The Only 3 Bear Defense Loads Worth Carrying in Alaska (Most People Carry the Wrong Ammo)

Most people heading into Alaska bear country focus on the gun. The ammunition may matter even more. This video compares three bear-defense loads built around one requirement: deep, straight penetration through hide, muscle, and heavy bone without expanding too early. The contenders are a 220-grain hard-cast 10mm, a massive 340-grain .44 Magnum +P+ load, and a 12-gauge Brenneke slug delivering more than 3,000 foot-pounds of energy. But power alone doesn’t decide the ranking. The load has to function reliably in your specific firearm, remain controllable under recoil, and be something you can actually put on target quickly. The biggest mistake? Carrying defensive hollow points designed for human threats into bear country—and assuming the caliber name on the gun is enough.