We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More \u203a<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The first thing you need to know about bear defense handguns is that if you find yourself needing to use one, things have gone terribly wrong. You should never be comfortable with the idea that the only thing between you and an attacking bear might be a handgun. Even the behemoth .500 S&W Magnum has about half the energy of a .375 Ruger \u2014 which some consider to be on the lighter end of the spectrum for stopping a pissed-off brown bear.<\/p>\n A realistic way to look at bear defense handguns is that they are better than nothing. A big rifle or even slug gun is a proper tool for situations where a dangerous encounter is even remotely likely. But for the rest of the time, a bear defense handgun is a great choice if you can carry it and shoot it proficiently. They have been used<\/a> successfully to thwart bear attacks each year. Here are my best bear defense handgun picks:<\/p>\n The metric by which many people measure bear-stopping success is a bit fantastical when it comes to bear defense handguns. Most people imagine a bear charging, and the measure of success is whether the bear folds to the ground, sliding up to their feet or not. The truth is that it probably won\u2019t happen like that. Hell, three months ago I shot a medium-sized interior grizzly running toward me at 15 paces with a hot-loaded .338 Win. Mag., and that solid shot to the chest didn\u2019t even take her off her feet immediately. If you must defend yourself from a bear with a handgun, any situation in which you come out unscathed is a win, even if the bear runs off.<\/p>\n Considering that many bear charges stopped by rifles involve more than one shot, you\u2019re almost guaranteed to have you shoot a bear more than once with a pistol if you\u2019re forced to defend yourself. Pick a bear defense handgun that\u2019s nimble to handle, that you can practice with, and that you can shoot accurately under stress. Ammunition capacity can be important. Many keyboard experts will tell you that you\u2019ll only get one shot off, so power is what matters. The truth is that the only bear claws most of these folks will ever encounter are kept under clear plexiglass and distributed with aluminum tongs. Sometimes you might get one shot, sometimes none. In the heat of the moment though, ammo goes quick.<\/p>\n Because of these facts, the 10mm Auto has seen a rise in popularity as a defensive cartridge in bear country. Some still favor large revolver cartridges, but with the best 10mm<\/a> ammo, the cartridge has proven to be effective in stopping bear attacks. <\/p>\n Read Next: Charged by a Grizzly: A 10mm Glock (and Serious Practice) Saved My Life<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n In a recent range test, we shot the 10mm against a light .44 Mag.<\/a> and proved what many hunters already know: The 10mm is much easier to shoot quickly and accurately.<\/p>\n \tThings to Consider Before Buying the Best Bear Defense Handgun<\/h2>\n
A Bear Defense Handgun Worked If the Attack is Stopped<\/h3>\n
You\u2019ll Have to Shoot a Bear More Than Once<\/h3>\n
![\"Sig](\"https:\/\/www.outdoorlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/09\/IMG_6648-scaled.jpeg?strip=all&quality=95\")
![](\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/FVmNPO-8i4Q\/hqdefault.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n