Guns in your dreams...and 10mm vs 44mag for real

[Palladan44]

I constantly have dreams (like actual night-time dreams) of visiting Africa and (revisiting Alaska) or some random unknown place with lots of trees. Often these dreams turn to nightmares and animal attacks (or 2 legged animal attacks, another story) occur in these dreams. Often the guns dont function, they just go "click" or the action is gummed up with bubblegum, or another gummy or sandy substance, and i find myself running like hell.....Magazines that wont click home and keep falling out...duds. All possible failures.....ive dreamt about (some say these dreams could be result of underlying stress and anxiety, theyre probably right)
Seldom do i get satisfying functional firearms in my dreams, (which is quite opposite of my actual and many experiences in real life) Failures in real life been few and far between, and 99% of them during range/training time.

Last nights dream was the classic "Grizzly attack" dream. Probably stemming from movies like "the edge" and "night of the grizzly".
The only 2 real grizzly expieriences on foot (1 in boat) Ive had, I saw them from hundreds of yards and they were running the other way.

Last night in my dream, i had my Glock 40 MOS 10mm and it effectively worked, which is rare for a dream.
Perhaps my subconcious is telling me to carry it next time I visit Kenai??? Or do I want the Dan Wesson 744? Which would you choose for woods/fishing carry in Alaska? Images below.
if we must get specific on Ammo, lets assume both are loaded fully (15+1 for 10mm and 6 for 44) with Buffalo Bore hard cast offerings of heavy weights, or lets assume you can pick any ammo thats available of your choice please also ignore the NAA .22 that gun just so happen to sneak into the picture

 

[Zaydok Allen]

(some say these dreams could be result of underlying stress and anxiety, theyre probably right)

A yep. Sounds right. Or you have a fear of being unprepared for something critical.

I'd go 44 hands down. You need to hit hard on the first 1-3 shots with a bear, as they are fast and that's all the time you're likely to have. Hard cast, or monolithic bullets.

If wolves are a concern too, carry both.

 

[JR24]

I rarely have gun related dreams, only recent one I can think of was last year when something was coming for the family (I can't recall if it was zombies or mobs) and I needed to get me and the wife armed up.

What it did was outline that I needed to have a second set of weapons, ammo and mags for my wife to use too, since my dream accurately pointed out I only had mags loaded for my AR and my carry pistol.

So, I fixed that and it hasn't recurred, guess it was just my subconscious telling me to prep better.

If I was going back to AK, I'd go with the .44 and hardcast. When I lived in western AK, especially up river where the big coastal browns lived, I had my .44 and 310 Garret hammerhead hard casts, and usually a 12 gauge with 3 1/2 mag slugs too.

10mm probably would do it, but I'd feel better with the big bore.

'round here in the lower 48 with only black bears around, a .45 with 255 grain hardcasts or a 10mm with 200 grain hardcasts both spend time in my holster. More likely to need it for a wolf or wild dog out in the woods though.

 

[Kleanbore]

Does anyone really want to describe their dreams to the public, including potential employers, the HR department, divorce lawyers, prosecutors and juries, , .... , .... ?

 

[Mike J]

Does anyone really want to describe their dreams to the public, including potential employers, the HR department, divorce lawyers, prosecutors and juries, , .... , .... ?

I very seldom remember my dreams. I don't have any experience with Alaska but if I were to be spending time in the woods there & I wanted to go with a handgun for grizzly defense I would pick the 44 Magnum. I believe in that situation bigger would be better.

 

[jmr40]

I've made that decision in real life. Not Alaska, but I've tent camped in Yellowstone where grizzly live twice. I left my 44 mag at home and carried my G20. Since that time I've traded the G20 for a more compact G29. That is what I use now here in the Southeast, and would use if I ever make it to Alaska.

FWIW, I've also seen enough data to convince me that 45 ACP loaded with heavy for caliber hardcast may well be just as effective.

I bought up 200 rounds of Double Tap 10mm ammo loaded with 200 gr hardcast @ about 1300 fps several years ago. That is a lifetime supply for me. I also have some Buffalo Bore 45 ACP loaded with 255 gr hardcast @ about 950 fps. Locally with black bear I'm fine with either. But If I were going where bigger bear live would just have a little more confidence in the 10mm load.

There is plenty of data showing that handguns smaller than 44 caliber can be effective on large 4 legged predators. The key is to have a gun, any gun. I'm much more likely to actually have the G29 on me and concealed from others if the need ever arises. Being able to attach a weapons mounted light at night is another huge plus for a semi over most revolvers.

Update: Handgun or Pistol Against Bear Attack: 93 cases, 97% Effective (ammoland.com)

These guys have been searching for real life data on handguns effectiveness on bear for several years. This is the most recent update. They have been able to document 93 cases where people have been attacked by bear and used a handgun to defend themselves. There were only 3 where the handguns failed to stop the attack. Note, the bear didn't necessarily die from the wounds, but if the attack ended after being hit then it was considered successful.

The handguns range from 22 up to 460 S&W. The 44 mag was used the most often and was 100% effective. But 380, 9mm, 40 S&W, 10mm, and 45 ACP combined for about the same number of incidents and they were also 100% effective.

 

[stonebuster]

Does anyone really want to describe their dreams to the public, including potential employers, the HR department, divorce lawyers, prosecutors and juries, , .... , .... ?

I haven't had any gun dreams. We all should be careful about anything we post for public viewing, myself included. It could come back to bite you. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Anchorite]

Does anyone really want to describe their dreams to the public, including potential employers, the HR department, divorce lawyers, prosecutors and juries, , .... , .... ?

Good point.

 

[LeftyRed]

As someone that developed sleep paralysis and really bad nightmares when PTSD raises its ugly head, I will chuckle at the thought that even in your dreams Glocks work! LOL

But seriously, you will find that in dreams having weapons not function or punches not being effective is caused but doubting self worth. Or so my therapist tell me. And other professionals in my PTSD groups will say as well. We all still have these dreams pop up when we are stressed or bothered and don’t set our thinking right before laying down for the night.

Lefty

 

[DeepSouth]

I’d take the 44 mag all day everyday.

But people are different, for instance if was dreaming all the time about guns malfunctioning, then in a dream when my gun malfunctioned it a good possibility I’d think (in the dream) this must be a dream, then I’d kill it bare handed and start driving an Indy car.

lucid dreams can be super cool.

 

[John Joseph]

I'd avoid greasy snacks before bed time.

 

[CraigC]

I have dreams just like that.

I know people like the 10mm and especially Glocks for this sort of thing. IMHO, this is because of familiarity with the platform with folks more into the self defense aspect of shooting and they 'think' the 10mm is a potent cartridge. I started killing stuff with handguns when I was a kid and have hunted with them all my life. I would have to forget everything that I've learned along the way to believe the 10mm is a proper brown bear cartridge. I'm sorry, it ain't. The best of 10mm loads are comparable to what we use for deer and smallish hogs out of revolvers. Except we tend to push them 200fps faster. A 240gr .44Mag ain't enough either. It's simply not enough bullet mass to break large supportive bones and reliably penetrate deep into the vitals. While a lot of those same 10mm fans will say that the .44Mag is a 240gr at 1200fps cartridge and little if any better, that is disingenuous at best. In reality, what the 10mm does with a 220gr bullet, the .44Mag does with a 355gr and a much larger meplat. That makes for a huge difference in terminal effect. I've read enough reports of what bears do to people to know that I'm not taking a chance with the "bear" minimum. Cape buffalo and elephant might stomp your ass and kill you but a bear eats you and he doesn't care if you're still alive when he begins. Magazine capacity does not make up for what the 10mm lacks terminally.

I want a big, heavy, tough bullet as fast as I can push it. Left to right, Grizzly Punch 270gr, 300gr, Barnes Buster 300gr, Beartooth 330gr LFN, Beartooth 355gr WLN.

 

[Armored farmer]

A 10mm 1911 with a weapon light in a chest rig with a double mag pouch would be a pretty handy carrying rig for a Yukon fisherman.
Whatever you carry, you better hope to never need it.

 

[Choctaw]

I'm much quicker with my Glock 20 and Glock 40 than I am my Super Blackhawk so a Glock it is. But that's just me. Plus I don't dream about wild animals unless it's freaking spiders. I hate spiders.

Oh, kudos to the OP for coming up with a different spin on "what is the best dangerous game round" thread.

 

[mgmorden]

I have the "gun won't work" dream all the time. Usually not a click but its like every gun I pick up has a 75 lb double action pull that I can't get to work .

It never has really effected my choice of guns though - just one of those "eh that's weird" type of things .

 

[Anchorite]

Magazine capacity does not make up for what the 10mm lacks terminally.

View attachment 1015509

Amen.

 

[Pat Riot]

I rarely ever dream about using guns. I have dreamed that I was a gun store or gun show and there are smokin’ deals all around but I don’t have my wallet.

But seriously, you will find that in dreams having weapons not function or punches not being effective is caused but doubting self worth. Or so my therapist tell me.

That is very interesting. I had a therapist tell me that when I dreamed of running and it felt like I was in mud up to my waste or I am trying to punch someone or grab for something and can’t move my arms it’s because the mind knows the body is paralyzed during sleep and the dream reflects that.
I honestly think these people are full of crap. They don’t know. They just tell you what they think will help.

 

[WestKentucky]

Does anyone really want to describe their dreams to the public, including potential employers, the HR department, divorce lawyers, prosecutors and juries, , .... , .... ?

In mine there’s this tornado that picks up the whole house. And a mean looking lady is riding her bike outside while the house flies through the air. And there’s a cute little dog. All is well until the house lands on this mean lady that everybody called a witch. It really takes off there.

 

[Rodfac]

Dream anecdotes of any type, gun or otherwise, rank right up there with airline delay/lost my luggage stories or watching golf on the idiot box....YMMv and I forgive you. Rod

 

[kidneyboy]

Oh, kudos to the OP for coming up with a different spin on "what is the best dangerous game round" thread.

Does anyone really want to describe their dreams to the public, including potential employers, the HR department, divorce lawyers, prosecutors and juries, , .... , .... ?

I'd avoid greasy snacks before bed time.

Choctaw identifies the actual subject
Kleanbore describes consequences
John Joseph offers actual solutions

 

[BreechFace]

I would take the G40 with 15+1 220gr hardcast and a reload. Bear spray would be on my hip as well.

Although my Remington Tac14 with Brenneke slugs would be a welcome comfort as well, with it's disadvantage being the time it takes getting it in position to shoot.

 

[SDGlock23]

I don't often have gun related dreams but the ones I do have usually have some similar trends, like my gun is either absolutely ineffective or that it has something like 50lb trigger pull hahaaa. Oh well.

 

[entropy]

Dr. Freud would say you have subconscious impotence/performance issues. Jung would say you have trust issues.

 

[Palladan44]

Dr. Freud would say you have subconscious impotence/performance issues. Jung would say you have trust issues.

I have one of these two problems for sure

 

[miamivicedade]

44 magnum vs 10mm isn't really a comparison in power. But the 10mm advantage is that it was designed for autoloaders. And that means capacity.