2296mag

Agree 22mag not a bear stopper at all. A bear stalks or you stumble unaware in tight woods 15 - 30 metre vision he'll will get you way before you pulled any hand gun from a holster.
Its best to avoid & deter the 22mag a feel good mental back up for her. I'd rather that than a 44mag pistol or 12g slug gun in the ladys hands each day.

Thanks the feed back, nice light snow lessens the need a visit to check the roof. Last year dang that hurricane blew past NC so family member had to go a recon. Slow market meh we can wait it cost us nwat and perhaps one day I'll can take the tribe NC US for a trip. Be nice to do some second amendment shootin as down here tight gun controls makes many guns no go.

plunker22

Thanks 2296mag. Only mention 22 mag. for noise, nothing else!

The ONLY 44 mag. pistol I have is a Super Blackhawk with a 10 1/2 " barrel! I don't think giving that to her to soot would be a good idea! Rife would be much better! As for shotguns, only have 2 OLD 16 ga. single shots!

Nick0410

Go to Walmart, Rem 870, 300 bucks, you should'nt be worrying about 300 bucks if this bear problem is a real issue, regular slugs can be a little rough but I'm sure the reduced recoil versions will help, get a limbsaver or some kind of similar add on, youre looking at a 240gr .44 mag vs a 437.5gr 12ga slug going the same speed.

gunaddict826

During cub season when at the cabin up north, I keep the .35 Rem loaded and ready, just 'cause of my old dog and his occasional business around the yard. 200gr round nose.

20ga slugs would work well too, but my slugger's a bolt action. Not as fast as the lever 336SC.

If they proved regular visitors to the vicinity, I'd likely load up the 12ga pump with some 3 1/2" waxed coyote killers or cut #4 tungsten shells.

I leave 'em be on their turf. Stay out of the yard.

Tater

Several good choices are:

30-30 rifle (6+1)
35 Remington rifle (6+1)
44 Magnum rifle (10+1)
12 gauge pump shotgun slug

The shotgun might be a bit more recoil than your friend would feel comfortable with.

For defense, I think I'd go with the 44 Magnum carbine, mainly because it gives me 4 extra shots to scare off a bear.

Here's an interesting thread where a guy talks about defense against bears with a revolver that I offer for some perspective.

Model 29 Mountain - Topic

gstephens

I used to live in the Mtns. of NC and bears were everywhere. The problem bears are the ones the tourists feed so they can get pictures. When they lose their natural fear of man then they become bullys and will come take what they want. The bears around our home were wild and not that way, they would run as soon as they heard or saw you. A mama with cubs is a different story. She doesn't come looking for trouble but if she feels her cubs are threatened then look out. Like someone said before, bears have a terrific sense of smell and it gets them into trouble when some one is careless with leaving food about or not securing their garbage. I've killed a few bears years ago but now I just enjoy watching them from a distance. If you want insurance then carry bearspray, an airhorn or a shotgun with slugs.

Hmebuildr

My first choice would be a semi auto 12Ga loaded with slugs
I load 44Mags with 305 Gr solids you can get the same load from buffalobore this would be my choice for a rifle or handgun

fungun

If I were in an area with bears roaming around and I want to be out and about my focus would be on a weapon I could always carry with me so my choice would be a SRH Alakan in 454. A rifle isn't going to do any good if it is not always at hand.

terry_p

Of the two choices either would work but I would probably choose the 35.

spartan88

I would be afraid that shooting every morning runs the risk of allowing the bear to get used to the noise and no longer afraid of the gun shots.

terry_p

Firecracker right next to him would clear him out I'll betcha.

Tracer

First off I want to say this: A 250 pound black bear is one bad SOB and can wipe their weight twice in NFL linemen with baseball bats. Their movement alone is much faster than most people preceive of them.

If a black bear comes at you, it is not looking for a handout, it wants to eat you period, 9 out of 10 times according to some experts. A handgun in anything less than a .44magnum with proper bullets is the minimum caliber and you best be a heck of a shot under stress.

I would much rather have a pump shotgun, loaded with Triple 000 Buckshot, followed with a Dixe Termanator Slug than to try my luck with a pistol. Hitting paper targets is not the same ballgame as confronting a bear that wants to dine on your flesh. The idea of just making some noise with a small caliber pistol is rather foolish! Get her a shotgun and teach her how to use it or get her someone who can OK.

I have killed several bears and I'll be the first to tell you, I did not use a pistol on any of them. I used a Remington .375 H&H for the first one. A guide once gave me some excellent advice and I got rid of the Remington for a model 70 Winchester CRF in .375H&H and had it chambered for the .375-Weatherby which is almost 200 fps faster. I take bears very seriously and so should others, they are not cute little Teddy Bears. A .44mag rifle is a deer caliber NOT for bears that see and come towards you.

Tracer

Spartan 88, I once was elk hunting in Wyoming 25 miles from the Yellarstone. I had shot a 4 x 5 at the time and gutted the animal. Then a guide came by and pull the elk about 150 yards down the valley. He went back to get my horse and my hunting partners horse.

We had to put the sneak on these elk and left the horses back a 1/2 mile or so, on the other side of the high ridge. Now during the long wait, we heard some rifle shots but never paid no mind. Our guide unknowing to us, was helping to dress that animal! It was getting late and my friend figured he would shoot 3 times so the guide would hear us and hurry up a bit. It wasn't 10 minutes later that this brown figure came off the mountain bench and went right to the gutt pile 150 yards away. It was a darn nice size bore grizz and I never took my eyes off of it. Yes we got out of there 5 minutes later when the guide arrived but the grizz kept right on eating.

Sr40ken

I would want to risk ticking the bear off.

Akboater

..after living around bears for the past 30+ years in Alaska; both black & brown, here's some options listed from absolutely the worst thing you can do to the best IMHO:

1. Run as fast as you can away from the bear!
2. Stand your ground with pistol in hand.
3. Stand your ground with pepper spray in hand.
4. Stand your ground with shotgun in hand.
5. Stand your ground with rifle ("bare" minimum of 30-06)
6. Travel in groups of two or more, make noise and make sure you are the only one with tennie runners on!

Seriously though, I never cease to be amazed at how much confidence people seem to have when they carry pistols...even the .44 mag/.454 Casull/.460 & .500 Smiths, few people can shoot well enough in a stress situation to have even a 10% chance of hitting an agressive bear unless the critter is chewing on their leg! Shotguns are popular but also not as effective as most would believe. The only thing that consistently will change an agressive bear's mind is a large piece of lead travelling fast (as long as it hits him in a critical spot!). Best bear defense is active prevention; shooting is a last resort. My 2 cents.