Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Wilderness revolver .......

[WDaniels]

JR2,

I've always said the those who use the pepper spray on bears are more than likely just seasoning their(the bears) next meal. :-laf:-laf

I would no more rely on pepper spray for bears than believe it when the government says that "Its here to help you. "

I take either my shotgun with solid slugs or my . 375 Ackley Improved. Preferably the Improved. Everything else is just fluff.

WD

 

[Grizzly]

Remember, if you have to go after any bear, especially a grizzly, with any hand gun, save the last bullet...



for yourself in case you don't kill the bear.



I have a S&W 357 magnum and I know it not enough fire power to put down a grizzly. A 44 magnun, maybe.

 

[KYOUNG]

I would think a 45ACP would work well also!!!!!

 

[GHarman]

IMHO, Always avoid a confrontation, FIRST. As far as a handgun for defense aganist an enraged Bear, get rid of the hollow points. Penetration is the key. Know Bear anatomy. Pick the target. The Bear is NOT the target! Its on-off switch is what you are aiming for. Large Bore, heavy slugs, . 44/300gr. , . 45-454/300gr+++, aimed fire under pressure. Practice, Practice, Practice (with reduced loads). A small bore handgun makes lots of noise but lacks penetration for this purpose. You dont want to ****-off the Bear, Adrenaline flow will negate the very effect you are trying to cause. Thick matted hair, heavy skin/fat layers and massive musculature will cause a hollow point to expand prematurely. A long for caliber, blunt/squarenosed, slug will punch a path through that stuff. GregH

 

[Chief USA]

A Smith & Wesson Model 629-2 in stainless and a good set of grips would be a good choice. With a 2 inch barrel it will fit in small holster or fannie pack. Mind you, the muzzle flash, blast, flip, and recoil will require a bit of self training and practice. Practice using speed loaders too... ..... you're gonna need'em. Use the heaviest bullets you can get. I suggest something in the 300 grain range. You will want as much penetration and internal damage as possible shooting a bear. Best not to shoot one unless you are left with NO choice and cornered.

 

[Tim1]

Thanks fellas for the advice. shooting would be the very last resort. So, I am guessing the 38 is not good enough, and the hollow points are out. If I ever had to use a gun in this situation, where do you aim, the head? I have watched bear shows and they always say to play dead, never tell where to aim. Like I said, I have not seen one, but I think I want to be prepared. These are black bears and not grissleys. At least I don't think we have grissleys in the Portland area of Oregon. Tim

 

[Chief USA]

Aim for the heart/lungs center of mass similiar to tactics for taking down 2 legged trouble makers. Aiming for the head is a high risk shot due to either missing or the bullet glancing or riccocheting off of the skull. Bears have a pretty hard head. A head shot would be an option at point blank range... ... ..... I suggest not letting the situation get that far if at all possible. :O)

 

[kenny61]

I would think a 45ACP would work well also!!!!!

45 acp usually will not pass thru a human you need to go deeper than 6 inches on a bear. Unless you hit it in the head / neck

 

[Grizzly]

Thanks fellas for the advice. shooting would be the very last resort. So, I am guessing the 38 is not good enough, and the hollow points are out. If I ever had to use a gun in this situation, where do you aim, the head? I have watched bear shows and they always say to play dead, never tell where to aim. Like I said, I have not seen one, but I think I want to be prepared. These are black bears and not grissleys. At least I don't think we have grissleys in the Portland area of Oregon. Tim

If you must shoot a bear, at last resort only, first hit him on both shoulders. That way he can't run after you. With the third bullet try to hit him in the nose. That will make him very confused. If you have bullets left, go for his eyes. Heart last.



If you have an encounter with a black bear, don't play dead. He will maul you to death. Fight back with everything you have.



Don't try fighting back with a grizzly, he's too powerful. With a grizzly you play dead only after he makes contact with you. You fall on the ground face down with your arms around your neck and head. He will give you a good work out and roll you over. You let your momentum roll you face down again with your bleeding arms around your neck and head. The grizzly will eventually go off to the side and watch you. If he sees you move he'll come right back and give you another workout. Lay there motionless, looking through a corner of one eye, until you're sure he's gone. He will only leave when he's sure you're dead.



In the lower 48, grizzlies are only know to be in Wyoming and Montana. I suppose there could be some in Northern Idaho. Black Bears are in most states including the south. .

 

[DWordinger]

When I was in the Air Force, back about '91 or '92 one day I had lunch with a Canadian CF-18 pilot. I don't remember how we got on the subject of firearms or survival weapons, but he told me about one of the northern Canadian squadrons and the handguns they were carrying for survival should they ever eject over the Great White North. They were not concerned about being captured by Russians, or any other humans. They wanted to defend themselves from polar bears. He said they got some "really big" revolvers (eh).



I asked if he meant . 44 Magnum.



"No, bigger. (eh) So big that if they ever had to eject, the seat would go sideways do to the extra weight caused by the gun on one side. (eh)"



Trying to think of something bigger than a . 44 Magnum, I asked, "454 Casull?"



"Yea (eh), that's it! (eh)"



I though that was interesting, but funny.



About the same time I read an article in the Wall Street Journal about a man who worked for a lumber company somewhere in the Southeast. After harvesting trees on their property, they would plant seedlings, but loose a lot of them to black bears. This man was hired to shoot black bears and protect the poor defenseless trees. His weapon of choice? A . 44 revolver. Not a . 44 Magnum; a . 44 Special. He was not carrying the gun in case he happened to cross paths with a bear. He picked up his gun and went looking for bear. The article sure made an impression on me.

 

[GHarman]

IMHO, The Cervicle spine is the key to a fight stopper. Down the throat to the base of the skull or neck, depending on the angle. Dont depend on a heart shot to stop a bear. Their heart rate is slower than ours, it has greater capacity and the blood is well oxygenated, good enough for a good fight, even though the heart is shredded. The cervicle spine carrys all the nerves to he rest of the body. Disrupt those signals and its lights out, loss of all muscle control, voluntary and involuntary. A classic between the eyes shot is risky on a charging bear because of the low angle, deflecting the impact. An eye socket, up the nose (at the correct angle), the throat into the neck vertebra. Something to think about and practice from all positions including lying down on your back, simulating a knockdown. Face down recovery rollover. I would not waste any ammo on busting a shoulder as that bear aint gonna stand there whilst you target shoot, using him as a blowout patch. Hes still got three more good legs. Once you have wounded him, the adrenaline has kicked in and your disabling shots will be less effective. GregH

 

[GHarman]

PS, A . 45ACP is great stuff on two legged varmints and runnin shots on Jack Rabbits but lacks the raw horsepower of a similar bore size using a 300 gr. + bullet at 1300-1500 FPS. GregH

 

[JGamble]

Buddy,



My uncle and [a little] of me do guiding in Northern Wisconsin where Black bears are prevalant during deer hunting season. Now prior to a year ago, before the Taurus Judge, I carried a Taurus Mod. 66, . 357 and uncle carried a custom Python in . 44 Rem MAG. I have currently tried and back the Judge by taurus, as the . 45 can do enough damage. If you were to switch between . 45 and . 410 every cylinder, I can guarentee you, first hand expierence, you will discourage, if not stop, any bear that walks in your way, much less anything else. It is worth the money, let me know hot it works out if you buy/like it.



Kind Regards,

Sgt. G

 

[sarj]

The Taurus Judge set up that way is the perfect trail gun. Wish I I could get one here in CA.

 

[RHaight]

Without the element of surprise in your favor handguns are risky at best when used on bears, particularly Browns or Grizzly - Blacks are generally much smaller and less of a problem but can be tough customers when provoked just as well. If you get caught near or between a cub and sow you're in for a rough time anyway.



Only handguns I'd trust would be in the 454 Casull or 460 S&W variety - and you'd better be very good with either should the need arise. Neither are light to carry and both pack one hell of a wallup. Remember, the brain pan on a bear tends to deflect bullets when shot straight on - and bouncing a ball of lead off a bear's forehead only makes 'em madder! (if that's even a word)



Your best defense is your brain and common sense... and I've heard bears really love a tasty Subaru driver - except for the Birkenstocks.

 

[AABEN]

SMITH 460 will do the job it is a very good one to have--check up on it. --Good luck

 

[Grizzly]

IMHO, The Cervicle spine is the key to a fight stopper. Down the throat to the base of the skull or neck, depending on the angle. Dont depend on a heart shot to stop a bear. Their heart rate is slower than ours, it has greater capacity and the blood is well oxygenated, good enough for a good fight, even though the heart is shredded. The cervicle spine carrys all the nerves to he rest of the body. Disrupt those signals and its lights out, loss of all muscle control, voluntary and involuntary. A classic between the eyes shot is risky on a charging bear because of the low angle, deflecting the impact. An eye socket, up the nose (at the correct angle), the throat into the neck vertebra. Something to think about and practice from all positions including lying down on your back, simulating a knockdown. Face down recovery rollover. I would not waste any ammo on busting a shoulder as that bear aint gonna stand there whilst you target shoot, using him as a blowout patch. Hes still got three more good legs:D. Once you have wounded him, the adrenaline has kicked in and your disabling shots will be less effective. GregH

You didn't read my Post #29 very well. I said to take out both shoulders, that way the bear can't run after you. He can walk and bears don't walk very fast.

 

[GHarman]

Grizzly,

I did read your post; If a bear is charging you? You dont have the one shot opportunity to take out both shoulders. If the bear is sideways and only huffing and snapping its jaws, that is still not a reason to shoot. A head on charge is the situation. No disrespect meant. I still would not bet my life on shoulder shots. GregH

 

[Tim1]

Wow, this is alot of good info. I have a rack on the front of the rincon and now I believe it might just be better to put the shotgun on there. I was thinking that was just to much gun. Now, It may be the right choice. I have a leather case for it. It is a pump type. 12 ga. I think. Haven't looked at it in years. Thanks for all the info, fellas, very informative, will not see one most likely. hope not. Tim

 

[jgillott]

SMITH 460 will do the job it is a very good one to have--check up on it. --Good luck

My brother-in-law carries a S&W 460 as his woods gun. Very, very nice gun.