I compare the 10mm and the 44 magnum cartridges, weighing their strengths and weaknesses for the role of bear defense. Check out the new video where we use the charging bear target: • 10mm & 44 mag vs Charg...
I have a system I like to use to determine which pistol I carry for bears here in NW Wyoming. I call it "bear priority zones" and it amounts to which areas I'm least likely to run into a grizzly as opposed to areas where a bear encounter is much more likely. For low priority areas I carry my G20 10mm with Buffalo Bore 220gr hardcast. In medium priority areas I carry my S&W 629 in .44mag with Buffalo Bore 305gr hardcast. In high priority areas I carry my 12ga pump with 1oz slugs. I'm typically alone out there and although a bear encounter can happen anywhere at any time, each of those weapons are capable of stopping a surly bear... it's just that some are better than others. The best bear defense is excellent situational awareness though. And your girlfriend did one heck of a job with that target. I'm really impressed.
@@gunsgearoutdoorsalaska5875 By being aware of my surroundings, I've smelled bears well before ever seeing them. In a canyon on the eastern slope of the Beartooth Mountains I was following the creek when everything got eerily quiet. I kept catching quick glimpses of movement in the timber about 50 - 60 yards away at the base of the wall but every time I turned to look... nothing. The hair stood up on the back of my neck and I drew my pistol and cautiously moved through the rest of the trees and into the open. I'm almost positive that a mountain lion was stalking me but I never got a look at it. By paying attention to those cues I've been able to avoid bad encounters and had they come, I was prepared for them. I still know that it could happen though, get lax one time too many and you can find yourself in a bad situation.
Try 10mm underwood 200 grain cast. You’ll do better using one weapon as repetitive memory in high stress events is critical. Find motor skills become absent. Best wishes.
great video and comparison, personally I have both (G40 for me) but I prefer the quickness and the ability of a full magazine reload to trying to reload a revolver, you may hit the bear or any other dangerous animal but may need following shots to survive, some misses are highly probable when the SHTF 🤣🤣🤣 again great video. thank you👏
You 100% absolutely deserve a like and a subscribe. This is easily one of the best comparison videos I've seen and you made it happen with less than what most people have. Thank you for the efforts that were put into this.
@@gunsgearoutdoorsalaska5875 Due to the length of the barrel of the revolver, a belly mount would be better while keeping the chest for the 10mm. I think you would them see no difference in that case.
Carried my .44 mag in Alaska for over 35 years and never felt over gunned when it came to bear. That said I’d prefer a .454 Casull, but if I go out today, the .44 will go.
Great job on the bear cardboard cutout! So simple yet so effective to show the Bear's profile while charging you! So many others talk about this important subject but you guys successfully illustrate it! Thank you!
@@gunsgearoutdoorsalaska5875 patent that Bear target and sell it, I'd buy a pack of 5! This video has the most, as of Feb 25 2023, the most video views-to-subscriber ratio of any gun video i've seen yet! I'm in the revolver camp but you've got a new subscriber !
Which goes to show the demand to see realistic gun versus charging bear experiments. Even this of course cannot accurately simulate a real life bear charge with a constantly moving target that is three dimensional and not one dimensional and the lack of adrenaline in the shooter. There are however actual bear charges that have been recorded so those videos are worth looking at. At the end of the day it's a crapshoot depending on a bunch of factors but it's best to do some research and training and a silhouette target such as this can be helpful to a degree particularly if it was moving forward and up and down a bit.
Moving bears and the shock of a surprise attack are a different story. In over 34 years of fieldwork as a wildlife biologist, I had to shoot only two black bears, both within 5 yards and I almost had to kill one grizzly. during a bluff charge at 7 yards. Fact is that in bushy country, where most attacks happen, you do not have 3 seconds, you are lucky if you have 2 and the first shot counts. Therefore the 44 wins, especially if you cannot carry a 12 gauge or a well fitting adequate rifle.
@Stephan Schug; I'd argue then that the 10mm might edge out the .44. I might miss the first shot or it might not be a critical hit. Being able to Get 2 shots off instead of one might be the difference of me going home or not.
@@USMCPFC1 Have you ever seen the tough heavy muscle tissue of a grizzly? I've seen grizzlies that couldn't get stopped immediately with with adequate rifle rounds and wish to see the guy that hits the small brain area of a fast attacking bear. By coincidence, my "now" neighbor is a younger conservation officer who got his hand chewed up badly by a relatively small grizzly, carried a 10 mm as service weapon. He had to empty his whole 10 mm clip into the bear's head directly above him before the animal was dead and only then let it go of his now damaged hand. Don't get me wrong, I shot probably close to 100 000 rounds in my younger years with my 9 mm semi-auto pistol and I practiced a lot of drawing and hitting moving targets but in a real bear attack situation, I'd feel under-gunned with anything smaller than a heavy load 44.Mag with a tough and deep penetrating projectile. Almost all .44 factory bullets are way to soft for this job and it requires high antimony casts or full metal projectiles. In addition these round nose bullets usually used in pistols at relatively low speeds easily deflect on the skull and rounded bone surfaces.
@@stefanschug5490 no I have not, and I pray I never have to face a bear intent on doing me in. I don't even have a 10mm, I carry a 9mm with underwood extreme defender. That being said I'm rarely in bear country and when I plan on it I'm taking my 12ga shotgun, 3" shells, hard cast slugs. I just built a 300blackout I think I'd be alright with that now.
"Shoot the most powerful gun you can shoot well" excellent advice. I've seen people go out and buy a 357 or 44 or a 454 etc as their very first gun for bear protection while camping. My friend carried a 44 every time he went camping. I took him shooting one day and he shot his 44 apparently for the first time and darn near broke his wrist. For years all I felt comfortable with was 9mm so that's what I carried. So what if you have an anti bear cannon if you can't point and shoot it. Shoot the most powerful gun you are comfortable with
For some strange reason, my imagination?, I kept expecting a polar bear to crest over the ridge in the background and come charging at you. So glad it never happened!
Always chuckle a bit at the armchair outdoorsman who think throwing more lead is more effective…and thinking they will have the time to throw these less effective rounds (commenters not you Alan). HUGE error in this test was that the target was static for those three seconds. You get one, maybe two shots and that bear is on you (4 yards!). Penetration and energy is key, not volume. I’ve worked throughout backcountry of Alaska and have carried shotgun and .44…shotgun tough to manage in thick vegetation so I leaned to .44 but felt under gunned…always liked when we had a bear guard with a .338 win mag to watch over us!
I agree that the test would have been better with a moving bear, didn't really have that in the budget but maybe something we can do in the future. This test compares two schools of thought on the subject and I flip flop between the two camps. I carry the 10mm a lot more often as a backup to a long gun when weight is a factor. But if a handgun is all I got I usually go with the 44.
I always chuckle at people who have never been attacked theories on how an event will play out.. Ammoland has compiled a list of attacks and outcomes with handguns as defense. Pretty telling.. ..and yes I was attacked once.
Excellent video and impressive you did it in frigid conditions with cold hands. I'm 73 years old and have owned and shot a whole bunch of semi-auto and revolver pistols over the years. I tend to stick with revolvers with .38 Spl as EDC and .44 Mag for large animal protection simply because they always work. Literally every semi-auto I have owned has failed to load, eject, go into battery, etc over the years and as a firm believer in Murphy's law, I want my failure possibilities as near zero as possible. Jess
@Jim Knouls In watching concealed carry classes over 10+ years, students varying from novice to experienced, the real world results are: multiple auto failures every class, (mostly shooter-induced). NEVER have had a revolver failure in class, NEVER. However, before the first range session, all student handguns are evaluated days before range time. We have caught mechanical problems with revolvers BEFORE we hit the range, and fixed those problems. But we have also found mechanical problems with autos that required repair too. Believe it or not most of the time the mechanical issue with revolver or auto is because the owner disassembled the handgun and did not get it back together correctly! Our only hand gun failures in class tend to be autos with bad mags, broken extractors, or bent/broken ejectors, or students who continually limp wrist autos. Limp wrist problems are very common with sub-compact autos. (LOTS of Glock 26's traded back in on snub-nose revolvers.). Lots of Glock 19's coming back too as new shooters find they do not feel safe concealed-carrying the Glock "safe-action" trigger. With all the new shooters experimenting with handguns, revolvers are again seeing a new surge in popularity, as less experienced shooters discover that revolvers work all the time on the range for them, while autos are more problematic in reliable operation.
I never comment on videos but felt like this one warrants one. This is the best comparison by far that i have ever seen! Using the same manufacturer for your test is as fair as it comes. Thanks for making the video and look forward to watching more from your channel
I've watched those guys in Africa stop big dangerous game charges but they had to use a brain shot every time and it was within about ten feet. They tend to use the double rifle in a large caliber because of two quick shots and large diameter bullet as to be more likely to hit the brain. I don't think bear charges are any different. A big heavy bullet with large diameter and two shots trying to hit the brain is about all the time you're probably going to have. And you will be up close and personal .
I'm not sure its necessarily that simple. A revolver will not have any failures to feed or eject and if you have a dud you only need to pull the trigger again. On the other side they are a little more sensitive to mud ,debris and parts breakage than a good auto. Could go either way in my opinion.
When I was stationed in Alaska(1985 to 92) I had a Glock 20(10mm) and later got a Colt Anaconda(44 mag.). Felt safe(if you really feel safe against a bear) carrying either one but my first choice was the 44 mag. since it is more powerful than the 10mm. Actually I had to draw both guns due to run in with bears but luckily I didn’t have to shot but I will remember those times forever. Thanks for the great review
Id say both times thanks to those firearms your Balls swelled up and the bear saw how big your cajones were and left you alone... attitude plays a big part at defending yourself from a bear.
Outstanding video and fun to watch, thanks for making these for us. Very happy you chose the same maker and bullet for the testing, it was very fair and showed great results. As I said before you are a skilled shooter, very nice. I have been carrying my S&W 29 4" Mountain gun for a long time and feel very well protected, if I can do my part. That 10MM looked very interesting and I really need to try one some day soon. Stay safe.
@@gunsgearoutdoorsalaska5875 I once had the Model 29 in the 8 3/8 " barrel for silhouette shooting back in the 80's. I'd still go with the 44 mag. for bear defense knowing that what I hit is either coming off or is transformed into burger !
Great video! Love the penetration test - simple, easy to see results. Nice to see how far the .44 would have gone. Amazing accuracy with the 10mm on the cut-out. The .44 with 305g gotta be the one. Good shooting!
This was an enjoyable video to watch. Fair evaluation of two powerful cartridges. You seem very comfortable with both. Either would be good in the moment of stopping a Bear Charge. I had the great pleasure of fishing Southeast Alaska for Salmon and there were bears all around us. I saw one Grizzly run along the river bank and I was totally impressed at how quickly this Big Bear could move. They get my respect for sure. Stay safe and shoot straight. Thanks for sharing. God Bless.
This is an exact comparison that I have been wondering about. After the penetration test I figured the 44 would be "it". When I saw how many more rounds you could send down range with the 10, I changed my mind. The deciding factor for me was that the animal will not be stationary, so being able to accurately put more lead down range is important. Great video.
@@rockymntdan1 Free country. I seriously doubt the target picture will be steady. Add a massive adrenaline dump, and I doubt either of us will hit our target. That said, I want to be able to send more than 2 or 3 rounds down range.
@@rockymntdan1 If you miss and don't have time to fire 2-3-4-5 more shots before he gets you then it matters a whole lot. Either will stop the bear with a brain or spin shot, either are capable of hitting those spots. Difference is how many times you get to press the trigger. Edited to add, the trigger on the Glock vs the long stroke of the double action revolver could very well impact the accuracy a great deal as well.
@@rockymntdan1 He may not be zig zagging, but the head will be bobbing up and down with the cadence of the running bear, making a good head shot challenging on the first shot. I love the .44 magnum cartridge, but 13 + 1 in a Glock 20 is going to edge it out for most practical use cases. A .460 Rowland conversion on the Glock 20 or 21 platform will provide capacity and controllability, while retaining the power of the mid-range .44 magnum, and would definitely be my choice if I move to Alaska.
Since the brain is the primary target on a charging bear either seems to have more than enough penetration, so as many have said the one you shoot best is the best selection. One thing to consider is that for both Glock and Springfield 10mm you can now get effective red/green dot sights that can aid accuracy, especially for those of us with aging eyes.
I have not used one much but that is the direction the trend is going, and the technology is getting better and better fast. I think most handguns will have dots before too long.
@@gunsgearoutdoorsalaska5875 Training will always give you an edge in any encounter, you will never rise to an occasion, you will almost always default to the level of training you have. You may get lucky and you may have bad luck even if trained. In any encounter with a dangerous animal, shots on target will always be the only thing that can change the outcome. From a firearms training stand point red dots are a force multiplier that can't be discussed too much. I am an huge fan of 44mags, especially S&W 4" models but if I had the opportunity I would pack a 10mm glock with a quality red dot over it any day. Pack some 180gr-200gr bullets, even hollow points and make sure I can shoot it well. Hits on target in the head or face area, even in a lesser caliber, 9mm even would probably work just fine.
@@Spcwes1 the head is the worst place to shoot a kodiak or a grizzly there is case study that the rounds will just bounce off the skull. Unless you hit it directly in the mouth or eyes you dont have much of a chance
@@bignasty110 charging bears “center of mass” becomes the head/face and chest. Link your study of bullets just “bouncing off”. Edited to add: humans hit in the skull have had bullets "ricochet" across the skull as well. It's not a "bounce" though. That can happen with any skull in a large mammal. From ballistic studies I have done over my adult life I can tell you this, if you hit a bear skull with a solid projectile at a 90 degree angle or close to it, there is zero evidence I can find that says bears have anything that will stop the bullet in their head, including fur, skin, meat or skull. Physics dictate answers, not lore.
@@bignasty110 not necessarily true with barrier blind modern rounds like Underwood ammo Xtreme Defender or extreme Penetrator in solid copper with the "Philips head" design. Check out the FBI testing...
Nice video and good points. In the forrest for bear defence I would take the wheel gun (must be a double action). Much because I don't want the possibility to accidentally loose the magazine on the semi. Maybe I crunch and sneeak between to much vegetation, but that is just me. Don't think you have time to empty any of the guns. You have the posibility to drop a touch of the power in the 44 to make it more controllable, and can see that it is a touch too much for many people. I like the recoil better from wheelguns when firing powerfull cartridges (rolles more). But agree, takes more practice and is slower, but with some training 44 can be shot quite fast. In the end both are good choises for a handgun. Handgun with no safety switch, point and shoot :)
Good points! I have never lost a magazine from an auto but I use holsters that cover the mag release. I agree with the point about the safety for sure, I don't like them on handguns, just another thing that could go wrong.
very good stuff , I appreciate your honest candor . too many youtube videos guys post about shooting or guns their ego gets in the way and they don't really know what they are talking about anyway
The Redhawk can be loaded to a level that will break a grizzly bear's shoulder and/or penetrate through all vitals and give 75% penetration from nose to tail. The 10mm can do none of that. If you go 10mm, a brain shot is you only hope. That's pretty skinny odds.
@@gunsgearoutdoorsalaska5875 I just don't see it that way. The 10mm is only going to stop the bear with a head shot. Doesn't matter how many you fire, if you don't get a headshot, you don't stop the bear. Might turn him. But I wouldn't want to bet my life on that. With the right loads in a strong .44, you can break a shoulder and do real heart and lung damage. Hopefully neither one of us will ever have to find out first hand.
Interesting!!! the 44 magnum can be loaded with Buffalo Bore 44 mag 340 grain +p+ and it's at the lower end of 454Casull power (around 1600 ft lbs) at the muzzel. ---- carry both!!!! be safe.
10mm may not be as powerful as .44mag, but 10mm is definitely no slouch as a round. I have a Glock 20 and both a .357mag and a .44mag, but there's something about the 10mm that makes it such a joy to shoot, and I like my 10mm over both the .357mag and the .44mag.
My long-time motto has been, never take a handgun to a gunfight. If you are being charged by a grizzly, the degree of panic and terror will be incredibly intense. A considerable portion of your handgun skills will be dissolved by the idea of being turned into a rag doll and eaten alive in the next few seconds. I would only put my trust in a 12 gauge shotgun with magnum buckshot loads. I guarantee you will panic which is only normal. That's why I will take a pass on any handgun regardless of the caliber or action type. Stay out of grizzly country unless you have multiple experienced shooters watching each others back. This was a nice video by the way!
I agree with you that a long gun is far better in this situation than any handgun and we demonstrated that pretty well here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-t-l_LzVu9s0.html I think buckshot is not the best choice for a 12 gauge because each individual pellet will not penetrate as well as most solid handgun rounds and a heavy slug designed to penetrate seems to me to be a better choice. With that said I don't think that makes the handgun useless, especially as a backup. What if you are small game hunting with a 22 rimfire or shotgun loaded with birdshot? Are you going to carry a second long gun? Probably not if you are walking any considerable distance. In that situation a good defensive handgun would make you more safe assuming you have practiced with it. "Stay out of grizzly country unless you have multiple experienced shooters watching each others back." I don't think this quote is very helpful to people who live around here where everywhere in a 400 mile radius is grizzly country. I don't have a pile of armed buddies to watch my back while I go to the outhouse, and I do hunt alone occasionally. I do not think that is reckless when proper precautions are taken.
I'd even choose a hot loaded .41mag before a 10mm for penetration and superior stopping power. In real life heavily timbered areas when your walking for long periods of time a bear can and does sneak up on ya. And when he's charging he is in moving in very FAST. In a heavily treed environment you will not often get off more than one or two rounds
There is one way to know if your round is up to dangerous game. John Taylor's knock out formula. Simple multiply bore diameter × bullet weight × velocity ÷ 7000. The first two digits are your value. With the 44 mag being a minimum for dangerous game forget the 10 mm you only live once.
I think the Taylors formula is a better measure than just pure energy but I don't think it is a be all end all of measurement. Who gets to decide what the minimum is? Both have been used successfully but it should go without saying almost any centerfire rifle or shotgun with slugs would outdo either handgun.
@@gunsgearoutdoorsalaska5875 yes generally true. And quality hardened bullets I've read lots of stories of people who were under gunned for large dangerous game or they had cheap bullets that under penetrated but the numbers don't lie and if you use the Taylor scale you will no If your cartridge what ever it may be is up to the job.any thing under a nineteen is not recommended
A grizzly running full tilt (at 35 mph) can cover 153 feet or 51 yards in 3 seconds. Best thing to do if you have 3 seconds time is to ensure you first shot is a good killing shot and MAYBE you'll get another one off! That's where carry the biggest gun you can with the most energy!
Apparently, penetration in pine boards is considered a good measure of something, because they've been listed in books since before WWII. Although I have seen black bears in the woods (this is in Virginia), I'm getting a little too old to be tramping around the hills anymore. The most powerful handguns I have are .38 Super and I have two. Colt used to advertise that a .38 Super could kill anything in the Americas. Maybe it could. But I don't think I could actually get in two or three hits on a moving target like a bear, at least not on the head. Ever see a bear's skull? It's a little smaller than a football and just about the same shape. But some people that have seen many more bears than I have make do with a .357.
I have heard about that too with the pine boards. .38 super is better than nothing, I wouldn't feel too bad with one if only black bears are around. Maybe some spray to go with it wouldn't be a bad idea either.
10mm More rounds Practice a lot to hit the target. Unless a brain shot instant kill which is very rare in the real high stress situation. The bear can chew on you for a while before he dies... save your last shot for yourself..
The power of the 44 and reliability of a revolver is far greater. If you can’t hit the bear with the first shot or two it won’t matter how many bullets you have left.
@@gunsgearoutdoorsalaska5875 You will never get more than a shot or two on a charging bear so pick what hits the hardest on the first shot, the 44. Plus revolver is the ultimate in reliability.
Solid comparison between the .44 and 10mm. This is my new favorite outdoors/firearm channel. Also, saw the vid that recorded after you had to put down the moose that attacked your dog. I'm sorry that you had to through that but I'd do the same thing to protect my dog without a doubt. Anyway, take good care, keep up the good work!
Living and working in Alaska since 1978 from the interior to the west coast. My theory is, worst case I am going to get one shot off, so it had best be the hardest hitting thing I can come up with. That's something a semi auto wont ever do, add in to that extreme cold weather performance of lubricants (Garand Thumb just did a great review on that), I'll stick to a wheel gun every time. My choice is S&W 500 with 440gr hard cast flat nose. Hurts like hell to shoot it, but it hurts less than a bear. Great video though, keep up the good work.
Jim, I have the 500, and you make some really good points. Alaska is not friendly to semi-auto's. I go back and forth on this issue. He's right though, I don't practice enough with that 500. I doubt I could get even 2 shots off in 3 seconds.
Think I'd rather go for two 10mm hits than a 44 mag miss. It's obvious he is faster and more accurate with the 10mm. I'll sacrifice power for precision. This is coming from a guy who isn't on the "let's all go back to 9mm" bus. Shoot the biggest hunk of lead you can handle accurately. If you can shoot two 44 magnum bear rounds in one second accurately then U-dah-man.
Great presentation you two! My 33-year old daughter is 5'-3" and spends a lot of time in the back country. This has been a common discussion and I am sure she will enjoy your video and all of the great comments. Thank you!
To simulate a moving bear, do 10 squat jumps, before handling your pistol. You need to get your heart rate up. If it makes it harder to aim, it's better for your training.
That is an interesting Idea for sure, would not be bad for training. However I don't think doing squat jumps simulates the stress of this kind of situation. Stay cool, stay focused and put the bullets where they count, don't stop until its over.
44 mag revolver everyday, all the time for Bear defence. It will not jam and is ready to shoot when loaded, assuming the semi-auto hasn't chambered a round. If you want a good comparison with both weapons, make the first round a Squib or mis-fire and do the test again.
Very good video! I'm old school with the .44 Mag (4" barrel) but would be putting a Henry Big Boy .44 mag or .45-70 govt in my scabbard as a primary. I carry a Glock 29 (10mm Short Frame) concealed as my "stop the big human" gun during the winter (penetrates heavy clothing of attackers) and I carry a Kimber .45 Auto (1911) Ultra carry during the summer (tucked into my Speedo...lol) months. Those big ol bears out West (I lived in Washington State for 12 years, hunted in E. Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming) are nothing to take lightly. 300 Grain HSM Bear rounds are the ticket in .44 Mag and they come in handy dealing with drive by shooter thugs in SUVs or Sedans.
@@gunsgearoutdoorsalaska5875 No. He’s an English Bulldog that can roam free because I’m on a dead end road and he never goes far. He was sitting on the couch and every time it beeped, he’d jump up and start looking for it, growling.
I have both. Love both. Depends nowadays what u can get hold of for ammo honestly. Capacity sometimes wins. Dont matter how much power is available if u cant use it. We gotta Learn how to shoot under pressure.
Is the 44mag more powerful than the 10mm? Yes. Significantly more powerful? Yes. Twice as powerful? No. So you can get 2 10mm down range and on target for each 44 mag. The 44mag is slower and less capacity so a miss is hugely more detrimental than a miss with the 10mm. Reloads are of no significance because if you have to reload in a beat fight you are likely ending up as dinner. So 15+1 or even 30plus +1 of 10mm if you want to be cheeky vs 6 of 44 mag… in siding with the 10mm. Sidebar: I own handguns but no revolvers yet and this is the reason for my current logic. If I an going to limit myself to 5-7 rounds… 10mm exists. Therefore, the only revolvers I would buy for practical use (not for fun, collectors items, historical significance, etc.) would have to be 454 casull or greater. Reason being I need my few rounds to do the work of many. I need one or 2 rounds to do the work of 4 to as many as 8. Its a big ask and the trade offs are recoil and time between shots. I’ve never been charged with a bear, however I’ve gone over the scenario countless times to the point where I think I have a bear phobia 🤣. My strategy would be mag dump or pray the side arm was powerful enough to do the job in 1 or 2 rounds because thats all the time you are getting to stop mother natures battle tank. 😂
You said it all, The problem I have with the semi is A stove pipe, Action freeze up in cold Wet weather, walking into freezing weather, going into the Tent to warm up, then water gets more distributed thou out the workings, and then maybe freeze up the action, The revolver on the other hand , if U have a miss fire just keep pulling the trigger cylinder will keep turning and firing. Just one Retired Swat officer , 2 in the head one in the chest The riffle or Shot gun will be your first line of Defense.
I have been charged while guiding and using a semi auto was able to get 12 shots off inside of 20ft on a full speed charging bear. I will always opt for semi auto and higher magazine capacity. Currently I carry 10mm Springfield with magazine extension, looking at upgrading to 460 Rowland. Great video keep it up.
Glad you're ok! Would you mind letting us poor Europeans who have never seen a bear or a gun before: did the bear go down immediately? Do you think the first few rounds would have been enough? Thanks.
@@xntumrfo9ivrnwf It did not go down until my 12th shot. Granted there were shots that missed and bullet holes in the brush. It basically died at my feet. I now carry a larger ar-15 rifle in 458 socom which has very effectively killed two bears (one charging at close range). I will also be upgrading my sidearm to 460 Rowland.
@@LeifBirnbaum Wow! I can't imagine being in such a stressful situation... 3 times! Insane! Also scary that the 1st one took 12 shots... if the bear were a bit closer... damn. A bit of a tangent, but roughly speaking, do you think a 10mm from a Glock would be able to breach the skull (if the shot is well placed, etc., etc.)?
@@xntumrfo9ivrnwf using bear loads I would think. But almost an impossible shot. My first charge I was using 45 auto and had two holes right between the eyes but nothing that hit the skull. I pulled one of my slugs out of the neck that had traveled through the face and down the neck where the hide caught it. Shots were angled down as the bear was crouched very low to the ground.
When I'm in bear country . Black or brown ; I always carried a 5.5" barrel Ruger Redhawk and a 16" Winchester 94 AE trapper model . Both in 44 mag . I never had to shoot a brown bear but had to drop a large black bear with my revolver . One round to the head pilled him up for the count . I was lucky that day cause my rifle was 50 yards away on my saddle with my horse ! I feel confident that a similar shot placement on a griz would have the same results as well. What I don't understand is why do people who tell you a 44 mag revolver is good bear medicine but when you talk about a 44 mag rifle ; they tell you it isn't enough gun and to go to a 45-70 rifle instead or some other powerful round !? A 44 mag Ruger semi-autos carbine would also make a great gun to have in a pinch as far that goes .
Good shooting! I think your 94 trapper sounds like a sweet gun to have around. It may not be the most powerful rifle in the world but 44 mag is no slouch out of a 16 inch barrel.
It has to do with the size of the platform you are using. The .44 was designed as a handgun round and remains fairly potent as a handgun round. So in terms if handguns, it is a valid choice. Handguns are carried for convenience, and most don't expect them to have the power of a long gun. The .44 out if a lever gun is decent medicine for deer, hogs, and black bear, but fir grizzly, most people are going to suggest that if you are carrying a long gun, you carry something bigger, like a .45-70. This is the same argument many of us have against pistol caliber carbines in general. They might be adequate for most tasks, but personally, if I am carrying a long gun, I don't want adequate. If I have a carbine or a rifle, I want to lay down more hate than can be accomplished with pretty much any handgun round. My long gun for grizzly country is a CRF Ruger in .375 Ruger. It weighs a little more than the carbine you carry, for sure, but it is vastly more powerful by orders of magnitude. So the trade off is worth it.
Exactly. I have a S&W 629 .44 Mag with the 8 1/2" barrel, and a Winchester 16" 94AE rifle.. Both are light, accurate (within 50 yards), have good triggers, don't have too much recoil, are easy to maintain, and reliable.
I like the video. Good job shooting on the tests. If a bear actually charged you might have 3 seconds to shoot but I doubt you would have that much time. That is my rational for the more powerful 44. It is better because you would only have time for 1 or 2 follow up shots.
It seems like everyone says you will only get off a a shot or two but from all of the research I have done, it seems to be completely untrue. There are so many reports of people using 5+ shots and people unloading their guns completely. To think you should carry a hand cannon over a caliber you shoot more accurate just because you think you will only get one shot is crazy. If a grizzly is going after my lower extremities and my hands are free, you bet damn well I will need more than one or two bullets. I would just shoot the caliber you shoot more accurately. You could be one of the people that only gets one shot off but you could also be one of the ones that gets many
I've owned several 44mags over the years, but only one 10mm. Back in the 90s in the New Orleans area (when carjackings were en vogue) I carried my Anaconda in my truck all the time. I always looked at it this way...and we all know that with the 10mm pistol you will get off more rounds, faster, and be able to get back on target quicker vs the 44mag revolver, BUT with the 44mag you're only gonna need one shot, typically. Like you said, comes down to what your comfortable with. Good video. I could watch these all day long.
you may only need one shot but it's also the same for a 10 mm. then what if there is more than 1 person coming at you by time you get your hand back down from the kick and aim, they could have done shot you 3 times. especially if you missed the first shot. lol if revolvers were good for a gun fight, they would still use them in the military and police force.
44 mags are not one shot one kill weapons thats all Hollywood bologna... ive seen people riddled with 44 mag and survived but one well placed 9mm ended others lives.. hand gun caliber makes little difference! just because it hurts your hand more and makes a louder pow dont mean its more deadly
@nonya biz i can guarantee that a 44 mag using critical defense projectiles will drop just about anyone shot center mass with one shot. The caliber does mean something but the projectiles mean even more.
I love your presentation. Your a talented pithy guy. Of coarse i knew from 60 years of firearms experience the .44 was king of penetration in that particular test but recoil is a factor in repeatable shot placement. If i were Grizzly hunting in Alaska i would chose a .450, .460 or 454 Casul. For Brown and Black Bears maybe the .44mag.
Good job. The other risk factor is the likelihood of a jam - less of course with the wheel gun though likely fatal with either - the critter isn’t gonna’ wait for you to clear.
Carried a 44 for decades ( 320 grain WFNHC @ 1300 FPS) UNTIL a SMALL moose charge encounter went bad. 5 through the sternam & heart & the 6th through both shoulders as it was coming down on the sled & it STILL didnt drop the moose. Found all 5 frontal shots just under the fur of the rear flank, slug went completly through both shoulders. Complete body penetration.) Switched up to the 454 Casull. You can have your 10s but i want as much knockdown in ONE shot as i can get. My son on the sled behind me said all he saw was one continious flame & heard a continous roar til the shoulder shot. Youd be amazed at how fast you can double action when your scared crapless! BTW, great shooting there Tex! The shot in the eye would have that bear eating dirt instantly. AND contrary to popular beleif. A bears skull isnt bulletproof. Its the angle that " supposidly" bounces bullets off. Which i think is pure B.S. with todays modern firearms. Just gotta hit em low. Eye level or below or under the ear. Ive been an Alaska bushman for 35 years. Been bear attacked 5 times. My carry RIFLE is the 45/70 lever for all the obvious reasons. Never needed more than one shot with it to instantly drop a bear. Cant say the same for the 375 H&H or the 300 win mag. Both with hot heavy bear loads.
Thanks for sharing, crazy story with the moose! I have only ever had to draw a handgun twice when things got serious and both were situations were with moose, thankfully I did not have to shoot. A good rifle is a better bet for sure.
@@gunsgearoutdoorsalaska5875 , Weird thing about that night, Ive seen lots of moose up here in our remote bush home & every mooses eyes reflect green in the sleds headlight. That night that mooses eyes went from green to RED just before it charged. NEVER saw that before! F&G said when a moose gets really pissed the blood capillaries in its eyes explode causing that effect. Freiked the hell out of me! Ive been chased, followed, treed, false charged many times & never saw THAT before. Never since. Dont EVER want to see it again! If you see it, SHOOT! That sucker ISNT bluffing & intends to kill you.
Great video. You are a good shot with both! Seems to me that anyone who wants less recoil goes with the 10mm. People who don't mind more recoil and value the power, go with 44mag. Good to know that both are good choices. For me, it's the 44. You averaged 3 shots with the 44 and five to six with the 10mm. The power difference of the 44 makes those three equal or better than the five with the 10mm, IMO. Something I hadn't considered is using the FMG. With a human attacker you usually want a hollow point to put all the energy into the human enemy and avoid collateral damage behind. With a bear, with those armored-like bone structures, the FMG is better. I'll switch over! Disclosure: I own the Redhawk 44mag.
Great video about something I was curious about. Also, very good shooting on your part. I was going to challenge you to a duel at high noon, but I guess I'll now give that more careful consideration. Yeah, maybe some other time!😳🤔
Great video you did a great job shooting that 44 rapidly. If I can make a suggestion I have many of those 44s and I like the pachmayr finger groove grips on mine it gives me much more control of the Ruger Red hawk 44s. Again great video and your girlfriend did a great job on that bear cut out.
Excellent video, new subscriber. I’ve never faced a bear in real life but, before watching this, I would have picked the .44 every time. It’s not only more powerful, it’s in a more reliable gun. One failure will make you dead and cold in this situation. Still, I see the merits of the 10 mm. My Conclusion Is: Avoid Bears
"My gun doesn't like this ammo." "Will these rounds cycle?" "Where are my spent shells???" "Dammit! FTF/FTE/Double-feed/stovepipe!" "The fire melted my plastic!" -No revolver shooter ever 😁
@@ajm2872till it goes out of time lol I've shot my revolvers and my glocks hundreds of times without a single jam on any of them Ive heard stories from professional range instructors who have semi frequent revolver failure from brands like colt and S&W Revolvers dont jam often, but when they jam, you die. You can always rack another round in a semi, but when that cylinder freezes up, youre in a world of trouble. Feel free to keep being prideful in your revolvers, but be realistic
But you got to ask yourself..... See'ins how this is the 44 Magnum... The world's most powerful handgun and will blow your head clean off.... You got to ask yourself do I feel lucky....... Will do your punk.....
Yeah, 44 magnum with longest barrel (prefer the 8 3/8 inch) is the minimum I recommend against bears. 10mm energy should be about 700-900 muzzle energy. 44mag should be around 1000-1500 pounds of energy. Carry both and use 10 for blank range backup.
The simplicity, ease of cleaning, and reliability of revolvers is what sways me to them. I do understand the semi-autos have a ton of advantages, but for me, I gotta go with a revolver.
Both guns have their advantages and disadvantages.... The .44 Mag has more firepower, is more accurate, is simpler, less prone to malfunction if it is in good shape and properly maintained. The 10mm is a good round, but all I can see going for it is a higher capacity magazine and the ability to reload if faster. That said, if you need more than 6 rounds to fend off a bear, you are probably in deep trouble.
My glock 40 10mm has never once malfunctioned and can be taken apart in about 2 seconds and is very easy to clean. It's absolutely personal preference but the speed at which I can shoot rounds and stay on target with the 10mm definitely makes it my choice for grizzly country. In black bear country I carry a glock 19x with 2 19 round mags of Buffalo Bore +p hard casts which have also dropped grizzlies. Speed + shot placement are key.
@@manwithnoname734 100% agree with you, all personal preference. The 10mm is far more practical (outside of the ammo shortage crap), but it's about experience with the tool.
@@hansanderson6607 Totally agree! If your life depends on that one round; S&W 44 magnum - accept no substitute! I will take my drop forged S&W 6" model 29-5 over any investment cast Ruger though. More precision and better steel. Semper fi
I have owned a 10mm and several different .44 Mags. The 10mm is simply not in the same league as the .44 mag. The trick is being able to control the .44 under duress, i.e., a brown bear attack. This can come with practice, practice and more practice. A grizz can be on you in 2-4 seconds, and it won't matter how many rounds you may have in that 10mm, counting the time it takes to draw, aim and fire accurately, you're going to get maybe 1 to two shots off before you become bear poop. You'd better make darn sure the round you send will penetrate whatever is needed to stop that animal. That's right, I said stop, not kill, because if you don't stop him with that first, or perhaps second shot, then regardless of how long it takes that bear to die, he's gonna do his best to shorten your lifespan! A good 10mm load from Buffalo Bore will kill a grizz; but just how long will it take? Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that ANY handgun round will do the job quickly enough, but why take a 10mm, with significantly less ft/lbs of energy than a revolver cartridge that cranks out around 500 ft/lbs more energy with some loads. I get that some are just not able to handle the big revolver cartridges, so perhaps they should consider a good shotgun loaded with 3" mag loads of 000 buck, for some devastatingly effective results. We live here in Wyoming, and our grizz are about half the size of those big browns you get up there in the great state of Alaska, but when we used to roam the mountains (we're in our mid 70s now) we always had my .44 or a 12 ga. with 000 buck loads. Just my "two cents worth." God bless America!
I don't think its as clear cut as you make it out to be. There are a lot of people up here who walk around with gigantic revolvers that they can't hit the broad side of a barn with, and luckily for them bear attacks are not that common. Shot placement with speed is no 1. Shooting big bore revolvers quickly and accurately enough to even be useful is a tough skill to master and not something that can not be reasonably expected of everyone who goes outside. Both have been used successfully in some cases and both have been used unsuccessfully. This is such a controversial topic because there are so many variables to account for that have nothing to do with the firearm. I agree with your point that a long gun beats a handgun any day, but I would take a nice heavy slug built for penetration over buckshot in a shotgun. Thanks for sharing your opinion and experience with the subject.
I agree with you David, Practice is the key, people are too concerned with how many rounds they can get off not the effect of them on a pissed off bear at 5 - 10 yds, there is a difference between hunting and surviving a bear attack.
This coming from me a 26-year hunting guide with a lost track of Grizzly's and Brown bears I have guided clients to. Anyone who thinks a handgun is going to save their life from bear attack is a raving idiot you never go into bear country with them Me and my clients have pounded these bears with 338's 375's 416's and 458 mags and still these bears made to us to 20 before staying down. This kind of bear will kill a person with a handgun then go after anyone there also after killing the person with the handgun. In SE Alaska my client killed a bear that killed 2 fishermen and the 4 44 cal magnum bullets we found in the bears fat . The parks services check the bullets for rifling match that came up positive for the Ruger 44 mag that the fishermen shot the bear with. The biggest idiots think handguns are bear guns
Best demonstration video I have seen on the differences between the two guns. I have seen people talk about the differences but the demonstration drives the points home.
I have the 7in and love it. Dont shoot it as much as I'd like but a 10mm is on my next list . I was nailing metal targets at 80yrds with my 44mag with a Leopold scope
What a find!!!! Gotta hand one to the algorithm!! This video popped up in my recommended today.... and has made my whole week!!! Before this vid was even done, had liked, subscribed and clicked the notify. I have now be binge watching your vids for three hours!!! Was raised in Alaska and lived in South Central for over 30 years, but my mid life path moved me to CO for a few years and now MO. Watching your vids is not only very informative, but also gives me a little taste of home. You can bet I'll be watching so keep em coming!!!!!! Now, on topic..... i tended to carry an S&W 5" .44mag most of the time but, would upgrade to my Remington 870 when I was fishing in heavy bear areas. Never had a chance to try a 10mm, but can see it has it's place as a bear/moose defense gun. Think the biggest thing is to remember to carry SOMETHING ANYTIME your the Alaskan woods!!!
Thanks a lot for the kind words. I am really glad you are enjoying the videos. Great point about always carrying something, things go sideways when you least expect it. Glad to have you as a sub and that I can remind you a little bit of home.
I agree. In the penetration test, we must remember that some of the energy from that 10mm is being absorbed in the cycling action of the pistol, whereas the .44 from a revolver was able to deliver full power and velocity to target.
Few of those things are going to matter in a grizzly attack. A grizzly can charge at 40 mph. That is about 58 fps. That means a grizzly can cover 50 yards in about 3 seconds. So if it takes you a second even to draw, you still only have a second or so to get some lead out. Capacity and reload speed are irrelevant. Rate of fire could matter, but quality could matter more than quantity. I carry a 10mm in bear country, but I don't really think it is better than a .44, it is just what I have available, and what I carry for self defense. For one pistol to carry in the woods and the hoods, it is hard to beat a 10mm.
@@nuancolar7304 I don’t think the lost energy in the cycling is true. In slow motion video’s, the bullet has left the barrel before the cycling starts.
@@jimm0802 It's not a significant amount, but you do lose energy in a semi auto. The whole concept of blowback or gas operated semi autos bears that out. After all, what blows it back, or where does the gas come from if not the blast of the round? All that said, I would not hesitate to carry a 10mm semi auto in bear country.
so your showing how effective it is against you being able to take great aim and take your time to shoot while the bear isn't charging you lol. If a grizzly was going to charge you they can get up to 35 mph so i don't think 20 feet going to let you shoot more than maybe 1-2 times.
When I'm in the mountains of UT. I carry my Glock 20 (10mm) with me. I like the face that I would be able to get more accurate shots down range if needed.
My wife and I were teachers up there for many years, my ancestors are from Point Hope. I carried the Super Redhawk in .454 Casull and my wife carried the Glock 20 most of the time. We both practiced with each, and we both felt comfortable with either. If we were going out of the village, we also carried a Mossberg 590 with Federal 000 buck for the first 3 shots and Brenneke rifled slugs for the next 5. Good video, new sub.
Point Hope??? I wouldn't go there unless I was in a Sherman tank. Isn't that where all those cryptids live (and kill humans)? I have heard that is an extremely dangerous place for any human to be.
@@paulmcmanus9603 I've never been there, my grandmother left when she got married. However, my aunties and uncles have visited, and they never told me anything strange about it. We taught in Lower Yukon School District, and the basketball teams regularly went to Point Hope, we never heard anything untoward about it.
Think you did it really Fair test I own a 1911 10 mm Made by Rockwell army I also own a Blackhawk 44 Magnum both guns are amazing and I agree in the right hands any gun is Deadly as far as I'm concerned however here in the the biggest thing we would come across here is a black bear and I'm sure the 10 will knock them down on occasion I do carry the 44 thanks for the test
Great vid, I'll take the 44 please. With the 10mm, and the speed of a bear, sure your getting nice shots off but I think that big beast will still be moving while three from the 44 and all that extra thump will have that big furry murder machine chewing dirt before it ever gets a claw on you. Stay safe up there brother 👍
It works well for me, gun has got knocked out once but that was under strange circumstances involving dogs and skis. I like that you can swap the front shell and keep the harness when changing guns.
A really fun video to watch with a decent comparison between the two hand guns. You are a skilled shooter - I hope you never have to use either gun to ward off a bear. I do believe you will be able to stay alive if an attack ever occurs. Good hunting.
there was a guy n British Columbia who went out hiking in an area that was known for having bears, he was told to carry a hand gun that was either 357 or bigger caliber. He said word for word "I can just shoot a bear in the face with my .38 that will kill it", the guy who warned him laughed cause he thought the man was joking, a week later a hunter nabs a bear (Can't remember if it was a grizzly or not) that was the biggest ever recorded in Canada they found found the hiker dead inside the bear, with a .38 revolver and 6 .38 sized slugs lodged in the bear. Moral of the story listen to peoples advice
