Looking for some recommendations from folks who carry a handgun while hunting out west - I have read several articles and 10mm seems to be the smallest caliber recommended. Mainly hunt in Colorado so black bear. This is is primarily to make my wife feel better about our annual backpack hunt and also an excuse to get a handgun.

I'm not a handgun owner currently so I don't have any preconceived notions - I'm looking for something that will keep my packed weight down, be able to be strapped to a backpack and has obtainable ammo. Have $ 700 in gift cards available to spend and will add to it if needed for a really great handgun

Glock 20 or 40 with Underwood Ammo hardcast load. It is light, has no external safety, and fits your budget. The G40 MOS has a 6" barrel that will allow full-power 10mm loads to achieve better velocity than the G20 and it will have slightly less felt-recoil.

Edit to add - You will have plenty of holster options available, including something that can be strapped to your pack.

I would use bear spray, but since you asked about guns and are smartly using this as an excuse to buy a gun, I 100% agree with ConstructionAg01. Get a 10mm Glock.

I personally carry a Smith & Wesson model 629 in 44 mag. But I probably wouldn't recommend that to someone who doesn't own a handgun.



Not sure about holsters. Assuming you are going to carry it on your hip? I wouldn't carry it any other way and keep it chambered.

.454 casual or gtfo

Guy I worked with briefly had one of these for bear defense(he lived in wyoming). I had never heard of it before. Supposedly the felt recoil is worse than a .44.

From some of the past threads I've read on this you may also consider having bear spray for you and/or your wife in addition to the gun.

Also, you say you do not own a handgun. Have you ever shot a .44 or .357 or anything like that? 10mm has a lot of felt recoil and takes a bit of practice.

A 9mm or .40 with hard cast bullets would be fine too for Colorado. Those are not giant bears.

I would recommend not buying a gun to give to a bear, they're already dangerous enough

44 mag

EOT shut it down.

I know a lot of guides that use 10mm

agsalaska said:

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Also, you say you do not own a handgun. Have you ever shot a .44 or .357 or anything like that? 10mm has a lot of felt recoil and takes a bit of practice.

A 9mm or .40 with hard cast bullets would be fine too for Colorado. Those are not giant bears.

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Yeah but those grizzlies are making their way back… hell, they're already back in Carrizo

I've only carried my 45 in Colorado and imagine that is more than enough for a black bear. In Kodiak we carried bear spray, shotguns, and air horns. Pretty sure the shotgun was to shoot yourself or the person being eaten

Desert Eagle, point five O.

I don't particularly feel that my Glock 40 has a lot of felt recoil. I think the bigger slide has a lot to do with that. Every 44 Mag I've shot, save the carbines, has had more felt recoil. My buddy's 480 Ruger is my benchmark for shootable but not enjoyable due to recoil. If I was going the wheel gun route I'd go 454 Casull for component/ammo availability.

I may be a little slow (this has been proved many times). But, I'm confused. You say this is for your backpack hunting trip. What are you hunting? And, what are you hunting with?

Also, are you hunting with a group? If so, just get a Ruger Mark IV. Put a .22 LR in one of your hunting buddies' knee and take off running.

I'm going to wager he's hunting elk with a bow

And my G40 is a lot more effective against buddy knees for about the same weight as a Mark IV.

Wife and I hike daily in Weminuche in SW Colorado. I carry .45 LW Commander or G19. Both with Lehigh Defense. More than adequate for any black bear, lion, etc...

10mm or 44 Mag. Be sure to have your gunsmith file the front sight down before you go.

TX_COWDOC said:

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10mm or 44 Mag. Be sure to have your gunsmith file the front sight down before you go.

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I see what you did there.......

Caladan said:

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TX_COWDOC said:

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10mm or 44 Mag. Be sure to have your gunsmith file the front sight down before you go.

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I see what you did there.......

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Is it...."Forgot to bob the 44's hammer."

1) Bear Spray
2) 9mm FMJ 124 grain for black bear should suffice. Polymer frame will keep it fairly light. I carry a compact size to reduce weight further. I have friends who carry 40S&W and .45ACP as well. Point being for black bear it doesn't have to be a .357mag or 44 mag, etc. 9, 40, 45 should suffice for black bear.
3) 44 Mag or better Revolvers (454 Casul, etc) if Brown Grizzly bear country....Ruger Alaskan, Ruger Redhawk would suffice or S&W equivalent. These guns are 7-9 lbs loaded so they add weight.

I carry both bear spray and a compact size polymer 9mm in black bear country.

If you hit a bear directly in the face with bear spray it will stop them in their tracks. If you decide to discharge your firearm the bigger bears will run through some bullets so don't stop firing until the bear stops moving forward.

Glock 10mm.

I used to have a 500S&W for this, but I can make 10 well placed shots with the 10mm in the same time I can shoot 2 with the 500. The 10mm doesn't have much more recoil than my 9mm

Glock 20 in 10MM. I like the Kenai Chest Rig from Gunfighers Inc as a holster option while in backwoods

https://gunfightersinc.com/kenai-chest-holster/

Just bring a chair for it

Thanks - a lot of good advice in thread

Just getting back to the OP…..the filing of the front sight is necessary to prevent further damage when said bear takes the pistol from you and shoves it up your ass!

One of my all time favorites.

Good luck with your selection and let us know what you go with.

TX_COWDOC said:

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Just getting back to the OP…..the filing of the front sight is necessary to prevent further damage when said bear takes the pistol from you and shoves it up your ass!

One of my all time favorites.

Good luck with your selection and let us know what you go with.

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i could tell from the responses after there was an inside joke I was missing

Buy a pistol that will be useful for all the times you're not bowhunting in CO, because the bears are not that big and my close encounter was won with a stern "Hey bear!" with a pocket knife for backup.

If you are dead set on being safe, get a bear tag. They know when you have a valid tag and stay away in my experience.

As someone who lives out west, and deals with bears on a fairly regular basis (while hunting, around town, in my yard, in my house… you know, normal stuff…) I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend bear spray. It is far more effective, especially in lightly trained hands.

If you don't have a lot of experience with a handgun, and aren't going to practice with it religiously and in high pressure situations (which the vast majority of people don't/can't) it's not going to do you a lot of good.

Spray, on the other hand, is easy and effective. Build a wall/cloud in front of you- and they stop in their tracks.

If you really really want a hand gun (which I encourage),, get one you will carry and use for your whole life. Don't just get one for western hunting. A 9mm is a great choice for a new owner, as it has manageable recoil and you can easily learn to put rounds where you want them.

I've been carrying for almost 20 years, and still carry a 9mm. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a black bear with a 9mm. If you put the rounds on target, it will be effective. If you miss with a .45, or don't put them in a lethal spot, it won't magically bring the bear down more than a 9 would.

I carry a 9mm when I am clearing the yard of troublesome bears. But it is always secondary to my bear spray. I ONLY carry bear spray when I am out hiking and hunting. Also, make sure whatever you are carrying is easily accessible. I see people with spray/guns strapped to their packs and it is worhsless weight. Even on your hip can be problematic, if you are face down or in the fetal position with a bear on your back. I carry spray strapped to the front of my chest. Doing this saved a Ranger's life a few years ago, as a grizzly had her by the back of the skull pinned down. She pulled the spray off her chest, and shot it over her shoulder. She said had it been on her hip, she pick have never been able to deploy it.

If you want a gun, get something you will shoot often, learn to shoot well, and train to shoot well under pressure. But if you want protection from bears, get bear spray.

agsalaska said:

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Not sure about holsters. Assuming you are going to carry it on your hip? I wouldn't carry it any other way and keep it chambered.

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What? No concealed carry so the bears don't see it?

ah, you must know Vito Cellini... He pulled that one on a handful of customers when we had the retail shop in San Antonio...

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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agsalaska said:

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Also, you say you do not own a handgun. Have you ever shot a .44 or .357 or anything like that? 10mm has a lot of felt recoil and takes a bit of practice.

A 9mm or .40 with hard cast bullets would be fine too for Colorado. Those are not giant bears.

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Yeah but those grizzlies are making their way back… hell, they're already back in Carrizo

I've only carried my 45 in Colorado and imagine that is more than enough for a black bear. In Kodiak we carried bear spray, shotguns, and air horns. Pretty sure the shotgun was to shoot yourself or the person being eaten

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Pretty much. Kodiak are mean. They'll walk through the shot, kill you, then use the bear pepper spray to season your corpse. They like spicy food.

jmm said:

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Wife and I hike daily in Weminuche in SW Colorado. I carry .45 LW Commander or G19. Both with Lehigh Defense. More than adequate for any black bear, lion, etc...

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We're in Ridgway/Ouray area. We should get together. Shoot me an email if of interest Kristoferww at gmail dot com

This goes for when you are not hunting too, carrying in a bag or say at 6 o'clock and being against something like tree or a wall makes the weapon useless. Carry one on your chest and one on your hip. I like the Glock 10mm or a revolver since they both work well in the elements.

This phrase you keep using, "....the right to bear arms" I don't think it means what you think it means!

We are closing down the house for the winter next week after the storms. We will be back in May to start hiking again. I will reach out then.