10mm, .357, or .44

[chiroken007]

I am looking to start hunting in the next year or two. Live in NorCal and plan to hunt mostly in NorCal. My buddies that hunt have seen bears and mountain lions. Last trip they crossed paths with 2 bears.

What do you use for defense carry and why?

 

[Trapper]

I don’t normally worry about a handgun while hunting with a rifle, but of the three 10mm would be my top pick. My Glock 20sf is already on my ccw so there are no issues with carrying it loaded from home to hunting sight. It weighs 10oz less than a 4” S&W 686, 657 or 629, is thinner and has higher capacity. I carry Barnes Buffalo Bore 155gr or a Lehigh 150gr handload. Using lead free ammo allows me to legally hunt with it if I get close enough for an ethical shot.
As a side note, I upgraded to a 22# recoil spring to shoot the Buffalo Bore ammo and am still able to shoot 180gr without cycling issues.

 

[decius_mus]

9 in the hood; 10 in the wood

 

[Mannyy]

10mm tech is better now than years ago I don’t see the point of .357 anymore when 10mm does the same thing IMO. Thanks to Ruger/Marlin they made the 10mm more diverse now in a lever gun to go with your gp100 or SR1911. But if stuck with a rim cartridge rather go with the big dogs that revolvers are known for.

 

[mtndewking]

If your hunting with a friend who also routinely trains and shoots semi auto handguns, a 10mm is ideal.

Why? Because his 15 rounds plus your 15 rounds gives you numerical advantage that something will connect and drop the animal attacking you.

I would hesitate bring a revolver chambered in something larger, but again, it comes down to practice. Can you or your buddy hit a moving target under pressure with a .44? Plus you have to connect to something vital with only 12 shots between the two of you.

 

[Trapper]

California bears are generally timid and try to avoid human contact. The issues I’ve seen are with problem bears trapped and relocated after being conditioned to see people as a food source. This is often the result of careless campers or stupid people feeding bears to get photos for social media. My understanding is that California no longer traps and relocates bears due to cost and extremely low success rate. I’m more concerned about illegal pot farms than bears.

 

[recpark99]

California bears are generally timid and try to avoid human contact. The issues I’ve seen are with problem bears trapped and relocated after being conditioned to see people as a food source. This is commonly the result of careless campers or stupid people feeding bears to get photos for social media. My understanding is that California no longer traps and relocates bears due to cost and extremely low success rate. I’m more concerned about illegal pot farms than bears.

100% Spot on here, I worry more about the two legged creatures than bears or mountain lions, though always prepared for all. Good luck

 

[RustVendor]

I don't even carry a pistol in the woods if I'm hiking, Ive been backpacking and camping all over the Sierra's for 40 years and I just think the risk is so low that it's just extra weight. There has been one bear attack where someone died from a California black bear and it was a town bear that was conditioned to people. I used to raise sheep and goats in siskiyou county and we would see bears basically every day. They would definitely try to eat our sheep but we they straight up just do not want to be around humans. especially if you are hunting and already have a weapon there's no reason to bring one. Bear attacks in other states are an entirely different species, the ones here are big dopey ding dongs. As for mountain lions, you won't see them before they attack so it's a moot point.

 

[casjquz]

357 mag is enough to handle anything in california. What can I say other than I just like the old revolver

 

[aardvark9]

Wheel guns are cool and a 357 is manageable and enjoyable to shoot. That said, the 10mm is what my Montana & Idaho hunting friends carry for brown bear defense due to capacity, weight, and platform familiarity. Retailers can't stock enough 10mm M&Ps up there.

 

[chiroken007]

Yea. I will likely end up with a 10mm. I am partial to M&P for sure, but also considering a wheel gun… because. Yea. A wheel gun!

 

[chiroken007]

My wife.. I love her so.

Was telling her the other day that I am taking a break from buying any guns for a while since I am finally getting the last of my mandatory 5. Her response..
well if your hunting. You don’t really want to be carrying a 10lb rifle. Wouldn’t it be easier with a lighter gun? Also don’t you want a better pistol than 9mm?

She enjoyed shooting the revolver a friend let her try. .44 mag. It intimidated her though.

 

[RustVendor]

My wife.. I love her so.

Was telling her the other day that I am taking a break from buying any guns for a while since I am finally getting the last of my mandatory 5. Her response..
well if your hunting. You don’t really want to be carrying a 10lb rifle. Wouldn’t it be easier with a lighter gun? Also don’t you want a better pistol than 9mm?

She enjoyed shooting the revolver a friend let her try. .44 mag. It intimidated her though.

It's one thing if you are simply using it as an excuse to buy another gun lol. But take a look at the ballistics on 9mm buffalo bore hard cast. Vortex did a comparison video between 9mm and 10mm it's pretty interesting. Like any kind of shooting, shot placement is most important.

 

[gunsgunsguns]

I’ve seen many bears in Los Padres National Forrest. Never once feared for my life or felt the need for a sidearm. This is a LARP.

 

[ShootFirstFirster]

9mm with hornady backcountry and a freedom mag.

 

[SamHenry]

I’ve seen many bears in Los Padres National Forrest. Never once feared for my life or felt the need for a sidearm. This is a LARP.

“This is an LARP” seems like a pretty strange stance against carrying a sidearm while hunting. The CDFW explicitly allows hunters without CCWs to open carry or conceal sidearms while actively hunting. This is here in CA. Being prepared for anything in the wilderness is just diligence. It’s common sense.

 

[RustVendor]

“This is an LARP” seems like a pretty strange stance against carrying a sidearm while hunting. The CDFW explicitly allows hunters without CCWs to open carry or conceal sidearms while actively hunting. This is here in CA. Being prepared for anything in the wilderness is just diligence. It’s common sense.

The stats don't lie though, in the backcountry bears aren't aggressive and have never killed anyone. They are more aggressive in places where they have become used to stealing food but with all of the millions of people coming every year there's been one single person that died from a bear attack. In following the basic rules of self defense you would have to be in grave danger, by the statistics this means you will never be in a position to use your sidearm in self defense. Carry if it makes you feel better, I carry every day at home but I'd rather save 3lbs of pack weight when I'm carrying 40-50 lbs. we straight up just don't have dangerous animal risks here in general.

 

[ar15robert]

I wanted to go with a 357 4 inch revolver for a woods gun but started pricing and i was like ok.Remembered the 10mm and i also reload so started looking up specs and liked what i saw plus capable of 15 rounds but only 10 when i was living in ca.

10 years ago not as many choices so ended up with a g20 for 500 bucks.Started reloading have a stout load for carrying.I took it for camping trips etc and no isssues with regular owb holster but last year went on an elk hunt northern az but carrying my pack the waist strap was in the way so used a drop leg and it was total PIA.Didnt take me long to figure out i need a better holster so bought an invader concepts chest rig set up which my binos can also fit over and still have good access to the gun.

 

[riceman]

My philosophy is never say never. Also, if a bear or whatever comes charging you by the time you unload 6 rounds and do not hit vital you are going to wish you had more rounds to fire. More than likely, you are going to be under stress. Also, I have my doubts about getting of 6 rounds off because of recoil control before you are face to face.
10MM all the way.

 

[ButteFlyFisher]

It’s totally a LARP but that’s OK. 9mm is more than enough for anything you’d encounter in California woods. Or the hunting rifle you already have in your hands. Nothing wrong with wanting to carry a bigger gun if it makes you happy.

If it was grizzly country (Idaho, Montana, Alaska, etc) I would carry my G20 in 10mm.