satchel357
Member
unless your the 2 that were incapicated by the spray then your just an extra spicy human or the 10 that had minor irration while being chewed on by a bear
Question for you pistol guys
- Thread starter Predator257Roy
- Start date
Bayou City Boy
New member
Pepper Spray....
That reminds me of a Riddle: How can you tell Black Bear scat from Grizzly Bear scat?
Answer: Black Bear scat is generally black in color and it may contain evidence of roots, berries, twigs, and animal bones.
Grizzly Bear scat is generally black in color and it may contain evidence of roots, berries, twigs, and animal bones, and sometimes it smells like pepper spray...
-BCB
That reminds me of a Riddle: How can you tell Black Bear scat from Grizzly Bear scat?
Answer: Black Bear scat is generally black in color and it may contain evidence of roots, berries, twigs, and animal bones.
Grizzly Bear scat is generally black in color and it may contain evidence of roots, berries, twigs, and animal bones, and sometimes it smells like pepper spray...
-BCB
P Side
New member
National Park service employees in Yellowstone do not carry guns, they aren't allowed too. They carry pepper spray. They also treat the bears with the respect they deserve. The law just just changed allowing you to carry a gun, but it is still illegal to discharge a firearm. I believe the last attack in Yellowstone was in 2008. A wildlife photographer, who put himself into that situation. The only thing people carry in Yellowstone's backcountry is pepper spray.
When a bear charges, his vitals aren't exposed. You are shooting at his head. There skull is very thick, a low precentage shot. Quote:Guns were effective only 67 per cent of the time because shooting accurately during a grizzly charge is difficult, and it takes an average of four hits to kill a charging grizzly bear.
Do you think you can take 4 shots before the bear is on top of you? That would be 4 shots in the last 10 to 15 feet, that the bear is charging. If you do hit it with the first shot. Than you have an injured and more pissed off bear. That is far more dangerous. You don't need to kill the bear. Just change it's mind. I have hiked, camped and fished in areas with bears, both Black and Grizzly Bears. And only carried pepper spray, and will continue to do so. Roy asked a serious question, he isn't looking for jokes. He deserves serious answers. Do you guys really think a 59 year old woman can handle a large caliber handgun, in a stiuation where a bear is charging. I'm not even sure age makes a difference. If you only wound the bear, you will make the situation worse.
When a bear charges, his vitals aren't exposed. You are shooting at his head. There skull is very thick, a low precentage shot. Quote:Guns were effective only 67 per cent of the time because shooting accurately during a grizzly charge is difficult, and it takes an average of four hits to kill a charging grizzly bear.
Do you think you can take 4 shots before the bear is on top of you? That would be 4 shots in the last 10 to 15 feet, that the bear is charging. If you do hit it with the first shot. Than you have an injured and more pissed off bear. That is far more dangerous. You don't need to kill the bear. Just change it's mind. I have hiked, camped and fished in areas with bears, both Black and Grizzly Bears. And only carried pepper spray, and will continue to do so. Roy asked a serious question, he isn't looking for jokes. He deserves serious answers. Do you guys really think a 59 year old woman can handle a large caliber handgun, in a stiuation where a bear is charging. I'm not even sure age makes a difference. If you only wound the bear, you will make the situation worse.
Bayou City Boy
New member
Originally Posted By: P SideNational Park service employees in Yellowstone do not carry guns, they aren't allowed too. They carry pepper spray. They also treat the bears with the respect they deserve. The law just just changed allowing you to carry a gun, but it is still illegal to discharge a firearm. I believe the last attack in Yellowstone was in 2008. A wildlife photographer, who put himself into that situation. The only thing people carry in Yellowstone's backcountry is pepper spray.
When a bear charges, his vitals aren't exposed. You are shooting at his head. There skull is very thick, a low precentage shot. Quote:Guns were effective only 67 per cent of the time because shooting accurately during a grizzly charge is difficult, and it takes an average of four hits to kill a charging grizzly bear.
Do you think you can take 4 shots before the bear is on top of you? That would be 4 shots in the last 10 to 15 feet, that the bear is charging. If you do hit it with the first shot. Than you have an injured and more pissed off bear. That is far more dangerous. You don't need to kill the bear. Just change it's mind. I have hiked, camped and fished in areas with bears, both Black and Grizzly Bears. And only carried pepper spray, and will continue to do so. Roy asked a serious question, he isn't looking for jokes. He deserves serious answers. Do you guys really think a 59 year old woman can handle a large caliber handgun, in a stiuation where a bear is charging. I'm not even sure age makes a difference. If you only wound the bear, you will make the situation worse.
Maybe go back and re-read some of the suggestions that began several days ago. I mentioned that a hand gun wasn't really appropriate in a tense situation with a bear. I just tried to inject a little humor into my response several days ago by mentioning the "shoot the bear 5 times and yourself once" quote.
Maybe after you do that, why not just PM the OP and let him know what he needs to do... That way the rest of us won't be responsible for not supplying serious enough answers.
And as an FYI, you're far from being the only person who has maybe spent considerable time in bear country, both hunting and hiking... My guess is a lot of folks here have done just that more than once.
Sheesh....! Relax.. Its just the internet..... It's not life and/or certain death.
-BCB
When a bear charges, his vitals aren't exposed. You are shooting at his head. There skull is very thick, a low precentage shot. Quote:Guns were effective only 67 per cent of the time because shooting accurately during a grizzly charge is difficult, and it takes an average of four hits to kill a charging grizzly bear.
Do you think you can take 4 shots before the bear is on top of you? That would be 4 shots in the last 10 to 15 feet, that the bear is charging. If you do hit it with the first shot. Than you have an injured and more pissed off bear. That is far more dangerous. You don't need to kill the bear. Just change it's mind. I have hiked, camped and fished in areas with bears, both Black and Grizzly Bears. And only carried pepper spray, and will continue to do so. Roy asked a serious question, he isn't looking for jokes. He deserves serious answers. Do you guys really think a 59 year old woman can handle a large caliber handgun, in a stiuation where a bear is charging. I'm not even sure age makes a difference. If you only wound the bear, you will make the situation worse.
Maybe go back and re-read some of the suggestions that began several days ago. I mentioned that a hand gun wasn't really appropriate in a tense situation with a bear. I just tried to inject a little humor into my response several days ago by mentioning the "shoot the bear 5 times and yourself once" quote.
Maybe after you do that, why not just PM the OP and let him know what he needs to do... That way the rest of us won't be responsible for not supplying serious enough answers.
And as an FYI, you're far from being the only person who has maybe spent considerable time in bear country, both hunting and hiking... My guess is a lot of folks here have done just that more than once.
Sheesh....! Relax.. Its just the internet..... It's not life and/or certain death.
-BCB
Depending on your mothers level of fitness-and I'll assume she's active because she'll be walking'hiking in bear country; my first thought was bear spray and a 357 magnum. With the proper bullet it is just as likely to save her as a bigger gun that she is not able to control. You can even get the barrell ported to reduce the felt recoil. Of course she or anyone in this senario should spend the time to become proficient with the pistol. A dog wouldn't be a bad companion either.
For protection against a bear, and givent hat she already has experience with a .38, and probably has accessories for the .38, I would go with a .357 magnum. When I hunt black bears, it is usually with a 12 gauge, using Hornady 300gr SST slugs, and I back that up with my Ruger SP101 5 shot .357 magnum with a 3in barrel. Relaible, accurate easily out to 50 yards for a bear sized target, and it has more than enough pop to get them job done.
But where we hunt in Arizona most of the time, our bigger concern are the two legged predators, like the drug runners, and for that I want something a little more "tactical", but I often hunt areas where run ins with mountain lions are a real possibility, so I pack my Glock 22 .40 cal. It has high capacity, it is easy to use, and will take a lot of abuse and still go bang. I know that the .357 sig is getting a lot of press lately becuase of it's balistics, but I want to use something that has a longer history in self defense, so I stick with the .40 cal
Good luck.
But where we hunt in Arizona most of the time, our bigger concern are the two legged predators, like the drug runners, and for that I want something a little more "tactical", but I often hunt areas where run ins with mountain lions are a real possibility, so I pack my Glock 22 .40 cal. It has high capacity, it is easy to use, and will take a lot of abuse and still go bang. I know that the .357 sig is getting a lot of press lately becuase of it's balistics, but I want to use something that has a longer history in self defense, so I stick with the .40 cal
Good luck.
I like a dog too but in some of the attacks the dog is what got some of those people attacked. First off the bears feet is padded and hard to hear them walk and when a dog goes uptrail and let's say arouses the mother bear or her cubs and gets the bear aggrevated the dog comes back to you and that leads the mamma bear in a bad mood to you. You can find this on the internet under bear attacks. 357 mag would be a decent round to have with atleast 180 grains of hardcast for the black bears anyway. The last thing we want to do is scare someone from wanting to walk through the wilderness and enjoy their walk and if or when a bear and human confration happens be prepared the best you can and if pepper spray is what your confortable with then by all means use it.
After reading all the replies, I didn't see anyone saying they shot a bear with a pistol. I have packed and shot a .44 Ruger Super Blackhawk since 1968. It used to bother me to shoot it and I would even load 180 grainers in it to keep the kick down and some times even reduced loads. Then I put Hogue grips on it and I could load 300 gr. hot loads in it without it being unpleasent to shoot. So remember the grip in order to reduce felt recoil. If you want to protect youself with a charging bear, you had better practice shooting within 10 yds. and you aim the pistol by mearly pointing. When you do this you must pick a spot on the target and not shoot at the whole target. Also you must know where to shoot in order to turn or stop the animal from charging. Therefore you have to know more then having a big enough firearm and the right ammo for it.
I would not be comfortable with anything less then .41 mag.
I used to pitch and have shot a long bow for 30 years. I shoot very well pointing a pistol. I feels much more at ease packing the heat then packing Bear Spray. In a tree stand with a bow I would feel at ease with the spray, but on the ground, the revolver of choice would be my friend. I have shot 2 bear with my .44 mag. First one at 50 yds., no charge, behind the ear, dead on the spot. Second one it took 4 rnds to knock him out of the tree as I didn't have a good shot at the vitals.
I am from Montana and call coyotes in areas that have Grizzlies in it. In 2007 I called in 6 bears, and in 2008 I called in 5 bears. The last one was so big I couldn't really tell if it was a Griz or a black as it was sitting for over 10 minutes while looking toward my caller which was behind me.
Saw a huge lion on the trip also. I had my Remington bolt action single shot pistol that day in 7mm using a 140 gr. Sierra Match King bullet. I couldn't shoot this bear because it is illegal to call big game with an electronic caller and I didn't have a bear licence.
Lions are called in all the time with cow calls while bowhunting, and so are wolves. Keep an eye out while using these sounds. I call coyotes in Grizz country and when I am alone I use a .45-70 marlin or a .500 S&W pistol when using a calling rifle of small caliber. I also have my dog with me most of the time. Killed one bear with the Marlin and knocked it down dead with one shot with a 350 gr. Hornady Interloc. bullet. These bullets do not come apart period and mushroom out to 3/4 of an inch. I have some heavy 400 gr. hard lead from Rim Rock Bullets for the .500 S/W, but I don't recomend this much pistol for most people. I have a friend who has a tough girlfriend, and after firing the .500 the first time, ask to shoot it again. These were medium loads using 350 gr. XTP bullets.
If I had to use a pistol on a charging bear, I would fire at least 3 rounds as fast as possible into the bear and I would be saying a quick prayer along with it.
I would not be comfortable with anything less then .41 mag.
I used to pitch and have shot a long bow for 30 years. I shoot very well pointing a pistol. I feels much more at ease packing the heat then packing Bear Spray. In a tree stand with a bow I would feel at ease with the spray, but on the ground, the revolver of choice would be my friend. I have shot 2 bear with my .44 mag. First one at 50 yds., no charge, behind the ear, dead on the spot. Second one it took 4 rnds to knock him out of the tree as I didn't have a good shot at the vitals.
I am from Montana and call coyotes in areas that have Grizzlies in it. In 2007 I called in 6 bears, and in 2008 I called in 5 bears. The last one was so big I couldn't really tell if it was a Griz or a black as it was sitting for over 10 minutes while looking toward my caller which was behind me.
Saw a huge lion on the trip also. I had my Remington bolt action single shot pistol that day in 7mm using a 140 gr. Sierra Match King bullet. I couldn't shoot this bear because it is illegal to call big game with an electronic caller and I didn't have a bear licence.
Lions are called in all the time with cow calls while bowhunting, and so are wolves. Keep an eye out while using these sounds. I call coyotes in Grizz country and when I am alone I use a .45-70 marlin or a .500 S&W pistol when using a calling rifle of small caliber. I also have my dog with me most of the time. Killed one bear with the Marlin and knocked it down dead with one shot with a 350 gr. Hornady Interloc. bullet. These bullets do not come apart period and mushroom out to 3/4 of an inch. I have some heavy 400 gr. hard lead from Rim Rock Bullets for the .500 S/W, but I don't recomend this much pistol for most people. I have a friend who has a tough girlfriend, and after firing the .500 the first time, ask to shoot it again. These were medium loads using 350 gr. XTP bullets.
If I had to use a pistol on a charging bear, I would fire at least 3 rounds as fast as possible into the bear and I would be saying a quick prayer along with it.
How about this.....Get a guard dog, they're trained to
stay close to owner and attack if your private space is
invaded, or they can train them for any situation...I
think they run around 5 grand......then carry pepper
spray and a 44mag or whatever and train for a bear
attack, because you don't want that one in a life time
encounter to be the last encounter of a life time....
JMO.......
stay close to owner and attack if your private space is
invaded, or they can train them for any situation...I
think they run around 5 grand......then carry pepper
spray and a 44mag or whatever and train for a bear
attack, because you don't want that one in a life time
encounter to be the last encounter of a life time....
JMO.......