10mm good for bears?

David spargenator · January 14, 2014, 01:18 AM

Would a 10mm glock pistol be enough to defend yourself against a grizzly bear. Or would you have to step it up to maybe a 44 or even a rifle or shotgun?

WardenWolf · January 14, 2014, 02:14 AM

Ah yes, another bear thread. I know bears are a popular subject because they're the stereotypical "hard target", even though there's other animals (like moose) that are substantially harder to put down.

But to answer your question, 10mm probably would not be sufficient. The most success in that category I have heard is a revolver in .454 Casull. .44 Magnum may work, but .454 Casull is up to 50% more powerful.

Yes, people have stopped bears with less. I have heard of people putting down a bear by unloading on it with .45 ACP. There is also a documented case of a US Marine killing a bear by chucking a log at it. But to reliably stop a charging bear, the round I usually hear about is .454 Casull.

Be prepared to "Get off the X" because it may be running dead and plow right into you, even when mortally wounded. It's a bad situation that you should avoid at all costs, but if you have to shoot, bring enough gun and be ready to MOVE.

**Frank Ettin** · January 14, 2014, 08:26 AM

We don't need another bear thread.

January 14, 2014, 01:18 AM	#1
David spargenator Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2013 Posts: 131	10mm good for bears? Would a 10mm glock pistol be enough to defend yourself against a grizzly bear. Or would you have to step it up to maybe a 44 or even a rifle or shotgun?

January 14, 2014, 08:26 AM	#3
Frank Ettin Staff Join Date: November 23, 2005 Location: California - San Francisco Posts: 9,471	We don't need another bear thread. __________________ "It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper

January 14, 2014, 02:14 AM	#2
WardenWolf Junior member Join Date: December 12, 2013 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 135	Ah yes, another bear thread. I know bears are a popular subject because they're the stereotypical "hard target", even though there's other animals (like moose) that are substantially harder to put down. But to answer your question, 10mm probably would not be sufficient. The most success in that category I have heard is a revolver in .454 Casull. .44 Magnum may work, but .454 Casull is up to 50% more powerful. Yes, people have stopped bears with less. I have heard of people putting down a bear by unloading on it with .45 ACP. There is also a documented case of a US Marine killing a bear by chucking a log at it. But to reliably stop a charging bear, the round I usually hear about is .454 Casull. Be prepared to "Get off the X" because it may be running dead and plow right into you, even when mortally wounded. It's a bad situation that you should avoid at all costs, but if you have to shoot, bring enough gun and be ready to MOVE.