Recommendation for a bear gun.

[GripItAndRipIt]

Hey team,

I am looking for a good bear gun for my dad who lives in Prescott, AZ. A guy was just mauled and partially eaten by a black bear (very rare) about ten minutes from their place. Dad knows his way around firearms, but at 81 I'm a little reluctanct for him to use his trusty .44MAG as that sucker kicks like a scalded mule and last time he had it at the range, I could tell he was having trouble controlling the recoil. I like a revolver for this task and am thinking 10mm. I've never shot a 10mm revolver, but I already know it's more manageable than the .44. I know the ten is a lower energy round but I think it will penetrate enough to give the bear second thoughts if not turn him into a nice rug.

Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.

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[po18guy]

.30-30 lever for black bear. Controllable, accurate enough, repeater. Heck dad watched the Rifeman. He knows.

 

[bionic knees]

18 inch pump 12 guage, extended mag loaded with slugs!

 

[Certaindeaf]

.357 mag since they're scrawny black bears.

 

[Knobgoblin]

.357 mag since they're scrawny black bears.

Yeah buddy.

 

[msgriff]

Here is a handgun recoil table, which can help in choosing a cartridge:
Chuck Hawks Handgun Recoil
Table for rifles, if interested:
Chuck Hawks Rifle Recoil

 

[tkdguy]

Hey team,

I am looking for a good bear gun for my dad who lives in Prescott, AZ. A guy was just mauled and partially eaten by a black bear (very rare) about ten minutes from their place. Dad knows his way around firearms, but at 81 I'm a little reluctanct for him to use his trusty .44MAG as that sucker kicks like a scalded mule and last time he had it at the range, I could tell he was having trouble controlling the recoil. I like a revolver for this task and am thinking 10mm. I've never shot a 10mm revolver, but I already know it's more manageable than the .44. I know the ten is a lower energy round but I think it will penetrate enough to give the bear second thoughts if not turn him into a nice rug.

Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.

10 mm makes sense as a side arm if the 44 is too powerful. I'd agree a 30 30 carbine would be nice or 44 , but dad would be unlikely to haul it around?

 

[Longwalkhome]

Used to hunt bear with my brother and his pack of dogs in the 1970s. Huge number of bears back then and I observed what the guys brought to hunt them with. 250 Savage was a great gun and dropped them instantly. 350 Remington mag was devastating. 30 carbine was worthless and should never be used.

 

[Koda]

Short version: the 10mm will penetrate deep enough for bear protection with the right loads.

Long version: no gun is a true bear stopper and at his age consider the risk of a physical fight with a bear which is also very common in bear defense cases with pistols. If you dont get a CNS shot in before the bear reaches you, you will have a physical fight on your hands.

heres a real life 10mm example.

A New Mexico Bear Attack Finally Stopped With a GLOCK 10mm Pistol - The Truth About Guns

&#9664Previous Post Next Post▶ On morning of July 25, 2018, Bridger Petrini was out near the Colorado border, working his dogs for the upcoming New Mexico bear season. He had purchased his professional guide service eight years earlier from his father, who started it in 1985. Bear season would...

www.thetruthaboutguns.com

 

[GripItAndRipIt]

.30-30 lever for black bear. Controllable, accurate enough, repeater. Heck dad watched the Rifeman. He knows.

Good suggestion, but looking for a sidearm.

 

[GripItAndRipIt]

18 inch pump 12 guage, extended mag loaded with slugs!

Got a holster for that thing?

Meant to note it has to be a sidearm. Otherwise, good suggestion.

 

[GripItAndRipIt]

10 mm makes sense as a side arm if the 44 is too powerful. I'd agree a 30 30 carbine would be nice or 44 , but dad would be unlikely to haul it around?

Yeah he needs it on his hip.

 

[tkdguy]

10 mm Glock or 10 mm revolver? 44 is definately too powerful? arthritis?

 

[Longwalkhome]

44 is the only sidearm I have seen used to kill black bear. A head shot totally fractures the entire skull. Never seen a body shot tried. The guy who brought the Ruger Super Blackhawk had two rifleman backing him up should he miss.

 

[Val1884]

M2hb..at that age he needs to burn up your inheritance an get a buggy to carry it in.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Since recoil is a factor...and a carbine or shotgun off the table....

Another vote for the .357 Magnum with a good hard cast bullet.
The revolver of choice here is ....a Smith and Wesson 28-2 with Pachmayr "Presentation" grips.
Andy

 

[Knobgoblin]

Much as I love the idea of a belt fed technical build on a Can-Am , I think a cheap 12ga on the golf cart is more practical.
A large frame revolver is plan A , pump gun on vehicle is backup plan.

 

[Kruel J]

10mm and be done with it.

 

[Longwalkhome]

If the gun doesn't kill them instantly then the pain of being shot enrages them to fight for survival. I have seen them move so fast they can grab a dog and bite its belly after being hit three times with a 30 carbine.

 

[msgriff]

I'm surprised that no one has recommended that he hangs out with a friend in bear country. An older, slower friend.