Sidearm for Black Bear.

[tjthebest]

ill take my Baby Desert Eagle 9mm loaded up with 17rds anyday vs a bear.

[Okanagan]

Did anyone had any problems with bears? Bear don't want to mess with you, they give you fair warning before they may charge. ...

FWIW, black bear research shows that black bears do sneak attacks on humans as prey and in such cases always eat the victim.  There will be no warning in such cases. That's different from an attack when the bear is wounded or crowded.   I have been threatened by several bears, both black and grizzly, and two cougars (that I know about    ).  I am more concerned about a black bear sneaking around near me than I am about a cougar in the same situation and wolf attacks are even more rare.   Black bears sneak up on people to eat them.  Cougars are usually merely curious, though I don't trust his intentions when one is close. 

[rtspring]

500 SW with 550 grain killers...   Best bear medicine money can buy.. 

No follow up shot needed.

[jrebel]

454 Casull.  Should be enough to deter them. 

[tgomez]

500 SW with 550 grain killers...   Best bear medicine money can buy.. 

No follow up shot needed.

Sounds like a hand cannon!!!! BOOM, off with his head!!!

[DOUBLELUNG]

If it's mostly about shot placement why don't you guy's carry 22lr handguns or even a pellet handgun. (insert sarcasm)    I have shot a fair number of animals and unless your using some kind of specialty ammo the standard auto cartridges are just plain anemic there are way better choices.I carry a gun even though a stun gun or mace would probably work for humans.

Just food for thought, I have killed around 200 big game animals with a Ruger semiauto pistol and .22lr premium ammo.  Never under duress myself, usually at a few feet to a few yards, out to 60 yards.  Injured or depredating animals.  The toughest being a 300+ lb black bear boar in a culvert trap.  On several occasions with quartering away shots, I've had the bullet break ribs on both sides then break the offside shoulder blade and exit.  Certainly not ideal for any large animal purpose, I would not however dismiss the lethality of premium hypervelocity .22lr ammunition at close range - even more so at rifle velocities.  An accurate and carefully placed top-end .22lr bullet can cause incredible damage.         

[theleo]

New model Black Hawk .44 special loaded with Keith bullets going about 1,000 fps. I'd walk in circles if I had a 44 magnum on my side and since this .44 special is on a 357 frame, and I could load it to near 44 magnum levels (same 245 grain bullet doing 1200 fps) I don't have the need for anything bigger. As a side note, Keith's load of 2400 pushing the bullet to 1,200 fps is not the most comfortable for plinking with this pistol.

[superdown]

If it's mostly about shot placement why don't you guy's carry 22lr handguns or even a pellet handgun. (insert sarcasm)    I have shot a fair number of animals and unless your using some kind of specialty ammo the standard auto cartridges are just plain anemic there are way better choices.I carry a gun even though a stun gun or mace would probably work for humans.

Just food for thought, I have killed around 200 big game animals with a Ruger semiauto pistol and .22lr premium ammo.  Never under duress myself, usually at a few feet to a few yards, out to 60 yards.  Injured or depredating animals.  The toughest being a 300+ lb black bear boar in a culvert trap.  On several occasions with quartering away shots, I've had the bullet break ribs on both sides then break the offside shoulder blade and exit.  Certainly not ideal for any large animal purpose, I would not however dismiss the lethality of premium hypervelocity .22lr ammunition at close range - even more so at rifle velocities.  An accurate and carefully placed top-end .22lr bullet can cause incredible damage.         

I have seen many cattle and pigs dispatched with 22lr at my family's ranch and my great uncles used to shoot black bear in the ear and eye with 22lr rifles off their deck many years before i was around.The point that a poor choice of side arm / cartridge will work has been established.I personally choose to carry something more appropriate IMO for the encounter rather than 15-45 rounds of something under powered.If a person were being attacked by a bear i highly doubt they would have the wherewithal to actually reload their weapon so it turns out to be more pointless weight.I want as much power as i can ACCURATELY shoot on my hip.            

[wildmanoutdoors]

I dont worry about getting attacked by a Black Bear. Are you talking about if your hunting Bear and one trys to attack you after maybe wounding it or just being attacked in general?

When I bow hunt I carry my Glock 27 or my Super Redhawk Alaskan in 44. Depends on the mood and how far I want to hike that day. But not really for animals of the 4 legged variety.

If your carrying a 9mm for Bear, save the last shot for yourself!

Pretty sure its better than a rock. Lol

So is a spear or machete. Lol

[Machias]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America

[Stein]

I always carry bear spray and my Ruger LCR 357.  The latter is more for two-leggers, though.

[DOUBLELUNG]

If it's mostly about shot placement why don't you guy's carry 22lr handguns or even a pellet handgun. (insert sarcasm)    I have shot a fair number of animals and unless your using some kind of specialty ammo the standard auto cartridges are just plain anemic there are way better choices.I carry a gun even though a stun gun or mace would probably work for humans.

Just food for thought, I have killed around 200 big game animals with a Ruger semiauto pistol and .22lr premium ammo.  Never under duress myself, usually at a few feet to a few yards, out to 60 yards.  Injured or depredating animals.  The toughest being a 300+ lb black bear boar in a culvert trap.  On several occasions with quartering away shots, I've had the bullet break ribs on both sides then break the offside shoulder blade and exit.  Certainly not ideal for any large animal purpose, I would not however dismiss the lethality of premium hypervelocity .22lr ammunition at close range - even more so at rifle velocities.  An accurate and carefully placed top-end .22lr bullet can cause incredible damage.         

I have seen many cattle and pigs dispatched with 22lr at my family's ranch and my great uncles used to shoot black bear in the ear and eye with 22lr rifles off their deck many years before i was around.The point that a poor choice of side arm / cartridge will work has been established.I personally choose to carry something more appropriate IMO for the encounter rather than 15-45 rounds of something under powered.If a person were being attacked by a bear i highly doubt they would have the wherewithal to actually reload their weapon so it turns out to be more pointless weight.I want as much power as i can ACCURATELY shoot on my hip.            

Totally agree.  On the rare occasions where bears have been a primary concern, I have carried a short-barreled 12 gauge on a safari sling

[Reidus]

Glock 20 w/15 round mags. Real similar to stout 357 mag load except  15 round mag.

[Okanagan]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America

Thanks for posting the chart on bear fatalities.  Useful info.

[bowtechian]

S&W 629 6.5 inch barrel .44 mag

I carry the same, grew up in grizz country