22, Enough gun for bear!

[CScott]

Here you go, you really don't need all those heavy calibers for protection against bears. A 22 is all you need. A pistol no less!

Bear attacking dogs is killed in Cloudcroft

Now where did I put my Model 63. . .

Scott

 

[twodog max]

I know two different people that admit to killing bears with a 22. One with a model 17. I saw that dead bear. Maybe a 200 pound male.

 

[jdlii]

The best caliber to use is the one you have at the time!

 

[30-30remchester]

People underestimate the killing power of a 22. The caliber has very little shock but in reality few handgun calibers do. The bullet when using long rifle solids has excellent penetration. I used a 22 handgun while I was escorting deer and elk hunters. I used it about 10 times a year to put the finishing touch on wounded animals. Native Alaskans use them to collect moose, far larger than any bear. I study terminal ballistics, aka the study of wounds created by bullets. My years of hunting and guiding has left me with some controversial opinions based on my experiences. One of these is the 22 is far under rated by many.

 

[SW MP15]

I'd say a well placed shot with a .22 would work. If a head shot will kill a 250# pig or a 650# gator. I'd say yes. But only a well calcutlated shot.

 

[CATI1835]

At the risk of starting a caliber war, take a look at this:

Ask Foghorn: Is .22lr The Best for Self Defense? - The Truth About Guns

 

[gunnails]

There was a guy in a small town on the southern Oregon coast who came to find a bear along side his house rooting through his and his neighbors garbage.

So he shot it once with cheap pellet riffle to attempt to scare it away, the bear stumbled 30 feet and collapsed dead. Stupid county DA charged him with animal cruelty, charges were later lowered but the guy went through a lot of grief.

 

[Muss Muggins]

It is clear, and easy to find via search engine, that more people are killed with .22 caliber than any other. This to me is a function of prevalence in society. What it demonstrates is that one or two in the ten ring, regardless of caliber, is usually sufficient.

As a reminder, John Hinckley, Jr. used a .22 Caliber Rohm RG-14 (the archetypal Saturday Night Special) during his nefarious mission. The injuries inflicted on the four victims were complicated by the .22 Devastator rounds used in the assault, although evidence suggests that they failed to detonate in three of the four victims . . .

 

[Rpg]

I own a pre war Colt Woodsman that was used by a wildlife control guy in the 50's for everything from bobcats to black bear.

I met him when he donated a bobcat skin to my pack.

I asked him what he used to kill lion and bear. He told me he used the Colt 22. I was appalled, having read all sorts of stuff that recommended very powerful firearms for the purpose.

He observed that all you had to do was hit the right place.

 

[30-30remchester]

I own a pre war Colt Woodsman that was used by a wildlife control guy in the 50's for everything from bobcats to black bear.

I met him when he donated a bobcat skin to my pack.

I asked him what he used to kill lion and bear. He told me he used the Colt 22. I was appalled, having read all sorts of stuff that recommended very powerful firearms for the purpose.

He observed that all you had to do was hit the right place.

The man you describe sounds very much like a man I knew. My friend Bud was a trapper and outdoorsman extraordinaire. Bud came from rural Colorado and spent his life wandering the woods with nothing but his pre war Colt Woodsman. Bud's old Colt was so worn that you could see metal under the wood grips. He used it for everything but lion bear and elk.

 

[JSR III]

That may be all well and good but if I were confronted by an angry mother bear with two cubs, I would want nothing less than a bazooka.

 

[Rick1967]

I carry a 4inch 629 loaded with 300 grain XTPs when in bear country. But good luck to anyone that would try to defend themselves with a 22lr.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

What .22 Rifle did Bella Twin use to Kill a World Record Grizzly in 1953?

 

[DWalt]

I have also read that some Northern Canadian Indians routinely use .22s for killing moose. There is a story that at least one African elephant was killed with a .22, with a shot through the eye into the elephant's brain. Reportedly, the Israeli Mossad assassins use .22s (up close) and they seem to do the job. Also, during WWII, some OSS agents used suppressed .22s as assassination weapons.

One could do much worse than having a good quality .22 semiautomatic pistol for both defensive and offensive use. The ability to put a lot of bullets into a living target in a very short time without much noise and recoil has much to recommend it.

 

[SaberOne]

I've carried .45, 357, 38P+, BB-38, 9mm and now that I'm getting older I carry a 22mag (40grHP) more often. This story makes me feel a lot better about it.

More specific to the post, my son came within 40-feet of a full grown grizzly in the Sierra Mountains last week! He slowly and quietly turned and walked away as the bear had not yet noticed him. In one of the articles it says to make noise if the bear hasn't seen you which seems opposite of what I would think! Anyway, I recall warning him about bears when he decided to go there and sure enough my concerns were realized.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...woke up in the easy chair a couple of nights ago...dogs barking...wife yelling...there was a good sized black bear on our deck right on the other side of the sliding glass door...it's happened before...probably will again...

 

[30-30remchester]

I have also read that some Northern Canadian Indians routinely use .22s for killing moose. There is a story that at least one African elephant was killed with a .22, with a shot through the eye into the elephant's brain. Reportedly, the Israeli Mossad assassins use .22s (up close) and they seem to do the job. Also, during WWII, some OSS agents used suppressed .22s as assassination weapons.

One could do much worse than having a good quality .22 semiautomatic pistol for both defensive and offensive use. The ability to put a lot of bullets into a living target in a very short time without much noise and recoil has much to recommend it.

DEWALT,mentioned at least one elephant being killed with a 22 lr. I have heard of 2 incidents, The only thing he got wrong was the bullet location, from my research anyway. The eye is not a fatal shot on any animal except when it can travel to the brain as he mentioned. The elephants I heard of were both shot by villagers using 22 rifles. They were just chasing the beasts away. Both were shot behind the shoulder as the leg was in a forward position. The skin is very thin there and if a rib is missed there is a clear path to the heart.

 

[jimmyj]

A .22 is adequate as before the bear eats you, he will pause to say grace and you can shoot yourself before you become his lunch.

 

[30-30remchester]

I am not advocating the use of 22's and big game but there are so many accounts of the lowly 22 exceeding its expatiations. From an Alaskan Brown bear shot and killed with a single shot from a 4" barreled Colt Woodsman to elephants to moose. All have been killed with the 22. I would sure want more if I knew I was coming face to face with a grizzly, but if all I had was my Colt Woodsman I know if I do my part it will do it's part. The wound channel is small but it has good penetration when non expanding bullets are used. Cut the aorta on top of the heart with a 22 or 458, either way it is light out. Do not underestimate the little rimfire as so many have.

 

[Cpo1944]

Every one knows .22 is a perfectly fine Bear deterrent. Just shoot your buddy in the knee and run away--no more Bear problem!