Best Pistols for Bear Attacks Using Real Life Data 

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/

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.

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.

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.

Who the hell takes a .22 to polar bear country????

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!😊

Cool video. 👍👍

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 :).

I also tried to post a few comments and they got deleted. I really enjoyed your video. Good research.

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.

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.

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

454 casull

I recommend Bear Bells and Hot Sauce... I mean Bear Spray.🐻 Remember, sleeping bags are like soft shell tacos for bears.🐻

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.

None of the above. 10 mm!

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

Tried posting a few comments, they all got deleted? I guess nothing related to the subject is allowed to be said?

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 ,

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).

You left out the S&W 500 (50 Cal)

How can you attempt to inform people about bear defense with a pistol, and not include 10mm?

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 😅😅

41 mag is a fine cartridge, actuqlly has better ballistics than the 44 mag

Answer, .45cal. TWO GLOBAL CONFLICTS! (They kept deleting my first comment for saying "2 ww's".) What the fuck.

at lest the black bears in my neighborhood only weight around 150lbs...i kidd, nice g34 by the way.

10mm