I know zip about the bears in New Mexico but I fly Fish in East Tennessee, Western North Carolina and Pennsylvania where there are plenty of small, medium and large black bears. I carry either a Flattop Blackhawk or a Charter Arms stainless target Bulldog in .44 Special . I load the Blackhawk to Elmer Keith level with 2400 and the Charter Arms carries Skeeter Skelton's Unique load with the Keith bullet cast fairly hard. Never needed it but it's there if I do. I love my 1911's but I trust my revolvers just a bit more in this particular situation.
Grumpy old man with a gun.....Do not touch . Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Don't bother my monument and I'll leave yours alone.
