Bear protection again?
- Thread starter boxjeff
- Start date
I lived in Alaska for some time and the ugly truth is that a revolver is not on your side to begin with. I carried my Smith 44 every time I fished in bear country but if it comes to a real charge, you are in trouble. My old friend, a figh and game trooper used nothing but a 12 gauge with #4 BUCKSHOT, look for that not just 4 shot. That was his bear protection and that makes perfect sense.
Fishslayer
New member
Here ya go...
Not really an "attack" but you get the idea..
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/24364913/detail.html
flyinpolack
New member
Words to live by. Literally!
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010...470915.shtml?source=related_story&tag=related
.41mag did the trick in this case. Problem is, you may not get a chance to use it. I carry one while fishing in Idaho but honestly everything is a compromise. When I go to Montana I also carry bear spray.
.41mag did the trick in this case. Problem is, you may not get a chance to use it. I carry one while fishing in Idaho but honestly everything is a compromise. When I go to Montana I also carry bear spray.
Flipper 56
New member
Now that says it all.........
44 mag for Black Bear...300 Winchester Magnum for the rest.
So far, pretty much every time this topic comes up; I am hopefully that some people will actually "hear and listen" each and every time...
http://www.adn.com/2008/04/20/381252/spray-proves-its-worth-in-bear.html
Avoiding bears and using common sense are good advice but I interpret the OP question as for what gun is best to kill a charging bear. Too late for avoiding, too late for common sense, too late for anything except “I’m here,
the bear’s there,
from here to there is much too close,
and the bear is rapidly decreasing the here to there.”
In a case like this I believe it’s safe to assume that the bear-er and the bear-ee were unaware of each other until too late to run or avoid on the part of the bear-ee, and the bear-er is startled into thinking the bear-ee is a threat (or a handy snack).
The National Park folk say pepper spray works almost every time. It’s that “almost” word which concerns me.
A 12 gauge loaded with slug or #4 shot is recommended, but do you carry a shotgun at the ready? Can one unlimber a shotgun before the bear-er is atop the bear-ee and the shotgunner-er finds the shotgun is of little use against the shotgun-ee?
It seems to me that the best defense is a big bore revolver, as big as one can get. I don’t believe follow up shots are going to be of much use, unless straight up from an inverted prone position into the bear’s belly.
One might consider, instead, some nice postal cards of Denali and checking on if there’s a good movie downtown and a nice restaurant.
the bear’s there,
from here to there is much too close,
and the bear is rapidly decreasing the here to there.”
In a case like this I believe it’s safe to assume that the bear-er and the bear-ee were unaware of each other until too late to run or avoid on the part of the bear-ee, and the bear-er is startled into thinking the bear-ee is a threat (or a handy snack).
The National Park folk say pepper spray works almost every time. It’s that “almost” word which concerns me.
A 12 gauge loaded with slug or #4 shot is recommended, but do you carry a shotgun at the ready? Can one unlimber a shotgun before the bear-er is atop the bear-ee and the shotgunner-er finds the shotgun is of little use against the shotgun-ee?
It seems to me that the best defense is a big bore revolver, as big as one can get. I don’t believe follow up shots are going to be of much use, unless straight up from an inverted prone position into the bear’s belly.
One might consider, instead, some nice postal cards of Denali and checking on if there’s a good movie downtown and a nice restaurant.
As ignorant as I am, the "guys from Alaska" from what I read/seen carry large caliber handgun, rifles and shotguns. Bear spray is somehwere from 85% to 90% effective and is good but it is the tree huggers pushing pepper spray because no one should ever shoot a bear. There are multiple reports every year of bear attacks and sucessful self-defense shootings of the bear in question. I notice guides carry calibers like .338 and .375 H&H etc. not just pepper spray. I'm not going to argue the point but #4 buckshot barely (if at all) meets the FBI testing criteria for humans let alone bears and again, from what I've seen/read would carry Brenneke slugs or at least OOO or OO buckshot. My self I would carry pepperspray in the Dog the Bounty Hunter super-size and a .454 Ruger Alaskan or if I was able a 12 guage with 3" Brenneke Black Magic slugs. The "natives" often carry far smaller caliber guns - not sure about the pepper spray.
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But what about the sources that say if you only get one shot your chances are better if it's a shot of pepper spray?
And I hope no one's accusing me of being a tree-hugger. I cut those for firewood when I need it. I don't think pepper spray is good for the bears, it sounds to me like it gives the hiker the best chance for success in an unlikely encounter.
And I hope no one's accusing me of being a tree-hugger. I cut those for firewood when I need it. I don't think pepper spray is good for the bears, it sounds to me like it gives the hiker the best chance for success in an unlikely encounter.
Sport 45 - Sorry, left an "s" off "tree huggers" and the remark was not intended for your personally - I agree that pepper spray is a good option and I would carry it. I just noticed in a story about firearms being allowed in national parks and the "tree huggers" were upset about bears being shot and that only pepper spray should be allowed. Again, my comments it were not intended for you personally as I agree with you but a .454 would not hurt as well.
montelores
New member
"How many times do the guys that live in the Alaskan woods have to tell us that pepper spray and common sense are the best defense before we start to listen?"
When all one has is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail.
monty
When all one has is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail.
monty
Carry a large bag of Dunkin donut holes. Toss the bag so the holes scatter around and get the bear busy scrambling to gather them up. Walk home, set yourself down on your recliner and open an adult beverage. Relax while the bear is messing up his cardiovascular system. The next time you will be able to outrun the bear....if its the same bear.
Perhaps you are right. However should I be unfortunate enough to come across a hungry, angry, or irritated bear in the out back, on that once in a hundred years occasion it happens, I would certainly like to have a better chance than my bare fist. I get one chance at defense. Do I have time to pull out the bear spray, check the wind and decide if it is right to spray ? Do I have the rocks to wait for the charging bear to get within range of the spray ?
Like with dogs, there seems to be an abundance of folks that know how that particular bear, in that particular future event is going to act. Fascinating to say the least.