Bears and pistols

[Code54]

Thought some people on here maybe interested in this article on pistols being used to defend against bears.

Defense Against Bears with Pistols: 97% Success rate, 37 Incidents

 

[bcp]

A hope i don't run into a bear with a pistol.

Bruce

 

[Code54]

Ok, I have to admit, that made me laugh!

 

[jgedmond]

Thought some people on here maybe interested in this article on pistols being used to defend against bears.

Defense Against Bears with Pistols: 97% Success rate, 37 Incidents

No personal experience, but Tom Gresham (Gun Talk) recommends .44 magnum, .454 Casul or similar with hard lead cast bullets for deep penetration. You do not want expanding hollow point bullets for such a big critter. I am amazed that the 9mm was 4 for 4.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Excellent read, thanks for the link!!

 

[nybirdman]

The old story;Alaska fishing guide carried a .22 cal.said he would shoot his client in the knee if a bear charged.

 

[CobyRupert]

A hope i don't run into a bear with a pistol.

Bruce

Who is giving bears pistols?!!

Dyslexic NRA members who believe the 2nd Amendment guarantees the right to arm Bears?

...or a government ATF gun walking program called "Operation Fast & Furry-ous"?

 

[k0ua]

Thought some people on here maybe interested in this article on pistols being used to defend against bears.

Defense Against Bears with Pistols: 97% Success rate, 37 Incidents

About what i thought. Defending yourself with a pistol can be very effective. It is popular in internet forums to state that" the bear is going to shove that pistol of your up your ***"

But as the incidents show, even the puny 9mm pistols were effective in the times they were used. While I would not go bear hunting with a pistol, I sure as heck would defend my life with one against a bear or anything else. A good .44 magnum loaded with solids (not hollow points) would seem to me to be very effective. I do have a 2nd hand report from a friend that defended his life against a polar bear in Greenland while he was in the Air Force with a .45ACP 1911 military issue pistol. Of course this would have been loaded with 230 grain FMJ bullets. He advised he put all 7 of these rounds into the polar bear and it fell dead. A polar bear is a very large bear.

So the next time some internet warrior tells you that defending your life with a pistol, even against a large bear is useless, you might point them to this study.

 

[atsah]

If I was hunting in bear country the last pistol I would take with me would be my 9mm, my 44mag would be with on me with the right ammo..

 

[ruffdog]

The old story;Alaska fishing guide carried a .22 cal.said he would shoot his client in the knee if a bear charged.

Ha! That is similar to the story my dad heard in Florida about running from a gator. "You don't have to be the fastest runner, just not the slowest."