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What is better for me, Ruger KRH-44 or Glock 20C

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I am new here and I registered because I cannot seem to make a decision on a purchase, I doubt that is unfamiliar. I need to make a handgun purchase soon and I can't decide between several choices, can only pick one, and I am torn. I spend allot of time in the outdoors in the northwest US and I am in bear and cougar country. I also have children to protect and need something for home protection. I have had both semi-autos and revolvers before but not of the same caliber I am looking at. I am considering the Ruger Red Hawk 44mag KRH-44 due to the availability of hunting rounds. I am not a hunter but I am not food either. :) Another option is the Glock 20c 10mm. The 10mm seems pretty powerful but is it powerful enough to deture a bear? This holds 15 rounds and may not kick as much plus comes with more safety features. I am not the most experienced plinker but have some experience, just not with anything that high powered. Also, 10mm might just handle the bear and cougar in my area (not too big), I just don't know. I went to the local gun shop and they advised a S&W 500. I went home and found a u tube vid on it and it seems impractical due to the kick. I understand a shotgun might be best but it is hard to hold when wielding a fishing poll, plus an extra hand to rally children out of danger is also useful.

I Just cant make up my mind.
 
Welcome to the forum. You will get more than you bargained for here I'm sure. :)

Of the two, I would prefer the Ruger. I have a Redhawk in 5.5" .44. Good heavy revolver for the heaviest .44 mag loads and makes a good home defense gun with Glaser or Federal .44 Special loads IMHO. I am not anti Glock, owning 4 G19s and 2 G22s.
 
I would go the Glock

They are designed to be used for just what you need, a utility gun. They are lite weight, nearly indestructible, simple and always ready to go at a 'finger pull's' notice.

Since you are not wanting to 'hunt' bear with it, just defend yourself from nosey bears, the 40 would be plenty powerful enough, especially coz there is enough rounds waiting behind the first one, to finish the job :D

Bullet placement makes a big difference too, of course ;)

Good luck with making your decision, both are good guns :D

Welcome to TFL
 
What is more accurate? The 44 is a great round but also the 10mm. I did a little research on all of them I there seams to be all kinds of flavors available. Cost for the right ammo is a non issue to me since it isn't about that. The 44 has allot more available but the 10mm still has plenty of high powered choices.
 
WELCOME
I think the glock is a great out-doors gun but not for bear. Cougar no problem
or just about anything else on 2 or 4 legs. Good luck on your decision.
 
I know that the 10mm Auto generally ranks between the 357 Magnum and the 41 Magnum in terms of stopping power. That being said, I'm sure most people will say that the 10mm may be suitable for bear, but you'd be better off with the 44 Magnum.

Unfortunately, I've yet to shoot either round. I can only go on what I know and have heard. I've heard the 44 kicks like a beast from virtually every source. The round became hugely popular with the advent of the "Dirty Harry" movies, and as many people bought them, a lot also realized it was a bit more power than they bargained for.

Question, do you have any ranges near by that you can rent from? If so, rent a 44 and see how well you handle it. If a 10mm is also available, rent that too.

What would I personally go for? of those choices, I already want a Ruger Redhawk anyway. But this is someone who loves the larger frame revolvers. But if you're focus right now is not concealed carry, go with the Redhawk. It would be suitable for home defense, as well as large game defense.
 
DanWesson357: I've heard the 44 kicks like a beast from virtually every source.
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That is why I am apprehensive. Since I am not planing on wielding it in a hunting position. I do not know how many shots I can get off, and actually hit the target at a moments notice.

Also, killing the bear is not the aim, please excuse the pun :) , would just hitting it with some caliber send it running? Any other recommendations?
 
Oh hell, you gotta ask a hunter about that. I mean, some HUMANS don't run after taking a shot. I once saw one of those "When Animals Attack" programs where two hunters were attacked by a bear. One of the buddies ran to their rescue, and the bear charged at him full speed. It took three or four shots to take the bear down. He didn't stop until he was dead.

As far as regarding your personal ability with a 44, that can only be answered by you. I do think I have seen 44 revolvers for rent in some of the ranges I go to. Best to call around, and see what you can play with. If you can handle a 44 while getting a decent grouping, go for it.

Now, you said the price of ammo is not an issue. How about availability? There is always the 41 Magnum. The thing about that round is, you pretty much need to handload yourself. 41 rounds are hard to come by, and usually pricey at that. But I've heard (and any hunters or other people living in bear country feel free to correct me if wrong) that the 41 is acceptable for bear if needed.

Is a long gun impractical for your applications? Are you usually out by yourself, no vehicle to carry it in, can't legally carry a long gun when not in hunting season, etc? Because I imagine a shotgun would be a great gun for all the needs listed. If buckshot won't take a bear down, a slug certainly will. And shotty's are optimal for home defense, not to mention cheaper than a good quality handgun.
 
Oh, and let's not forget that round placement is the most important thing to consider. Sure, a 44 with all it's power is nice, but if you can't hit anything with it, you might as well be throwing rocks. Whereas, a bear taking a 10mm or two to the face at close range would probably take it down. I remember learning that bears have very THICK skulls. Thus why a beast like a 44 is optimal for them. But suppose you bought a 10mm, spent a couple extra hundred bucks on a laser sight? It's reasonable to think that even in the heat of the moment, you could point, aim for the top part of the bears face, preferably eyes, and shoot that gun. Especially that since with a laser, it's very hard to miss.
 
Also, killing the bear is not the aim, please excuse the pun , would just hitting it with some caliber send it running? Any other recommendations?
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I don't know much about bears, but I would think if you are not aiming to kill it, then you would just make it mad. You might as well throw down your gun and yell "Free Bear Food Here!!!".

That being said.
You can practice with 44 special loads. These are not nearly as 'hot' and you won't have a problem with the recoil.

Then the first shot you fire with real magnum loads will be right on target. The next shot however, will probably be way off since you will be thinking about the recoil after that first shot. :)

I have a Glock 22 and I would still start out with the revolver.

I still have my first revolver, a Ruger 357 magnum security six. :cool:
 
Oh, and what TYPES of bears are in your area? I've heard black bears go down easier than grizzlies, something like that. So that's another thing to factor in. You might be fine with a 10mm vs a black bear. but perhaps not if you have grizzlies.
 
FWIW I couldn't hit squat with a 44 magnum a friend let me try. Big, heavy and lots of recoil. Forget doing a quick follow up shot. Just my opinion.
 
Oh, and let's not forget that round placement is the most important thing to consider. Sure, a 44 with all it's power is nice, but if you can't hit anything with it, you might as well be throwing rocks. Whereas, a bear taking a 10mm or two to the face at close range would probably take it down. I remember learning that bears have very THICK skulls. Thus why a beast like a 44 is optimal for them. But suppose you bought a 10mm, spent a couple extra hundred bucks on a laser sight? It's reasonable to think that even in the heat of the moment, you could point, aim for the top part of the bears face, preferably eyes, and shoot that gun. Especially that since with a laser, it's very hard to miss.
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Couldn't any gun benefit from a laser?

Oh, and what TYPES of bears are in your area? I've heard black bears go down easier than grizzlies, something like that. So that's another thing to factor in. You might be fine with a 10mm vs a black bear. but perhaps not if you have grizzlies.
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Pacific Northwest and Southwest Washington. What I have seen is the typical black bear. I think there is the elusive brown bear but they are pretty scarce down here. Also, there has been many recent sightings of cougar (mountain lion). They hunt YOU :eek: Then there is the other dumb predator, the paranoid forest methlab tweaker. There are plenty of these guys all over the forest.

Here is some slightly dated information on the predatory wildlife here.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/cougbear.htm

http://www.huntwashingtonstate.com/HWS/Bear Hunting Tips.htm
 
Both these guns would be great for packing in the woods. Would I use them for home protection NO. You shoot that .44 mag in the house that bullet could very easy end up three rooms over or at your neighbors house. And the blast would be deafening Would think the .10MM would be about the same. If you reloaded you could tame them down some but don't think you do:)
 
Go the Glock

If you accidently drop it in a creek or otherwise unintentionally abuse it, it will still work, wouldnt like trying shooting a blackhawke straight out of a bucket of poo :eek:

Have fun choosing :D
 
I have a glock and a GP100. I think both are great guns and both manufacturers are great also.

Although I do not have a Ruger blackhawk, I would prefer a ruger revolver over a glock if you need that power for bears. The 44 mag certainly has the power you need if you can control it.

The 10mm glock would be better for home defense but insufficient for bear. The Ruger will be sufficient for both roles.
As far as using these guns for home defense, you are going to want to get corbon rounds or at least lower velocity hollow-points. I think even the hollow points would have some atrocious over-penetration.
 
I think a stainless Ruger would fire too if you dropped it in a creek. Just shake off the water in either case. Or get a secure enough holster so you don't drop it in the creek. If you seriously got bears all over threatening you, I would carry a long gun of some sort and use the sidearm as a last ditch. Or have a big old dog with you outside to distract the bear for some period of time. Or move the h**l away from bears and cougars. Sort of like living in a neighborhood full of dangerous wild animals with children might be comparable to living in the inner city full of gangstas and thugs in the neighborhood. Folks here are quick to tell them to move out of there.
 
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