Originally Posted by
LAK Supply
I would carry my 10mm in grizzly country. With the 6" barrel and DT Beartooth loads you can count on Mid-range .41 mag performance, but with less recoil and more capacity. :numbchuck:
As well, I would rather have something I can shoot really straight with multiple quick shots than something where I'm going to be laying on the ground holding my bleeding ears and trying to see through the burnt powder that's in my eyes.
The 10mm is MORE than adequate for cats, wolves, etc. I was asking Mike McNett (owns Double Tap Ammo) about the large animal thing a while back and he said he's had customers shoot BIG pigs (like 270+ lb if I recall correctly) with the 200gr FMJFP and not be able to recover the slug. I would actually prefer something with a little more expansion when dealing with anything but bear. Those cats can sure mess you up while they're bleeding out.
When dealing with critters like a grizzly precaution is the first line of defense with a rifle coming in a close second. If I have to use my sidearm against a grizzly it means it's already gotten past my rifle and I'm in real trouble. It may be one of those 'I'm curled up in a fetal position and pull the thing to put against the bear that's trying to chew on my head's ear for as many rounds as I can squeeze off' kind of things.
I would not wander around in brown bear country without a big rifle. When I lived in Alaska we carried 357 mag wheelguns (which the 10mm can outdo when each is loaded to it's respective pressure cieling, especially with the long barrel) AND A 375 H&H. If I was going back up there I would probably opt for a 12-guage with sabots (short semi-auto) or the .50 Beowulf conversion for my AR-15. I would never depend solely on a handgun for protection in brown bear country, and I would definitely go semi-auto over lever, and lever over bolt.