Black Bear 44mag or 10mm

That Smith is pretty sweet, I am definitely a 44mag/45colt fan and a big 10mm fan also, the G20 is on my short list to own but have had many Colts in 10mm,
Where we hang out in PA they have some pretty good sized black bears they have taken some over 500 lbs right by our camp, I usually carry a 4" 44 Redhawk loaded with 300 or 325gr WFN's at around 1100fps very easy to manage load pretty sure it will take care of any 2 or 4 legged problems we may encounter while fishing or just bumming around in the woods

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Originally Posted By: Rich44That Smith is pretty sweet,

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I use it for one of my conceal n carries. If only my colt andaconda 8 3/4" barreled pistol was a little lighter. I can hit cans at 125 yards with that baby!
 
I use my Ruger Super Redhawk in 44 mag as my sidearm when bear hunting. It's what I use on drives through swamps when carrying a rifle is impossible.

 
Originally Posted By: beaglerI use my Ruger Super Redhawk in 44 mag as my sidearm when bear hunting. It's what I use on drives through swamps when carrying a rifle is impossible.



Is that the Diamond D Guides Choice Holster? That is the rig I am ordering for my G20. How do you like it?
 

I am a Glock 20 fan. I prefer a thigh holster, in general, and
Specter Gear specifically.



Left to right, A customized 1911, a XD-45C, a Glock 20SF.
Most of the time the Glock 20 holster is snapped onto
the Specter Gear gun belt. With a mag in the gun, one
in the holster mag carrier, and two mags in the belt pouch,
I have 61 rounds of threat reduction.
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Very
comfortable carry gear for me.

I have a 6" KKM Precision barrel for the G20,that launches
220 gr. hardcast bullets at a measured 1250 FPS 15' from
the muzzle. If I ever return to AK, it will replace the
.41 mag wheel gun I have carried in the past.

Squeeze
 
Originally Posted By: Rich44 Beagler
Nice Super, didn't they take a huge Black bear in Lackawanna county this year something like 772 lbs
Yep. Not too far from where I live. Our group usually kills a couple every year. Our two largest to date are 705lbs and 612lbs. We grow em' big here in PA.
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Originally Posted By: GC
Is that the Diamond D Guides Choice Holster? That is the rig I am ordering for my G20. How do you like it?
Yep. Love it for a hunting holster.
 
I have a S&W 329 44 mag that weighs in at like 22 oz. I load 310 gr hard cast bullets for pure penetration. I think either gun would work against black bear, though I have never had a problem with any of the bear, that I have run into. Most the times a good yell will get them moving along. If I went back to Alaska, the 44 would be the minimum I would take and prefer the wheel guns dependability.
 
I own and shoot both calibers. With that being said, I would choose the 44 mag. While the 10 mm is a great cartridge, it does not have the ft lbs. of the 44. I also prefer the simplicity and dependability of a revolver for hunting and backpacking duties.
 
Quote:Sex appeal of a Ruger Alaskan .44mag or .454 (loaded with hot .45colt loads for recoil management) by far trumps that of a Glock 10mm.......That sounds like a perfume add for attracting something...Just not sure what sex you are appealing to...I really doubt that it would turn on the bear...
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Originally Posted By: Mike BAll the above is true, but I will bring something up on a hunting site that many may not want to admit - statistically, firearms are 60-some % effective at stopping a bear attack. Quality pepper spray is 90-some % effective at the same game. I don't recall the exact numbers, and I do think grizzlies are included in that statistic, but the point stands. I own both 10's and 44's, and if these guys keep yappin' like this, I'll have one of those Glocks and one of those 460 Rowlands, and maybe a 45 Colt, but the spray works more betterer to stop them now. Takes their air and their eyes - can't see, can't breathe?? Even a severe predatory instinct will diminish right now. Shoot them with a powerful caliber and they may be dead, but just didn't realize it yet. After they "chew" on yo....I mean, it, a bit, they may capitulate. JMHO.


 
I carry a stainless Super Blackhawk in 44mag loaded with 300gr hardcast loads. I have yet to shoot a bear in defense with it and I hope I never have to.
 
All this firepower for a BLACK bear?
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Here's a thought. Just yell at the d@mn thing and scare it into the next county. It's worked for me dozens of times. Once in a campground in Michigan, yelling at the bears didn't work so I had to drag out the heavy firepower. I pelted them with rocks.

Getting all lathered up because of a black bear seems like over reaction to me. I'm sure dozens more people shoot themselves in the @ss with their own gun than are injured by black bears.

Grouse
 
Actually there are, the last time I did the research, 27
known incidents of black bears preying on people. Several
attempts have been filmed. There is one sad case in the
finger lakes of NY, where an older couple went island
canoe camping, and didn't return. The wardens found bags
of food, untouched, dropped where they obviously attempted to
flee from an attacking black bear. The wardens actually found
the bear feeding on one of the corpses, just after they
found the first partially consumed body. In a documentary
on black bear predation on humans, they have film of a
black bear stalking, a guy with a camera. He is able to
bluff it off several times, until his buddy returned with
a boat, and they beat a hasty retreat. The bear although
bluffed back, always started pressing a new attack...Pretty
spooky stuff to watch...

Go ahead and throw rocks...I hope the bear doesn't stuff them
someplace to fatten you up for a meal. I will be throwing
200 gr. XTPs, at 1250 fps, if the bear doesn't beat a hasty
retreat.

Squeeze
 
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Bears are a lot faster than most people realize, you'd be luck to empty 6 well placed shots let alone 15. I have both and the 44 would be my 1st choice. Avoid them if possible and if you see cubs be very alert and back away slowly.

I always get a chuckle out of the bells and pepper story.
 
44 mag revolver over 10mm. I like the 45 Colt and 480 Ruger better than the 44, but any of the 3 will work, undoubtedly.......
 
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