would you be afraid to carry a 45 for bear defense

[pseshooter300]

Would you be afraid to carry a 45 in a glock for bears im not talking grizzly talking about black bear around here in east tn. I to me dont think it is enough gun wondering what some of you think.

 

[Spikes Tactical]

Well I hope it is enough because that is what I carry while hiking whenever we travel to the Gatlinburg area. I figured it would have plenty of stopping power.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

.45 ACP also known as the "flying ashtray" will do plenty to make Pooh rethink his dinner choice.

 

[pseshooter300]

Im debating on a 45,357,or a 10mm

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

any of those will be alright.

 

[Brisco Darlin]

i've come up on bears before but just backed away slowly. never had one charge me.

 

[Nhill]

I would think that a .45 would be better than a .357 as far as the "darn, what just hit me affect". A .357 would penetrate better. I don't think either of these are going to instantly kill a bear, so you want stopping power.

I'm not expert though, so I am probably just talking out of my @ss.

 

[1 good shot]

the way the rangers see it you better have claw marks before you kill a bear

 

[W C]

The construction of the bullet will be more important than whether it's .45ACP, 10mm or 357mag. Personally if I carried a .45ACP for bear defense I'd load the first and every other round with 230gr FMJ and alternating rounds of 230gr Winchester Ranger T

 

[meat hunter]

Absolutely enough gun for black bear protection. My choice of ammo would be CorBon DPX with Barnes bullets.

 

[pseshooter300]

Well i have been around bears and killed one this past fall when i shot it come straight down the hill at me i had nothing else but a muzzle loader. And with the ranger deal im pretty sure everyone would agree if a bear is charging especially when they have cubs if it is me or the bear the bear is getting it.

 

[pseshooter300]

I also think going out west i would rather have the 10mm for grizz

 

[pcrc]

I shoot steel falling plates with a bunch of guys on a regular basis. We have one guy who shoots a Glock 20 in 10mm with 180 grain bullets. It is far and away the hardest hitting bullet I have seen so far. And besides that if the bullet doesnt do the job the noise of the 10mm will.

 

[mr.big]

I would want at least a 45 Long Colt,maybe a 44 Rem Mag but would rather have the 45 loaded hot with 300+ gr bullets.


the S&W Model 25 would be nice to have

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =300104208

 

[TNReb]

I wouldn't hesitate to carry it. It might not be as efficient as a .44 or something... but I love Glocks and have more confidence in my ability to put multiple shots in to the bear with a G21 than a .44.

 

[Deerhunter]

As the owner of botha a G20sf and G21sf, I carry the 10mm in the woods. If I didnt have it I wouldn't hesitate to carry the 45. I deal with black bears almost weekly and sometimes daily at work, and they seem to want very little to do with humans. In a worst case scenario though I would want as much firepower as possible. Hard to argue with 15+1 of full power 10mm.

 

[Kimberman]

I finished off a deer with Win Ranger T Series 230 gr +p out of my Kimber last year, and was very underwhelmed with the penetration I got. Most 45 ACP hollow points are made for self defense against 2 legged critters, not 4. The hair and skin of a deer is alot thicker than a human, the bear will be even thicker with more fat, muscle, and bigger bones. The 10 or 357 with hunting bullets would be a better choice. If all I had was a 45, I suppose I would carry 230 gr Buffalo Bore +p flat point FMJs. That way I know it will at least get into and maybe through a bear.

 

[Deer Assassin]

i saw the deer shot with 45 too
not impressed as kimberman said


for me

.41 mag

or 460 mag

 

[fishboy1]

Another vote for .45LC Load up with a 300gr XTP mag and you have some serious business.

Since you want an auto loader, Bullet choice will be more important. A soft hollow point will probably not penetrate well enough to win the argument as fast as you like.

Go with a tougher construction or FMJ or flat nose with a bit harder alloy and a hot or +P load if your gun will take it.

 

[eightpointer]

I would think its plenty.

 

[moondawg]

I'd get the heaviest bullet I could find for a 45. I don't see why it wouldn't work. But then, we don't have bears in my neck of the woods.

Me personally, I'd consider a .41 or a .44 mag, especially with hunting type bullets. Maybe even a .357 mag with hunting bullets.

 

[Asaltwpn1]

I shot a doe last year with a 45 ACP 230 gr. @ 20 yds. Watched her run out of range and started feeding again. Never phased her. Bullet placement was perfect also. This year I'll be caring a 44 mag. If using for bears, be sure to file the front sight off. It wont hurt as bad. LOL

 

[348Winchester]

When hunting black bears in Tennessee, Montana, and Idaho I have carried a Ruger Blackhawk in 45 Colt. My hand loads were a Speer 300 grain soft point over 22 grains of H110. It is accurate and potent. Since you have a 45acp go with 230 grain ball ammo.

 

[fishboy1]

348win,

Try some 2400 under that 300gr load. MUCH cleaner than the H110.

 

[348Winchester]

I just loaded some 44-40 with 2400 and thought it was rather dirty. I sometimes use Win 296 for stout 45 Colt loads.

 

[JN]

I used to carry a small .38 while fishing remote trout streams and basically just had it for peace of mind and it was light but was never really worried about bears since all the ones I had seen had always ran off the second they saw you until one day I had one sneak up on me while fishing and from the sound of the stream I never heard it and he must have not seen me but saw my buddy downstream and took off running from him and about ran me over. You talk about pissing your pants. I told my buddy I didnt know whose eyes were bigger mine or his when we saw each other. After that and an encounter with a dog someone had dropped off I upgraded the .38 to model 444 ultralite by taurus and it def packs more of a punch then what I used to carry and is not heavy either.

 

[1 good shot]

if you are in confrontation with a bear at the point where you feel you are in danger 1. your are going to be facing it or 2 it is going to be charging you. either way the animal's adrenaline will be flowing
if it is charging it would be very difficult to place a effective shot and it has been stated earlier you're targeting mostly heavy bone and muscle at that angle
if its facing you and in a offensive posture you're probably screwed anyway
and with a 45 acp you could do some damage but you going to suffer some too
thats my opinion for whats its worth

 

[pseshooter300]

I think the 10 would be a lot better. They are issuing these to officers that are in and around polar bears for defense. I think i like my chances with a 10

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Of the three I would use the 10mm with FMJ type rounds for maximum penetration and stuff it in his mouth.

Personally I carry a 4 inch S&W 44 mag.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

Check these out...I have some of the 45 +P FMJ's and they seem pretty potent. I don't think I would want to shoot too many in my S&W 45 without upgrading the spring.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l ... tail&p=214