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[rmbriggs80]

...

[voiceoftheright]

A handgun that will take down a bear and that your wife can shoot without recoil. Nice.

[003]

Sounds like a Glock 20 SF will fit the bill. Get a second barrel for .40 cal for most of the range time. If it will be used by your wife, then the 20SF is by far the better choice over the standard 20. I am well ove 6-0 with XL size hands, and the SF fits my hand much better than the standard 20. My 20SF is one of my favorite guns for both range and outdoor carry. With full power loads it does recoil a bit, but there are many low end 10MM loads on the market. As a matter of fact, based on some of the reading I have done, many of the standard 10MM loads are much lower in power than the original Norma load developed for the Bren 10. The original load pushed a 200 gr bullet at 1200 feet per second. Not many of the factory loads today can match that.

For high end full power 10MM loads, check out Buffalo Bore.

http://www.buffalobore.com/

[JNunez23]

A handgun that will take down a bear and that your wife can shoot without recoil. Nice.

That's what I thought..lol

But honestly, you will have to sacrifice somewhere. I mean, you leave yourself no options. They don't sell "bear killers" with no recoil.

Just get a .45 compact and call it a day, or a revolver.

Good luck with your decision sir. Just make sure both you and your wife shoot the gun prior to purchase. Make sure ergonomics are there for both of you.

[Vacaville]

Why not consider a revolver? S&W 686, Ruger GP100, Ruger Blackhawk. You can shoot full house .357 mag or your wife can shoot .38 spl. Great trail guns.

[Budd]

Ruger Alaskan in .44 mag should fit the bill. If your wife doesn't like full house loads - she can shoot .44 specials.

edit: If going in bear country - I think .357 is a little light. But if you already had the .357 - I would load some really hot loads under a 180gr hard cast FP.

[g_conway]

I would do an M&P 40 180 gr +P for the bear.
get a 9mm conversion barrel for the wife to shoot. (if the std 40 is to much for her.)
The changeable backstraps will allow a better fit between the two of you.

The +P or +P+ will take the 40 into the 10mm range.

[taguin]

You can get a Glock 29...My 2 cents.

[bubbagump]

Carry a big stick for the bears and lions.

Carry a Ruger LCR for the two legged critters.

[CA357]

A .357 will do for large critters in California. A Ruger GP100 loaded with 180 grain CorBon or Buffalo Bore hardcast ammunition will work.

You can shoot .38's for practice and keep costs and recoil down. A .357 round doesn't have terrible recoil anyway.

.44 Magnum would be better, but I don't feel undergunned in the woods with a properly loaded .357 magnum.

[nocomply25]

Ruger Alaskan in .44 mag should fit the bill. If your wife doesn't like full house loads - she can shoot .44 specials.

edit: If going in bear country - I think .357 is a little light. But if you already had the .357 - I would load some really hot loads under a 180gr hard cast FP.

+1 that is first thing came to mind. My wife loves revolvers and has no trouble with recoil. I would take that over my m&p for back country any day

[Lead Waster]

I thought you couldn't take down bears with anything less than a Tomahawk cruise missle!

Your best bet might be a shotgun, seriously. A long gun will be easier to handle for your wife with a load that might stop a bear. 12 guage slug or 00 buck?

Also with the shotgun, if/when you fail to take down the bear as it's charging, you at least have a fairly sturdy club to swing.

For myself, if some area has bears in it, I'm not going there!

[fighterpilot562]

How bout get a bear killer and another handgun like a 9mm for your wife

[alfred1222]

How bout get a bear killer and another handgun like a 9mm for your wife

+1 this is what i was thinking

[InGrAM]

I don't know about "taking down a bear" but I would buy a S&W or Ruger .357 magnum, your wife shot not have a problem shooting it.

+ ammo is cheaper than .44 or 10mm