The Best Handguns for Bear Defense (2026 Guide)

The strongest bear gun and the BEST bear gun are almost never the same weapon. In this video, we rank 10 bear defense pistols people actually carry against brown bears in Alaska — from the worst idea to the one that quietly beats them all. And the results might surprise you: the most powerful revolver ever made doesn't win... not even close. From the wrist-snapping Smith & Wesson Model 500 and the hand-built Freedom Arms .454 Casull, to the legendary .44 Magnum and a plain polymer 10mm that outsmarts them all — we break down the power, the recoil, the capacity, and the real-world truth about what actually stops a charging grizzly. Because a bear charge isn't a physics problem. It's a panic problem. The gun that saves you is the one you can carry all day, draw without fumbling, and fire straight while your hands shake. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – The gun fired only twice 00:33 The Magnum Research BFR 01:44 The Freedom Arms Model 83 02:59 The Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan 04:08 The Ruger Super Redhawk in .480 Ruger 05:48 The Smith & Wesson Model 500 07:07 The Smith & Wesson 329PD 08:28 The Glock 40 MOS 09:46 The Colt Anaconda 10:59 The Smith & Wesson Model 629 12:29 The Glock 20 🐻 What's YOUR bear gun? Drop it in the comments — and let us know if you agree with #1. 👍 If this changed how you think about stopping power, hit LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more firearms breakdowns every week. #BearDefense #Alaska #Handguns #10mm #44Magnum #pistols