Marine Corps, I made 4 trips to Greenland to train on the ice cap. We would go out for several weeks at a time to practice skiing with sleds an packs plus camping and ice climbing. For every two Marines we carried a .12 pump shotgun loaded down with slugs. Polar bears were a big threat and I only saw one at a distance. We were worried about the ones you don’t see!😊
For bear protection, the top choices for weight and portability, and stopping power are 357 mag, 10 mm, 45 ACP and 40 S&W, all with FMJ ammo. You can carry these around all day and still have good bear protection. Glock and similar pistols are pretty light weight. A good 357 6 shot revolver with a 4" barrel will serve well too.
I was surprised about how well the 9mm did. A 9mm in +P maybe the best carry option in weight vs punch. I have owned just about every 44 magnum model out there. I still have my two Super Blackhawks. One in 7.5 inch and one in 5 inch. The 5 inch is great to carry but is not fun to shoot with hot loads that the 7.5 inch handles fairly easily. I purchased a 6" Colt Anaconda and was very much surprised how well it shoots. All the other double action 44s, S&W, Redhawk, Tauris, the double action hump slap me in the web of my hand with hot loads. But not the Anaconda. It handles all loads, even the hot ones, great. It is now my favorite 44 revolver. Great video by the way!
In no particular order: It is no surprise that .45 ACP was effective. What many people don't realize is that those pistols were initially issued to horse cavalry units because they were intended to kill horses with. The .44 Magnum is a truly excellent round that can get the job done. My current pistol is a .454 Casull. Depending on the ammo you're using you have 3 different power levels to choose from. You can go with the original .45 Colt ammo, you can go with .45 Colt +P (rough .44 Magnum equivalent NOT to be used in most revolvers) and full power .454 Casull. As to not being able to get a lot of shots off with full power .454 Casull ammo I can see that argument. But realistically how many shots do you think you'll be getting off anyway? You connect with .454 Casull something is going to know it was hit. And one always has the option of ratcheting back to .45 Colt +P which should give you both reasonable power and control. Last but not least, regardless of which caliber you use having a wounded bear run off into the woods is not a desirable situation. Granted that you came through ok, but that bear may very well end up looking for other people to take its pain and anger out on. Thus I would argue that people use the heaviest caliber they can handle effectively. If you want to fire a warning shot into the dirt to try to scare it off that's one thing. But if you're actually going to shoot the bear do your level best to kill it.
My father harvested a 400 pound black bear in the 1980s. At the taxidermist shop, they found a .357/9mm size lead bullet lodged in its forehead that didn't fully penetrate its skull. I've always wondered about the true story behind that bullet.
@@Manbunmen65 harvest (verb): 1. gather (a crop) as a harvest; 2. catch or kill (animals) for human consumption or use; 3. remove (cells, tissue, or an organ) from a person or animal for transplantation or experimental purposes; 4. collect or obtain (a resource) for future use.
When I was a kid, I met a guy who saved himself from a charging hog. We met him right after, 20 minutes or so. He was still recovering from the adrenaline. He and his adult sons ran into a sounder and they started firing. A boar charged the dad across a tiny clearing. His rifle jammed, and he drew his revolver and fired. The hog was so close it dropped between his feet. Head shot. They got four pigs total. This was in J.W. Corbett WMA, Florida, circa 1986.
In bear country, the handgun would be a Glock 20 or 40 with 15 rounds of 10mm. It is first what you personally will carry then what can shoot well quickly under stress because misses seldom count.
Greetings from Bristol Bay Alaska. I moved up here with a 7.5" 6 shot 480 Ruger Super Redhawk. There was no way I could get a 3rd round off inside of 3 seconds. And 3 seconds is all you get from 50 yards. Coastal browns can kill on impact. So I upgraded to a gen 4 Glock 40 (6" 15+1 10mm). 357 magnum ft lbs, with 9mm +P+ mag dump ability. 10mm replaced 44 magnum as the #1 choice in bush Alaska.
None of them would be my first choice. But if I had to pick one it would be .40 S&W FMJ. I paused the video and commented before watching... Let the roasting begin!! LOL!!
Ive had a lot of 44 mags, Smith 629 is nice and smooth but the 7.5 inch stainless Ruger Redhawk with Houge grips my fav. The Ruger is a stronger more robust gun and they are heavy and soak up recoil.
Smart choice going with the Ruger. I carry a Smith 29, which as you know is not as beefy of a frame, but also can't handle the really heavy loads that the ruger Redhawk and Blackhawk will take.
You asked about the .41 Magnum. I had a S&W model 57, 4".Only .41 Mag I've ever owned & shot. To me it had more recoil than .44 mag. I've had several mod 29 & 629s. Currently have a custom shop 3" Trail Boss. Magnaported smaller round butt grip.
I got the Ruger Super Redhawk 44 9 1/2 barrel and S&W model 29 between the two I prefer the Ruger it handles the loads much better and also seems more accurate for me. Also years ago had one of those desert eagle 50ae’s once again the Ruger beat it in many ways. Reliability and cost are two of the biggest factors in Ruger favor. Back then finding ammo for 50ae was hard and expensive, not being impressed with the desert eagle I let it go many years ago
You asked about the .41 Mag. The very first pistol that I ever purchased was a Ruger Blackhawk 7.5" in .41M when I was in the army in 84. Unfortunately, I didn't price the ammo before buying the pistol and doing the CA wait thing. $24.99 1984 dollars (as an E-4) for a box of 50 240grn SP. I fired that one box and traded the pistol for .357 2-5/8" Security Six. Much better :).
One of the worst things to do if you are going to be into guns is start with a 22 , it will make you recoil sensitive , start with a 357mag that can use 38special and +p ammo,
I'm by no means an expert, but I did have an encounter in Montana with a Grizzly, I was hiking unarmed, after that I made up my mind to get a revolver big enough to protect me, I decided on S&W 460 because of ballistics, same energy at 200 yards as 44 mag at muzzle!
I live in MT, in the middle of grizzly country, and I would never rely on such a heavy, bulky, hard-recoiling, slow-to-deploy revolver like that. The key is to be able to use the tool you have as quickly and accurately as possible. Have you even tried firing it?
First choice: .357 Magnum loaded with 158 gr LSWC at original specs 1300-1500 fps between 4-6 inch barrels Second choice: .45 ACP 230 gr ball ammo between 830-930 fps (i have handloaded on the upper end) Third Choice: .38 Spl +P 4 inch minimum 158 gr LSWC at 920 fpe (if not 9.8 gr of 2400 at .34-44 velocities pushing 1100 fps) Fourth Choice: 9mm NATO 124 gr FMJ ball 1200 fps
Technically, the grizzly bear is a brown bear. Also, not all brown bears are the same. Bears in Europe tend to be vegetarian and atack 4x less often, even with cubs around. Bears in Kamchatka in Russia are man eating monsters from hell.
There’s an excellent first hand account of a successful bear defense by an Alaska guide using a9mm against a grizzly. He was loaded with the Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman. It’s on the Buffalo Bore website. All were body shots and if I remember right, one of the bullets was recovered in the opposite side skin.
@@deuceandguns Alaskan Guide, Mr. Phil Shoemaker used a S&W 9mm loaded with Bufallo Bore 147 grain Outdoorsman ammunition. I had a 45 minuet telephone conversation with Mr. Shoemaker, his clients and himself were uninjured. he used 7 shots to the main body, no head shots. the Grizzly died nearby. Mr. Phil Shoemaker proved the capability and effectivness of the Bufallo Bore 147 grain Outdoorsman rounds. An alternative to the 147 grain Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman is from Underwood Ammunition. Underwood offers similar 147 grain Flat Nose hard cast Lead ammunition, where the bullets have HiTek coating that Bufallo Bore does not have. Underwood also offers Xtreme Penetrator Copper bullets. Both the HI Tek and Cooper bullets work safely for Glock Hex barrels at a lower price point than Bufallo Bore.
@deuceandguns As a specialty bullet series inventor, I had an interesting 45 minuet telephone conversation with Mr. Phil Shoemaker. He is the real deal and safely ,quickly and effectively put down that Grizzly with no harm to his clients or himself.
The .41 Rem. Magnum is my all time favorite caliber. I have a 6 inch, blue steel Smith...model 57, which looks exactly like the Smith...model 29...[Clint Eastwood's 44 mag.] Now, I'm 5'9...230, heavily into body building so for me firing the .41...210 grain round the recoil doesn't bother me at all. I prefer the 41 over the 44 because of the lighter recoil. I have received comments suggesting I should have bought the 44 mag. just use 44 specials...I guess it comes down to each their own. I figure if there's an environment where a 265 grain hard cast 41 magnum bullet isn't sufficient, then that's an environment you'll never find me in. I also own a 10.mm which also doesn't have much recoil to me, but then again, I'm also firing it out of a 5 inch Smith...model 1006, which is a large frame auto...
Read an article a few years ago (please don’t ask me what magazine!), and a hunter was using his reproduction Brown Bess musket (.75 lead ball), and walked into a grizzly bear feeding. It charged and he actually managed to get off a shot (it was loaded with a full frizzen pan of FFF powder). It hit the bear square in the head (complete luck), and dropped it immediately! I know, not a pistol…but still a great story.
Best firearm for a bear attack? The one you have on you. A little awareness (don't hike with headphones in), and you should have at least enough warning to draw the weapon from your hip or pocket. So, it's got to be small enough that you'll actually hike with it on your hip or in your pocket. Also, have heard many big game guides state that they don't like the large magnums because shot placement and follow up are key. You'll get one shot in the general direction with that hand cannon, or you can get multiple decently aimed shots with a smaller round. 9mm ball ammo has plenty of penetration to put down a grizzly with the proper shot placement.
So few people know that Bear in general does not regard humans as prey. Almost 100% of bear attacks is because of people hunting them or they get agitated by hunting dogs and that leads the bear to the hunter. Moose attacks far more people than Bears do!
IMO,a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter 44mag . A Desert Eagle 44mag. A primary and a secondary ( backup ) that uses the same ammo. $#!t happens. It is easier and faster to put another one in action than to fix a malfunction. Do you want to be stuck with ammo you can not use ?
An FNX Tactical with the 460Rowland conversion might be a good choice over a 44mag. The 460R has mid tier 44mag power, but holds 13+1 in the converted mag, faster shooting and far faster to reload; unless you’re Jerry Miculek. Plus, the FNX is cut for an optic. If you load your own ammo, the 460R costs the same as 45acp.
@deuceandguns . Yeah I carry a glock 20 for 4 legged predators and a glock 19 for 2 legged I know it's some weight but I don't really hike more than 5 hours or so. I'd definitely go bigger than 38 atleadt 357 mag if you like the small revolver is a good choice.
I'd add 357 Sig. to the list and my reasons would be, conversions barrels are available and easily convert the 40 S&W. Better penetration than the 9mm and 40 S&W. Recoil is a little snappier than both mentioned, but, still manageable for most. Suggestion : Carry Flatnose FMJ or Flatnose HardCast for woods protection.
Point of education, a Grizzly is NOT a Brown Bear. Brown Bears are bigger and much meaner when provoked. I don't believe I heard you mention the 500 Smith ? Ease of a pistol with the stopping power of a 12ga.
i own 2 ruger redhawks, one 4 inch and one 7 3/8's barrel, both with the hogue grips, and i've fired the 10mm many times, if you want more rounds and more chances, use the 10mm but i dont think in real life you'll get more than 1 or 2, so i carry my revolvers, and can easily handle to recoil of even the heaviest 44 mag hardcasts, even in a 4 inch barrel the hogue grips make a huge difference, as they say, carry what you can shoot and feel comfortable with, because when it matters no gun will feel like its quite enough for that situation
I think it would be interesting to see what kind of ammunition was used, although this isn't likely to be in the research results. I've always heard/ read against bears penetration is more important than expansion, pretty much the exact opposite of what you want in a normal EDC round against 2-legged predators.
Most likely a jhp, seems most edc carry jhp. If the intentions that day is for woods defense, definitely load up with a jacket flat-nose or flat-nose hardcast
I first learned pistolcraft in the US Army, when we carried the PRC77 radios, we didn't carry the M-16 but had a M1911A1 instead, so we trained and qualified with the pistol. In the Army, of course all you were allowed to carry was 230 grain FMJ ammo, and that's what I carried when I got on the PD after my army days. Still pack a smaller M1911 clone with 230 Grain Hardball ammo. Here in the Dakota's in the winter most folks wear a lot of cloths so if you need to stop them with a handgun on duty, the FMJ will go through their parka's and long johns into the body where you need to do some damage to stop them. Summer, you may see some over penetration but situation awareness should keep you from hitting the kid behind the bad guy. In 25 years on the PD I never needed to test the idea. Thank God.
Sadly they quit making my favorite 44 magnum. The Dan Wesson; I have 4" light barrel and 8" light and 8" heavy barrel. Chest rig or shoulder holster distributes weight better than belt mounted. 300 grain Hornaday are painful in the 4" configuration.
I'm from Florida and I know my #38 special wasn't good enough in Montana & Wyoming, but it's all I had when I toured around in Glacier Nat'l Park, Yellowstone & in Tetons Nat'l Park, but I also had 2 cans of Bear Spray attached to my vest strap & my waist.... Well, I never had a run in with a Grizzly Bear, but I got bluff charged by 2 Black Bears, but they ran off, and I was charged by a Bull Elk in Yellowstone and I had to jump out of the way within maybe 2 feet of getting hit.... I just didn't think it would come at me, so I failed at deploying the Bear Spray when I should have... Lesson learned for next time because Bear Spray works on all animals, and on bad people too which is actually the greater threat.
Damn, i sold my 44mag lever action and still got 150rds left that i didnt know what i was gona do with, but since i havent owned a revolver yet i might have to add one to the collection
An interesting fact about the wild is that your chance of survival is like 20 to 80 where the 20 is you, as the majority of the wild animals living there can pose a deadly encounter toward you and your family. Also, almost none carries a HAM radio programmed to emergency channels or rangers in the area - hunters. The other thing they miss is that apex predators are like serial killers or psychopaths they always hide, not only in the physical world but also inside their mind - like the super subconscious mind and through it sneak up on their victims on their subconscious mind that why they are undetectable, so when you feel comfortable with that part of your psyche it is most probably already too late. When you camp also spray some ammonia around your camp on the ground and stay away from the woods as that is their comfort zone, they have to stay hidden and yes you`ll be exposed in the open, but so they are and to them, it is a threat to survival. An electric fence is also a must if you decide to take your 20 percent survival chances and enter such an area, that is suicide in my opinion. Motion detector alarms with warning flashes are also a must around your campsite, you can also program your HAM radio to nearby amateur radio frequencies to be sure you can ask for help. Please, allow your radio to act as a transmitter so you can extend the range of other frequencies users staying in the area, and a GPS device with SOS mode is also a must. If guns are available you have to have them too, preferably a larger caliber with high grain bullets 140gr and up, and you should be able to use them when have to, so practice is a must. Out in the wild survival is key and dominance is a key to survival. For a bear on foot due to its length a 20 feet path takes about 1.5 sec, so prepare to face death and be able to act on it accordingly.
@@deuceandguns them and underwood ammo lists on their website the guns that can handle the heaviest stuff. Trust me, it kicks like a rabid mule on steroids!
Sorry for the odd wording. The powers that be wouldn't let me use certain words. Im about totally sure that if you put a 22 bean in a bears balloon, it will stop what it is doing mll. Provided said bear doesn't surprise you too badly and you can land one or more in the balloon. Tbh, if I am in a bear situation I am taking balloon placement no matter what size bean it may be.
I read about a case in Alaska where a moose hunter was charged by a brown bear and killed it. He called the game wardens and when they examined it they found 6 38 Bullets in it and human remains in it's stomach. Then they conducted a search and found the half eaten remains of a hiker with an empty 38 special close to the body. The moose hunter didn't get in any trouble but he couldn't keep the bear because he didn't have a bear license
I'm confident enough in the 357 Magnum plus I'm a surgeon even with the 22LR I'm that confident definitely have to be a rifle in that case though like I said I'm a surgeon so I could get the job done and like you said it depends on the kind of bear as well that definitely makes all the difference some Bear hides can eat most pistol rounds like tic tacs
The thing about 44 mag is, that while it is a beast of a Pistol cartridge it has about half the power of a 30-30 and I don't think anyone hunts Brown Bears with a 30-30.
I have a Classic series Model 29 6.5" and a new production Anaconda 8", they're both nicely made but the double action trigger pull on the Colt is so much nicer. Model 29 for the Dirty Harry appeal, Anaconda for the trigger, hope this helps.
Any record of someone using a .410 slug on any kind of bear? Specifically from a revolver such as the Judge, etc. and not necessarily a shotgun? Should be mentioned such a revolver is capable of firing the .45 Colt which I beleive I've heard is more powerful than a .45acp. Additionally (this might be just my imagination) I could almost swear/bet that I've heard of a "Governor" revolver which can fire 3 different calibers. Like the Judge, it fires .45 Colt, .410, but can't remember the 3rd caliber. It was a long time ago when I heard of such a revolver... anyway thanks in advance for addressing my question
Not a .410, but there was one from a .45 long colt fired from a Judge which was successful. I know I talked about it when filming, but it must have gotten edited out by mistake. FYI - the S&W Governor can also fire 45acp using moonclips.
I learned to continue to avoid bears, which is easy in my county. The large predators one is most likely to encounter here are alligators, sharks, the occasional crocodile, loose dogs, and lately, coyotes! (Google coyotes in Fort Lauderdale).
One of the biggest grizzly bears ever killed was with a single shot 22lr rifle. It was a defensive killing in canada by a women picking berries. Black bears actually attack many, many more people every year than grizzlies.
Strike 1 for even mentioning a 22 regardless of the data. Those individuals were lucky. Never leave your life in the hands of a rimfire....too sketchy/unreliable and not near enough penetration to be considered viable. Strike 2 for including wounded bears and those that fled the scene. A wounded bear is a far bigger problem (read a Jim Crobett book....any of them). Strike 3 for not emphasizing the right ammo (namely solid lead hard nose +P ammo. Sorry man you're out.
The Russian 9mm is not the same 355cal as the 9mm Luger and 380 its cal is larger and weeker like the older topbreak s&w 38 , i had one after it bounced off the door of a Datsun , i went 357mag and magnums only ,
If price isn't an issue...Smith and Wesson model 29. If on a budget...Taurus (don't listen to the haters) makes some pretty decent .44 Magnum revolvers. When I'm in the woods, I carry a modified SIG P220 in .45 Super, firing a 200 to 255 grain SWHC bullet traveling between 1100 to 1350 fps. Some of the penetrator ammo looks promising as well...135 grain projectile at 1500 fps...huge fireball...tons of fun. Kamala Harris for President!!! :)
Someone else was having trouble posting. Outside of a few words that could impact my channel, the only thing I have blocked in the comments is my personal info like my address. This is my first video that has been put under UA-cam's new AI review bot, so maybe that's what's happening.
Ok I'm going to have to correct you. All you have to say is 1911 when it's 45acp. Everything else else including 10mm would be that caliber style 1911. Ie 10mm style 1911 or 1911 style in 10mm. You know proper 1911 ediqit... lol 😅😅
I am sure that some of those .45’s was actually .45 Long Colt instead of .45 acp. I have no doubt that many of those successful cases was also .45 acp, along with .45 long colt. What would be interesting to know is how many of those .44 caliber’s used was actually .44 cap and ball, as they was used even into the early 20’s century and still used even to this day.
None of the pistols/calibers mentioned is a viable bear defense gun . NONE. Some of the suggestions are patently ridiculous. Knowledgeable individuals recommend a 10 mm, .44 magnum as minimum.
Firstly, these aren't recommendations but a list of real-life reports. Secondly, I go over both 10mm and 44 mag in this video, but thanks for watching half of it...I guess.
@@mitchpalmer5116 maybe you could suggest a way to keep bears away while a person hiking or camping? I don’t think people “let” bears do anything. A 1000lb bear usually does whatever it wants.
@@mitchpalmer5116 this is not like the bear in "Ted" this is like the bear that holds you down with one paw while it takes you apart with the other and it's jaws, while you sing loudly, stoping only when it gets to your lungs......comprende Buddy?
A huge thank you to everyone stopping by. Source of my info that makes for some good reading: www.ammoland.com/2021/06/handgun-or-pistol-against-bear-attacks-104-cases-97-effective/
When I was in the Marine Corps, I made 4 trips to Greenland to train on the ice cap. We would go out for several weeks at a time to practice skiing with sleds an packs plus camping and ice climbing. For every two Marines we carried a .12 pump shotgun loaded down with slugs. Polar bears were a big threat and I only saw one at a distance. We were worried about the ones you don’t see!😊
For bear protection, the top choices for weight and portability, and stopping power are 357 mag, 10 mm, 45 ACP and 40 S&W, all with FMJ ammo. You can carry these around all day and still have good bear protection. Glock and similar pistols are pretty light weight. A good 357 6 shot revolver with a 4" barrel will serve well too.
I agree.
My choices are 9mm for the hoods, 10mm for the woods.
People tend to be intimidated by the fibs factor, bears, not so much. 10 mm is ny choice.
I was surprised about how well the 9mm did. A 9mm in +P maybe the best carry option in weight vs punch. I have owned just about every 44 magnum model out there. I still have my two Super Blackhawks. One in 7.5 inch and one in 5 inch. The 5 inch is great to carry but is not fun to shoot with hot loads that the 7.5 inch handles fairly easily. I purchased a 6" Colt Anaconda and was very much surprised how well it shoots. All the other double action 44s, S&W, Redhawk, Tauris, the double action hump slap me in the web of my hand with hot loads. But not the Anaconda. It handles all loads, even the hot ones, great. It is now my favorite 44 revolver. Great video by the way!
In no particular order: It is no surprise that .45 ACP was effective. What many people don't realize is that those pistols were initially issued to horse cavalry units because they were intended to kill horses with.
The .44 Magnum is a truly excellent round that can get the job done.
My current pistol is a .454 Casull. Depending on the ammo you're using you have 3 different power levels to choose from. You can go with the original .45 Colt ammo, you can go with .45 Colt +P (rough .44 Magnum equivalent NOT to be used in most revolvers) and full power .454 Casull.
As to not being able to get a lot of shots off with full power .454 Casull ammo I can see that argument. But realistically how many shots do you think you'll be getting off anyway? You connect with .454 Casull something is going to know it was hit. And one always has the option of ratcheting back to .45 Colt +P which should give you both reasonable power and control.
Last but not least, regardless of which caliber you use having a wounded bear run off into the woods is not a desirable situation. Granted that you came through ok, but that bear may very well end up looking for other people to take its pain and anger out on. Thus I would argue that people use the heaviest caliber they can handle effectively. If you want to fire a warning shot into the dirt to try to scare it off that's one thing. But if you're actually going to shoot the bear do your level best to kill it.
My father harvested a 400 pound black bear in the 1980s. At the taxidermist shop, they found a .357/9mm size lead bullet lodged in its forehead that didn't fully penetrate its skull. I've always wondered about the true story behind that bullet.
You mean he killed it and not farmed it.
@@Manbunmen65 harvest (verb): 1. gather (a crop) as a harvest; 2. catch or kill (animals) for human consumption or use; 3. remove (cells, tissue, or an organ) from a person or animal for transplantation or experimental purposes; 4. collect or obtain (a resource) for future use.
O
When I was a kid, I met a guy who saved himself from a charging hog. We met him right after, 20 minutes or so. He was still recovering from the adrenaline. He and his adult sons ran into a sounder and they started firing. A boar charged the dad across a tiny clearing. His rifle jammed, and he drew his revolver and fired. The hog was so close it dropped between his feet. Head shot. They got four pigs total. This was in J.W. Corbett WMA, Florida, circa 1986.
Lever guns do jam once in a while and can be very hard to fix
In bear country, the handgun would be a Glock 20 or 40 with 15 rounds of 10mm. It is first what you personally will carry then what can shoot well quickly under stress because misses seldom count.
Greetings from Bristol Bay Alaska. I moved up here with a 7.5" 6 shot 480 Ruger Super Redhawk. There was no way I could get a 3rd round off inside of 3 seconds. And 3 seconds is all you get from 50 yards. Coastal browns can kill on impact. So I upgraded to a gen 4 Glock 40 (6" 15+1 10mm). 357 magnum ft lbs, with 9mm +P+ mag dump ability. 10mm replaced 44 magnum as the #1 choice in bush Alaska.
I hate the fact that your beautiful Ruger Super Redhawk is taking second fiddle to a Glock, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
None of them would be my first choice. But if I had to pick one it would be .40 S&W FMJ. I paused the video and commented before watching... Let the roasting begin!! LOL!!
Honestly that was my first thought too lol
Hardcast or extreme penetrators sol8d copper is better than fmj
Yep I chose the .40 as well.
Ive had a lot of 44 mags, Smith 629 is nice and smooth but the 7.5 inch stainless Ruger Redhawk with Houge grips my fav. The Ruger is a stronger more robust gun and they are heavy and soak up recoil.
Exactly the info I'm looking for. Thank you.
You can find used Dan Wesson sometimes at good prices not as popular as some but a quality gun
Smart choice going with the Ruger. I carry a Smith 29, which as you know is not as beefy of a frame, but also can't handle the really heavy loads that the ruger Redhawk and Blackhawk will take.
You asked about the .41 Magnum. I had a S&W model 57, 4".Only .41 Mag I've ever owned & shot. To me it had more recoil than .44 mag. I've had several mod 29 & 629s. Currently have a custom shop 3" Trail Boss. Magnaported smaller round butt grip.
I got the Ruger Super Redhawk 44 9 1/2 barrel and S&W model 29 between the two I prefer the Ruger it handles the loads much better and also seems more accurate for me.
Also years ago had one of those desert eagle 50ae’s once again the Ruger beat it in many ways. Reliability and cost are two of the biggest factors in Ruger favor. Back then finding ammo for 50ae was hard and expensive, not being impressed with the desert eagle I let it go many years ago
You asked about the .41 Mag. The very first pistol that I ever purchased was a Ruger Blackhawk 7.5" in .41M when I was in the army in 84. Unfortunately, I didn't price the ammo before buying the pistol and doing the CA wait thing. $24.99 1984 dollars (as an E-4) for a box of 50 240grn SP. I fired that one box and traded the pistol for .357 2-5/8" Security Six. Much better :).
You answered my question.
Who the hell takes a .22 to polar bear country????
I know! I assume this wasn't the only poor decision that person made that day.
Biden?
One of the worst things to do if you are going to be into guns is start with a 22 , it will make you recoil sensitive , start with a 357mag that can use 38special and +p ammo,
people with ovaries that can't handle anything bigger than an air rifle
😂
I'm by no means an expert, but I did have an encounter in Montana with a Grizzly, I was hiking unarmed, after that I made up my mind to get a revolver big enough to protect me, I decided on S&W 460 because of ballistics, same energy at 200 yards as 44 mag at muzzle!
I live in MT, in the middle of grizzly country, and I would never rely on such a heavy, bulky, hard-recoiling, slow-to-deploy revolver like that. The key is to be able to use the tool you have as quickly and accurately as possible. Have you even tried firing it?
I usually carry my Glock model 41 for a woods gun. 14 rounds of .45acp and weighs less than my 1911s.
Mossberg 590 ! 😊
First choice: .357 Magnum loaded with 158 gr LSWC at original specs 1300-1500 fps between 4-6 inch barrels
Second choice: .45 ACP 230 gr ball ammo between 830-930 fps (i have handloaded on the upper end)
Third Choice: .38 Spl +P 4 inch minimum 158 gr LSWC at 920 fpe (if not 9.8 gr of 2400 at .34-44 velocities pushing 1100 fps)
Fourth Choice: 9mm NATO 124 gr FMJ ball 1200 fps
Technically, the grizzly bear is a brown bear. Also, not all brown bears are the same. Bears in Europe tend to be vegetarian and atack 4x less often, even with cubs around. Bears in Kamchatka in Russia are man eating monsters from hell.
There’s an excellent first hand account of a successful bear defense by an Alaska guide using a9mm against a grizzly. He was loaded with the Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman. It’s on the Buffalo Bore website. All were body shots and if I remember right, one of the bullets was recovered in the opposite side skin.
I'll have to look that up. Some of those Buffalo Bore loadings are no joke!
@@deuceandguns
Alaskan Guide, Mr. Phil Shoemaker used a S&W 9mm loaded with Bufallo Bore 147 grain Outdoorsman ammunition. I had a 45 minuet telephone conversation with Mr. Shoemaker, his clients and himself were uninjured. he used 7 shots to the main body, no head shots. the Grizzly died nearby. Mr. Phil Shoemaker proved the capability and effectivness of the Bufallo Bore 147 grain Outdoorsman rounds.
An alternative to the 147 grain Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman is from Underwood Ammunition. Underwood offers similar 147 grain Flat Nose hard cast Lead ammunition, where the bullets have HiTek coating that Bufallo Bore does not have. Underwood also offers Xtreme Penetrator Copper bullets. Both the HI Tek and Cooper bullets work safely for Glock Hex barrels at a lower price point than Bufallo Bore.
Phil Shoemaker. A compact 9 with single stack magazine. An 800 lb younger male.
@deuceandguns
As a specialty bullet series inventor, I had an interesting 45 minuet telephone conversation with Mr. Phil Shoemaker. He is the real deal and safely ,quickly and effectively put down that Grizzly with no harm to his clients or himself.
The .41 Rem. Magnum is my all time favorite caliber. I have a 6 inch, blue steel Smith...model 57, which looks exactly like the Smith...model 29...[Clint Eastwood's 44 mag.] Now, I'm 5'9...230, heavily into body building so for me firing the .41...210 grain round the recoil doesn't bother me at all. I prefer the 41 over the 44 because of the lighter recoil. I have received comments suggesting I should have bought the 44 mag. just use 44 specials...I guess it comes down to each their own. I figure if there's an environment where a 265 grain hard cast 41 magnum bullet isn't sufficient, then that's an environment you'll never find me in. I also own a 10.mm which also doesn't have much recoil to me, but then again, I'm also firing it out of a 5 inch Smith...model 1006, which is a large frame auto...
Read an article a few years ago (please don’t ask me what magazine!), and a hunter was using his reproduction Brown Bess musket (.75 lead ball), and walked into a grizzly bear feeding. It charged and he actually managed to get off a shot (it was loaded with a full frizzen pan of FFF powder). It hit the bear square in the head (complete luck), and dropped it immediately! I know, not a pistol…but still a great story.
That dude went Davy Crockett style.
Best firearm for a bear attack? The one you have on you. A little awareness (don't hike with headphones in), and you should have at least enough warning to draw the weapon from your hip or pocket. So, it's got to be small enough that you'll actually hike with it on your hip or in your pocket. Also, have heard many big game guides state that they don't like the large magnums because shot placement and follow up are key. You'll get one shot in the general direction with that hand cannon, or you can get multiple decently aimed shots with a smaller round. 9mm ball ammo has plenty of penetration to put down a grizzly with the proper shot placement.
So few people know that Bear in general does not regard humans as prey. Almost 100% of bear attacks is because of people hunting them or they get agitated by hunting dogs and that leads the bear to the hunter. Moose attacks far more people than Bears do!
@@peterallen4605 Right ! Make sure you get the bear in the mouth,eye or ear.
41 magnum is 0.410 "
44 magnum is 0.429"
454 is 0.452"
454 casull
IMO,a Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter 44mag . A Desert Eagle 44mag. A primary and a secondary ( backup ) that uses the same ammo. $#!t happens. It is easier and faster to put another one in action than to fix a malfunction. Do you want to be stuck with ammo you can not use ?
Nice! An updated version of the 44-40 cartridge being carried in a revolver and lever action rifle. Very smart!
An FNX Tactical with the 460Rowland conversion might be a good choice over a 44mag. The 460R has mid tier 44mag power, but holds 13+1 in the converted mag, faster shooting and far faster to reload; unless you’re Jerry Miculek. Plus, the FNX is cut for an optic. If you load your own ammo, the 460R costs the same as 45acp.
Great vid Deuce! Thanks
I used to carry my g22 40cal here in Tennessee but switched to the 10mm the recoil isnt bad at all on them to me
Good call. I'm also in Tennessee and am seriously rethinking my snubnose 38 for my hiking sidearm.
@deuceandguns . Yeah I carry a glock 20 for 4 legged predators and a glock 19 for 2 legged I know it's some weight but I don't really hike more than 5 hours or so. I'd definitely go bigger than 38 atleadt 357 mag if you like the small revolver is a good choice.
@deuceandguns . Alot of the bears here don't fear humans cause so many tourist feed them and are all over the place
I'd add 357 Sig. to the list and my reasons would be, conversions barrels are available and easily convert the 40 S&W.
Better penetration than the 9mm and 40 S&W.
Recoil is a little snappier than both mentioned, but, still manageable for most.
Suggestion : Carry Flatnose FMJ or Flatnose HardCast for woods protection.
Ruger Super Redhawk.44 mag snubbie in a chest harness👍
Point of education, a Grizzly is NOT a Brown Bear. Brown Bears are bigger and much meaner when provoked.
I don't believe I heard you mention the 500 Smith ? Ease of a pistol with the stopping power of a 12ga.
I do at the end. I just don't have an example to show off.
Interesting video. Thanks!
I recommend Bear Bells and Hot Sauce... I mean Bear Spray.🐻 Remember, sleeping bags are like soft shell tacos for bears.🐻
I also tried to post a few comments and they got deleted. I really enjoyed your video. Good research.
Thank you. I have no idea what's going on with the comments, but I appreciate you making multiple attempts to get one to stick.
i own 2 ruger redhawks, one 4 inch and one 7 3/8's barrel, both with the hogue grips, and i've fired the 10mm many times, if you want more rounds and more chances, use the 10mm but i dont think in real life you'll get more than 1 or 2, so i carry my revolvers, and can easily handle to recoil of even the heaviest 44 mag hardcasts, even in a 4 inch barrel the hogue grips make a huge difference, as they say, carry what you can shoot and feel comfortable with, because when it matters no gun will feel like its quite enough for that situation
I think it would be interesting to see what kind of ammunition was used, although this isn't likely to be in the research results. I've always heard/ read against bears penetration is more important than expansion, pretty much the exact opposite of what you want in a normal EDC round against 2-legged predators.
That would be interesting, and you're correct that none of the reports mentioned ammo type.
Most likely a jhp, seems most edc carry jhp. If the intentions that day is for woods defense, definitely load up with a jacket flat-nose or flat-nose hardcast
I first learned pistolcraft in the US Army, when we carried the PRC77 radios, we didn't carry the M-16 but had a M1911A1 instead, so we trained and qualified with the pistol. In the Army, of course all you were allowed to carry was 230 grain FMJ ammo, and that's what I carried when I got on the PD after my army days. Still pack a smaller M1911 clone with 230 Grain Hardball ammo. Here in the Dakota's in the winter most folks wear a lot of cloths so if you need to stop them with a handgun on duty, the FMJ will go through their parka's and long johns into the body where you need to do some damage to stop them. Summer, you may see some over penetration but situation awareness should keep you from hitting the kid behind the bad guy. In 25 years on the PD I never needed to test the idea. Thank God.
Sadly they quit making my favorite 44 magnum. The Dan Wesson; I have 4" light barrel and 8" light and 8" heavy barrel. Chest rig or shoulder holster distributes weight better than belt mounted. 300 grain Hornaday are painful in the 4" configuration.
The revolver world really lost out when Dan Wesson stopped making revolvers.
I'm from Florida and I know my #38 special wasn't good enough in Montana & Wyoming, but it's all I had when I toured around in Glacier Nat'l Park, Yellowstone & in Tetons Nat'l Park, but I also had 2 cans of Bear Spray attached to my vest strap & my waist.... Well, I never had a run in with a Grizzly Bear, but I got bluff charged by 2 Black Bears, but they ran off, and I was charged by a Bull Elk in Yellowstone and I had to jump out of the way within maybe 2 feet of getting hit.... I just didn't think it would come at me, so I failed at deploying the Bear Spray when I should have... Lesson learned for next time because Bear Spray works on all animals, and on bad people too which is actually the greater threat.
.357❤
Damn, i sold my 44mag lever action and still got 150rds left that i didnt know what i was gona do with, but since i havent owned a revolver yet i might have to add one to the collection
I have a 44 mag 357 mag and 4 ten MMs plus about 8 45 ACPs . I like the Ruger Redhawk in 44 mag
Answer, .45cal.
TWO GLOBAL CONFLICTS! (They kept deleting my first comment for saying "2 ww's".)
What the fuck.
“10 mm is unpleasant to shoot” also says “44 magnum is a lot of fun to shoot”
An interesting fact about the wild is that your chance of survival is like 20 to 80 where the 20 is you, as the majority of the wild animals living there can pose a deadly encounter toward you and your family. Also, almost none carries a HAM radio programmed to emergency channels or rangers in the area - hunters. The other thing they miss is that apex predators are like serial killers or psychopaths they always hide, not only in the physical world but also inside their mind - like the super subconscious mind and through it sneak up on their victims on their subconscious mind that why they are undetectable, so when you feel comfortable with that part of your psyche it is most probably already too late. When you camp also spray some ammonia around your camp on the ground and stay away from the woods as that is their comfort zone, they have to stay hidden and yes you`ll be exposed in the open, but so they are and to them, it is a threat to survival. An electric fence is also a must if you decide to take your 20 percent survival chances and enter such an area, that is suicide in my opinion. Motion detector alarms with warning flashes are also a must around your campsite, you can also program your HAM radio to nearby amateur radio frequencies to be sure you can ask for help. Please, allow your radio to act as a transmitter so you can extend the range of other frequencies users staying in the area, and a GPS device with SOS mode is also a must. If guns are available you have to have them too, preferably a larger caliber with high grain bullets 140gr and up, and you should be able to use them when have to, so practice is a must. Out in the wild survival is key and dominance is a key to survival. For a bear on foot due to its length a 20 feet path takes about 1.5 sec, so prepare to face death and be able to act on it accordingly.
Ruger redhawk and super blackhawks .44 mag can handle the 340 gr. Hard cast from buffalo bore
Good choice! So many people are bringing up Buffalo Bore I should make a video on them.
@@deuceandguns them and underwood ammo lists on their website the guns that can handle the heaviest stuff. Trust me, it kicks like a rabid mule on steroids!
Sorry for the odd wording. The powers that be wouldn't let me use certain words.
Im about totally sure that if you put a 22 bean in a bears balloon, it will stop what it is doing mll. Provided said bear doesn't surprise you too badly and you can land one or more in the balloon. Tbh, if I am in a bear situation I am taking balloon placement no matter what size bean it may be.
I read about a case in Alaska where a moose hunter was charged by a brown bear and killed it. He called the game wardens and when they examined it they found 6 38 Bullets in it and human remains in it's stomach. Then they conducted a search and found the half eaten remains of a hiker with an empty 38 special close to the body. The moose hunter didn't get in any trouble but he couldn't keep the bear because he didn't have a bear license
I'm confident enough in the 357 Magnum plus I'm a surgeon even with the 22LR I'm that confident definitely have to be a rifle in that case though like I said I'm a surgeon so I could get the job done and like you said it depends on the kind of bear as well that definitely makes all the difference some Bear hides can eat most pistol rounds like tic tacs
The thing about 44 mag is, that while it is a beast of a Pistol cartridge it has about half the power of a 30-30 and I don't think anyone hunts Brown Bears with a 30-30.
44 mag
G21 45 ACP IMPROVED TO 45 SUPER W/255 HARD CAST UNDERWOOD AMMO.
You sir have my attention. Does this require using a heavier recoil spring?
I have a Classic series Model 29 6.5" and a new production Anaconda 8", they're both nicely made but the double action trigger pull on the Colt is so much nicer.
Model 29 for the Dirty Harry appeal, Anaconda for the trigger, hope this helps.
Any record of someone using a .410 slug on any kind of bear? Specifically from a revolver such as the Judge, etc. and not necessarily a shotgun? Should be mentioned such a revolver is capable of firing the .45 Colt which I beleive I've heard is more powerful than a .45acp. Additionally (this might be just my imagination) I could almost swear/bet that I've heard of a "Governor" revolver which can fire 3 different calibers. Like the Judge, it fires .45 Colt, .410, but can't remember the 3rd caliber. It was a long time ago when I heard of such a revolver... anyway thanks in advance for addressing my question
Not a .410, but there was one from a .45 long colt fired from a Judge which was successful. I know I talked about it when filming, but it must have gotten edited out by mistake. FYI - the S&W Governor can also fire 45acp using moonclips.
@@deuceandguns thanks for the feedback. Appreciate it 👍 yea I missed it if you did mention it in the video and wasn't edited out, haha.
If size and weight are an issue look into a chest rig!
Cool video. 👍👍
Glock M21 in 460 Rowland 13+1 basically extra mage 3 minimum
I learned to continue to avoid bears, which is easy in my county. The large predators one is most likely to encounter here are alligators, sharks, the occasional crocodile, loose dogs, and lately, coyotes! (Google coyotes in Fort Lauderdale).
What about the 357 sig
You forgot to mention Tred Barta. He was a badass from yesteryear, killed bears with his knife. Also Lions, black Buffalo, etc.
One of the biggest grizzly bears ever killed was with a single shot 22lr rifle. It was a defensive killing in canada by a women picking berries.
Black bears actually attack many, many more people every year than grizzlies.
How can you attempt to inform people about bear defense with a pistol, and not include 10mm?
I did at 9:00
How many bears were cubs..😿👌
Should read about bella twin.
None of the above. 10 mm!
Missing 10mm
What about 45LC?
Strike 1 for even mentioning a 22 regardless of the data. Those individuals were lucky. Never leave your life in the hands of a rimfire....too sketchy/unreliable and not near enough penetration to be considered viable. Strike 2 for including wounded bears and those that fled the scene. A wounded bear is a far bigger problem (read a Jim Crobett book....any of them). Strike 3 for not emphasizing the right ammo (namely solid lead hard nose +P ammo. Sorry man you're out.
You swept your face with a gun you didn’t check (Glock 22)
The Russian 9mm is not the same 355cal as the 9mm Luger and 380 its cal is larger and weeker like the older topbreak s&w 38 , i had one after it bounced off the door of a Datsun , i went 357mag and magnums only ,
It all depends on the BEAR😂..
If price isn't an issue...Smith and Wesson model 29. If on a budget...Taurus (don't listen to the haters) makes some pretty decent .44 Magnum revolvers. When I'm in the woods, I carry a modified SIG P220 in .45 Super, firing a 200 to 255 grain SWHC bullet traveling between 1100 to 1350 fps. Some of the penetrator ammo looks promising as well...135 grain projectile at 1500 fps...huge fireball...tons of fun. Kamala Harris for President!!! :)
45 colt 355 instances , 351 positive results
Tried posting a few comments, they all got deleted? I guess nothing related to the subject is allowed to be said?
Someone else was having trouble posting. Outside of a few words that could impact my channel, the only thing I have blocked in the comments is my personal info like my address. This is my first video that has been put under UA-cam's new AI review bot, so maybe that's what's happening.
My comments got deleted too.
Most likely the all the bears that ran off, did most likely eventually die.
You left out the S&W 500 (50 Cal)
I talked about it at 12:10
No 10mm?
10mm is one of the few holes in my collection.
Ok I'm going to have to correct you. All you have to say is 1911 when it's 45acp.
Everything else else including 10mm would be that caliber style 1911. Ie 10mm style 1911 or 1911 style in 10mm.
You know proper 1911 ediqit... lol 😅😅
1911 vs. a 1911 shaped object. That's a valid point.
I am sure that some of those .45’s was actually .45 Long Colt instead of .45 acp. I have no doubt that many of those successful cases was also .45 acp, along with .45 long colt. What would be interesting to know is how many of those .44 caliber’s used was actually .44 cap and ball, as they was used even into the early 20’s century and still used even to this day.
What fool would go into Polar Bear territory with a 22LR...😢
41 mag is a fine cartridge, actuqlly has better ballistics than the 44 mag
at lest the black bears in my neighborhood only weight around 150lbs...i kidd, nice g34 by the way.
10 mm only
10 mm Glock
G20 forever..
None of the pistols/calibers mentioned is a viable bear defense gun . NONE. Some of the suggestions are patently ridiculous. Knowledgeable individuals recommend a 10 mm, .44 magnum as minimum.
Firstly, these aren't recommendations but a list of real-life reports. Secondly, I go over both 10mm and 44 mag in this video, but thanks for watching half of it...I guess.
10mm with right load or better. Waste of time on this video even mentioning the others. thank god for fast forward
How about just leave the wild bears alone?
Nobody is hunting bear with a pistol. This is about self defense ya silly boy
@@Tagged-In idk...seems pretty silly to let a wild bear get that close to you...just sayin
@@mitchpalmer5116 maybe you could suggest a way to keep bears away while a person hiking or camping? I don’t think people “let” bears do anything. A 1000lb bear usually does whatever it wants.
@@Tagged-In true
@@mitchpalmer5116 this is not like the bear in "Ted" this is like the bear that holds you down with one paw while it takes you apart with the other and it's jaws, while you sing loudly, stoping only when it gets to your lungs......comprende Buddy?
10mm