The most dangerous predator you are likely to encounter...
In the woods or out of them walks on two legs and wears human skin.
Therefore, packing a M60 is not a bad choice, especially if it is your only gun, and so, by definition, better than no gun.
Reality check. Anything less than a 44 magnum in a handgun is just whizzing in the wind against any bear, black brown whatever. Of course you could always use what you have in mind to shoot yourself behind the ear to end the agony. That's assuming you can get the gun up to your head while being attacked by a bear which is highly doubtful.
If your going to be spending time in bear country do the sensible thing and get your hands on a 44 magnum in a three or four inch barrel. That way you'll at least have a fighting chance of surviving a bear attack should it happen.
I disagree, emphaticaly! Unless that is sarcasm, (and starting it with "Reality check" leads me to think otherwise), I have to strongly disagree with that advice. Other smaller guns are far from useless, and for many people, a short barrel .44 mag is too much gun. Too much gun to practice enough with, to reach the level where the one or two shots you are likely to get with that much gun are able to be delivered effectively. And using downloaded, more controlable ammo negates the advantage of .44 Mag power.
Also, too much gun for some to pack around all day, and therefore more likely to be in camp, when needed elsewhere. If you are an experienced .44 mag shooter, if you are Elmer Keith, a 4inch .44 mag is dandy. But if you're not, some people won't be able to handle it. And a gun you can't manage is worse than no gun at all.
Not too long ago, one fellow killed an attacking black bear with a 9mm. Calibers lighter than .44 Mag are far from useless as last ditch defense. And if you aren't hunting the bear, using a handgun on any of them must be a last ditch defense.
Black bears are seldom agressive to the point of pursuit if you give ground, but when they are, they are! But you are much more likely to run into a dangerous human, unless you are way backcountry, and if you meet one there (or more than one), the only help is what you have handy.
I would carry a .44 mag, but then I have several and shoot them more than just a bit. And I would also pack a full size gun, 6" or longer barrel. I'd put up with the extra weight, myself, against the slim chance I would actually need it. Because if I truly do need it, I'll need every possible advantage I can get. But thats just me. I certainly wouldn't feel unarmed or totally defenseless with any service caliber or larger handgun, with proper ammo as a weapon of last resort.
At the risk of blasphmey in the handgun forum, most folks are actually better off (from an effectivness standpoint) with a short barrel pump 12ga and some slugs, for final argument against bears. It also has the advantage of being almost as effective in the hands of a less well trained hiking partner than a short barrel .44 magnum, or any handgun would be, really.
The down side is the size and weight of the gun and ammo, as a percentage of the camp gear you already pack.
Carry your M60, and have (at least) a cylinder worth of each ammo, hardcast SWC and 125gr JHP, and you have it covered as well as you can. I love speedloaders, and they don't take up much room, either!
