.357 Magnum, 9mm +P+, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP?

[lucznik]

Even with buffalo bore solids, I wouldn't want to stake my life on stopping a griz or polar bear. Even something like a bison might be a bit much for the .357

If you are staking your life on stopping a griz or a polar bear with ANY handgun (or for that matter with something like archery equipment), you are taking a big risk. That doesn't mean it can't be done.

Bison, BTW, really aren't particularly tough to kill. Three of my friends have drawn for them in Wyoming the last few years and none of them have required much to put them down. They are big, no doubt. (My friend who shot one two years ago hired a company to come in and help him get the animal field dressed and lifted into his truck. The weight of the animal after field dressing broke the crane that was being used to lift it into his pickup truck.) Even being big though, they do tend to succumb (to accurate shot placement) pretty quickly.

[endurance]

I used to hand load 650 fps 148gr. full wadcutters in .38 for small game and then used full power .357 loads for big game/self-defense. Three chambers of each with brass cartridges for the .38 and chrome cartridges for .357 so I could turn the chamber to the appropriate round and I was set. Unfortunately I sold my GP-100 in an act of foolishiness about 10-15 years ago, but I'm hoping to pick another one up or something similar.

Also, I don't live in grizzly/bison country. While there's the odd chance of a black bear encounter, after 30+ years in the Colorado back country I have yet to have a problem with them. .357 seems adequate around here, but obviously there's parts of the country that have significantly different threats.

[SARKY]

Endurance, before you jump on another GP-100 check out the Taurus Trackers, pretty much the same size and gives you one more round in the .38/.357. I have no problem with the .357 and black bear.

[Sourdough]

Endurance, before you jump on another GP-100 check out the Taurus Trackers, pretty much the same size and gives you one more round in the .38/.357. I have no problem with the .357 and black bear.

Ditto....I carry a Model 60 3" 95% of the time for farm work, to fetching water, and have regular Bear encounters in the yard. I use tha Cor-Bon 200 Gr. hardcast "MogenGator's".

[endurance]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm open to all sorts of options, looking toward 6", as I already have a snubnose .38 S&W and a H&K 9mm. If I'm carrying concealed it's going to be one of those two, but if I'm heading into the woods I'd like something more durable with a longer barrel for longer range shots and more versatility. My GP was amazingly accurate for a 4" barrel, but I'd like to have something I could use out to 50 yards if I had to.

[loki]

I think this question is really dependant upon the platform chosen, compact, full size, carbine all have their benefits as well as drawbacks. I have a .357 snub and a compact .45acp of which I normally carry the 45 not because I believe it is a better round or anything it was just my first pistol and the one that I shot the most and I am just comfortable with it. I feel that when I point my weapon I can hit what I am aiming at with it. I have not had this practice with my .357. I actually bought it for a nightstand gun for my wife when I have to work the night shift. Now the thing that I do like about my .357 is that I can load it with snake shot and easily kill snakes if need be and not worry about it not cycling the slide and having feeding problems. So I say carry whatever makes you comfortable. There is no magic round or gun the utility of a firearm comes in conjunction with the comfort level and skill of the user.

[Badawg]

When I carry, it's a Colt Officer's Lightweight in .45ACP. It's my favorite evener 8)... That being said, I don't think it would be particularly useful in the woods(I live in a desert). That's why I voted for the .357/.38. In either case, if I shot a jackrabbit, there wouldn't be much left to eat... so as far as I am concerned neither would be my choice carry pistol for survival in the boonies. For that I have a Colt Woodsman in .22 LR. It's getting old now though.

For my next trick I am buying an NAA Mini Master(long barrel) Combo. I like the capability of both .22 LR and another cylinder loaded with .22Magnum. That gives me 10 rounds pretty quick and the magnum is a decent round. and Long rifle is just great... Best part? It's not a hard gun to hide from wandering eyes when carrying, is very light, and is made in the US.

[John Guano]

I am partial to the S&W Sigma .40 cal myself. I also have the versatility of a Colt 1911 .45 with a Ciener .22 conversion kit. Talk about optioned survival!

[kx250kev]

I've actually had better luck killing bear with a 9MM than the .45 ACP.

In my own penetration tests involving winchester white box FMJ ammo, the 9mm out penetrated .38, .40 and .45 easily punching through three 2x8 boards.
Personally, I think the 9mm is an amazing and underrated round.

[kx250kev]

I prefer the .460 S&W to the .500. shoots flatter so I can reach out and touch something.

I preferred the .454 Casull, until I shot it once without hearing protection (deer hunting). Yes it is a kill anything round, that could penetrate a massive stump, but after I experienced significant hearing loss in my left ear, and have nonstop ringing, I decided that a large caliber handgun is a bad idea. I also couldn't group 5 quick shots to a paper plate at due to the massive recoil. That wouldn't help if a bear was attacking. I'll stick to my .40 with 17rd mags.

[kx250kev]

Yes, I do. I've killed many an animal with the .357. I know others who have done the same. Other calibers (44 Mag, 454 Casull, 460 S&W, 500 S&W) may be technically (and debatably) more efficient at the killing, but they do so at the expense of much greater recoil which inhibits good shooting. The fact that they are "better" in respect to power also does not diminish any other caliber's ability to accomplish the same task.

It's like saying a .300 Magnum is "better" than a 7-08 Rem as a moose/bear/elk dispatcher. With correct shot placement the .300 might put the animal down more quickly, but that doesn't alter the fact that many a moose/bear/elk have been quickly and humanely taken with the 7mm. (I've personally killed three elk in the last two years with the 7-08.) And the 7mm is easier to shoot accurately because it doesn't inflict nearly the same flinch-inducing recoil as the .300.

If you can't kill it with a .357, then you simply aren't a very good marksman.

I agree, the .357 is a great round and gun.

[Alpine_Sapper]

For my next trick I am buying an NAA Mini Master(long barrel) Combo. I like the capability of both .22 LR and another cylinder loaded with .22Magnum. That gives me 10 rounds pretty quick and the magnum is a decent round. and Long rifle is just great... Best part? It's not a hard gun to hide from wandering eyes when carrying, is very light, and is made in the US.

Why you gotta do this to me man? Like I don't have ENOUGH stuff to spend money on already...

http://www.randywakeman.com/naa22miniMaster.htm

[SARKY]

In my own penetration tests involving winchester white box FMJ ammo, the 9mm out penetrated .38, .40 and .45 easily punching through three 2x8 boards.
Personally, I think the 9mm is an amazing and underrated round.

Sorry, but tiny hole in .....tiny hole out. No expansion, no disruption of organs etc. if you are going to kill the animal and not just wond it use anything other than a fmj. especially in a bullet diameter of .35 cal or smaller. With some type of HP bullet the 9 is a good round, again not what i would use for hunting, or a bear stopper.

[kx250kev]

Sorry, but tiny hole in .....tiny hole out. No expansion, no disruption of organs etc. if you are going to kill the animal and not just wond it use anything other than a fmj. especially in a bullet diameter of .35 cal or smaller. With some type of HP bullet the 9 is a good round, again not what i would use for hunting, or a bear stopper.

Sarky, I won't get in a debate over the 9mm round, but I just believe it is underrated. In my personal penetration tests I sufficiently answered my own questions regarding the power of this round. While I wouldn't recommend the 9mm for hunting, I do believe it could easily penetrate a bears skull, or it's heart. For self defense, I do not feel under gunned with the 9. IMHO, shot placement is key.

[Beo]

All I can say is .45 because shooting something twice is just stupid... lol... I love the .45 and have a Glock 36 in .45 the Slimline and it holds 6 in the mag and in the chamber for seven shots right off, I'm only gonna need 2 for my double tap so the other five are for the bad guys friends if they get a case stupid. But hey that's just me.
Fact is most gun fights happen within 10 to 7 feet so I think I'm gonna blast the crap outta Johnny Bad Guy, and training proves that a 100% shooter becomes a 60 to 50% shooter when the chips are down, I'm not really sure about that but I put it out there because I have been told that in training, but it hasn't been my experience yet.
Remember, slow is smooth, smooth is fast and fast is deadly.
Beo,

[Beo]

Oh the round I carry is the Winchester+p or 230 gr Federal Hydra-Shok so I can take out an enemy or put an animal down easily, humanly, and quickly.

[RReevestmmk]

Gotta say I likee the 6" .357 Rossi I carry... 4 full-power .357 rounds, last 2 in the wheel are Shotshell for aggravations. My stompin ground holds Black Bear, but I agree with others posting, you don't need a gun if you know how to deal with Bear, never had a issue. Now wild pig, however, are a different story altogether. Never had an issue personally, but I knew a guy who had a friend whose brother..... pigs is just mean.

[hunter63]

As this poll is 3 years old.....Don't remember if I voted or not....So I gonna just say, .357 and all .38 loads that fit.
Reason, I have a few, don't really like auto loaders, and .357 can be had in rifle or pistol versions, the old one cartridge for both.

[glockcop]

Sgtdraino, I agree with you hierarchy and reasons for them in your initial post. I too would recommend the .357/.38 as a top choice for it's versatility. The 9mm +p+ can generate some pretty high energy levels actually approaching the .357 but not quite getting there. The .40 has very respectable power in it's standard pressure rounds but it's starts out at a level of pressure as high as 9mm and 45 acp ''+P'' levels. Look at the ''handle'' at the bottom of my post for my reasons for placing the .45ACP LAST. The .45 is a ''good'' round. Nothing more, nothing less. It's not the end all do all. Now the .357 magnum is a "GREAT" round. Ballistically the .357 does everything the others do and it does it better. Recoil and capacity is a different matter of course. Yes, the .357 recoils a little bit more but it's still very doable. It's the same reason a dragster goes faster than your Fiat. It's called "performance". Here is were I get in trouble. Are you ready? Here goes......I am not picking on anyone here but as far as I'm concerned, If a person can't handle the recoil of a 158 grain .357 in a 4" revolver weighing 40 oz, maybe they should pick a different hobby, like needle point or oragami. Of course there could be some medical condition for their lack of ability. That's what they make Viagra for . But hey, everybody has their opinions. Calm down ya'll, it's all in fun .

[glockcop]

In my own penetration tests involving winchester white box FMJ ammo, the 9mm out penetrated .38, .40 and .45 easily punching through three 2x8 boards.
Personally, I think the 9mm is an amazing and underrated round.

All I can say is "YEP, what he said".