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Backcountry Hunting Podcast

Handgun Cartridges for Bear Defense

Backcountry Hunting Podcast

Joseph von Benedikt

Backcountry, Rifle, Deer, Podcast, Elk, Mountain, Sports, Hunt, Wilderness, Cartridge, Hunting

4.91.1K Ratings

🗓️ 28 November 2023

⏱️ 5 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What handgun cartridge should you carry in bear country? That depends on the local species and your personal shooting ability. Spotlighted here are three of the most practical options available.

This is the eighth of a new podcast element: fast-paced, fact-filled five-minute episodes showcasing three top backcountry hunting tools, tricks or techniques.

We're filming these brief episodes and posting them on Patreon, so if you'd like to put eyes on the products and methods showcased, please sign up at www.patreon.com/backcountry for a membership!

Also soon to come: Boots, packs, knives, elk calls, multitools, tents, bear guns, movies, and more! These "Top 3 In 5" minute episodes will drop as frequently as we have time during this busy hunting season, and by Christmas will be a weekly Tuesday-morning addition to the podcast's regular schedule.

ENJOY!

Transcript

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0:00.0

Although we hope to never need a defense gun while in bar country, it behooves us to be prepared.

0:09.0

And that brings a lot of peace of mind.

0:11.0

Welcome to the Backcountry Hunting Podcasts Top Three in Five.

0:15.3

Our rapid-fire five minute episode today is on what I consider to be the three most practical

0:21.7

handgun cartridges available for your protection in bear country.

0:27.0

Now it's important to note that no handgun fires a really effective bear stopping cartridge. Rifles are much better, but often

0:36.2

packing a rifle isn't a good option. So let's talk handguns. And let's dig

0:41.4

right in, going from the least potent to the most powerful.

0:45.0

First on my list is the 10 millimeter auto.

0:48.0

When loaded with full power ammo, this cartridge provides best in class fire power, this cartridge provides best in class firepower, meaning 10 to 15 rounds on tap in a semi-automatic,

0:59.6

combined with adequate penetrating capability.

1:03.6

My go-to firearms are either a

1:06.9

a 1911 Kimber that holds nine in the magazine plus one in the chamber

1:11.6

or a Springfield

1:13.2

XD 10 millimeter that holds 15 rounds in the magazine plus one in the chamber.

1:19.1

Now for Black Bear and Interior Grizzly, I like Federal's factory ammo loaded with 200 grain, swift A-frame

1:26.2

bullets at 1100 feet per second. Now, troubled bears of those two species are usually

1:32.2

young males or females with cubs and neither are likely to weigh more than about 400 pounds.

1:40.0

The A-frames hit hard and penetrate adequately for bears of that body size.

1:46.0

For Coastal Brown Bears on the other hand, I load my 10mm pistol with Buffalo Bors

1:51.5

220 grain hard cast bullets at about 1,200 feet per second.

1:57.0

Now these bullets don't expand, but they drive very deep and effectively break heavy bones.

...

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