In the spring of 2024, a young grizzly bear walked into Dubois, Wyoming. Dubois is a small mountain town near the base of Union Pass in Fremont County where visits from deer, moose, elk, and an occasional black bear are common. None of these animals are a threat to people, but that’s not true of the powerful, aggressive, agile “Ursa horribilus” the apex predator of North America. He was escorted out of town by Wyoming Game and Fish personnel, but it is a growing problem in the Mountain West.

Bear attacks are on the rise, especially in the Rocky Mountains. The resurgence of the native grizzly bear population is nothing short of miraculous, and these predators are extending their range well beyond Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.

Backpackers, anglers, hikers, and hunters now encounter bears, both black and grizzly on a much more routine basis.

While black bears are passive and shy, grizzlies are not. They are the dominant predator of the North American Continent with no rivals. It is important to realize that you are no longer the dominant species when traveling in “bear country.”

Thankfully, bear attacks are rare, but being prepared in the backcountry is much better than being on the menu. Pepper spray, loud noises, and making yourself appear larger remain the best deterrents, but at times, your final defense is often a reliable, high-powered gun that can stop the largest bruin.

What to Do If You See a Bear

Bears, even smaller black bears, are incredibly strong animals. A mature male grizzly can take the head off a 1600-pound Angus bull with a single swipe of his gigantic paw. As a human, you don’t have a chance against any bear if you’re unarmed. You can’t outrun them, and neither can your horse for several hundred yards.

Common sense and a few precautions can drastically reduce the risk of being attacked by a bear.

If you see a bear, give it plenty of space. Solitary males are usually not a threat, but if a sow has cubs, she is the ultimate “mama bear” and will defend them viciously. Most fatal bear attacks occur when a sow with cubs is surprised, feels threatened, and then attacks. No amount of shouting, or bear spray will deter a mother bear if she feels her cubs are in danger.

A high-powered shot to the brain is a guaranteed method of stopping a charging bear in its tracks, but well-placed heart/lung shots are effective as well. The problem is you won’t have time with a standard bolt-action rifle to acquire a target and then hit it when that target is closing in on you at 35 miles per hour. That’s why a high-powered, large-caliber handgun, a pump shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot, or a lever action guide rifle, with iron sights, are much better choices than a standard hunting rifle.

Yes, a .300 Win Mag or .338 Win Mag will drop a bear, but you are hiking, not hunting, and a large rifle like this is a detriment in the event of a proximity bear attack.

Things to Look For in a Bear Defense Gun

A black bear on your back porch is a time to run for your cell phone and take a few photos. Odds are the bear is either emptying the dog food bowl, raiding your garden, or eating all the raspberries off your vines. They act like giant raccoons in almost every state and are sometimes found well inside suburban boundaries. They’re not usually a threat and a call to local law enforcement will get game and fish personnel on site to take the wayward bruin to a more suitable locale.

A female with cubs, even a black bear, presents a different situation. Any grizzly presents a potentially deadly encounter.

Looking for the right bear gun depends on what you’re doing, more than the bear’s actions. Hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and hunting can all lead to a bear encounter. You’d think hunting has a better chance than the other activities, but the bolt action rifle, sighted in for a 400-yard shot isn’t a great choice when a marauding bear closes in on you faster than Usain Bolt. With a bolt action, hunting rifle you’ll get just one shot. Most bear encounters occur at an “intimate” distance of less than 50 yards. At that range, the image in your scope is just a mass of blurry fur.

The best bear guns are both easily accessible, powerful, and designed for accuracy at ranges from 10 to 50 yards. They’re also activity-specific. Hunters can have a guide with a bear gun, horseback riders have more latitude to pack a shotgun or lever action rifle, anglers, hikers and bikers need a smaller, easy-to-carry sidearm, but it still has to pack the power to drop a bear.

Things to Consider in a Bear Gun by Activity

Determining the right bear gun depends more on what you're doing, than the bear itself. The following are the things to consider for various outside activities that could lead to a bear encounter.

Hikers

• Small profile
• Easy to holster
• Light
• .44 Magnum +

Anglers

• Fits shoulder holster
• Light
• Small Profile
• .44 Magnum +

Mountain bikers

• Shoulder holster or custom-made front handlebar holster
• .44 Magnum+
• Light

Horseback

• Short overall length rifle/shotgun
• .45-70 or 12 gauge
• Lever/pump action

Hunting guide

• .454 Casull pistol
• 12 gauge shotgun
• Lever action rifle .45-70 +
• Short overall length

10 Life-Saving Bear Defense Guns

These are the guns you can trust when venturing into bear country.

• Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan
• Ruger GP100
• Mossberg 500
• Marlin Model 1895 Guide Gun .45-70
• Taurus Raging Hunter 454 Casull
• Smith & Wesson 460V
• Taurus Judge Executive Grade 45 (Long) Colt 3in Stainless Revolver
• Smith & Wesson 500
• Taurus Raging Bull
• Glock 20

Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan

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This weapon was designed with predators in mind. The Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan was engineered to be a practical, easy-to-use firearm for self-defense against Kodiak or grizzly bears. The weapon is available in .44 Magnum, .454 Casull, and .480 Ruger calibers, all of which boast plenty of stopping power.

The revolver-style handgun features a 2.5” barrel which is compact and portable. This shorter barrel does increase recoil and muzzle blast, but the gun is still an effective bear defense solution. This is a powerful handgun with a powerful recoil, requiring two hands for most people. Take the time at the range to learn how to use this weapon. It is deadly effective at close range.

Pros

• Caliber .44 Magnum
• Weight – 45 ounces – reduces recoil
• Revolver – reliable
• Overall length 7.62 inches

Cons

• Weight – 45 ounces is heavy on a pack or fishing trip
• Accuracy
• 2.5-inch barrel length

Ruger GP100

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“Don’t shoot him, you’ll just make him mad,” says the Waco Kid to Sheriff Bart in Blazing Saddles as they face the bandit, Mongo. That’s the reaction many outdoorsmen have when the 10mm and .357 Magnum cartridges are discussed as bear defense calibers.

The .44 Magnum is considered the minimum defense against grizzlies, but all bear attacks aren’t made by grizzlies. The GP100 is a .357 Magnum, which means it’s ideal for defense against black bears as opposed to much larger brown or grizzly bears.

The Ruger GP100 is a well-designed firearm with a smaller caliber that allows people to shoot faster, with less recoil, and more accurately than a .44. In the right situation, the GP100 is a great option for bear defense.

Pros

• Ruger reliability
• Six round magazine
• Reliable revolver
• 4.2-inch barrel
• 40-ounce overall weight

Cons

• .357 Magnum
• 9.5 inch overall length – tough to carry and fish

Mossberg 500

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Shotguns and long guns aren’t as easy to carry as handguns, but there is something to be said for the power and ease of use that a 12-gauge shotgun brings. Experienced backcountry guides prefer a 12-gauge pump for bear defense over any other weapon.

It’s generally easier to accurately shoot a long gun than a handgun, which makes a pump-action shotgun like the Mossberg 500 an ideal choice for bear defense. The Mossberg 500 can also effectively serve double duty as a home defense weapon.

Loaded with 00, 000 or slugs, this is a bear-stopping option that is easier to aim and control than a high-caliber handgun. You’d never try to stop an enraged grizzly with a .32 caliber pistol cartridge, but 00 buck sends a dozen pellets, the equivalent of a .32 caliber bullet at almost twice the speed of the pistol round. That’s over an ounce of lead at 1300+ feet per second. It is an effective bear stopping option.

Rifled slugs work well in smoothbore shotgun barrels and deliver a powerful, easy-to-deliver wallop. Sabot slugs are a more accurate option for many shooters than a handgun and the pump action is quick.

Pros

• A lot of lead on target
• Easy to aim
• Moderate recoil
• Reliable pump action
• Great option for a guide to carry

Cons

• Unwieldy
• Not good for backpacking or fishing
• Slower to bring on target than a pistol

Marlin Model 1895 Guide Gun .45-70

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The Marlin 1895 is a particular favorite of hunting guides in North America, specifically in bear-heavy areas like Alaska and Canada. This nostalgic leap to the past has stopped more bears than any other caliber. The 250 and 325-grain bullets move a little slower than modern cartridges but deliver bear-stopping power at close range.

The Marlin 1895 is chambered in .45-70 Government cartridge and is available with an 18” or 22” barrel. This large gun surprisingly only weighs 8 lbs., making it very portable for its size. The Model 1895 doesn’t excel at long range, but it’s designed for up-close encounters, making it an ideal bear defense gun.

This is the only lever-action rifle in our list of the top 10 bear defense guns. If you grew up on TV Westerns or are a Western movie fan you know how fast a lever action rifle can work. For longer-distance work against a rogue grizzly, this is a good choice. It’s unwieldy, but its name gives its purpose away, this is for your guide. You can fly fish for salmon, stalk elk, caribou, or moose, and not worry about a rogue bear attack if your guide is carrying this tried and true lever action powerhouse.

Pros

• 45-70 (Come on, you must have watched Quigley Down Under)
• Fast lever action
• 16.17-inch barrel
• Short overall length of 35.5 makes it easy to pack
• 7 pounds
• 5 round magazine
• Nostalgia

Cons

• 1:20 twist
• Lower accuracy at longer range

Taurus Raging Hunter 454 Casull

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There haven’t been many definitive studies on whether Kodiak or grizzly bears are color blind. If they’re not, they’ll enjoy the bright fluorescent orange strip on the grip of the flat black Raging Hunter, at least until the first orange muzzle blast erupts from the end of the barrel.

There isn’t much to argue with when it comes to the 454 Casull cartridge. It rips through engine blocks, concrete walls, and charging enraged bears. The Raging Hunter offers versions in .44 and .357 Magnum, but for big bears, bigger is always better.

Pros

• Variable calibers - .357 Magnum to 500 S&W
• 5.12-inch barrel
• 10.9 inches overall – compact
• 50 ounces

Cons

• 1:24 twist
• Extreme recoil

Smith & Wesson 460V

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With its high velocity .460 S&W magnum cartridge, the Smith & Wesson 460V has equal parts power and versatility. The .460 S&W caliber can also safely and effectively fire .454 Casull and .45 Long Colt rounds. This means that the shooter has a large variety of ammo options and can fine-tune their firearm to their own needs and capabilities. The 1600+ foot-pounds of energy at 50 yards is an eye opener, or an eye closer to a charging bear.

The gun also features a compensated barrel that reduces recoil. The 460V also is perfectly balanced between being lightweight enough to carry, while being heavy enough to shoot with accuracy. For the most versatile bear-defense gun on the market, the Smith & Wesson 460V is an ideal option. Another surprise is the availability of 460 ammunition at a reasonable price.

Pros

• Most lethal energy at 50 yards
• Versatility in chambering 460, 45 Long Colt, and 454 Casull
• Good carry length at 11.3 inches
• 5-inch barrel
• 61-ounce weight

Cons

• 5 found magazine
• Recoil

Taurus Judge Executive Grade 45 (Long) Colt 3in Stainless Revolver

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There was a famous Saturday Night Live skit that featured Dan Akroyd selling a product called Shimmer. “It’s a floor wax and a dessert topping” the comedian deadpanned to the audience.

The Taurus Judge isn’t either one, but when it was introduced in 2006 it flew off the shelves. Originally marketed as a self-defense weapon, the unique chambering of both .410 gauge shotgun shells and 45 Long Colt cartridges made it an instant hit. Hit is the operative word with this small revolver, it hits with a vengeance when loaded with 45 Long Colt, and though a .410 has fewer pellets than a 12 gauge in 00 buckshot, it still gets noticed when you fire it.

For backpackers and fishermen, this might be the best option for bear defense after your pepper spray canister is depleted and the enraged bruin is still coming at you. Many guides load the first three chambers with Long Colt rounds, and the final two with .410 buckshot. At close range, the buckshot has much more power while the Long Colt is a better distance round.

A friend of mine recently retired as a high school science teacher. He was taking a class in Jackson Hole a few summers ago and decided to take an early morning hike behind his hotel. Jackson is on the edge of Teton National Park and grizzly bears are a common sight in town. Dennis inadvertently walked between a sow and her cub. The sow attacked him, biting and clawing him several times. Dennis had no option except to play dead. It worked and the bear wandered off with its cub. You never know while fishing, hunting, or hiking if a bear is nearby.

I’ve been close enough to smell a grizzly bear and quickly retreated. They’re not the sweet smelling Yogi, Booboo, and Cindy of Jellystone Park, they smell like what they eat, carrion and grubs from rotted logs.

A Judge is easy to carry, lightweight, and packs a punch when you need it.

Pros

• Interchangeable 45-Long Colt/.410 Gauge shells
• Light at just 36 ounces
• Short overall length of just seven inches makes it easy to pack or carry on a shoulder holster

Cons

• Recoil
• 3-inch barrel

Smith & Wesson 500

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A 300 or 500-grain bullet screaming down the barrel is a fantastic option for bear defense from Smith & Wesson. The 500 packs a serious punch, throwing over an ounce of lead at 1300 feet per second and will certainly stop any living threat. This is the most powerful production revolver in the world delivering 1800-foot pounds of energy at 50 yards.

This weapon was originally designed for hunting but has since been made with shorter 4” and 6.5” barrels that make it an ideal bear defense gun. The S&W 500 features a compensated muzzle as well, taming some of the otherwise hefty recoil.

Because of the massive bullets and extreme recoil, it can be difficult to shoot accurately. For novice or inexperienced shooters, make sure you regularly practice with this weapon.

Pros

• Most powerful handgun on the market
• 1800 foot-pounds of energy at 50 yards
• 72 ounce weight absorbs recoil
• Variable barrel lengths

Cons

• Extreme recoil
• Expensive
• Heavy, maybe too heavy to pack a long way

Taurus Raging Bull 454 Casull

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The Taurus Raging Bull chambers only five rounds in many configurations, but those rounds are the most powerful common handgun caliber on the market. The .454 Casull packs a wallop, delivering 1,500-foot pounds of energy at 50 yards, rivaling high-powered rifles. A heavy weight and an 8.38-inch barrel help with recoil, but it still delivers a wallop.

In .454 Casull caliber, the Raging Bull can also fire .45 Long Colt cartridges, making it a versatile option for bear defense. The gun also features the red “Raging Bull” backstrap, which works to drastically reduce the gun’s recoil. For predator and bear defense, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more effective weapon, especially if you’re horse packing.

Pros

• Powerful 454 Casull
• 63 ounce weight, almost four pounds reduces recoil
• 8.38-inch barrel for longer accuracy
• Can chamber 45 Long Colt ammunition

Cons

• Extreme recoil
• Weight is extreme for backpacking
• Price of 454 Casull ammunition

Glock 20

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I have a friend who is retired Army Special Forces who always carries an AR15 in the cab of his tractor and hay cutting equipment. When I asked him if he carried the AR for varmints he smiled and said, “Not exactly, not all predators are four-legged.” That attitude extends to the Glock 20, a favorite of law enforcement and the military when it extends to bruins.

Many think the 10mm Glock 20 offers too light a cartridge for bear defense, but quantity more than compensates for firepower with this pistol. Coming with a standard 15-round magazine, the Glock 10 can deliver 10mm bullets as fast as you can pull the trigger. The 10mm has nearly the identical ballistics of a .357 Magnum and is an effective bear caliber.

The Glock 20 is an extremely accurate gun as well, making it easy for the shooter to take rapid follow-up shots. It features a large magazine and is incredibly reliable as well. All of this combined with the Glock 20’s portability and ease of use. Spend some time on the range and the Glock 20 will deliver against any bear.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• 15-round magazine
• Ample weight at 40 ounces
• 8-inch overall length
• 4.6-inch barrel

Cons

• 10mm might be a little light for bigger bears