Grizzly handguns

goldhunter · Mar 25, 2017

Those of you that hunt in the grizzly areas, who carries a handgun and what make and model do you prefer? When I hunted last fall looked like a lot of single action revolvers. Seems like some kind of double action or auto would be better. Thought?

mntnguide · Mar 25, 2017

I carry a double action Ruger Redhawk .44. Stainless steel 4 1/2" barrel. I carry it in a light shoulder holster leather design that i had custom made. Doesnt interfere with having a pack on or when im riding horses etc.. The reason i carry a revolver over an auto, is quite simple. I know if i pull that trigger its going to shoot. Rain, mud, dust etc, its gonna go off if i need it to. With an auto, there is the chance of a jam, and if its my life on the line, thats not something im willing to risk. . I also carry bear spray as well now adays, though i used to just carry the revolver. The other thing i will mention, dont shoot hollow points, use full lead. you want as much stopping force as possible. I also load one tube with buckshot for when they test my comfort boundaries i can use a little pepper in their ass to convince them to go away if needed before actually having to shoot at them. Ive been around grizzlies in close quarters a lot here in NW WY, i am pretty comfortable around them, and have never had to shoot one, but i know people who have been charged and emptied a can of bear spray to still have the bear charge again. I will never rely on pepper spray to save my life.

264mag · Mar 25, 2017

>I carry a double action Ruger
>Redhawk .44. Stainless steel 4
>1/2" barrel. I carry it
>in a light shoulder holster
>leather design that i had
>custom made. Doesnt interfere with
>having a pack on or
>when im riding horses etc..
>The reason i carry a
>revolver over an auto, is
>quite simple. I know if
>i pull that trigger its
>going to shoot. Rain, mud,
>dust etc, its gonna go
>off if i need it
>to. With an auto, there
>is the chance of a
>jam, and if its my
>life on the line, thats
>not something im willing to
>risk. . I also carry
>bear spray as well now
>adays, though i used to
>just carry the revolver. The
>other thing i will mention,
>dont shoot hollow points, use
>full lead. you want as
>much stopping force as possible.
>I also load one tube
>with buckshot for when they
>test my comfort boundaries i
>can use a little pepper
>in their ass to convince
>them to go away if
>needed before actually having to
>shoot at them. Ive been
>around grizzlies in close quarters
>a lot here in NW
>WY, i am pretty comfortable
>around them, and have never
>had to shoot one, but
>i know people who have
>been charged and emptied a
>can of bear spray to
>still have the bear charge
>again. I will never rely
>on pepper spray to save
>my life.
+1

Weiserbucks · Mar 25, 2017

I'm sure I'm in the minority here , but I carry a Glock model 20 10mm. It's the most reliable auto I've ever seen and holds 16 rounds. 10mm is a very powerful cartridge and is worth considering if you go with an auto .

Can't go wrong with a stout revolver either.

Hunterturbo · Mar 25, 2017

I as well as my father turned to the Glock 10mm. But we added the lone wolf barrel at 6.02" in length giving a substantial amount more velocity and energy delivered to the target. We have since changed our minds as per my bear hunt here in Utah for Black bears. I used some double tap 200 gr lead that was extremely hot. My bear was a 375 lb bear, boar and 15-18' above me in a tree. First shot front shoulder through and stuck in hide just past ribs. The bear climbed a branch higher and exposed his other shoulder. Boom second shot same as first just other side. Bear jumped around a bit then gave me a perfect broadside shot. Third shot flew and hit both lungs right behind shoulders and exited. Bear then turned to climb the tree giving me a perfect shot at his back. Boom Forth shot. Right between the shoulder blades and hitting the spine. He hung on for a couple second then fell from the tree and landed 5 feet from me. I held me ground and ready to fire again but didn't, the bear ran 25-30' and expired. We skinned him for a life-size mount. Dissecting at the entrance and exit wounds. Impressive, yeah, but not for grizzly. Note that I had all the time in the world for my first shot, making it count. The other three were not rushed and were close, probably 30 seconds total for the entire ordeal. Something I bet you don't get with a Grizz. WE hunt in Wyoming all the time and thought as you did. 10mm with hot loads and 15 rounds, awesome! It may well be, but when we are in Grizz country its a 44, just because as hot as a 10mm is it don't even compare to a 44 and I bet you don't get off 2-3 rounds. Probably only 1 if you are lucky. My opinion changed after this real life experience with a docile decent sized black bear in a tree lounging. Not a big Grizz charging, oh and yes PEPPER SPRAY!
Best of luck in Grizz country!
Hunterturbo

mightyhunter · Mar 25, 2017

I carry a well traveled double action Ruger Redhawk in .41 magnum that is loaded with 240 grain cast bullets that were made in Riverton, Wyoming. It is set shoulder style on my chest in a Ringler custom Wyoming Combination holster. It is sighted in at 25 ft. I know it will kill a bear. I do not carry it when I am hunting with a rifle. Sometimes, I will carry pepper spray that is attached to the harness of my binocular system. My dominant hand is my right hand. Because of this fact, I never loop my trekking pole on my right hand because it would interfere with drawing the handgun.

After seeing many grizzly bears up close and personal, I have come to the conclusion that if a bear charges without bluffing first, there is little or no chance for you to either pull or fire a handgun or pepper spray during the initial attack. That being said, if a bear touches me I will shoot him if I can.

just sayin...mh

goldhunter · Mar 25, 2017

Thanks guys. I was actually thinking the Glock 10 mm would be ok but maybe just go with the standard tried and true 44 in double action. I have carried bear spray in the past and probably will continue but maybe add the handgun too. Sounds like the grizzlies are way more prevalent now than when I was hunting Montana a lot.

Weiserbucks · Mar 25, 2017

If you're attacked by a bear of any sort , nothing is going to work perfectly. Choose something you're comfortable with.

I've seen bears killed with a single 22LR bullet and seen bears shot several times with a 375 H&H that were not recovered .

Homer · Mar 25, 2017

.....whatever pistol you decide on, just be sure to file the sights off....so it won't hurt so bad when the bear shoves it up your A$$.....lol

delmag1942 · Mar 25, 2017

.44 Mag with Garrett hardcasts 310 grain. S&W 329PD or Taurus Ultra Lite.........Both full frame 4" DA revolvers weighing 26-28 ounces.

Homer · Mar 25, 2017

.....you must be talking about an archery hunt.....because any high powered rifle is more effective than any handgun.

PleaseDear · Mar 25, 2017

Ruger .454 2 1/2 inch barrel.

Robb

Gauge86 · Mar 26, 2017

I use a clock 20 as well, when there's lead in the air there is danger.

midwesthunter · Mar 26, 2017

Glock 40 for me

Wyohunter1 · Mar 27, 2017

I second the S&W 329PD in .44 mag. If you do a lot of hiking it is well worth the money for a light titanium revolver. I've hiked a lot before with a Heavy Ruger Blackhawk and don't miss it a bit.

goldhunter · Mar 27, 2017

The 329PD really looks interesting, I'll try to check one out. Kind of hard to find probably sitting on a shelf I bet, given the specialty nature of this model.

ELKLOVER · Mar 27, 2017

I third the S&W 329PD. Love it.

Hunterturbo · Mar 27, 2017

Smith 329PD is in my future shortly.
Trading in the Glock for a 44 when in Grizz country

mtncowboy · Mar 27, 2017

I know you are specifically looking at handguns, but after seeing double digits grizzlies in one day(NW WY), I left the handgun at home and started packing the 12 gauge with 9 round capacity! If things went from bad to worse I would WAAAAAY rather have the shotgun the my pistol, but that's just me.

bugleb · Apr 1, 2017

For handguns on grizz - use the noisiest one you can find and try not to hit the bear with it because that will just make him even madder and more ferocious.

Hawkeye · Apr 13, 2017

Thi is a great thread. Would some of you guys mind posting photos of your handgun of choice? Thanks.

-Hawkeye-

Longun · Apr 27, 2017

Dessert Eagle .44 mag...8 for the bear...one for myself..

Millsworks · May 24, 2017

Youth model REM. 870 in 20ga. With pistol grip instead of the stock.
Fine shot should send em running, buck shot will scar em for life, or slugs will put one down!
Handy for small game too.
They come with a 21 in. barrel and screw in choke tubes.

Eight shot brings new meaning to bear spray!

goldhunter · May 27, 2017

I've been thinking about this and am leaning towards staying with spray while archery hunting, then if I can't get the meat out that day use a long gun on the return trip, shotgun or rifle if that would be legal.

Stupid?

Jimmyd1 · May 28, 2017

My wife and I were out one day and got caught between a Grizzly and a small moose. We I realized what was happening it was to late. Luckily for us when it charged, he went for the moose. Wyatt Earp could not have drawn a hand gun on that bear and got a shot off. After that day I never go into bear country hunting or scouting with out Bear Spray on my hip.

DoubleDropMuley · May 28, 2017

LAST EDITED ON May-28-17 AT 09:12AM (MST)[p]I'm probably gonna go ISIS suicide bomber style when I go sheep hunting in sept. I'll attach explosives to me that way if I can't stop the charge of a grizz shits gonna get real!! ???. They need to get off the list so we can manage them and let them know that the sound of a rifle shot is a dinner bell just not there's ! And as millworks above mentioned I've heard a short shotgun with 00 buck and slugs staggered. If the 00 don't send them scared the slug is next in line.

Millsworks · May 28, 2017

>LAST EDITED ON May-28-17
>AT 09:12?AM (MST)
>
>I'm probably gonna go ISIS suicide
>bomber style when I go
>sheep hunting in sept. I'll
>attach explosives to me that
>way if I can't stop
>the charge of a grizz
>shits gonna get real!! ???.
>They need to get off
>the list so we can
>manage them and let them
>know that the sound of
>a rifle shot is a
>dinner bell just not there's
>! And as millworks above
>mentioned I've heard a short
>shotgun with 00 buck and
>slugs staggered. If the 00
>don't send them scared the
>slug is next in line.
>

Can I get a big AMEN to that or what!