Originally Posted by
Leuthas
There might be cause to suspend black bear from the discussion simply due to their typical size here on the west side of the US. I've seen countless black bear over time - I live in 'bear country' as it were - and used to hunt them as a kid. I've seen a bear first hand taken down with a few shots from a Glock 17 with unknown ammunition and granted he didn't drop, but he sure took a jolt and gave up several paces away from where he started. These are surprisingly small bears, skinny too, and I wonder if some of them even weigh more than myself.
In PA our black bears are often 350+ with some giants being 700-800 pounds. IIRC, PA holds the record for biggest black bear.
When I'm out backpacking I carry a G20 loaded with 180gr speer golddots, with my spare magazine of 200gr. WFNGC (at 1,250 fps). The golddots are for my primary threat (backcountry weed growers and meth "chemists").
200 gr WFNGC will stop anything East of the Mississippi. In reality you are only going to get 1-3 shots, and I'm aiming for skull. My load will easily punch through a Grizzly and black bear skull. I also have a 454 Casull. It is a hand cannon but you should only expect to get 1 shot at a charging bear.
For Colorado Elk hunting I carry my G20 with the 200gr. bullets in a chest rig, and my 300 RUM is easily accessible with my Kifaru Gun bearer.
*in reality all studies show that Bear Spray is much more effective.
*To all the G20 haters: there are a couple militaries/rangers in Artic regions that issue G20 pistols as sidearm against polar bears (not that I recommend that).
For Me:
Black bear: G20
Grizzly: pepper spray/G20/454 Super Redhawk Alaskan
Brown bear: Rifle/shotgun
Polar Bear: laser guided JDAM.
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." Thomas Jefferson.
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