steve Loc: Iowa

you'll shoot your eye out.

drobvit Loc: Southern NV

.357 is good enough. "If"....you have to... Buffalo Bore .357 180gr hard cast will do the trick.

redlegfrog

The anti gunners answers are comical and sad.
The real world answer is of all the hand guns you mentioned when it comes to a bear, think of them as noise makers first and defense weapons second. Even after a kill shot on a bear he can return the favor. Any gun is better than no gun but best is try to avoid.

skylinefirepest Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.

I have a .357 Maximum and in all honesty I don't think I'd want to shoot it at anything. The muzzle blast is unreal and you're blind for a couple of seconds. Now I do believe it would stop almost anything in North America though. I've only fired it once as it's quite a collectible and prone to forcing cone erosion. There were a few companies that made them and only Dan Wesson figured out the problem. I haven't seen one in my local gunshop in years. Mine is in pretty pristine shape and has the box and papers.

thomseninc

I am a licensed concealed weapon carrier and I have legal insurance to cover the use of my weapons. My insurance company recently posted an educational article on the ramifications of using deadly force when the attacker is not human. Basically, it depends on what jurisdiction (i.e., state) you are in and what their laws say. While it may be legal to use deadly force to protect yourself (or others) from a dog large enough to kill you (or a pack of dogs), you might be in legal trouble if you use deadly force against a smaller dog. In many (most?) jurisdictions you cannot use deadly force to protect your property (your pets). The safest way (legally) to ward off an attacking dog/coyote or to break up two animals in a furball is to use pepper spray.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

NONE!

A firearm in the hands of a novice is a recipe for disaster. You become a greater danger to the loved ones around you than the animal will ever be. It takes a lot of skill and practice to handle a firearm in an emergency without panicking. A can of bear spray would be more effective at fending off an attack and you won't wound or kill somebody around you.

As someone whose been around firearms all my life and with military training but now with a lack of practice, I don't believe even I would be successful at fending off a cougar attack, since they attack from behind using surprise to their advantage.

You would be MUCH safer by leaving a firearm out of the equation. If you venture into the woods, grab your bear spray and just stay in a group. A group is much safer than a lone individual. If the problem gets bad enough, petition the city/county/state to trap and relocate these animals.

dougbev3 Loc: Pueblo, Colorado

I have read all of the replies, but no one mentioned this. LOL Always hike/ walk with someone you can outrun.

raferrelljr Loc: CHARLOTTE, NC

Do what they do in India, wear a mask on the back of your head, most cats attack from behind their prey.

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Bear spray has been proven to be more effective than a gun! And easier/safer to carry.

bwa

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

We live on a ranch in the Foothills and co-exist nicely with the wildlife...

bwa

rcarol

I agree but most cougars can't read.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

I see a number of comments that we should learn to co-exist. I totally agree. I think most of us are referring to self-defense against an aggressive animal threatening us (possibly our lives). I have had a black bear come into camp before and was able to get the bear to leave without harm to him/her. But I did carry in case there was no other alternative to being badly injured or worse. Just common sense to me.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

What you have now will suffice perfectly depending on the ammunition you use. While everything you have will work for either animal the type of bullet can make a difference. You name a Colt 45 which I ASSUME is the 45 ACP cartridge since you specify 45 Long Colt for the other. For the 357 I would suggest the standard 158 grain bullet. If the 45 ACP I would go with a +P 230 grain bullet. Depending on the model of 45 Long Colt or 45 Colt, (the other as stated is a 45 ACP, Automatic Colt Pistol) you have, Heavy frame Ruger such as the Bisley, it can be loaded safely to hunting loads above the 44 Magnum. For all three firearms, I am thinking of a big bear rather than a mountain lion, use heavy loads that will penetrate rather than hollow points that will open sooner but not give as much penetration.

If you do not reload cartridges I would suggest Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, Sportsman's Warehouse or other gun shops that sell cartridges made by Buffalo Bore. They are usually heavy handholds made for penetration on big game. If you are using a 45 Colt made by Colt or other manufacture but built on the old 1873 45 Colt type of frame Buffalo Bore does make similar cartridges specifically for those firearms. I have used them in a 1940's Colt New Service with no problem at all. But to use the much heavier cartridges loaded for revolvers such as the Ruger Bisley is to ask for trouble.

I doubt you will have any trouble with these animals and I pray you don't. Most of the time they will leave you alone. But you are correct in that your dog may be an attractant. As for your wife and a 9mm pistol it is better than nothing but if truly needed to save her life she may be the loser in that battle. If perfectly placed the bullet will do the job but I doubt it will do the job of dispatching an angry bruin in the middle of a charge. I suspect a 9mm would do a decent job on a lion IF the lion wasn't wary, just walking along and the bullet was placed in the heart or both lungs from 25 yards or closer. Other than that I doubt there would be penetration to the vitals to make a kill.

Of course this is all my opinion and others will most likely have different opinions.

I wish you luck,

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

While a 9mm may be top notch to some people for a tactical firearm (I would disagree and go with a 40 or 45 ACP) it makes a piss poor gun for self defense against bears or lions that are attacking you UNLESS the shot is absolutely perfect the first time. I know bears and lions have been killed with 9mm guns. I know Kodiak brown bears have been killed with a .22 Long Rifle too. Let's not forget the rare case when a person attacked by a bear was able to stab the neck and have the animal bleed out before killing the human. But how good of a shot are you no matter how many magazines of 9mm you are carrying? Take into account the stress of even thinking about being in country where there really are animals that will kill you and then eat you as a snack. Think about walking along on a trail and in the next 3 seconds a huge bear or lion could be charging you with the idea of mauling the daylights out of you because you just startled her and her cubs. First challenge is to even think of getting the gun out, next take the safety off if it has one, by now you have one second to aim and squeeze at an animal that is rushing you at maybe 40 MPH.

Most people suggest using a cartridge that begins with the number 4 and ends with a 4 or 5 for such instances.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Oh MY!!! Be still my beating um, er, ahhh, HEART. That's it...heart.

LWW does she rest there often?

Dennis