10mm Caliber Pistols & Their Defensive Use Against Bear Attacks: Known Incidents

AmmoLand ^ | March 9, 2022 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Grizzly bear downed at 10 feet by Jimmy Cox with a 10mm pistol

U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- – The 10mm pistol caliber is gaining supporters as a suitable pistol caliber for defense against bears.

The caliber has long been known as an excellent pistol hunting cartridge. In this correspondent’s study of the use of pistols in defense, eight cases have been discovered where 10 mm pistols were used to defend against bear attacks. Six of those cases were with the 10 mm only. One case was in combination with a .340 Weatherby magnum rifle, and one case was in combination with a .45 ACP pistol.

The cases are shown in chronological order.

1. August 18, 2002, Western Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska, 10mm grizzly bear. The information comes from a personal interview with Jake Jefferson.

A problem bear was becoming much too familiar with people and property at the lodge on a lake. Several cabins had been broken into and ransacked for food on the other side of the lake.

Professional guide Jake Jefferson had his 10mm pistol. It had been built by his brother on a six inch longside 1911 frame, with an eight shot magazine.

Jack attempted to haze the bear away from the lodge.  He fired six shots near the bear, which indifferently moved a little way away. It came back quickly and tore up a bunch of empty coolers.  The bear moved out of his sight.

Jake looked for another firearm, but did not find any close to hand.

Jake heard “hey bear” from the other side of the lodge.

As he came around the corner, the grizzly was quartering toward him at 10-15 yards.

[marktwain]

The 10mm is gaining a reputation as a reliable bear stopper.

[No.6]

Rumors but no reality on Glock Gen5 in .45 and 10mm. Yet.

[riverrunner]

Some say the Gen 3 Glocks are the best.

Having shot all the Gens and many different models.

I don’t think I have a preference they have all worked for me.

[DuncanWaring]

I’d prefer something belt-fed.

[riverrunner]

A decent caliber handgun with a good stout bullet that gives you over 18 inches of penetration in 10% ballistic gel seem to work well.

Having shot bears with rifles, shotguns and handguns.

I prefer heavy for caliber bullets and velocities over 1000fps when using handguns.

[riverrunner]

To heavy to carry around.

Onw of the reasons handguns work so well is because you have them when needed.

[Carriage Hill]

I’d be looking for something shoulder-fired.

[muir_redwoods]

I’d love to find a 10mm carbine reasonably priced.

I’d love to have Salma Hayek stalking me too so…

[Old Yeller]

I’d prefer something belt-fed.

To keep from being bear-fed.

[Prole]

Who wanders around Grizzly Bear territory without a S&W .500?

[circlecity]

In Alaska 44 mag seems to be handgun of choice for bears.

[dblshot]

Known incidents, well yeah-unknown ones didn’t report back.

[Prole]

.44 MAG should do the trick.

[Prole]

Better a Revolver than a Jam-O-Matic any day.

[Spok]

I favor my 45/70 and not having to stop a bear 10 feet away. IMHO, handguns are defensive weapons of last resort when hunting big game, unless you’re hunting with a handgun by design. For that purpose, I think my model 29 is adequate. But then, I’m an old wheel gun guy to begin with. I also believe, again in my opinion, that there enough calibers already in production to satisfy the requirements of hunters who can skillfully place a bullet where it needs to go. But that’s just an opinion.

[StAntKnee]

I never miss reading these. Thanks for the post.

[gundog]

People carrying rifles, rather than fly rods.

[Joe 6-pack]

I have a first generation Colt Delta Elite. The first time I took it to the range it made some very distinct impressions on me. First, I was shooting at steel targets. With a .45 ACP, there is (to me) a very short, but perceptible delay between the time the trigger is pulled and the, "Clang!" of the target. With the 10mm, it seemed far more instantaneous. Second, at longer shots, the trajectory is so much flatter. With a 25 yard zero, at 75 yards, the 10mm generally drops about half of what the .45 does (3-4" depending on load vs. 6-8").

My impression of the recoil was that it was not, "heavier," per se, but delivered differently. The .45 recoil comes as a slower, rolling force, while the 10mm comes back snappier and faster, kind of like the difference between arm wrestling vs. being punched in the hand. IMHO, I can make quicker follow up shots with the 10 than I can the .45 given comparable loads.

[Disambiguator]

As a point of reference, the revolver caliber that most closely matches the ballistics of a 10mm auto is the .41 Magnum.

Have there been any reports of bear defense using this cartridge?

[Scarlett156]

Reading these accounts is always fun. But scary. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a bear around here but the last time I did see one, it was on the front porch. Heh. It was a pretty small bear and ran off when I yelled at it.

Makes me hesitate to go out for a hike. But upon further thought, I would rather deal with a bear than one of my insane crackhead neighbs.