.357 or 1Omm

MarkRohfrietsch · May 22, 2026

BNR32FAN said:
Man I’d probably go with an ATI Bulldog 12 gauge shotgun with slugs. I don’t think I’d trust a pistol to stop a bear or a hog for that matter, not when my life is depending on it. I bought my Bulldog for $360 and I love it. Semi auto, it comes with a 5 round clip but you can get a 10 for it that’s pretty reasonably sized. You can also get some pretty crazy magazines for it that’s are ridiculously too big or a drum for it but to me if you haven’t killed it with 10 slugs it’s probably already knocked you down by then and you’re probably about to be with the Lord.

Sure, but if you are fly fishing for Salmon, grayling or char in bear country, you can't just hang it on the fishing vest, or a shoulder holster for that matter. Tucking it inside one's wasteband could also be a bit tenuous.

MarkRohfrietsch · May 22, 2026

Tuur said:
On the Winchester 1897:

Probably wrong, but think the military version could be fired by holding down the trigger as you worked the slide. Could get a high rate of fire that way, I'm told.

Ithica Model 37s slam-fire; Brownings BPS have a design modification that prevents it. Both are the same design. Wish I still had mine. Super light, bottom load, bottom eject, truly suited for left and right hand shooters.

Unqualified · May 22, 2026

The 10 shot shotgun sounds good and you could put a special sling on it and load it with alternating buck shot loads and those brenneke slugs. Sounds hazardous. But why I really wrote is to tell you @Tuur about a two inch revolver in 480 ruger. It’s described as for bear and it has a big grip. Ruger super red hawk Alaskan. It is a big bore and I’ve shot a 480 with my own loaded down ammo so it can penetrate metal but be a little calmer. But I’m sure you would shoot commercial ammo. I could see you running and firing it at the same time at close range. It’s got pointability and stopping power. It was made for bears.

Unqualified · May 23, 2026

The bears in Yosemite are unusual, and it’s kind of scary. I’ve seen tourists get right up in their face with a camera, a big gathering of bears. I had to get passed there seemed dangerous and the tourists were being so brave. No reports of a mauling while I was there. But a long time ago there was a report or two.

on a different trip to Yosemite I was by myself and I hitched up there and had no campsite, just a sleeping bag. I walked to the top of vernal falls in the evening and decided to sleep there on the trail. A bear in the middle of the night nosed me and went by. Then the next night I was on the banks of the Merced river and a bear nosed me and kept going. About bears.

Tuur · May 23, 2026

Unqualified said:
The bears in Yosemite are unusual, and it’s kind of scary. I’ve seen tourists get right up in their face with a camera, a big gathering of bears. I had to get passed there seemed dangerous and the tourists were being so brave. No reports of a mauling while I was there. But a long time ago there was a report or two.

I have seen tourists get right up in front of alligators to take photos, even after being warned not to get close. I remember expecting the alligators to lunge for them, and maybe catch one. Wild animals are wild animals: you don't press your luck with them.

OTOH, have walked passed sunning alligators before, but they were on the other side of a creek and I made sure to keep quiet.

Even domestic animals can be dangerous, as someone learned with a local Brama bull way back. The man did make it through the barbed-wire fence in time.

Unqualified · May 23, 2026

Elmer Keith had to shoot livestock when the threatened his life and wild cattle can be pretty dangerous. Cowboy stories. But tourists must be pretty dumb. Some countries are not very wild. Wild America!
there is an increasing population of predators since they have been protected. People living in such habitat have to deal with them the best they can. the environmentalists are making nature like the old days when animals were more plentiful. All those timeless cycles that they say support humans a getting greater and man is sharing with other apex predators. Game increases, predators increase.

what does the gov, suggest about bear deterrent? Squirrels can be repel by little cups of mothball placed in the area. What about bears. Will anything keep them from crossing a fence…

jacks · May 23, 2026

Just don't go hiking in Japan...

2025 Statistics: Japan saw a record-breaking surge with at least 235 attacks resulting in 13 fatalities, whereas the U.S. typically averages only a few dozen total attacks and under 1.5 fatalities per year. HERE

That's more than the U.S., Canada or even Russia.

Tuur · May 23, 2026

Tuur said:
Nor would I, but odds are I wouldn't bring attention to it. That said, wouldn't be bear hunting to begin with. The bear hunting me, OTOH. . .

Note: I know of one black bear with a reputation of going for humans, and, from the tracks and eyewitness accounts, it spent some time on our land. And that's why we started carrying shotguns when fixing fence. Usually, though, critters try to avoid humans. It's the ones that don't that are the problem, and possibly rabid, to boot.

Note II: Haven't seen any around in a long time, but wild dogs usually didn't care one way or the other.

Important note: While I appreciate the prayers, I saw the bear in question crossing the road in December of 1979 or 1980, so it likely died of old age years ago. Still, the potential of another is real. That bear isn't the one who left the track behind the house when I was a kid.

Tuur · May 23, 2026

Unqualified said:
what does the gov, suggest about bear deterrent? Squirrels can be repel by little cups of mothball placed in the area. What about bears. Will anything keep them from crossing a fence…

Don't know. We always ran a top and bottom barbed wire on our fences, and I observed that bear in '79 or '80 cross the road, put its front paws on the top barb of the fence, and leap over. Yet, it was our fence.

MarkRohfrietsch · May 23, 2026

jacks said:
Just don't go hiking in Japan...

2025 Statistics: Japan saw a record-breaking surge with at least 235 attacks resulting in 13 fatalities, whereas the U.S. typically averages only a few dozen total attacks and under 1.5 fatalities per year. HERE

That's more than the U.S., Canada or even Russia.

So, while this seems like a joke, this is not made up, this is how Japanese police are training to deal with bear attacks:

Laugh if you must, I did.

BTW, the bear seems to be wearing a St. Andrew's Cross and a white collar; maybe a "Christian" Bear?

Tuur · Jun 1, 2026

Update:

After looking at several 10mm and .357, I think I’ll go with the .357. For what I’m wanting it for,
if I can’t hit a threatening dangerous animal in the first two shots, I won’t have to worry about another. I just like the simplicity and feel in my hand vs a 10mm. Not a stub nose, BTW.

Maybe talking about the feel is odd, but I once hunted with a 30-30 that didn’t feel right on my shoulder and the thing felt like it kicked worse than a 12 gauge shotgun with 4 dram equivalent shells. That was impossible, of course, but that’s how it felt. So when I picked up a .357 after the 10mm, it just felt at home in my hand.

In addition to the simplicity, I could use .38 Special rounds for practice, but don’t know about that. Less recoil and cheaper, but I’ve always preferred to practice with what I hunted with. Granted this isn’t for hunting, but think it’s the same principle.

MarkRohfrietsch · Jun 1, 2026

Tuur said:
Update:

After looking at several 10mm and .357, I think I’ll go with the .357. For what I’m wanting it for,
if I can’t hit a threatening dangerous animal in the first two shots, I won’t have to worry about another. I just like the simplicity and feel in my hand vs a 10mm. Not a stub nose, BTW.

Maybe talking about the feel is odd, but I once hunted with a 30-30 that didn’t feel right on my shoulder and the thing felt like it kicked worse than a 12 gauge shotgun with 4 dram equivalent shells. That was impossible, of course, but that’s how it felt. So when I picked up a .357 after the 10mm, it just felt at home in my hand.

In addition to the simplicity, I could use .38 Special rounds for practice, but don’t know about that. Less recoil and cheaper, but I’ve always preferred to practice with what I hunted with. Granted this isn’t for hunting, but think it’s the same principle.

I think you made a great choice. My GP100 is 4.2", I would suggest 5" but no longer. 5 is still quite handy.

Don't hesitate to practice a lot with lighter .38 special ammo, and ocassionally with the full power stuff. The ligher ammo will get you making quicker follow-up shots sooner without developing a flinch.

I shot an IDPA match on Saturda with a .45 Nork 1911 and I got a buddy to record video of two of the five sets. reloading was a bit faster than my GP 100, recovery time slightly longer between shots due to recoil. Overall, not much difference. I was five out of 8, not bad for a fat old guy, but the 1911 does shoot where you point it.

MarkRohfrietsch · Jun 1, 2026

MarkRohfrietsch said:
I think you made a great choice. My GP100 is 4.2", I would suggest 5" but no longer. 5 is still quite handy.

Don't hesitate to practice a lot with lighter .38 special ammo, and ocassionally with the full power stuff. The ligher ammo will get you making quicker follow-up shots sooner without developing a flinch.

I shot an IDPA match on Saturda with a .45 Nork 1911 and I got a buddy to record video of two of the five sets. reloading was a bit faster than my GP 100, recovery time slightly longer between shots due to recoil. Overall, not much difference. I was five out of 8, not bad for a fat old guy, but the 1911 does shoot where you point it.

Our IDPA group don't take ourselves too seriously, but we have a lot of fun. LOL

linux.poet · Jun 2, 2026

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Folks, quick reminder here about the Firearms Statement of Purpose:

The purpose of the Firearms forum is to give members a place to share information and advice about collecting, buying, and shooting firearms. Many people own firearms for many different purposes: some for defense, some for collecting, others for hunting, and some for target shooting (both recreational and competition). This forum is for all of these diverse groups of people to come together and discuss their hobby in a friendly environment of like-minded individuals.......

1. This is a safehouse forum for firearms enthusiasts, criticizing or mocking gun owners is not allowed.

While no rules have been broken here, the debate about bear spray came off as anti-gun. I see that we have moved back to discussing firearm based options for defense against wild animals. Let's keep it that way.

.357 or 1Omm

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