45 acp or 9mm for bear

[Hunter007]

Hypothetical question, you only have 2 guns one is 45 acp and the other is a 9mm 

And you are hiking in bear country which one do you bring?

[Engraver99]

45 for me

 

[ny hunter]

No question 45!!!

[Culvercreek hunt club]

First I assume we are talking about black bears and in NY? 

I don't even think there is a question here. Since capacity isn't a huge difference in NY between what a 45 holds and what you are allowed to carry in a a 9mm I am carrying the 45. I want to bring a hammer and not a fly swatter. 

[Hunter007]

45 definitely 

[rob-c]

16 minutes ago, Storm914 said:

Hypothetical question, you only have 2 guns one is 45 acp and the other is a 9mm 

And you are hiking in bear country which one do you bring?

A 9 mm will kill me just as easy as a 45 will , as  the Bear is munching on my head because I pissed him off by shooting him with anything but a magnum cartridge.. 

Edited January 9, 2019 by rob-c

[Grizz1219]

Solids... No JHP....45 ACP for sure... 

[mowin]

Which ever one you are most comfortable and confident with.

[greensider]

Better have a lot of rounds I have taken one with 44 mag and would never go lighter 

[Buckmaster7600]

9mm but the bear will never know the difference either way, neither option will kill on a shot that the other would.


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[Nytracker]

45 ...acp converted to 45 super..

[Bigfoot 327]

Long story short. I hit a doe with my pickup. The doe had a broken pelvis and could not stand. Sheriff's deputy finally arrived and decided to dispatch the doe. While standing directly over the doe's head he took aim from about 10 inches away and fired his 9mm at the top of the deer's head. He did not miss. Doe's head dropped momentarily and then she raised it right back up and looked around! Deputy was pretty pissed that he had to use a second round, which killed the doe instantly.

Anyone that believes that a 9mm is serious bear medicine is dreaming.

[mowin]

7 minutes ago, Bigfoot 327 said:

Long story short. I hit a doe with my pickup. The doe had a broken pelvis and could not stand. Sheriff's deputy finally arrived and decided to dispatch the doe. While standing directly over the doe's head he took aim from about 10 inches away and fired his 9mm at the top of the deer's head. He did not miss. Doe's head dropped momentarily and then she raised it right back up and looked around! Deputy was pretty pissed that he had to use a second round, which killed the doe instantly.

Anyone that believes that a 9mm is serious bear medicine is dreaming.

Don't think anyone is saying a 9mm is "serious" bear medicine.  But, if its all I had with me, I'd use it if I had too.

[NFA-ADK]

Don't think a 9mm will do anything but piss off a big bear.  45 is a bit better but still low on power.  I have to agree that if you really wanted to be protected I would go with a Mag like Rob-C stated also with the proper charge and round for that game.  

 

[dbHunterNY]

12 minutes ago, Bigfoot 327 said:

Long story short. I hit a doe with my pickup. The doe had a broken pelvis and could not stand. Sheriff's deputy finally arrived and decided to dispatch the doe. While standing directly over the doe's head he took aim from about 10 inches away and fired his 9mm at the top of the deer's head. He did not miss. Doe's head dropped momentarily and then she raised it right back up and looked around! Deputy was pretty pissed that he had to use a second round, which killed the doe instantly.

Anyone that believes that a 9mm is serious bear medicine is dreaming.

would he be more pissed if he had a 45, flinched, and missed? lol i'd want lots of rounds and something i can put a bullet were it's going if that's a 45 even better.

[johnplav]

45.  Especially in NY and we are talking about black bears. 

Although 9mm isnt as useless as some are saying.  

Again, brown bear would be a different story.

 

[dbHunterNY]

nether will drop it in its tracks stone dead without a hit to central nervous system especially if it's coming at you. if you're using that type of pistol cartridge then anything other than something nonexpanding is designed shed energy and penetrate within the standard distance of 15". grizz had it figured out. 45acp with fmj or something that doesn't expand easily.

[Buckmaster7600]

Long story short. I hit a doe with my pickup. The doe had a broken pelvis and could not stand. Sheriff's deputy finally arrived and decided to dispatch the doe. While standing directly over the doe's head he took aim from about 10 inches away and fired his 9mm at the top of the deer's head. He did not miss. Doe's head dropped momentarily and then she raised it right back up and looked around! Deputy was pretty pissed that he had to use a second round, which killed the doe instantly.

Anyone that believes that a 9mm is serious bear medicine is dreaming.

What do you think the first shot cracked the skull for the 2nd one to get in?

 

Obviously the first shot “missed” its mark, a brain is a very small target even at 10” if you don’t know where to aim, especially from the front. I’ve seen people have to shoot cows and calves multiple shots with rifles.

 

 

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[Daveboone]

The one you are most proficient with. The one you are most likely to have immediately and instantly available and able to put into action without hesitation. An 800 Magnum Express is useless if you miss. Learning,Knowing and planning for common sense hiking/ camping bear precautions are probably  far more important than worrying about just which handgun to bring.  

[sits in trees]

Pretty sure if you meet up with a blacky in the woods you'll have time to let a round fly and that will be enough to make him find something better to do. That said a 9 or 45 would be fine. But if you got one who just somehow pops up on you and charges, well you might be in for a bad day. 44 mag is alittle more practical for a situation like that

[Hock3y24]

I’d take the 9mm for capacity. However for someone that can only have 10 rounds bring the 45.

[Bigfoot 327]

1 hour ago, Buckmaster7600 said:

What do you think the first shot cracked the skull for the 2nd one to get in?

 

 

 

 

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Yes! I think that's exactly what happened.

[Hunter007]

1 hour ago, sits in trees said:

Pretty sure if you meet up with a blacky in the woods you'll have time to let a round fly and that will be enough to make him find something better to do. That said a 9 or 45 would be fine. But if you got one who just somehow pops up on you and charges, well you might be in for a bad day. 44 mag is alittle more practical for a situation like that

One shot from either not enough more then likely empty out the mag of all 10 rounds I think you got  good chance of not being dead before the bear with either but I think the 45 with the right ammo would be a little more effective. 

[Buckmaster7600]

Yes! I think that's exactly what happened.

Lol


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[sits in trees]

2 hours ago, Storm914 said:

One shot from either not enough more then likely empty out the mag of all 10 rounds I think you got  good chance of not being dead before the bear with either but I think the 45 with the right ammo would be a little more effective. 

A bear charging you is going to be something that happens real fast. You'll be under pressure and panicked. You might not even land a single round into a vital before the bear is on you. Of course alot of this depends on the bears attitude and size. With a magnum round any chance of a hit you make will be an improvement. 9s and 45s are great man stoppers in most situations but are just pea shooters for a large bear.