I guess humans are tougher than bears….
(Nah….just generally smarter/sneakier cause we know what a handgun will do and bears don’t)

44mag, 37 documented cases, all successful 

I’m thinking in the cases where the brown bears were killed, many were not actually attacking but defending their territory

Some guy in the comments said if a bear is planning to attack, they don’t put on show, they will try to sneak up and ambush.   

So im thinking the bear is standing in a spot growling to protect his territory…..so the person can pop a few shots right into its dome.

If the bear is moving, I’m guessing it will be like Steven Rinella’s group…..they didn’t get a shot off.   I don’t believe that one of the guys rode the bear…..probably got hit by the bear…flew up and bounced off the back of it…..like a bike getting hit by a car.

Try shooting an attacking griz with anything smaller that a 44 mag with 300gr solids loaded up to at least +p loads is only going to piss him off even more and you’ll wind up being his lunch! When I hunted griz in Kodiak Alaska I used a 454 casull for my first couple of hunts as backup. Last three hunts I used a 12 ga pump short barrel, 3” duplex loads and also had my 454 on my hip. Kinda sucked carrying three firearms plus a pack but this is what my guide said might save my life! My rifle was a Ruger guide gun in 375 Ruger.

Just get a dog....

I haven't watched any vids as I don't have the time. But what if you were to mag dump with a 9mm (10rds)?  Would that at least scare the bear off?

Try shooting an attacking griz with anything smaller that a 44 mag with 300gr solids loaded up to at least +p loads is only going to piss him off even more and you’ll wind up being his lunch! When I hunted griz in Kodiak Alaska I used a 454 casull for my first couple of hunts as backup. Last three hunts I used a 12 ga pump short barrel, 3” duplex loads and also had my 454 on my hip. Kinda sucked carrying three firearms plus a pack but this is what my guide said might save my life! My rifle was a Ruger guide gun in 375 Ruger.

...
Fyi
I still have some 315 gr. hard cast in .430 and .452.
The 430s are gas check.

There are some pretty good stats regarding defense against bears.

https://www.ammoland.com/2023/11/handgun-defenses-against-bears-170-documented-incidents-98-effective/

A lot of guys have the magnumitis. I wouldn't argue against it, but I also wouldn't feel undergunned with a good 10mm.

I watched a video or a tv show, I forget which one is was. but a guide in Alaska uses a 357 loaded with 180 grain hard cast lead. she said she can get good follow up shots this way and is effective for her
probably using a 44mag with heavy bullets or a 500magnum would be slower follow up shots
I would feel comfortable with 240-255 grain hard cast lead bullets out of a 44mag to get follow up shots. I've shot 300 grain before and thats some heavy loads!

Begle
Thanks for the link to Ammoland.  Looks like an interesting read.

Now I don’t feel as bad about buying a G20….even though it is like being the biggest chihuahua compared to a long arm and isn’t significantly better than a 380

Change Oil
For some reason, I think if a 9mm is all you have, it would be ok for a lot of situations with Brown/black bears (cause the others with you will also have long arms). 

Supposedly, most higher powered handguns aren’t significantly better than a 9mm….at least with humans….so I’m thinking similar applies to bears….so using 9mm isn’t a lot worse than using a 10mm, 357, 44.

You can probably shoot that 9mm twice as fast as a 44…..and carry more ammo if you grab hi cap mags

I’m thinking 18rds of 9mm > 6rds of 44….be it bears or humans.   

(Probably similar to why most agencies/depts want back to 9mm from 40.  9 is about as good as 40 and easier to shoot fast)

Begle

Change Oil
For some reason, I think if a 9mm is all you have, it would be ok for a lot of situations with Brown/black bears (cause the others with you will also have long arms). 

Supposedly, most higher powered handguns aren’t significantly better than a 9mm….at least with humans….so I’m thinking similar applies to bears….so using 9mm isn’t a lot worse than using a 10mm, 357, 44.

You can probably shoot that 9mm twice as fast as a 44…..and carry more ammo if you grab hi cap mags

I’m thinking 18rds of 9mm > 6rds of 44….be it bears or humans.   

(Probably similar to why most agencies/depts want back to 9mm from 40.  9 is about as good as 40 and easier to shoot fast)

This sounds like a 45 is better than 9 debate. JK. Thanks for the info.

Based on my estimation, a bear's body is roughly 2-6 times larger or more compared to an average adult male human.

That tells me pistols with less penetration force will be less effective -- if at all -- on large bears than they will be on humans.

Brown bears generally weigh 80 to 600 kg (180 to 1,320 lb), with males outweighing females.
[40] They have a head-and-body length of 1.4 to 2.8 m (4 ft 7 in to 9 ft 2 in) and a shoulder
height of 70 to 153 cm (28 to 60 in). The tail is relatively short, as in all bears, ranging from
6 to 22 cm (2.4 to 8.7 in) in length.[41][42] The smallest brown bears, females during spring
among barren-ground populations, can weigh so little as to roughly match the body mass of
males of the smallest living bear species, the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), while the largest
coastal populations attain sizes broadly similar to those of the largest living bear species, the
polar bear.[43] Brown bears of the interior are generally smaller, being around the same weight
as an average lion, at an average of 180 kg (400 lb) in males and 135 kg (298 lb) in females,
whereas adults of the coastal populations weigh about twice as much.[44] The average weight
of adult male bears, from 19 populations, was found to be 217 kg (478 lb) while adult females
from 24 populations were found to average 152 kg (335 lb).[33][45]

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

Basically, hypothesizing what's effective at killing a human is just as effective at stopping a bear seems unsupported to me.

Based on my estimation, a bear's body is roughly 2-6 times larger or more compared to an average adult male human.

That tells me pistols with less penetration force will be less effective -- if at all -- on large bears than they will be on humans.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_bear

Basically, hypothesizing what's effective at killing a human is just as effective at stopping a bear seems unsupported to me.

Would it make sense if you did only have a 9mm, to not use HP but FMJ instead?  THis way you can penetrate the added mass.

SInce HI has no bears, but Vegas is the 9th Island. I wonder the same topic, but with a mountain lion instead. I would think 9mm CCW would be sufficient.  Mountain lions are known to come into urban off strip areas. 1 year we were there, there was one on Mark Twain blvd the day before. We were eating at a sushi AYCE on the same road.

I mean, if that's all you have, then that's all you have.  Spray and pray.

Just me, but I seriously question a person purposely venturing into the Alaskan wilderness with a 9mm.

I mean, if that's all you have, then that's all you have.  Spray and pray.

Just me, but I seriously question a person purposely venturing into the Alaskan wilderness with a 9mm.

They live in Hawaii and it's a PITA to buy a new gun. Cost a lot to do more realistic distances shooting (indoor ranges), can't buy a handgun in AK due to not being a resident, etc...

Bring 2 9mm and dual wield. 

They live in Hawaii and it's a PITA to buy a new gun. Cost a lot to do more realistic distances shooting (indoor ranges), can't buy a handgun in AK due to not being a resident, etc...

Bring 2 9mm and dual wield.

Shot placement is critical in using a smaller caliber on a bear.  You running scared, bear running at you, .... good luck hitting that off-switch.

Think about the 21 foot rule.  Then think about a charging bear's speed.  Is your initial reaction to draw and shoot, or run and scream?

Not really enough time to accurately land a half dozen or more 9mm rounds before it's too late.

Shot placement is critical in using a smaller caliber on a bear.  You running scared, bear running at you, .... good luck hitting that off-switch.

Think about the 21 foot rule.  Then think about a charging bear's speed.  Is your initial reaction to draw and shoot, or run and scream?

Not really enough time to accurately land a half dozen or more 9mm rounds before it's too late.

1 of the ammolands documented XP mentions a guy was 10 feet from a bear and got of 3-4 rounds before it caught up to him.  THat was the only one that had how many rounds was fired and X feet away was the bear.

Full speed bear -
I’m pretty good at throwing people under the bus.  So I already have a plan in mind for a bear attack

1 of the ammolands documented XP mentions a guy was 10 feet from a bear and got of 3-4 rounds before it caught up to him.  THat was the only one that had how many rounds was fired and X feet away was the bear.

My first instinct, based on wild animal experts, is to stand perfectly still.  A bear can easily outrun you unless you're near a place of safety -- building, vehicle, ...

That means you won't be making any motion to draw your firearm.  Still is still. 

The bear:  walking casually in your direction.  You: frozen still.  The gap between the two of you: closing smaller and smaller.

Can't outrun him, can't move a muscle, can't predict what the bear's going to do.  Sounds like a pretty tense scenario no matter what firearm you're packing.