Best Handguns for Bear Country

Best 6 Handguns for Bear Country

BY JOHN BIBBY PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 5, 2020 IN CAMPING & SURVIVAL

Another great article from Cheaper than Dirt, a great source for your shooting needs.

Before I get into what guns are great for bear country, we really need to discuss the competing ideas of what is important in that arena. There are two main camps.

• The first is, carry a huge cannon that will do massive damage. Those who are in this camp believe that a bear encounter usually happens at very short range. This means you get one, maybe two shots and they need to count. For these people, a large-bore revolver is usually the “best” option.
• The other camp believes the best choice is to carry a bear gun that you can get off many rounds with quickly and accurately. Their theory is that you should use a gun you are comfortable with and that many entry wounds do more damage than any single massive wound. This mindset tends to come from the idea that many people freeze up when they utilize a firearm with a non-practiced manual of arms.

Both groups have anecdotal “evidence” to support their concepts and they also have some truth in each argument.

I will state categorically there are choices that are not the way to bet. I am not limiting that to very under powered rounds like .22 LR and .25 ACP.

Even the ubiquitous 9mm Luger is not a good choice, especially when using hollow-point rounds.

What works and penetrates well in a thin-skinned human will not do nearly the job on a much thicker-hided bear, with much thicker bones and a much deeper vital zone.

If you do choose to run a 9mm in bear country, at least choose heavy for caliber, truncated cone/wide meplat hard-cast projectiles.

However, these projectiles are still too narrow for massive damage and still unlikely to penetrate the 18+ inches to reach the vitals of a bear.

They do have much more potential to shatter bone and they will retain their entire weight while tumbling. This creates more damage potential than a JHP, JSP or FMJ projectile.

Underwood makes extremely powerful .460 S&W ammunition that is great for use in your bear gun.

Large-Bore Revolvers:

1. Smith And Wesson 460V

Smith and Wesson call this pistol the most versatile large-bore revolver, and there is a lot of truth in that statement. The five-inch gain-twist barrel provides for an excellent trade-off between velocity and handiness.

The cylinder can be used for .460 S&W, .454 Casull or .45 Colt rounds. By having these three options available, the cost to practice is much lower, which translates to a much more refined manual of arms for the shooter.

The .45 Colt rounds are much (over 50%) lower in recoil, which also aids in practice. Running 100 rounds of .45 Colt in a day is a very doable and fun thing, as well as being perfectly serviceable for lesser threats.

The .454 Casull is a marked step up and is vastly superior in stopping power to the older choice, .44 Magnum. For the ultimate in stopping power from this platform, the .460 is yet another quantitative step up.

It does, however, come with significant recoil and muzzle blast penalty, even in comparison to the .454 Casull.

The standard-pressure .45 Colt recoil will feel like a .380 ACP from a full-sized gun due to the size and weight of this revolver.

Ported barrel for recoil reduction, 61 oz. weight unloaded, five-round capacity, stainless frame and cylinder.

JR Note:  S&W is top quality, and this is a versatile gun that is on my wish list.

 

2. Ruger Super Redhawk – .454 Casull

This Ruger revolver is a tank of a firearm, so much so that there are higher-pressure loads that are only safe to shoot in it. I also like this revolver in the five-inch variant for the same reason as with the Smith.

It is a good mix of utilizing the gunpowder and being handy. This also has the option of using .45 Colt rounds and even the high-pressure option listed in the chart below.

Although, not up to .454 Casull statistics, it is a significant uptick from standard .45 Colt loadings.

The standard-pressure .45 Colt loading will recoil like a soft to moderate 9mm from a full-sized GLOCK.

Non-ported, 47 oz. weight unloaded, six-round capacity, stainless frame and cylinder.

The Ruger Super Redhawk is an incredibly powerful bear country gun.

3. Taurus Raging Judge – .454 Casull

The Taurus is usually a significantly lower-priced option for similar capability. The Raging Judge is capable of running standard .45 Colt rounds, as well as .454 Casull.

They offer five-inch and 6.5-inch options, which are fairly handy for anti-bear usage. Both have top relief porting to help fight muzzle rise and mitigate recoil.

Similarly to the Ruger, .45 Colt rounds will feel like a moderate loading of 9mm from a full-sized GLOCK or M&P.

Ported, 51 oz. (five-inch) or 53 oz. (6.5-inch) unloaded, five-round capacity, stainless frame and cylinder.

 

JR Note:  I personally don't care for Taurus brand guns but S&W, Ruger & Glock are some of my favorite brands.

4. Smith And Wesson Model 29 – .44 Magnum

This Smith comes in tons of variations as it has a 50+ year production history. My choices for barrel length would be five, six or 6.5 inches.

These lengths use up a significant percentage of the powder and are still fairly quick to access with the correct holster.

By dropping down to a .44 magnum, you are certainly giving up some power, but you are gaining a fair amount of controllability and (in most cases) an extra round.

Like the more powerful rounds mentioned above, bullet construction is very important. Using a JHP or a JSP very much defeats the purpose of deep penetration and the ability to crush thick bones.

This is a classic bear gun and is sure to get the job done.

Ported or non-ported, depending on the barrel +/- 45 oz, six-round capacity, stainless frame and cylinder.

Caliber	Projectile Weight	Velocity	Muzzle Energy
.45 Colt	225-Grain HC	960 fps	460 ft/lbs
.45 Colt	255-Grain HC	860 fps	410 ft/lbs
.45 Colt	300-Grain HCGC	1250 fps	1090 ft/lbs
.44 Magnum	270-Grain LFNGC	1475 fps	1160 ft/lbs
.44 Magnum	340-Grain HC-FN	1425 fps	1530 ft/lbs
.454 Casull	300-Grain WFNGC	1650 fps	1820 ft/lbs
.454 Casull	335-Grain WFNGC	1600 fps	1920 ft/lbs
.454 Casull	360-Grain WFNGC	1500 fps	1800 ft/lbs
.454 Casull	400-Grain WFNGC	1400 fps	1740 ft/lbs
.460 S&W	260-Grain FNHC	2000 fps	2300 ft/lbs
.460 S&W	300-Grain FNHC	2060 fps	2820 ft/lbs
.460 S&W	360-Grain FNHC	1900 fps	2860 ft/lbs

Semi-Auto Pistols:

Please note there is a huge step down in power when you chose to carry a semi-auto for your bear gun. There is also a huge step up in capacity.

I live solidly in the camp that you will (at best) get off two to three rounds in a bear encounter, but there is something to be said for not having to buy a bear gun that costs +$1200.

A gun, that (if we are honest) doesn’t have a lot of use outside of bear country or bragging rights. With that in mind, here are the two best (common) choices.

Also note there are a lot more options and I am picking ones to highlight that are fairly common.

5. GLOCK 20/40 MOS

These are very similar guns. The GLOCK 40 is the long-slide 10mm Auto option and an optic option, where the 20 is the full/duty-sized firearm.

I greatly prefer the longer slide of the 40. The 6.02-inch barrel provides a bit more velocity as well as helping to mitigate recoil slightly better.

That extra 1.41 inches of barrel does make it a tad slower to draw, but let’s face it, I like almost anything in a long slide. Having an optic on the 40 is also a great thing.

Most people are much faster acquiring the dot compared to aligning sights, especially in a panic situation.

That might mean the difference between two and three shots, or proper placement of the first shot. This is a great choice for a semi-auto bear gun.

Yes, GLOCK also offers a 29 (subcompact 10mm). It is a tough gun for most people to shoot and that just isn’t an additional handicap you want when facing an angry bear.

Non-ported, 30.69 oz. (G20) or 35.45 oz. (G40) mag out, 15 + 1 capacity, polymer frame and steel slide.

The GLOCK 20 and 1911 both make for a great semi-automatic option for bear country.

6. .460 Rowland Conversions

GLOCK 21, 1911 with a Five-Inch or Six-Inch Slide, or a Springfield XDM – All with a .460 Rowland Conversion

These conversions are for a round that ups the pressure of .45 ACP from under 20k PSI, to roughly 40k psi. Using the 255-grain hard-cast bullet, it generates roughly 50% more velocity and double the energy of the venerable .45 ACP.

With just under 1000 ft/lbs of energy from five-inch barrels, you are closely approaching .44 magnum energy. Running a six-inch barrel will get you about 50-100 more ft/lbs of energy.

The GLOCK and Springfield offer more than double the capacity (13+1 and 14+1) of any .44 Magnum revolver, and the 1911 with an aftermarket mag offers 50% more capacity.

Caliber	Projectile Weight	Velocity	Muzzle Energy
10mm Auto	200-Grain WFNGC	1300 fps	735 ft/lbs
10mm Auto	230-Grain WFNGC	1120 fps	641 ft/lbs
.460 Rowland	255-Grain HC-FN	1300 fps	960 ft/lbs

Not 9mm, but If You Do…

If you are going to insist on carrying your GLOCK, Smith, H&K… 9mm Luger in bear country, please do so with heavy for caliber projectiles, perhaps Seismic Ammunition.

Seismic offers a 185-grain 9mm round. This has a lot more mass behind it and will have a much better chance of shattering tough bear bones and continuing to penetrate.

Caliber	Projectile Weight	Velocity	Muzzle Energy
9mm Luger	124-Grain HC	1125 fps	330 ft/lbs
9mm Luger	147-Grain HC	975 fps	310 ft/lbs
9mm Luger	185-Grain Seismic	950 fps	380 ft/lbs

Remember although the 124-grain bullet’s velocity gives it higher energy than the 147-grain bullet, that advantage dissipates quickly when pushing through dense tissue.

In most cases, the 147-grain bullet will shatter bones better and penetrate deeper. The 185-grain bullet should penetrate almost as well a 147-grain HC despite being designed to expand.

The extra 38 grains of weight will tend to balance the inertia vs. the expansion drag and provide a wider wound path. The 380 ft./lbs. does not even equate to .45 Colt loadings, but this might be the best choice if you choose to be under-gunned.

Conclusion: Best Bear Country Guns

Bear country encounters are much like concealed carry encounters. The need for your firearm is exceedingly rare, but when you need it, you need it RIGHT NOW and you need it to stop the threat.

In my opinion, carrying a 9mm in the bear woods is pretty close to carrying a .22 LR for self-defense. Yes, it is better than nothing, but it really is more about feeling good than being properly prepared.

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Flatbread Recipe

Think about being able to say to your camping counterparts: “Do you want freshly baked bread tonight?”  This will certainly win you points.

Of course, you’re not going to make a yeasty, fluffy loaf – that requires 24 hours to rise – but who cares, anytime someone offers to make freshly baked anything on an outdoor trip it’s impressive.
Flatbread is one of the easiest “gourmet” ideas you can make on a camping trip. The key is to prep batches of dry mix before you go, double bag it (you don’t want flour on the loose in your backpack) and then mix with some water when you’re ready to cook up your meal. Note that the only downfall of cooking flatbread outdoors is that you are often stuck washing slightly floury, sometimes sticky hands, which is more of an endeavor than when you have easy access to running water.

This base recipe allows for a lot of flexibility and variation. You can add spices to it, which I recommend, as the base recipe is really just water and flour and not very high on the taste scale. This summer on a backpacking trip I made a batch with cumin powder and that works great as an accompaniment to a pot of spicy red lentils, It’s essentially the backpacker’s naan, so, for example, if you want a garlic naan, roll the dough in finely chopped garlic before frying.

 

Don’t carry a measuring cup with you when you’re camping? Don’t worry, I don’t either. The consistency of the dough is more important than the actual measurement of water, and once you have made this recipe a few times, you’ll get the hang of it and you might just be able to add the water without measuring. But if you have a cup or a bowl on hand that will work too; as you can see from the recipe, you want a volume ratio of about 1 part water to 3 parts flour. A Nalgene bottle will work too, allowing you to easily measure out the right amount in ounces or milliliters.

This bread is best served fresh, but if you have a few rounds of flatbread left over, place them overnight in a container with a lid to keep them from drying out, and slather with peanut butter and honey in the morning. Instant breakfast.

The recipe makes about four flatbread rounds, perfect to go with a dinner for two people. You can easily double, triple, or even quadruple this batch depending on how many flatbreads you are going to want to make on your camping trip. Feel free to experiment with different flour blends as well. For example, I like to use half all-purpose or whole wheat flour and half rye flour, which makes for a flatbread with a bit more flavor to it. Which flour you use will slightly change how much water you need to add when you make the dough, so go slowly. You can always add a little more water as needed.

 

Camp Flatbread
Makes: About 4 flatbread rounds.

1 cup all-purpose flour (whole wheat pastry flour also works well)
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
About a…“ cup (2.75 ounces, 80 milliliters) water
Oil for frying

Ideas for potential variations:
1 teaspoon cumin powder or
1 teaspoon caraway seeds or
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

Preparation:
In a bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Place in a container that you know is going to stay closed when you pack it (double bagged for example, or in a reusable bottle with a screw on lid).

When ready to bake, add about half of the water to the dry ingredients. Mix together until the dough is crumbly. Add the rest of the water (more or less as needed) until the dough comes together.
Form the dough into four balls, then flatten them into rounds a little less than ¼-inch thick.

Fry in a lightly oiled pan (essentially any flat, hot surface that you can make with your outdoor cooking supplies) for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, depending on thickness. You can also cook the flatbread on top of a grill if you’re doing that kind of camping, the end result will have a slightly smoky flavor to it.
Serve immediately.

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Wilderness Survival TEST

Wilderness Survival Skills are FREE to learn, and by definition, require minimal purchases since we are supposed to survive off of what we can come up with in the woods.

How do your Wilderness Skills really stack up?  There is a TEST that follows.

There are several levels of Wilderness Survival, that are broadly classified by:
    1) the length of time you must survive and
    2) the degree of preparation and supplies you have available and
    3) the number of survivalist present, their skill level & physical condition

Most survival scenarios are solo or small groups, short term, with only what you carry with you, also know as your EDC or Every Day Carry items but often includes what you have in your car.

A popular example, the Naked & Afraid show requires medium term survival at 14 to 40 days (most often 21) with very limited preparations.  Typically only one item each, with usually only 2 people with limited to above average survival skills.  It is an unrealistic scenario, for several reasons. The wilderness regions selected are worse than average and because you have no clothes making your Naked & Afraid Survival Plan notably different from any others.

But other scenarios could be long extended periods like on the highly popular Alone Survival Show, which is a single survivalist (except once season), with a Survival Pack of 10 items.  On Alone, the last person standing out of 10 contestants, wins $500,000 and typically the winners must stay somewhere between 50 to 90 days.  On Alone, the 10 items you select are critical and region specific.  At the bottom of this post are links to items selected in past seasons of Alone, and an Alone Survival Plan.

 Types of Survival include:

1. Primitive Survival which requires stone tools, wood spears, friction fire, etc.  The TV Show The Great Human Race is the closest example of what this would be like.
2. Everyday Carry Survival (EDC) varies, but may have a knife, fire starter or a vehicle for shelter.  Hiking or walking the woods and getting lost is a common example of this. The TV Show Naked & Afraid might be an example of this, with insufficient clothes.  Man, Woman Wild is another good example along with Dual Survival which portrays actual scenarios.  Survivor Man was a good one.
3. Planned Camping / survival - where you carry a back pack of useful tools to stay for an extended period.  For beginners and children, this is the best way to start learning.  The TV Show Alone is an excellent example of this.
4. Sustainable Living is surviving for years which includes raising livestock and gardening.  Security becomes a big factor in this scenario.

There are others and varying degrees of the above classifications.

Primitive Survival would historically consist of a small but skilled agile group who inherited a few basic survival tools, region appropriate clothing and a pocket full of food.  Some type of Primitive Fishing tools would also be available. This would be long term survival under Nomadic conditions to avoid exhausting regional resources and would almost always be near a source of fresh water.  This also requires several hundred acres of land per group member.

This is only for the most advanced experts who excel at these primitive skills:

1. Hunting
2. Trapping
3. Fishing
4. Identifying wild plants
5. Starting friction fires
6. Making stone tools
7. Building shelter

EDC Survival, is definitely the most common.  Even when camping with a comfortable pack of supplies, people will wander off without it and get lost.  So the question at this point, is what tools do you consistently carry with you?  For me, it is a Leatherman Wave, a ferrous rod for starting fire, an un-lubricated condom as a water carrier, comfortable shoes and a strong leather belt as well as a pistol and several rounds of ammo.  If in my car, I have much more, including a case of bottled water, a Wilderness Survival Pack (<- see link for list), several prepper fire arms, several hundreds of rounds of ammo, a coat, a machete, a plastic coated map, a GPS, plus my smart phone.

This is usually for 24 to 72 hours, and you have regionally suitable clothes for the current time of day.

Planned Camping can be the most luxurious survival and usually the best place to start.  In addition, there are multiple levels of supplies, periods of time and difficulty.  Its best to start out, especially with children, with ample gear and supplies.

Other levels are to go camping with only the supplies you can carry in your pack.  Additional variations are to only carry 45 pounds in your pack, or 35 pounds (if cross country hiking), or with only 10 to 15 items in your pack.  Each level is progressively more difficult, especially as you increase the time interval. With experience, you can challenge yourself by carrying fewer items and staying for longer periods of time.

Sustainable Living is perhaps the most unique, especially in the time period, as it basically for ever, with a wide range of pioneer type tools that you can build or maintain with group members skills.  This type of survival requires domesticated livestock, gardening skills and tools plus about 7 acres of land per group member. Sustainable living also requires a higher degree of security as the events that would necessitate this are severe.

OK, here is your TEST (Its not as easy as you think)

Based on your Survival Skills, pick one of the different types of Survival above and go out in the woods for a 3 day weekend and TEST your survival skills.  You set the parameters and what you bring.  As you become proficient at your first level, advance to your next level.

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