Found an interesting article on guns and bear attacks.
Handgun or Pistol Against Bear Attacks 104 cases, 97% Effective
Handgun or Pistol Against Bear Attacks 104 cases, 97% Effective
Lately, there's been some threads about bear attacks..
- Thread starter toad67
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This bears repeating.
LVSteve
Member
TL;DR version. Don't shoot at the skull unless you are using an RPG. Use FMJ in 9 mm, I would suggest 124 gr NATO from a 5" tube.
Rpg
Member
Looks like you’re planning to snipe a black bear over bait.
Wouldn’t make much difference what you use to shoot the bear in those circumstances.
It’s illegal to bait black bear here in Colorado.
Wouldn’t make much difference what you use to shoot the bear in those circumstances.
It’s illegal to bait black bear here in Colorado.
This one from the OP's link I am familiar with, happening while I was there. Made me glad I upgraded to a .41 Mag. That bear was not recovered.
2. 15 September 1985, near Healy, Alaska Ruger single-action .357 magnum, grizzly, Ben Moore: Bear Attacks of the Century: True Stories of Courage and Survival P. 23-24
The shots were slightly delayed because the revolver was a single action
The bear charged him. His first shot was from about 5 feet, into the chest. The bear grabbed him by the leg and threw him, then picked him up again. Ben missed a shot, the managed to get a shot into the bear’s stomach. The bear dropped him, then grabbed him by the head, shook him, and dropped him again. He shoved the pistol and both hands into the bears mouth, and fired.
"The bear moved back, shook its head, took a swipe at Ben with its paw, leaving a sliver of claw through Ben’s thumb.
Then it walked off. The attack was finished.
Ben required reconstructive surgery for his face, but fully recovered."
2. 15 September 1985, near Healy, Alaska Ruger single-action .357 magnum, grizzly, Ben Moore: Bear Attacks of the Century: True Stories of Courage and Survival P. 23-24
The shots were slightly delayed because the revolver was a single action
The bear charged him. His first shot was from about 5 feet, into the chest. The bear grabbed him by the leg and threw him, then picked him up again. Ben missed a shot, the managed to get a shot into the bear’s stomach. The bear dropped him, then grabbed him by the head, shook him, and dropped him again. He shoved the pistol and both hands into the bears mouth, and fired.
"The bear moved back, shook its head, took a swipe at Ben with its paw, leaving a sliver of claw through Ben’s thumb.
Then it walked off. The attack was finished.
Ben required reconstructive surgery for his face, but fully recovered."
Harrison
US Veteran
Readers Digest version: what is the best pistol and/or rifle cartridge and load for defense against bears?
A couple of nights ago I was hunting mule deer with a black powder rifle. All snuggled in at dusk, I was soon surrounded by a flock of does and fawns within 50 feet, some bedding down within rock throwing distance. My tag is buck only, by choice. Then...then I hear heavy breathing and sticks snapping about 75 feet behind me. Turning carefully around and peering with my binoculars through a tiny opening in the spruce I see a LARGE black bear, brown in color, tearing up the ground apparently looking for a snack. My thoughts immediately went to the Forum. Is .50 caliber adequate for bear? LOL. 
Thankfully the brute must have caught my scent and circled around downhill, huffing as he went, possibly trying to get more of my scent. Didn't get a chance to test the caliber hypothesis, thankfully. More on the on-going deer hunt maybe later I hope.
Thankfully the brute must have caught my scent and circled around downhill, huffing as he went, possibly trying to get more of my scent. Didn't get a chance to test the caliber hypothesis, thankfully. More on the on-going deer hunt maybe later I hope.
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My thoughts immediately went to the Forum. Is .50 caliber adequate for bear? LOL.
.50 will kill a bear, just maybe not quick enough. Like Hatchet Jack from the movie Jeremiah Johnson.
I remember the man and woman on the roof....
...in Anchorage. Gruesome. How come so many people are in bear c
ountry with .22s??? Unless you are Bella Twin you might stop a bear if you empty the mag into it.
...in Anchorage. Gruesome. How come so many people are in bear c
ountry with .22s??? Unless you are Bella Twin you might stop a bear if you empty the mag into it.
This one's has an arrow waiting for him come this 25 Sept. in Michigan U.P.
I want to know, what the heck is this critter in the back ground!!!???
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I'd guess it's either a dwarf Wendigo or a couple of reflectors on a stump.
SweetMK
Member
[ Lately, there's been some threads about bear attacks..QUOTE]
Jeez, if you clownswould just leave us alone we'd have no problems. Remember we and our kind were here before you
Believe it or not, it's a racoon. They get big there for some reason.
And a Pine Martin
A couple of nights ago I was hunting mule deer with a black powder rifle. All snuggled in at dusk, I was soon surrounded by a flock of does and fawns within 50 feet, some bedding down within rock throwing distance. My tag is buck only, by choice. Then...then I hear heavy breathing and sticks snapping about 75 feet behind me. Turning carefully around and peering with my binoculars through a tiny opening in the spruce I see a LARGE black bear, brown in color, tearing up the ground apparently looking for a snack. My thoughts immediately went to the Forum. Is .50 caliber adequate for bear? LOL.
While on a group muzzle loading hunt twenty years or so ago one of the wives in our group was sitting on a stump with her .45 Flintlock waiting for a deer to walk through her area. Instead she had a 200+lb black bear come ambling down the trail and when she moved to stand up on the stump it decided to continue in her direction just that much faster. She calmly did the best she thought she could and placed her only shot in the chest region of the approaching bear, which after receiving the shot went off to quietly die in the nearby brush. It was a close shot granted, but that .45 roundball doubled in size shortly after impact and tore through the upper portion of the bear's heart lung region, it made no sound through out the episode. The gal survived a heroes banquet and lived to tell the tale, over and over again.
Well many won't want to hear this...a fellow was tracking a wounded mule deer up in Montana. Bear kinda got him pretty bad. Almost took the man's jaw off. Don't know about the bear.. There was another bear encounter by an upland game bird hunter out in Montana prairie country. He evidently shot the grizz 2 or 3 times with pheasnt loads. Bear took off. Hasn't been found at my last hearing. The bears are filling up the best areas in this country out here and starting to move down into prairie country. We will keep having more bear/people encounters. Grizzlies are moving into marginal habitat. Even the Pryor mountains range is seemingly getting an influx. Pretty close to where I live...we already have a few resident wolves. Luckily the closest grizz encounter here was about 6-8 miles away. Only bear I've seem here was a Blackie that came over the hill and walked past the house. Never even slowed down. We do have mountain kittys though and all the other normal denizens of the west. Even some of the 2 legged variety but they usually ride in P/Us and cars...and usually keep going when they see you. The reason I carry even at home
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5spotter
Member
I'm really glad we don't have the type of bears you folks have and report about. The black bears we deal with are exceedingly timid and always want to get away unless they're eating something. They have an incredible nose that pulls them like a tractor beam. They don't seem to have great vision but their sense of smell makes up for that deficiency. They can be surprisingly big.
There seem to be far more in and around town than in the backcountry. I used to spend countless hours suspending food while on backpacking and climbing trips but never saw one in the backcountry.
I've had them in the pickup bed after eating lunch there and leaving a banana peel. The biggest one I've seen was on my deck in the middle of the night the one time I left the barby out. My deck creaked when he was there and won't creak when I'm on it.
One walked into our camp once when we were relaxing. He walked around the end of a log we were backed up to. He was as surprised to see us as we were to see him. He bolted so fast his paws slid out.
I once came between a sow and two cubs while biking- the dreaded scenario feared by many. They left and I peddled by.
I don't think I could bring myself to shoot one so don't worry about best caliber. It would probably be a shot in the rear anyway.
I do look both ways when going out the door and don't leave trash or bird seed out.
Hope I haven't ruined my good luck here.
There seem to be far more in and around town than in the backcountry. I used to spend countless hours suspending food while on backpacking and climbing trips but never saw one in the backcountry.
I've had them in the pickup bed after eating lunch there and leaving a banana peel. The biggest one I've seen was on my deck in the middle of the night the one time I left the barby out. My deck creaked when he was there and won't creak when I'm on it.
One walked into our camp once when we were relaxing. He walked around the end of a log we were backed up to. He was as surprised to see us as we were to see him. He bolted so fast his paws slid out.
I once came between a sow and two cubs while biking- the dreaded scenario feared by many. They left and I peddled by.
I don't think I could bring myself to shoot one so don't worry about best caliber. It would probably be a shot in the rear anyway.
I do look both ways when going out the door and don't leave trash or bird seed out.
Hope I haven't ruined my good luck here.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
Now I have documented proof that my PC 629-10 2 5/8" is a useful handgun!
Ivan
Ivan
