Gun Question

[Xiphos]

I sold my AR-15. My employer gives me one for work and lets me trick it out so I need something more practical for personal use.

I live in bear and moose country and my family and I are often out hiking, camping, or berry picking. It's not uncommon to run into large mammals who will kill you. We've been lugging around a shotgun with slugs but that's not always practical.

So I want a handgun I and my wife can carry (when I'm not with her.) I'm thinking .357, .44, or even .454 Casull. I don't want a huge barrel that will make concealment and carrying more difficult.

Any suggestions? If you and your kids suddenly found yourselves between a big brown momma bear and her cubs, what would you want in the handgun variety?

[Jenna]

I don't want a huge barrel that will make concealment and carrying more difficult.

It's good you're planning to conceal it, as open carry of a firearm might cause the bears to get scared and call the police....

[Cidp24]

Smith and Wesson Most Powerful Handgun - 500 Cal Magnum Pistol from Smith and Wesson - Popular Mechanics

I don't think they come any bigger.

[Xiphos]

Smith and Wesson Most Powerful Handgun - 500 Cal Magnum Pistol from Smith and Wesson - Popular Mechanics

I don't think they come any bigger.

My wife needs to be able to handle it and deliver follow up shots...

[Cidp24]

Oh. Probably the 44 or 357 and lots of practice for good placement then. I've heard the 454 has some pretty atrocious recoil too.

[Xiphos]

I like the .454 but I'm not sure my wife could handle it, beyond one shot anyway.

[keith720]

A .357 would be a good choice. I don't know if your wife has shot much, but she can learn using lighter .38 rounds and work her way up. I have a S&W Model 28 with a 4" barrel that is a great gun. If I ever venture into the wild, it'll be with me.

[213th]

Smith and Wesson Most Powerful Handgun - 500 Cal Magnum Pistol from Smith and Wesson - Popular Mechanics

I don't think they come any bigger.

Mine was pretty managable for recoil, but it had the 8 inch barrel. Extremely accurate at distance even. Heard the small (4 in?) version isn't too bad.

[Jks9199]

Check with the folks in your area; they probably know better than any of us what's actually reliably effective in the situations you anticipate use. Seems like it's more critter than human vermin that concerns you, right?

I mean, something that would knock down most of the black bears here in VA won't even faze a Grizzly cub...

[Bjohnson63]

Springfield XD-M .45 ACP. Admittedly I don't have to deal with grizzlys, but I do like the idea of being able to carry it easily, and dump 15 or so rounds of .45 into him in rapid succession, not to mention its easy to carry a few extra mags. I think in the oh shit moment, it would be a little more forgiving for you, and especially the wife. Just my opinion.

I remember reading an article in Field and Stream about this very topic... One of the guns they suggested was a Glock 9mm... for those reasons exactly. I don't know if I would trust a 9mm, but a .45 wouldn't be so bad.

[121Traffic]

I know you said hand gun but what about a short barrel shotty?

[MacLean]

Ruger or Smith, 4 inch barrel, Garrett Cartridges.

Done deal.

[ChesCopPodz]

I like the .454 but I'm not sure my wife could handle it, beyond one shot anyway.

Go with the .454 Casull. If she doesn't like the thump of the Casull (and she probably won't, it's a mule), you can load them with 45 Colt rounds instead.

A 44 mag will work the same way with a 44 Special round.

[bayern]

I think if you are in Yellowstone and that hungry Grizzly is around, a 105mm Howitzer is best. However, more practicable, a 44 MAG is the only way to go.

[pgg]

The bigger the better. As far as semi autos go 10mm with hot rounds is probably best. Any standard duty cartidge I wouldn't consider. .500 mag or .44 is probably your best bet though.

[ChesCopPodz]

Go with the .454 Casull. If she doesn't like the thump of the Casull (and she probably won't, it's a mule), you can load them with 45 Colt rounds instead.

A 44 mag will work the same way with a 44 Special round.

Something I didnt mention above, there are a ton of good quality, inexpensive (especially compared to an AR) lever action rifles available in either 45 Colt or 44 magnum for a hard hitting pair of guns using the same ammo.

[ms1600]

I have friends that carry a Ruger 44 Redhawk for bear/moose protection. I usually carry a Glock 29 with Buffalo Bore (10 mm hot loads). Maybe a Glock 20 with Buffalo Bore would work?

My friend has a .454 Casull and my hand hurt after 3 shots. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Car 4]

The Ruger Super Blackhawk (used but well cared for) can be had for from $250 to $450 and with a 7 and one half inch barrell it will deliver a serious anti bear message. If you will buy Randy Garrett's 320 grain super hardcast bear killers, you can drop anything in Alaska....no fooling. A Galco chest rig will keep it close to hand but with the weight carried over your shoulders.

I have such a rig and the rounds are BAAAAAD AAAAASS! It is cheap, reliable and effective.

What more can you ask for.

Car 4

[ChesCopPodz]

Forgot to mention- the S&W 460 magnum can also take the 454 Casull and the 45 Colt

[MacLean]

Forgot to mention- the S&W 460 magnum can also take the 454 Casull and the 45 Colt

True.

It's also a lot more expensive and doesn't really do much more than a very hot .44 - it all comes down to your recoil sensitivity and your price point.

You can kill an elephant with the right .44 and watch a deer walk off hit by a .500 - at some point you have to cross what you "can" shoot with what you "can shoot."