[HuntingFree]

Depends on the woods but here in tx I usually carry either 9mm with JHP or .40 loaded with FMJ. I have been in physical contact distance of angry hogs and mountain lions and on the few occasions I have been charged a G19 worked fine.
There is something to be said about full power 10mm though. The last time I had to use a G20, the feral hog that false
-charged me noped tf outta there after the first round. Two more round as it ran away dropped it. That didn't happen with 9mm or 40.

 

[Glolt20-91]

Glock 21 conversion to 40 Super

Fits Glock 21 Conversion to 40 Super - Bar-Sto

barsto.com

40 Super 220gr. Flat Nose Black Cherry Coated Hard Cast Hunting Ammo

Underwood Ammo offers the most comprehensive and innovative Underwood Ammo™ Supersonic Handgun Ammo for personal defense & hunting. Shop now .40 Super Lead ammo with Hi-Tek Coated Hard Cast.

underwoodammo.com

40 Super Brass - Small Pistol - Brass Cases

www.starlinebrass.com

 

[sciolist]

I wouldn't be too inclined to take a handgun to a bear fight.

 

[RedTeam98]

Alaska Trail Pistols

Ruger Redhawk 4" in 44 Mag
Glock 20 in 10mm
Glock 21 in 45 Super

All with hard cast bullets and heavy loads from Underwood

 

[CREE LED]

I can't overlook the incident of a NYPD officer who shot and killed a polar bear with his .38 caliber service revolver.

Escaped from a zoo or something?
Never mind.. saw it.

 

[fastbolt]

Escaped from a zoo or something?

Reminds me of this ... (long article, made longer by having to keep scrolling past ads )

Worth the read, if you're unfamiliar with the incident.

It was later determined that Tatiana had been hit seven times: twice in the head and five times in the chest.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/s-f-cops-tell-how-they-killed-raging-zoo-tiger-3252335.php

Coincidentally enough, it was the conjectured possibility of such an incident happening that compelled me to carry a 4" .357MAG revolver off-duty when I used to go to that zoo with family.

Nowadays it would be one of my .357MAG's or .40's.

 

[SargeMO]

The 357 Mag was one of my first 'serious' handguns. In my youthful quest for 'faster horses' I moved on to the 44 Mag and 45 Colt; but with the current component situation being what it is, the 357 is back on my radar. Use a suitable load, shoot well and there are very few problems it won't solve. It makes a damn fine carbine round too.

 

[fastbolt]

The 357 Mag was one of my first 'serious' handguns. In my youthful quest for 'faster horses' I moved on to the 44 Mag and 45 Colt; but with the current component situation being what it is, the 357 is back on my radar. Use a suitable load, shoot well and there are very few problems it won't solve. It makes a damn fine carbine round too.

The venerable .357 Magnum is arguably the most practical medium-bore handgun caliber available today. It can be loaded with a range of bullet weights and power levels that can cover a wide variety of tasks and needs. Compared to the loads available in the Magnum calibers beginning with a '4' or a '5', it falls pretty much within the medium 'power' range (if you like to calculate ME figures), but that makes it pretty versatile for a variety of handgunning tasks.

I expect my Ruger (3-screw) Blackhawk and Service-Six to outlast me, and I tried my best to wear them out as a younger man.

 

[IAhunter]

As much as I love my .357 and .44 mag wheel guns my “woods gun” is my G20.4. More compact, less weight, I guess I’m getting old.

 

[mc1911]

Hypothetically, if one were out hiking in the woods and came across a black bear or a feral hog, what caliber load would be reasonable to want to have. I would think that 9mm is out of the question and I would think that .45acp doesn't have enough velocity for penetration of large thick animals. Let me put it a slightly different way. Is there a Glock that would fill the bill for such encounters?

I would likely carry a 3 inch 357 or a .40 Shield. if I was just casually wandering around in some woods without grizzlies or other big varmints.

 

[RedTeam98]

Glock 20 - 10 mm
Glock 21 - 45 Super
Both with KKM Barrels and 22 Pound springs
Using UnderWood Hardcast ammo

 

[0.0-idontrun]

I would carry what you have and maybe pick a load for the 9mm that gives you some extra penetration if you’re worried about it.

9MM +P OUTDOORSMAN Pistol and Handgun Bullets Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

9MM +P OUTDOORSMAN Pistol and Handgun Bullets Field Proven pistol and handgun ammo. Maximum firepower bullets. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

www.buffalobore.com

I carry Underwood 147 grain +P. I am confident that it has good penetration and knockdown power but I have the ability to take multiple shots. I also have a 45 Long Colt SAA Ruger but it is more for fun and too pretty to drag around in the woods.

 

[0.0-idontrun]

Keiths probably won't feed through a 1911 unless you do some work to the gun.

You might be better off with these options:

45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN Field Proven pistol and handgun ammo. Maximum firepower bullets. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

www.buffalobore.com

45 ACP +P 255gr. Flat Nose Black Cherry Coated Hard Cast Hunting Ammo

45 ACP +P 255gr. Flat Nose Black Cherry Coated Hard Cast Hunting Ammo

Underwood Ammo offers the most comprehensive and innovative Underwood Ammo™ Subsonic Handgun Ammo for personal defense & hunting. Shop now .45 ACP +P Lead ammo with Hi-Tek Coated Hard Cast.

underwoodammo.com

That's what I have in 9mm 147 gr

 

[0.0-idontrun]

There is an old joke that all you need is a .22lr if you walking with someone else...

 

[amd65]

Glock 22, .40s&w…
Not only is it a great cartridge, but you can still find a pistol cheap, and beat it up in the woods without feeling too bad

 

[Bluescot]

Glock 20, Glock 29, and Glock 40. Take your pick.

View attachment 1267364

I don't know if you are a reloader or not but I am and after searching for a recipe to up the juice on my 45ACP shooters I came across this article.
45 ACP Load Data: Fast Loads - Shooting Times

Maybe you have also found this article but it does present some interesting data for 1911 reloads using Ramshot Enforcer and 230g bullets. The big plus in the use of this powder was its ability to push those 230 bullets at 1070+- fps while still maintaining some low pressure results.

I have loaded some up and will chrono them when it dries out a wee bit and see how they perform in some Glocks and 1911s

To the OP : For a Glock model around black bears I would opt for a G20 loaded appropriately with some 200g medicine.

 

[Borg Warner]

that's interesting, you have a link to that?

Edit - found it. Was a case that happened in the 70s with a man sticking his arm in the polar bear's cage.

Haven't you learned/known that 38 special was far more deadly in the 70s than it is now. now 38 special, 9mm, and anything below 10mm is practically useless. Bears have been eating more protein and bulking up for those girly man wrist calibers!

the 38 Special was WAY more powerful in the past. If you want to talk about One-shot stops, just watch a detective movie from the 40's and 50's everybody was using model 10 Smith an Wessons in 38 special and all it ever took was one shot and whoever got shot dropped dead immediately (Bang! You're Dead!) and that was the end of them.

 

[SargeMO]

People who weren't around when the 38 was being used regularly, tend to think the old RNL was ineffective, over-penetrated, etc. But one or two on the centerline of the body worked just fine.

Newsflash- this also applies to modern ammunition using cutting edge technology.

 

[Cranky old cop]

For me a G20 with underwood or G21 with buffalo bore 255 semiwads

 

[Colt Carson]

If I didn’t have to worry about grizzlies, of the handguns I have… a 6" 357 revolver or a 45 government 1911. 6 shots or 8 shots, I'd be comfortable with either one. I would want a reload on me.