Bears and pistols

[shooterdon]

I am simple minded. A critically wounded deer can travel over 50 yards before falling over dead...and another may drop immediately. Deer are scared and want to get away.

A bear is bigger and tougher than a deer. If it is coming over to introduce him(her)self, it is not too scared and maybe a little ticked off.

Chose your weapon wisely.

 

[ruffdog]

....Or choose your tree wisely!

 

[MossRoad]

....Or choose your tree wisely!

Tree ain't gonna help you...

If You’ve Never Seen How Fast Bears Can Climb Trees You Need to See This <<TwistedSifter

 

[Snobdds]

In Wyoming, I always carry a rifle in the truck and a .357 when hiking or hunting. Bears are only a problem if they get hooked on human food. Then they will get agressive to get to food.

Back in the 80's, if you bought a deer or elk licence, it automatically came with a bear licence. Well one night, we were around the camp fire and a big brown bear came walking in looking for food. It went to the cook tent and all you hear is pots and pans clanking. It was going for the cooler with the meat in it. My uncle had his .357 and shot the bear dead in two shots. They were a heavy bear load bullet and it worked. A night I will never forget.

Needless to say that year the only tag filled was a big brown bear.

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a youtube link to the same video...

 

[oosik]

I've lived in AK for 22 years. Worked for ADF&G for five summers - out in the bush. They NEVER gave us a pistol for "bear defense". It was always a pump 12 gauge - short barrel - heavy buck shot. AND all our training was - "bear avoidance". I'm really sorry but a well placed pistol round will normally only enrage a charging bear.

You go out in the "bush" with a pistol as self defense - best have all your affairs in order. Chances are the bear will not only kill you - he, most likely, will drag you off and over a few days - completely consume you.

Alaska is a "stand your ground" state. So while an enraged 900# Grizzly charges you - stand your ground and try to get off a second well placed pistol round.

BTW - one of the stories is from a supposed location - Muldoon, AK. Check it out on Google Earth Pro. Pure fiction........

 

[Snobdds]

I've lived in AK for 22 years. Worked for ADF&G for five summers - out in the bush. They NEVER gave us a pistol for "bear defense". It was always a pump 12 gauge - short barrel - heavy buck shot. AND all our training was - "bear avoidance". I'm really sorry but a well placed pistol round will normally only enrage a charging bear.

You go out in the "bush" with a pistol as self defense - best have all your affairs in order. Chances are the bear will not only kill you - he, most likely, will drag you off and over a few days - completely consume you.

BTW - one of the stories is from a supposed location - Muldoon, AK. Check it out on Google Earth Pro. Pure fiction........

I don't agree. I saw a .357 put down a big brown in 2 shots. I would wager a bet that .357 has far more penetration than buckshot. I would think Buck Shot would only serve to piss off a bear even more as the wounds are superficial. Logic says you need to hit vital organs and not put flesh wounds on him...

 

[jeff9366]

I went boar hunting around Crossville, TN., many years ago when CCI 200 grain "Lawman" had just come out in .45 ACP. The first 1,000 fps factory ammo in .45 ACP.

I decided to try Lawman after reading magazine reviews.

Shot a 160 - 175 pound boar at thirty feet, which charged me. Shot it five more times on the way in, every shot connecting. Boar collapsed, kicking, at my feet. Never, ever hollow point pistol ammo again for me when hunting. Only the last hollow point, in the neck, went deeper than 3". Since this incident I have always used .44 magnum FMJ for boar, either in a Ruger Super Blackhawk or a (discontinued) Ruger .44 Magnum semi-auto carbine.

An hour after boar incident discovered I had holstered my Colt Govt Model with a round in the chamber and hammer still cocked. (adrenaline) This rather made me a fan of .44 caliber single-action revolvers for hunting.

I trained with Colt Govt Model in the US Navy and carried one occasionally on security duty.

 

[oosik]

And I wish you the very best - Snobdds.

 

[ruffdog]

Tree ain't gonna help you...

If You’ve Never Seen How Fast Bears Can Climb Trees You Need to See This <<TwistedSifter

Yeah, and running ain't gonna help either....see how fast they travel over that nasty terrain. I sure wouldn't want to depend on a pistol. Maybe a AA-12 in each arm with 25 round drums full of 00 buck?