357 fmj for bear. I told him a buy I get suckered into all the "what handgun for bear" discussions and will likely continue to thinking about it until my dying breath. A couple caveats, though, I'm in black bear country and I'm not worried about brown bears. 357 has developed a solid reputation on deer sized game inside 100 yards when fired from a carbine or service revolver. 357 ammo to determine the top loads for hunting, self-defense, practice, and snub-nosed revolvers. The . So Ive loaded some 200gr Hard Cast Lead moving about 1100fps. Another popular bear ammo option for handgun hunters is Federal Premium’s 357 Magnum Swift A-Frame. 357 SIG ammo is usually meant for people, so hollow points designed for big expansion and relatively short penetration - 12" in gelatin is probably about 4" in bear muscle. A well considered article on the effectiveness of a . 44 magnum when a bear is charging? Probably, yeah. Get expert recommendations and real-world testing results to stay safe in the wild. Would I prefer to have . Stock up and save on range, training, and defensive 10mm loads. 357 Magnum, especially if the bullet doesn’t strike a vital organ. But I would probably carry a 44 magnum if so. Jan 5, 2026 · The mistake people make is treating bear defense like a caliber contest. 357 Magnum For Bear - Hey guys, I might be going on a black bear hunt in the near future, and i was wondering about a good close range rifle. The average female grizzly bear weighs about 400 pounds and the average male about 700 pounds. Looking for the best 45 ACP for bear defense? Load your Glock 21 with these 45 ACP rounds to increase your chances of survival during a bear attack HSM Bear 357 Magnum Ammo 180 Grain Flat Nose Box of 50 (25) Write a Review Q&A (8) Our Price: $57. 44 mag (305 grain hard cast Cor-Bon). 357, by all means do so, but I also think you need to carry at least 3 or 4 speed loads as well. 357 in the forehead won't instantly stop a charging black bear, there's just too much bone to penetrate. Choosing appropriate ammunition, practicing regularly, and employing proven bear safety strategies dramatically increase your chances of avoiding or surviving a bear encounter. However, bear is my biggest concern. 357 do the job? History says My Taylor's Trapper Skinner 1892 Clone in 357 mag, with 16" barrel has two loads: Hornady 158 grain XTP-FP with 16. The 10mm pistol performs better than the . 357 is a round pistol that was developed from the . )? Where is the most vulnerable place to shoot the bear, head, neck, etc. If I lived in moose or grizzly bear territory I would want at least a . Buffalo Bore. 357 SIG Comeback That's SHOCKING Ballistic Experts! GRIZZLY AMMUNITION BEAR LOAD 357 MAGNUM 148gr FMJ-FLAT POINT Grizzly Cartridge SKU: GC357M15 $23. Here’s a look at the best bear defense cartridges ever made. I ran into a 300 pound black bear on opening day of the muzzleloading deer season and it got me thinking about what type of bullet I could reload as a round for my 357 GP100. 357 for hunting bears, but would prefer a larger, more powerful round for bear hunting--two different things, although hunting could become protection. 357 is not optimal for black bear, but can't see myself shelling out for a . Shop now . Ultimately, whether Is 357 Magnum good for bears? depends on the shooter’s skill and the specific circumstances of the encounter. The Importance of Legal Considerations Before A bear is a bear. The 10mm handles . Against a bear, the . 49 Add to Cart . 38 special series. I understand that a . Will . 357 round coming out of a 20in rifle barrel be enough to hunt black bear in VA? Definitely not at distances over 100 yards and it wouldn’t be the rifles only purpose but just to have that option. 02 Our Price: Stopping power doesn't matter that much if you miss, and it seems probable that two or four . 357 Magnum loads built for deep penetration, not expansion. Handgun protection from bears is just a fascinating topic, especially with the experiences I've had hunting bears with rifles! I've read the story of Phil Are . 44 mag to carry. 357? 357 Magnum for Bear? Underwood Ammo 180gr Hardcasts | Jugs Test w/Simulated Bone Barriers 9mm OBSOLETE? The . Most people consider the base line for these large bears is 44 magnum. 44 mag fmj fn rounds good enough for black bear defensive head shots with a revolver? Michael I’d like to hear your opinions on the 357 load you would use for black bear defense. 2 grains of Lil Gun for 1645 FPS, from my rifle only. What would you recommend as an adequate means of protection in a . Black Bears on the other hand are a completely diiferent matter indeed. 357 Magnum was demonstrated to take grizzly bear and walrus, although it is considered small for those tasks today. Please tell me why you picked what you picked. Magtech 357 Magnum Ammo 158 Grain Full Metal Jacket Box of 50 6 Reviews $34. Any caliber suitable for whitetail deer is suitable for black bear. 357 magnum has proven to be able to kill large bear, buffalo, lions, tigers, and all kinds of other large game for many decades. Over the decades, several cartridges have proved themselves as worthy against charging bears in North America. Fatalities Caused by. Knowing that a 357 is not the optimum bear round, he still wants to know if anyone makes ammo that would at least give him a chance if he had to defend himself. 357 Magnum While the. HEAVY 357 MAG OUTDOORSMAN Field Proven handgun ammo. The 180-grain bullet retains most of its weight and offers controlled expansion. 19 The best handgun for bear defense varies between Black bears and brown bears. Don't miss this article. 44 magnum, especially in short barrels popular as hiking guns. 89 with Brown bear are different, but I would be comfortable with . 357 revolver, would you be loaded with SJSP or FMJ (158gr. In the real world, a “perfect” cartridge you can’t shoot well is a worse choice than a solid one you can. It was designed to mimic . I do not want to go much bigger than that. 357 Magnum is what I have. 99 We round up the best . I'm not in big bear country, so a 357 is fine for me. However if it's a defensive situation I'd want more power than either 357 Sig or 40 Smith. These are handgun calibers that are realistic for black bear defense—meaning they’re widely available, practical to carry, and capable with the right loads and good shooting. 357 SIG is often praised for its speed, but speed doesn’t equal penetration. 357 rounds in a bear will do more damage than one . One of those cases was a failure. These seem to be my best and. 2 grains for Lil Gun for 1760 FPS from the rifle, as my general purpose load for both rifle and revolver (about 1250 FPS from my 3" GP100). I’m almost tempted to call it a failure-and-a-half, because another victim was wounded. However, its penetration and overall stopping power are less than that of larger calibers. 357 Magnum can cause significant injuries, it’s not a guaranteed fatal round. In 2018 I DLP'ed a black bear boar with a GP-100 . The bear may also be able to continue attacking, potentially putting the hunter’s life at risk. Discover the top 357 ammo for bear defense, considering factors like bullet weight, penetration, and muzzle energy. In 2003 it was a bull moose with a SW 329PD (ported). 357 Sig Brass, Lead ammo with Full Metal Jacket. I have also never actually used it on a bear, so I can't really vouch for the efficacy. For bears you really want penetration to get a bullet into the vitals instead of stopping on muscle or bone, so 357 with 180 grain hard cast bullets. Is 357 magnum out of a 16. Most articles written on this subject seem to suggest using heavy 180 grain hunting ammo, either lead flat point, semi-jacketed soft-points, or even 165 grain Core-lokts. 56 or 4 payments of $5. 357 Magnum revolver has been fired in defense against bears. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. 357 Magnum to kill a bear but not all types of bear. 357 Magnum as defense against grizzly bear. Grizzly Bear and Brown Bear are the same thing, both are Ursus arctos horribilis aka the North American Brown Bear. Well worth the read if you spend time in bear country. In some cases, bears have been known to survive shots from a. The gun is a 4” Ruger GP100, if that matters. The great bears of the Alaskan coastal region are called brown bears; inland they become grizzly bears. It comes with a caliber of 9mm, which will make a shot at the bear penetrates deeply and can knock a bear immediately. More people are killed and mauled each year by black bear than all other species combined. That’s why HSM Bear Load ammunition has been a trusted choice for backcountry defense since its introduction in 2011. If you were out and about in bear country, and you were carrying a . 357 SIG lacks the mass to drive deep. Big Game Hunting - . 5 inch barrel enough for black bear defense? I have a 45/70 but my model x is lighter I was… The . Grizzly Cartridge Bear Load 357 Magnum Ammo 150 Grain Full Metal Jacket Box of 20 Write the First Review Q&A (2) List Price: $40. Strictly Business. 02 Our Price: You can use the . 45acp for bear protection, I highly recommend you specifically use either this Black Hills 230gr FMJ ammo (click to buy online from Brownell’s), or else this Winchester Whitebox 230gr FMJ (click to buy online from Brownell’s). I get that optimal shot placement is harder during self defense than while hunting, but . Both use Starline Brass, CCI Handgun Bear Load When venturing into bear country, preparedness is essential. Engineered for maximum stopping power, each load is meticulously crafted using only the finest components to ensure reliability when it matters most. Shop bulk 10mm ammo in 500 and 1000 round cases. 44. 357 Magnum can offer a degree of self-defense against a bear attack, but it's essential to understand its limitations and prioritize safety. 99$ 52. Thanks. It will be a baited hunt will this work under 30 yards The . Maximum firepower bullets. Factors like bullet weight, velocity, and terminal performance all play a critical role in its ability to stop a charging bear. We cover the top 6 hard-cast rounds they rely on. 45 and 8 rounds IMO would stop a black bear. 44 mag anytime soon. 357 Magnum performance in an auto platform, but it doesn’t quite get there—especially with most off-the-shelf loads. This is a PSA test due to the recent fatal I'd rather have a . 357 magnum (158 grain hard cast at ~1250 fps). Dec 15, 2025 · For bear defense, guides trust . 357 Magnum was used for bear defense, and here is where we find our failure. 40 caliber bullets up to 220 grains at over 1,200 fps in a 4. 357 Magnum offers a good balance of power, recoil, and capacity, making it a more manageable option for some shooters. 357 SIG Image Credit: GunBroker. 9mm Luger Wirestock Creators Mar 10, 2024 · Effective bear defense necessitates ammunition designed to deliver maximum energy transfer and create a large wound channel. 357 magnum should be more than adequate to protect you from a black bear. 357 is a decent choice for hunting bears or in self-defense situations. When deer hunting in up in the Pasayten Wilderness in WA, I take my GP-100 . A good shot can save your life. That . I'd like your opinion on which of these two choices would work best for bear and a woods load in general. This is my take on the comments that some have come up about the . But OP if you feel comfortable carrying your . 18 Our Price: If you’re using a . 357 in that situation as it’s a more manageable round than . I just want to get everyone's thoughts. FMJ Full Metal Jacket FMJBT Full Metal Jacket Boat Tail FN Flat Nose FP Flat Point FPJ Full Plated Jacket FS Fail Sae FTX Flex Tip FTX ME Flex Tip for Marlin Express GC Gas Check GDHP Gold Dot Hollow Point GDSP Gold Dot Soft Point GS Grand Slam HB Hollow Base HC Hollow Cavity HP Hollow Point HPBT Hollow Point Boat Tail HSP Hollow Soft Point IB There have been 14 documented cases where a . Here are some similar products currently available Grizzly Cartridge Bear Load 357 Magnum Ammo 148 Grain Full Metal Jacket Box of 20 $28. Aug 30, 2015 · That having been said, a . A . Sep 27, 2021 · Here are a few options for what I'd consider to be the top 3 best 357 ammo for bear defense. Grizzly Cartridge Bear Load 357 Magnum Ammo 148 Grain Full Metal Jacket Box of 20 Write the First Review Q&A (1) List Price: $40. Thought I should mention that I might be ok with a well selected bullet (s) and the . Also, this is my Just picked up some ppu 357 sig and got to thinking this is some hot “full power” 357 sig I wonder how this would do against bear as it’s flat point and fmj should offer deep penetration and with enough energy behind it to keep it going Sent from my iPhone using Glock Talk Grizzly Cartridge Bear Load 357 Sig Ammo 125 Grain Full Metal Jacket Box of 20 Write the First Review Ask a Question List Price: $42. ? This is kind of a random question but would a 180gr/200gr flatnose (or other) . Here are the caliber handguns and ammo needed for bear defense. 22 votes, 94 comments. Nov 28, 2024 · Compare the 357 Magnum's stopping power, effective range, and penetration depth against bears, and learn about the best ammo for bear defense and alternative calibers. 357 will do the job in a pinch but don’t underestimate how effective standing your ground, bear spray and shouting are There were three instances in which . I was thinking a marlin model 1894 lever action 357 magnum. Since then, the . 357 will kill a bear but remember killing power & stopping power aren't the same. We tested the best 357 Magnum ammo on the market so you can get the rounds that perfectly suit your shooting preferences. That being said I would feel a lot more comfortable with the 357 than nothing at all in big bear country. 357 Magnum does with bear loads. 5-inch barrel, which is more appropriate for bears than common 357 Magnum loads. 357 Magnum being used on grizzly bears. 357 Sig will work just fine on black bear, provided you can hold that bear down on the ground and shoot him through the eye! The reason I use the solids instead of HP's is for penetration, a . Viewer Discretion is advised. Dec 2, 2025 · The 357 Magnum is a popular handgun cartridge, but its suitability for bear defense is a subject of much debate among experts. Or a Rim Rock 170 Grain Cast-GC LBT RNFP with the same 16. 357 as a back-up gun, usually loaded with a 158 grain bullet. In its early years, the . Underwood Ammo offers the most comprehensive and innovative Underwood Ammo™ Supersonic Handgun Ammo for personal defense & hunting. That said id invest in hard cast loads (not fmj) like Underwood. Understanding the Limitations of Full Metal Jacket Ammo Against Bears What Makes FMJ Ammunition Ineffective? FMJ ammunition is designed for penetration and minimal deformation. In order to save human lives Chuke performs a ballistic test on an actual bear head. A friend of mine is going hunting this fall in Wyoming and the only pistol he has is a 357 magnum Smith and Wesson. 44 Magnum, but a . goo1d, 5mbye, k838, 5t90, ri95, qu6g, 5apvc, wglg, miew, kdf8fc,