Good Bowhunting Sidearm... 40, 10, 45?

[dontgetcrabs]

It's all about Kinetic Energy, not FPS. You want a round that will hit whatever you're shooting at, like a sledge hammer.

  Out of the three listed in the OP go with the 45.

[CAMPMEAT]

I have all 3 calibers and wouldn't hesitate to carry any of those in the woods. Just preference I guess.

[thinkingman]

Around $700
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/713076543/used+Smith+%26+Wesson+329PD+Alaska+Backpacker?sort=date

Nice gun but you're about $400 short of the street price.
I bought the little brother, 386 XL.
6" barrel, 7 rds of 357 with 180gr hardcast.
The grip on the N frame is too big for me.
327,329,325, all great mountain carry guns.
I would pick the 327 or 325 because I have other guns in that cartridge.
Don't go shorter than a 4" barrel or all you get for that magnum experience is a louder bang.

[mountainman]

I carry a Smith and Wesson 329 .44 mag. Light, accurate with my 320's at 1300 fps. Stem to stern any big bear you may come across..forget the rest!

[KFhunter]

I'm not telling any of you what I'm packing cause the turds in the wolf section will take note then accus.....err what gun?


what were we talking about again?

[huntnnw]

A 9mm?    most of you I am guessing have never actually been face to face with a bear multiple times...good luck hitting the brain in the heat of the moment and if that bear is at 15 feet kiss your ass goodbye. I saw what a 9mm did to a black bear at 8 yards...bullets falling out of the bear this is no joke..17 rds fired it was like the bear was being stung by a bee! If I am packing a gun it better kill and not head shots talking chest too.. 357 or bigger.  I have watched bears take 300 mag at point blank range and act if it wasnt phased..talk aboyt crapping yourself.

[mountainman]

A 9mm?    most of you I am guessing have never actually been face to face with a bear multiple times...good luck hitting the brain in the heat of the moment and if that bear is at 15 feet kiss your ass goodbye. I saw what a 9mm did to a black bear at 8 yards...bullets falling out of the bear this is no joke..17 rds fired it was like the bear was being stung by a bee! If I am packing a gun it better kill and not head shots talking chest too.. 357 or bigger.  I have watched bears take 300 mag at point blank range and act if it wasnt phased..talk aboyt crapping yourself.

[huntnnw]

I pulled 3 rds out of the chest that you could see! pretty much left a welt on the bear.

[quadrafire]

OK......... better just go with the spray then.....

[Jim the Plumber]

Glock 10mm. Model 20 gets you 16 rounds or a 29 fills up with 11.
compact, hard hitting, lots of firepower in an easy to carry package.
Easier to deploy inside a tent than bear spray.

[motg9_6]

I used to a carry a Judge 45/.410 alternating 230 grn  Long Colt rounds with .410 000 buckshot. that way my nervousness could still be accurate part of the time.
#1 problem is you only got 5 rnds in the gun so this year i bought a Glock 21 .45 acp 13 rounds of fury if needed.
will miss the revolver fun and carry bird shot for grouse but it will make a better mattress gun anyways.

[huntnnw]

U pretty much get 2 shots and those 2 better kill. A bear at 10 yards will  be on you faster u will ever imagine.

[magnanimous_j]

It's all about Kinetic Energy, not FPS. You want a round that will hit whatever you're shooting at, like a sledge hammer.

Kinetic Energy is mass x velocity. (KE= .5 x MV2)

All the weight in the world is meaningless without the horsepower to push it.

[buckfvr]

It's all about Kinetic Energy, not FPS. You want a round that will hit whatever you're shooting at, like a sledge hammer.

Kinetic Energy is mass x velocity. (KE= .5 x MV2)

All the weight in the world is meaningless without the horsepower to push it.

All this adds up to .44 rem mag.............

[BULLBLASTER]

It's all about Kinetic Energy, not FPS. You want a round that will hit whatever you're shooting at, like a sledge hammer.

Kinetic Energy is mass x velocity. (KE= .5 x MV2)

All the weight in the world is meaningless without the horsepower to push it.

the velocity part is squared... so that has a huge impact on ke. I haven't been face to face with a grizzly but did get down and dirty in the brush with a pissed off and injured blackie one time. 2 shots from my 7 mag did it in... the first in the chest didn't seem to phase it. Second went in the neck. I also agree with huntnnw a 9 would not even be on my list for bear defense.