Nothing wrong with carrying some "bear defense" while in bear country. While I've never been attacked (had a brief up close encounter but no attack) my father hasonce and he squared off with another bruin in a death match on another occasion...both (I'm glad to say) ended up with dead black bears. When I hunted in bear country I carried a Ruger 44mag. I would consider a .40 cal a little on the weak side but it's way better than nothing at all!

When Ilast hunted in bear country it was some years ago and high power revolver cartridges were available but they weren't as common as they are now, some didn't even exist. I now own a 454 Casull and I'm really thinking about getting a S&W 500mag just because!

In bear country (especially Grizz) I'd carryat least a .44 mag or a .45 Colt loaded with at least 300gr hard cast bullets in the 1250+ fps range. I'd feel a whole lot better with a .454 Casull, 460 S&W Mag, 500 S&W Mag or any of the wildcat rounds common today .475 Linebaugh, .500 Linebaugh etc...

I just picked this little Ruger up a few months ago and it would be an ideal carry gun in black bear country or even Grizz if loaded up with some Buffalo Bore 325gr hard cast bullets @ 1325fps (as pictured) it's small and light but packs a super punch. Or you can load it down to regular .45Colt loads for plinking fun.




Here it is with wood grips...