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I carry my 3" 629 in a chest holster when backpacking. Because it is on my chest and not adding weight to what is on my back I don't seem to really notice the added weight.

I carry either a G20sf or a 329pd.

The 329pd is lighter than the G20 and I find it manageable enough with factory 240-250 grain loads (Hornady, Winchester, etc). You do not want to do a long range session with it, but a box of specials and a dozen or so magnum loadings to round it out are not too bad. Shot to shot recovery time is not bad and it certainly speaks with authority. If weight matters or big bears are involved, it comes along.

If I am doing as more front country rambling, especially in non grizzly country, I take the Glock as it is easier to conceal. I really like both, but if forced to pick one handgun to do it all, I would reluctantly pick the Glock. I shoot it very well and it does great as a large carry gun. It is substantially easier to conceal for me than an N frame. For strictly backcountry work in bear country, the 329 gets the nod for weight and power reasons. Good thing we live in America and can get both.

Iceman, the S&W NightGuard in .44sp. Would be about perfect!

But you need to sell the 10mm, it's GAY I know where you could sell it, Cheap!

Since the NightGaurd only weighs 29 ounces, there is one more S&W the OP might want to consider, for a pack or trail gun.

I'd highly recommend the S&W Governor. It, too only weighs 29 oz. and has the factory big dot Night Sights. While its a bigger Revolver, the fact that it shoots 45LC, 45acp, and .410 shot shells makes it a little more versatile.
. You could shoot .45LC Buffalo Bear Ammo for Bear sized predators, 45acp for small game & plinking, and with a few .410 shot shells in your pocket would be real handy for pheasants, chuckars, rabbits, ect for Pot Meat.
Also, the .410 would be handy for the big ass rattlesnakes in my part of the world.
Anyhow, just something else to consider. I love my NightGuard in .357 mag, also.

One other consideration, if the S&W is out of the OP's Price Range, would be the little Charter Arms Bulldog in .44spec. It weighs only 21 oz, or 8 oz less than either of the above mentioned S&W Models. You do give up one round in capacity, though, as the Bulldog is only a 5 shot Revolver.
I have one of the 3" Stainless Models in .44spec. Mine is very Accuate with my Handload of 8 grains of Unique under a 260gr WFN LBT Hardcast bullet at about 950 fps. I've killed a lot of big feral hogs over 350 lbs here at the Ranch with that same load, so I have no doubt that it would work on a big Black Bear, as they are not all that hard to kill.

Lastly, I would agree with JJHack that the S&W Model 329 Titanium Model has brutal hand stomping recoil with full house .44 mag loads!
I bought 1 & kept it about a week. SOB felt just like a mule or horse kicked you right in the palm of your hand each time you fired it. And while it may be a great "pack" gun, I'd hate like hell to have to use it up close and personal with a big bear & full house .44 mag loads. Due to the heavy recoil, the average shooter would be doing damn good to get off 1 shot before he became bear crap!
JMHO. Lots of good options out there.

When I'm bow hunting in Grizzly Country, my Glock 20 10mm is always on my side. I use to pack a .41mag S&W Mountain Gun, but I now feel that my Glock 20 is a better option.
For bears, the load I pack is the Buffalo Boar 220gr Hard Cast Bullet at 1250 FPS easily equals a .41 mag load. Not to mention I'm now packing 16 rounds instead of only 6 into bear country. I also carry one extra Magazine for a total of 31 rounds.
My extra Mag is loaded with my 10mm handload which pushes 200gr Hornady XTP HP at 1375 FPS with a max load of AA-9 Powder. Quite a formidable loading, that I really wouldn't be afraid to shoot at ANYTHING in the Lower 48

I just heard that Jay Cutler owns a 10mm NightGaurd, and packs it when he goes out at night to the gay bars in Chitcago

Handguns are illegal in Chicago.

And based on Cutler's performance, I doubt he could afford one regardless.


Travis

I didn't figure you were stupid enough to take the bait. I had one like yours and sold it...duhhhh. As you know, they don't make either one anymore.

This is of great interest to me right now. A large black bear that was arrowed a little far back had me severely puckered while he cleared a very wide swath in very close proximity for over 20 minutes.

He did die within 100 yards of the hit, but I really wanted a firearm.

It seems people speak highly of the Glock 10mm package. Isn't there some issue with Glocks not able to shoot cast bullets?

Yes, and no. You can run a ton of mild lead loads through a 9mm Glock but might get a kaboom PDQ with a 40S&W. Since a 10mm is the original 40 I wouldn't make a habit of it. I'm gettin' a Storm Lake ported barrel for mine so that'll solve that issue.

This concludes the usefulness of this thread.


Travis

That should make you feel right at home then.

My Kahr 40 S&W weights 18oz. unloaded..

Post a pic of some backcountry TAK.


Travis

My rules for a carry handgun in bear country.

1. You are the best bear defense, your brain, eyesight, hearing and even sense of smell, pay attention out there and be bear aware. Cache your food properly, keep your clothes clean of food smells etc. Most of all, PAY ATTENTION.

2. No handgun is as powerful as a rifle, NONE, so accuracy trumps all, period, end of discussion.

3. Absolutely no handgun will do you any good if it's not with you, if the darn thing weighs three or four pounds and you leave it in camp or at home, it's useless. If you choose to carry a heavy handgun, find a way that it doesn't bug you to carry it.

4. Shoot the biggest caliber you can accurately, if this is a 22lr, then so be it, you have to be honest with yourself here. Yes a 22lr can kill a 1000 lb critter with one shot, but bigger is only better IF you can get it in a sweet spot. If you can get a 500 Linebaugh in the right spot, then that works even better. Recoil is the main detriment to accuracy.

5. In the rare event you actually meet a bear, standing your ground and yelling at them will almost always make them back down and run. But this is easier to do if you have something in your hands to equalize things in the event they don't run.

6. Buddy system, always do what you can to have someone with you, strength in numbers.

To this day I believe having a buddy with me saved me from being mauled and eaten by a grizzly, I have no doubt he heard us bugling and was hunting us and our scent all over the place didn't bother him in the least. But when the bear heard my buddy unsnap his holster and couldn't see him, he ran.

No I didn't have a weapon with me. Two reasons, one I didn't like carrying a nearly four pound handgun and two, I had a friend with me that I knew would have one. Big mistake on both counts.

These days my personal carry is a Glock 23 with 180 gr solids in a Hill People Gear kit bag. My personal favorite target is the brain.

Glock 20 with full house loads as previously stated will take care of any problem most of us will encounter. 41 magnum power with 16 rounds ready to go instead of 5, 6 or 7. Won't kill you at the practice range either. I know it will stop a charging wild boar dead in it's tracks. You can also put a light or laser on it if you get a gen 3 or 4. I love my S&W and Ruger revolvers as much as the next guy but always find myself putting the G20 on my belt when I go to the woods. My .02 FWIW? Good luck, be safe and good hunting!

I never gave the factory barrel a chance to lead up because it was bulging cases at my desired velocity. I went to a kkm and I cut it at 5.375". I have ripped 400 cast bullets down it in a single shooting and it is still free of any real buildup. I added the dawson precision adjustable tritium sights and brought the trigger down to 4 pounds. It's a reasonable shooting gun for me now. I still shoot a revolver and 1911 better....but what the heck, I can spray bullets all over with the glock.

Those others are 10mm too. This is a buck I dumped with the 329 at about 75 paces.

Started "serious" backpacking in 1975... have never "needed" a pistol, ever. Not in bear country, not anywhere. Ever.

YMMV

Sounds like pretty sage advice to me. I doubt that most of us here on the Fire have ever had a serious bear encounter, while out in the woods. But it never hurts to be prepared

If you ever plan on reloading for a Glock the very first thing you should do is replace the fac. barrel with aftermarket fully supported chamber. When I first got my Mod. 20 I was shooting some KSP surplus, these I believe were loaded for KSP by Federal from when they carried the 10,and I had a Kaboom. Stung the crap out my hand as it blew the mag release into it.

I sent the gun back to glock they replaced everything but the slide. I immediately bought the KKM barrel, shot hundereds of rounds. No more problem.