10mm vs .45acp

[MrElectric03]

I like the 10mm and think it would be a good choice. Carries a good amount of ammo, carries easily and is lightweight. A little late but if I had my choice would be the EAA Witness Hunter, not as easy to carry but a damn nice gun.

[NapalmCheese]

Maybe I'll loan him my Ruger .44 mag Alakan. That way he doesn't have to spend a thing other than ammo. I always figured if its for grizzly, you should save one shot for yourself! Suffer less that way. LOL. I think he should probably get some bear spray also.
I remember carrying a .41 mag SW years ago in Wyoming. After two days hiking around the pistol would get left in the truck.....too heavy with a rifle and all the other stuff you have to lug around.

Don't forget to file off the front sight as well....

Bear spray is a really good idea.

[.45 ACP]

Neither of these rounds would do **** to a bear before it ate you. Sure it would maybe die 2 hours later from bloodloss, but that would be way befor it ever got to **** you out.

[junior40er]

.44 Mag..better round and get revolver for peace of mind.

[Str8Shoot3r]

Tell your friend to just pray if a bear gets the drop on him. He'll be bear poop before he kills it.

[JKB1957]

Look into a Ruger 44 Mag.

[deadcoyote]

Black bear or brown bear? If it's black bear a .45 will do just fine, especially considering there's a slim to none chance his rifle or shotgun will go down and he'll need to use a sidearm. I've seen black bears killed with a 9mm, .357, and a .45 acp. The .45 put the bear down quickest with crappy CCI blazer fmj ammo. The .357 bear was an odd exception as it had been hit by a patrol car going 45 miles an hour, crushed the car, sucked up 5 rounds from a .357 and still ran a damn far distance before it died.

[ACfixer]

Shoot the bear with the rifle.

The big handgun is for when you leave camp to go drop a deuce.

[Vin63]

A friend of mine is planning on hunting out of state next year for Bear. He is not much of a handgun guy, but wants a semi-auto to carry while hunting. He was considering a .45acp. I told him that's not a very powerful round for Bear or other semi dangerous game. I suggested a 10mm. Probably the Glock with a compensated barrel/slide. He does not want to spend $1500 on something.

I did tell him a .44 mag or .41 mag would be more appropriate in a revolver platform. He is pretty set on a semi-auto. Do you think the 10mm is a good choice for him?

Just about any sidearm will be fine for threats from two-legged creatures. I would rather have the large canisters of bear spray in my hand if I was in that kind of a situation. I've seen bears charge in person, and if the bear was within 50 yards of me, I know I wouldn't be able to stop it with a sidearm.

[cortayack]

Bears have been killed with .45 ACP, but the .45 wasn't made for bears! Would you what to chance your life on it? My buddies friend took down a bear that was raging with his 10mm. One shot to the head, but he's a very good shot with that 10mm. I also saw a hunting guide take out a Grizzle bear with one shot at almost point blank range charging him. That guy had balls of steel and was using a rifle. Most people would've ran. Bears aren't indestructible like some act on here, shot placement is everything to killing a bear effective and fast....

[Bill Steele]

I agree with those that say "rifle", preferably one with a big hole.

As a secondary, backup, whatever you want to call it, a 10mm is a far better choice than a .45 ACP. The longer the barrel the better, with any higher powered handgun. It is all about achievable velocity. For a G20, a 6" hunting barrel would be a great idea.

The debate regarding a magnum revolver versus a semi in 10mm, given that a .400" 200-220gr WFNGC going 1200+ fps is likely not going to stay inside anything you shoot in North America, is all about how well you shoot a handgun under extreme pressure, most don't, so the extra rounds of the semi might be meaningful.

[JTROKS]

I have a couple of 10mm pistols and I believe the 10mm is still a great backup gun for hunting. After looking over the 45 Super, I think that's a better caliber. 185 gr bullets at 1330 fps and 230 gr at 1100+ Fps. Wider bullet and heavier. I'm thinking 230 grain hard cast can go 1200 fps.

If I start hunting again I'm thinking I'll just pack a 357 or 9mm. I'm not planning of going to big bear country. If I need something bigger I'll go 44 or 454.

[Justintoxicated]

just get a can of bear spray, or play dead.

[NapalmCheese]

The debate regarding a magnum revolver versus a semi in 10mm, given that a .400" 200-220gr WFNGC going 1200+ fps is likely not going to stay inside anything you shoot in North America, is all about how well you shoot a handgun under extreme pressure, most don't, so the extra rounds of the semi might be meaningful.

Yeah, that's the problem, if a bear is charging you and you intend to stop it before it mauls you, you're going to have to shoot it in the head or hope it changes it's mind. Nothing short of CNS disruption will stop that bear before it can kill you, assuming you plan on shooting a charging bear.

That being said, I think pepper spray is the better option as a stand off weapon and deterrent.

Having said all that, I do know a guy in WY that shot a grizz that was charging him with his 10mm. The grizz stopped it's charge and ran off into the woods never to be found. Wyoming fish and game chastised (but didn't ticket) the guy who shot it for not using pepper spray.

[tanks]

A .308 or .458 SoCom carbine would take care of all his concerns .

That being said, I have hunted bears and have yet to worry about being charged. Bears will avoid you if they can.

Also, how will he hunt; hounds, spot and stalk, bait from a stand?