The Internet tells me that an XDM can handle 45 Super without spring changes. That's interesting, if true.

I just carry .357 in a revolver in the woods.

 

The Internet tells me that an XDM can handle 45 Super without spring changes. That's interesting, if true.

I just carry .357 in a revolver in the woods.

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I don't know about the XDM but I do now the HK USP 45 will easily handle 45 Super with no modifications. As far as I know, it's the inherently strongest 45 on the market. I've posted the article here before of Federal Ammunition's HK USP 45 that went 297k rounds with no spring changes or servicing (beyond lube on the rails).

 

Glock 21.. more capacity than a steel 1911..

 

Is it strong enough, and is stock barrel, and stock springs up for it? I don't know, myself, just wondering those types of things.

 

My Tinnitus is so bad that I would almost rather fight the bear than take the high pitch high volume blast of a 357 or 44 mag. revolver. Give me the G21 SF with the best load for the job.

 

Since my edc is a G20 and I live in the woods in black bear country I load it with Underwood 200gr XTPs for all occasions.
They're black bears. They're usually gone by the time you get there. The ones you do see are leaving too. And the 200gr XTPs will be enough on the rare chance I ever get attacked. That's my hope anyway.
If I lived in brown bear country I'd load it with Underwood 200gr. hard cast for being in the woods.
Sorry but I have no experience with Buffalo Bore ammunition.

 

Since my edc is a G20 and I live in the woods in black bear country I load it with Underwood 200gr XTPs for all occasions.
They're black bears. They're usually gone by the time you get there. The ones you do see are leaving too. And the 200gr XTPs will be enough on the rare chance I ever get attacked. That's my hope anyway.
If I lived in brown bear country I'd load it with Underwood 200gr. hard cast for being in the woods.
Sorry but I have no experience with Buffalo Bore ammunition.

Probably Buffalo Bore and Underwood are similar. I was just using that as an example.

But looks like another vote for the G20 or G21 platform.

 

I'd probably go with the 10mm and either the G20 or the FN 510...
If 45ACP though, I'd either go with a G21 or an HK USP...
(All just personal preferences.)

 

Best millimeter > 45.
Semi auto will give you more capacity, vs revolver.
Full size makes more sense, so G40/G20 , MP2.0.
A 29 would work as well.

Revolver, I'd go 44mag ot 500sw.

 

I think us here on GLOCK talk recommend the Taurus TH10 in 10mm.

 

10mm is the superior caliber. Right behind 9mm.

 

I read the Danish Park Service carries as their handgun while in Greenland, the Glock 20 (10mm). Thet are concerned, amongst other things, polar bears. I plan carrying the Glock 20, when in grizzly country, with hard cast lead, not HP.

 

Danish Artic Patrol (above the artic circle) carries the G20 and WW1 bolt action 30.06. I can't remember if it's the 03 Springfield or the 1917 Enfield.

 

If you want a very strong 45 ACP look at FNX45Ts or HK USP 45s. For 10mm, Glocks, FNs, M&Ps are tough pistols.

 

View them?
(Note: this is not a caliber thread, instead the focus is on the guns).

I favor revolvers, having both .357 and .44, but many people like semi-autos better for bear guns.

Tim Sundles (owner of Buffalo Bore) has a YT video saying .45ACP is better than 10mm for bear. His logic is hardcast, no expansion, and .45 is bigger so is better. He says it can be driven fast enough on heavy bullets for good penetration. He admits 10mm can penetrate more, but as he says, once you go through the body you don't need more.

But this is not a caliber thread, instead it is a question of what are good guns to handle +P .45ACP and/or 10mm, near max heavy types of loads that Buffalo Bore makes for bear?

Function reliably and be shootable, with the most powerful loads, being main criteria for a gun.

For example I'm guessing it might not be a good idea to run Buffalo Bore .45ACP +P bear loads through my Taurus PT1911 ALR (aluminum alloy frame). But what guns would that be a good idea for?

Underwood, Buffalo Bore, and double Tap 45 ACP Plus+P 230 and 250 grain heavy bullet loads are not quite up to the best Hardcast 200, 220, and 230 grain heavy bullet loads in the 10mm in terms of velocity and sectional denesity.

But when you move up to 45 Super the greater sectional density advantage of the 10mm is overcome by the increased velocity of the 45 super.

And the best platform for the 45 Super is the Glock 21 as oppose to the 1911. The polymer frame absorbs rather than transmits recoil and the double stack grip transfers the recoil to a less concentrated section of the hand. all that is needed is a Lone Wolf stainless steel recoil spring so that you can experiment with different spring weights but generally it's best not to use too heavy a spring or the slide will overrun the magazine spring.

With the 10mm, it's best to use the standard 17 pound spring if you want to shoot both 40 S&W level 10mm ammo and full pressure UW, BB, And DT ammo without changing springs and the same situation will exist wit too heavy a spring when shooting both 45 ACP standard ammo and 45 Super.

I've had more experience with the Glock 20 than the Glock 40 and the G40 may have it's own set of problems from what I've heard from other gun guys. Also in my experience the G20 is a little faster out of the holster and on target than the longer and heavier G40 or G41.

If you absolutely have to have a 1911 I'd recommend going to the 460 Rowland with the Clark conversion with it's compensator that is perfectly designed as a kit and is a drop-in that functions 100% right out of the gun. However, Clark recommends using it only with certain guns but 5 inch Springfield armory's are on their list of recommended pistols. An 8 round Wilson mag will also assure reliability and you can swap slides for live fire practice wit standard 45 Acp or 45 ACP plus +P

whicever gun or calibe you chose, being able to reload will not only allow you to afford the ammo to practice more but the more you practice the more instinctive drawing, aiming, and firing the gun under stress becomes and that is more important than what caliber you chose although if you have to kill someone or some thing to keep them from killing you chosing the lesser minimum in terms of caliber is never a wise choice.

 

Thank you for the well written reply, chocked full of information.

I do reload. If I were to buy an ultimate semi-auto woods/bear handgun, there is some appeal to .45ACP because I already have the Taurus PT1911 ALR, and have a lot of .45ACP brass. I don't have .45ACP dies yet, but have been thinking about an all steel 1911 (in general as a pretty gun to drool over). If wanting the 1911 to be a tough gun, seems you are saying Sprinfield is one. I could look up 460 conversions, to see what guns are on a suggested list (then know they are considered tough enough).

I do have 4 Glock 9mm. So a Glock 20 or 21 is not out of the question. I'm glad they are favored for strength and shootability. The wide grip area comment you make has perfect sense. My Dan Wesson .44mag is a big heavy gun with wide grip and is very nice for magnums. So Glock remains an option.

Then there's always the fun of considering the other suggestions being made in this thread, too 🙂

 

Glock 20 10mm or Glock 21 .45 first and foremost, HK USP .45 a close second. USPs are tough handguns, and the USP .45 is advertised as .45 Super ready from the factory.

 

I did not know that about the HK USP. I'll have to look them up!

 

since we’re focusing on guns:

Gen 5 Glock 20

stock HK USP/ 45 +P or 45 Super

 

I use Underwood .45 super in my HK usp .45c in black bear country or BB/Unddrwood hardcast in my glock 20. I believe the HK is the only pistol that can shoot the supers without a buffer or spring change. For grizz or brown, I’d feel better with my .44 mag. It’s worth noting that there was an article a few years back written by a guide who claimed that black bears are better repelled (not necessarily killed) using hollow points. He said that they react like they’ve been stung by a bee and stop charging. Thankfully, I haven’t been able to test any of these theories.

 

I wish HK would make a USP MOS. That would
be my dream gun-

 

I hike with a Glock 40. Thinking of selling it for
a 20.

 

Glock 20 is the best for the reaction time. I keep my 40 for targets. 10mm is best for Bears in my opinion because of control (will be lucky to get 2 shots) some of the crazy revolvers you will never get that second shot off before the bear is all over, plus the trigger pull on the first shot means you may never get a shot on target. Glock 20 has the penetration and power to stop a bear (While not having long barrel but standard handgun size) while having far more control than 44mag or some ridiculous 500 SW or 600. I would skip 45 with 10mm having much better velocity meaning penetration and just a slight more recoil.

 

You make a strong case for the Glock 20’s practical advantages in bear defense. The faster follow-up shots compared to heavy revolvers are definitely a plus when seconds count. That said, I’d argue shot placement matters more than caliber - a well-placed .45ACP hardcast can be just as effective as a flinched 10mm shot.
The real test is whether you can reliably hit a tennis ball-sized target under stress with your chosen platform. Have you run your G20 through any stress drills with bear loads? Curious how it handles when your heart’s pounding.

 

As already mentioned, 45 Super is a contender to the 10mm. I carry a G20 personally.

 

I don't agree the 45 super is a contender to the 10mm, still slower and less power and less penetration. Why do you need a super 45 to make it almost a contender to a firearm easily maintained and fired? 10mm is still more velocity and penetration without needing a specific handgun for it or over pressuring the ammo. There is still most likely 200 fps waiting on handloaders above and beyond the best 10mm rounds. 10mm = more velocity means more penetration on a brown bear. 3+ inches over 45 super. Contender? Sure if you want to die with your 45ACP flag. Go for it.

 

Not to mention you get the most "tries" with a G20/40

 

Solid discussion on bear defense options. For handling Buffalo Bore's hottest .45ACP +P loads, a full-size steel 1911 like the Springfield TRP or Dan Wesson would be ideal - the extra weight helps manage recoil while maintaining reliability. The Glock 20 in 10mm remains the go-to for semi-auto fans, with its proven track record in the field and ability to digest heavy loads.
What really matters is how the gun feels with those punishing bear loads in your hands. The best platform is worthless if you can't place rapid follow-up shots under stress. Have you had a chance to test fire any of these with the heavy hardcast rounds?
The sights and holster system deserve equal consideration too. A chest-mounted setup with night sights could make all the difference when seconds count.

 

For the most part just carry your reasonable weight, regular CC gun on the hiking trail. There may be few exceptions, most areas don’t really scream a ‘bear defense’ gun being necessary.

Just look at events in the news, regular crime, falls, lost, dehydration, much more common than meeting an aggressive bear.

That all said, my ‘bear gun’ is a 4.2” Redhawk in 45 Colt, ‘Ruger only’ loads.

 

Not having bears in my country, so no skin in the game... but I would go 10mm personally. Either a Glock 20 or an M&P 2.0 10mm. 200gr hard cast will do the trick.

A .357Sig using hardcast lead would also likely work well, say in a Glock 31?
Just a thought...

 

The first thing to remember is that Tim is a salesman, Tim has skin in the game.

Nothing you shoot will know the difference between .05 of an inch, nothing. Even Tim admits the 10mm penetrates way deeper, when a big bear is gonna eat you penetration is your friend.

 

Fully agreed. 10mm makes a lot more sense to me.

 

Glock 20 (10mm) should have a picture of a bear on the slide.

 

Like this?

 

Glock 20 or 21 either will serve you well. Also in a revolver you could go with .357 Mag or a .44 special or .44 Mag and a good ole 12 Ga shotgun auto or pump with slugs will do the job.

 

If a shotgun is an option, that would be my go to; especially with full power breneke slugs. What about a .41 magnum?

 

First choice is a 12g
second would be a G20 with large mag
third would be a Sig 220 in .45
No need for a 45Super, Ive loaded the 220 with some HOT rounds in the 45super range ( small S ). They exceeded the 10mm in power but the smaller mag forces me back to the G20