I like the idea of a Redhawk in 44mag. The Glock 20 won me over with weight, capacity, and ability to mount a light. On longer treks I carry it in in a razo holster mounted beneath my bino harness. I trust it would do fine if I keep my cool.
When I'm camping near town I keep a yugo AK close by, but that's more because I can. I'd expect to have to use it on a crackhead long before a bear. An AR would probably be fine but as with anything bullet selection matters.
I have a Rossi R92 in 44mag that is short, light, and was quite cheap. If I felt I had to hike more than a day in country with aggressive bears it would be either that or the 20 gauge. Bears aren't magic. With proper ammo selection I'd be confortable with 40 S&W or 9mm+P, especially considering the black bears here tend to be small and frightful.
One of the guys in my elk camp carries a 45 Colt Blackhawk, the other carries a fuckin Makarov. There really isn't a wrong answer and you should be skeptical of people that treat these sorts of things as black and white.
If your serious about carrying a firearm practice is essential.
Everyone thinks they can shoot until it's at a moving target under immense stress. It's important to be honest with ourselves about our skill level, there's nothing wrong with bear spray until you're confident you can make hits.
>>2782788You're a dork.
