In the wild, adventurous terrains of the West and Alaska, venturing into bear territory is almost inevitable. The critical question of whether to carry a 9mm or a 10mm handgun for bear defense is one that many outdoor enthusiasts and hunters grapple with. A recent episode of “Cartridge Talks” aimed to shed light on this debate with a series of inventive tests, lacking only in actual bears willing to participate.
The hosts, Ryan and Mark, embarked on a journey to determine the adequacy of 9mm and 10mm handguns for bear defense through a range of drills that mimicked potential bear encounters. These included precision shooting at paper bear targets, a scenario with a charging bear, and various moving target tests, all to simulate real-world conditions as closely as possible. Utilizing ballistics gelatin enhanced with anatomically correct bear skulls, they also examined the terminal performance of both calibers.
Despite the inherent differences in power and bullet size—9mm being smaller and less forceful compared to the heftier 10mm—the results were unexpectedly similar.
Both calibers demonstrated formidable penetration capabilities, with the 9mm and 10mm rounds making their way through extensive lengths of gelatin and even piercing through bear skull simulations. This impressive penetration challenges the common perception that bigger, more powerful rounds are always better for stopping large predators.
The findings suggest that when it comes to bear defense, the choice between 9mm and 10mm may not be as clear-cut as previously thought. Both calibers proved capable of significant damage, particularly with hardcast bullets designed for deep penetration. This revelation poses an essential consideration for bear country adventurers: the importance of familiarity and practice with their chosen firearm.
Ultimately, the decision between carrying a 9mm or a 10mm for bear defense boils down to personal preference, comfort, and proficiency with the firearm. A more powerful cartridge like the 10mm may offer peace of mind with its increased energy and mass. However, if a shooter is more likely to practice and achieve proficiency with a 9mm, this caliber could be just as effective in a critical situation.
This episode underscores the need for outdoor enthusiasts to not only consider the ballistic capabilities of their defense weapons but also to invest time in training and familiarizing themselves with their firearm of choice. In the realm of bear defense, confidence and accuracy in one’s shooting ability are just as vital as the caliber they carry.
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DoubleTap Colt National Match 10mm Ammunition, 50 Rounds FMJ 180Gr - 10M180FMJCT | Palmetto State Armory | $ 48.09 $ 36.99 |
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DoubleTap Colt National Match 10mm Ammunition, 50 Rounds FMJ 180Gr - 10M180FMJCT | Palmetto State Armory | $ 48.99 $ 35.99 |
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Sellier & Bellot Pistol 10mm Ammunition, 25 Rounds JHP 130Gr - SB10XA | Palmetto State Armory | $ 27.99 $ 24.99 |
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Sellier & Bellot Pistol 10mm Ammunition, 25 Rounds JHP 130Gr - SB10XA | Palmetto State Armory | $ 36.39 $ 24.89 |
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Which is BETTER? Neither. I’ll take my 45-70, thank you very much!
I don’t have over an hour to watch barber shop conversation. I’m out and about often and very few even carry to start with. 10 is significantly better at penetration with hardcast. Most HPs are designed for that FBI protocol which is dumb for some applications. I like the Underwood for that.
That being said actually carry an accessible gun.
Having shot bears with rifles, shotguns and a couple of different handgun calibers.
Having a firearm is far more important then type or caliber.
I prefer revolvers.
I am torn between raw power and controllability. If you hit the raw power is awesome. The ability to place fast accurate follow up shots. is very nice also.
Carrying what you can shoot accurate with good penetrating bullets.
You should be able to defend oneself.
Um…no. Will a 9mm kill a bear? Sure. A .22 lr will also kill a bear neither would be my choice.
This article presents an irresponsible premis.
For bears, and I am referring to the great bears in particular, 10mm handguns, and .357 mag. revolvers at a minimum and preferably .44 or larger.
I don’t need to watch the video. The Hornady copper jacketed round point 180 grain moving at 1,410 fps with a KKH barrel and compensator is a hot round that is totally manageable in my G20. I used my Brand New Chrono that transmits the speed to my phone and my old Chrono in front of it because I kept getting slower speeds than stated in the manual. Yep, needed a new Chrono. Mass + speed = knockdown power and penetration. You can’t push a 9 mil with a 180 grain bullet that fast. Normally the best you can get… Read more »
Against a charging bear attack the most critical aspect of a weapon is that it works!!! Why would weapons that periodically lock up under ideal conditions of a shooting range not do even worse in a hectic emergency moment of a charging bear attack? The Italian Army recently did a stress test of the popular 9mm Berretta. The weapon preformed over 3000 consecutive rapid firings without a single interruption or failure! Could even the immortal Glock pull that off?