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[deckhandmike]

10mm for CA and 12 gauge for Alaska. Let's be real folks.

[shortround1]

Maybe a 10mm revolver to keep everyone happy?

[smle-man]

10mm for CA and 12 gauge for Alaska. Let's be real folks.

If I thought there was a chance of a bear encounter I'd be carrying a 12 ga in my hands. The 10 and the 44 would stay home.

[Stripeknight]

If I thought there was a chance of a bear encounter I'd be carrying a 12 ga in my hands. The 10 and the 44 would stay home.

I know someone who never goes hiking in California on our public trails.

Armchair commandos... luls

[Stripeknight]

Maybe a 10mm revolver to keep everyone happy?

.454 Casull.. read the last pat of my OP

[k1dude]

12 gauge for Alaska. Let's be real folks.

Try fly fishing waist deep in a river with your vest, pack, and a shotgun slung on you. No thanks. I'll keep my 10.

Try getting that slung 12 ga into action faster than a 10mm in a chest holster. 10 wins.

The 12 ga also takes two hands to operate. So if you don't mind letting go of your $1,500 rod/reel/line and losing it in the river, go ahead. With my 10 I can hang onto my tackle and still shoot.

Now if you're on shore by the campfire, 12 ga no problemo.

[pd5190]

My experience with Calif. bears and I have worked in reportedly the most heavily bear populated area of Calif. I have found they are more afraid of you then you need to be of them. We employed people to stand night bear watch and they were armed with super soakers filled with ammonia and water. You need to be armed on the trails of Calif because of two legged predators more than 4 legged ones. Actually I think you will find our mountain lions to be a greater threat than bears from a statistical stand point.

[71MUSTY]

I'll take 10+1 Underwood 10mm in my Smith 1006 over 6 in 44mag anyday.

[Franklincollector]

If I was going through Alaska, where there are grizzly bears or moose that will kick you to death. Im off the wall I know, but I'd go with a machine pistol. MP5 in 10 mm and 30 rounds. Easy to shoot with one hand, a nice sling across the chest, you're set. Im not bringing a revolver I'm sorry. Maybe a Bap 10.

[Stripeknight]

If I was going through Alaska, where there are grizzly bears or moose that will kick you to death. Im off the wall I know, but I'd go with a machine pistol. MP5 in 10 mm and 30 rounds. Easy to shoot with one hand, a nice sling across the chest, you're set. Im not bringing a revolver I'm sorry. Maybe a Bap 10.

My good sir we just became friends.

[71MUSTY]

My experience with Calif. bears and I have worked in reportedly the most heavily bear populated area of Calif. I have found they are more afraid of you then you need to be of them. We employed people to stand night bear watch and they were armed with super soakers filled with ammonia and water. You need to be armed on the trails of Calif because of two legged predators more than 4 legged ones. Actually I think you will find our mountain lions to be a greater threat than bears from a statistical stand point.

California Bears are more interested in your trash can then they are in you, Loud noise will usually get them headed the other direction. Mountain lions yes, and I have seen some rather intimidating feral dog packs especially when on horseback.

[ja308]

Ive never fired a 10mm so just a few random thoughts on the topic. It was reported many FBI agents were uncomfortable with the recoil of 10MM. That said I like the concept of a mag fed gun with double stack capacity.

Personally I have lots of trouble shooting the 320grn Keith loads from a 44 mag.
So I would need hours of dry practice before I would feel confidant in shot placement.

As for power,Bob Peterson killed a large adult male polar bear with a 44 mag back in the 60s,so a 44 mag in capable hands will send a large bear to another dimension.

The 460 Rowland has lots of power but my experiance has been unreliable feeding. Consequetly it fails the most important characteristic of a defense gun for dangerous animals.

Facing a large angry bear or other powerful animal with any gun is a situation I would prefer not to experiance!

[Stripeknight]

there have been a lot of great and productive comments in this thread, there have also beeN several comments based on emotion and nostalgia, for those people I suggest going back and reading the original op and actually looking at the charts and doing your own math.

Math up.

[Steponmytoes]

Please, think of the children.

[Stripeknight]

Please, think of the children.

................ just sayin!