Okay, if this is a dupe I apologize. My computer went blank (much like my stare upon realiztion of such) as I was typing my last thread.
The attached jpeg is a photo taken a pico (okay, maybe nano) second before I learned the difference between "spotting" and "encountering" a Grizzly during a recent trip to S/E Alaska. I'm the guy in the back, my friend is the guy in the front. We're walking in a Salmon stream and on both sides, is "tall grass", averaging about 6 ft in height: the bane of anyone competing with Grizzly for fish. Having fished similar territory many times before, we know the drill and are making plenty of noise, maybe enough to grab the attention of a nearby bear?
Our encounter is to our right at 15 yds as the photo is taken (the guy snapping the pic, our buckshot guy, realizes instantly what's happening and responds accordingly) when the lead guy shouts - in a voice I'll never forget - "Oh ****, Grizzly!".
I swing, raise, chamber a slug and am staring at a Grizzly the size of Manhattan, who drops from a two-legged to a four-legged posture and, of course, stares at us the entire time.
The gaze lasts but a second, but the adrenaline rush lasts much longer. We locked eyes (I know you're not supposed to, but I forgot the rules) for at least an hour before our furry friend moves on to more interesting things to do or eat. One of our party declares "if that thing hunts by sensing adrenaline, we're in big trouble..."
So, why is this posting in the revolver forum? Well, because our planning worked - Grizzlies are not known to attack greater numbers (of people) -and we didn't have to use our weapons. As you can see in the photo, we each carry a shotgun, a 12 gauge. What you can't see is that we each carry a .44 w/ 305 Penetrators from CorBon as a backup (except the photographer, who prefers a stout .357 load because he can "shoot it better", which is reasoning enough for me).
The best "Bear Gun", revolver or otherwise, for self defense is the one you never use. Our knowledge of how to conduct ourselves in Grizzly country (numbers of people grouped together and making a lot of noise) prevented who knows what. I'm just glad it didn't come to an exchange of force.
I realize there will be disparate opinions on how we reacted to what happened to us, what one should or should not do under such circumstances, or maybe even what is the "best" firearm for such a surprise encounter.
Your thoughts, input, feedback and ideas are welcome...it's only 8 months til my next Alaskan adventure!
The attached jpeg is a photo taken a pico (okay, maybe nano) second before I learned the difference between "spotting" and "encountering" a Grizzly during a recent trip to S/E Alaska. I'm the guy in the back, my friend is the guy in the front. We're walking in a Salmon stream and on both sides, is "tall grass", averaging about 6 ft in height: the bane of anyone competing with Grizzly for fish. Having fished similar territory many times before, we know the drill and are making plenty of noise, maybe enough to grab the attention of a nearby bear?
Our encounter is to our right at 15 yds as the photo is taken (the guy snapping the pic, our buckshot guy, realizes instantly what's happening and responds accordingly) when the lead guy shouts - in a voice I'll never forget - "Oh ****, Grizzly!".
I swing, raise, chamber a slug and am staring at a Grizzly the size of Manhattan, who drops from a two-legged to a four-legged posture and, of course, stares at us the entire time.The gaze lasts but a second, but the adrenaline rush lasts much longer. We locked eyes (I know you're not supposed to, but I forgot the rules) for at least an hour before our furry friend moves on to more interesting things to do or eat. One of our party declares "if that thing hunts by sensing adrenaline, we're in big trouble..."
So, why is this posting in the revolver forum? Well, because our planning worked - Grizzlies are not known to attack greater numbers (of people) -and we didn't have to use our weapons. As you can see in the photo, we each carry a shotgun, a 12 gauge. What you can't see is that we each carry a .44 w/ 305 Penetrators from CorBon as a backup (except the photographer, who prefers a stout .357 load because he can "shoot it better", which is reasoning enough for me).
The best "Bear Gun", revolver or otherwise, for self defense is the one you never use. Our knowledge of how to conduct ourselves in Grizzly country (numbers of people grouped together and making a lot of noise) prevented who knows what. I'm just glad it didn't come to an exchange of force.
I realize there will be disparate opinions on how we reacted to what happened to us, what one should or should not do under such circumstances, or maybe even what is the "best" firearm for such a surprise encounter.
Your thoughts, input, feedback and ideas are welcome...it's only 8 months til my next Alaskan adventure!
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