Real Bear Encounters Handgun Vs Bear Spray, Handgun wins!

I found this interesting considering the recent Bear encounters in MT and WY. The tree huggers want you to believe that Bear Spray is much more effective than a handgun. Not so much unless you can't shoot a handgun. Here is someone who took the time to research the data.
Handguns were effective 97% of the time. Take a gun and leave the Bear Spray at the store.

https://www.ammoland.com/2018/02/de...s-rate-37-incidents-by-caliber/#axzz5UFScHWeC

I am aware of incidents near where I live over the past 50yrs, and also incidents on Kodiak Island, where skilled riflemen were mauled and killed by brown bears while in possession of high powered rifles, let alone pistols and revolvers.

I also know of one brown bear mauling where the victim failed to stop the boar with his 30-06 rifle, was seriously mauled, but then successfully deterred the bear with his S&W .44 Mag revolver while his face was being crushed in the bears jaws. He fired into the underside of the bear 4 quick times by feel, shoving muzzle into fur.

So the pool of examples cited is certainly far from complete, in some respects. Yet the documented incidents demonstrate that revolvers/pistols are very capable bear defense weapons.

Give me a pistol or revolver any day over a can of pepper spray. Give me a high powered rifle any day over a pistol / revolver. And give me a Rem 870 pump shotgun with Brenneke slugs or Tungsten buckshot over a high powered rifle.

Hard to top that. Well... maybe a flame thrower, if it was reliable and packable.

phorwath said:

Give me a pistol or revolver any day over a can of pepper spray. Give me a high powered rifle any day over a pistol / revolver. And give me a Rem 870 pump shotgun with Brenneke slugs or Tungsten buckshot over a high powered rifle.

Hard to top that. Well... maybe a flame thrower, if it was reliable and packable.

Click to expand...

Its hard to argue with a 546 Grain (1.25oz) slug moving @ 1520FPS. Or a 437 grain (1oz) slug moving@ 1680fps. Not to mention the ability to shoot 5 to 6 rounds in seconds.

While this is useful information it is no where near comprehensive nor close to being evidence not to take spray.

It doesn't even mention it at all. It does provide data challenging the idea that you need a magnum hand cannon to escape a bear attack though.

Take both and be prepared.

https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/bear_cougar/bear/files/JWM_BearSprayAlaska.pdf

Give me a 2nd pistol if I'm gonna carry a backup anything.

Pepper is good for seasoning dinner. No way am I going to have a bear maul me while laughing his a__ off!
The mauling alone will be bad enough. Let alone a giggling bear.

A few years ago my wife and I made a trip to the Tetons and Yellowstone. I was debating on whether or not to bring my pistol due to traveling with it on the airplane. About a month before we were scheduled to leave I read an article where a Yellowstone employee was mauled not far from the building that he worked in while on a main trail. I brought two. My 9mm for the two legged critters and my 45LC Ruger single six. I use Buffalo Bore Hard cast lead +P ammo when carrying for bear. It makes the 45LC as powerful as a 44 mag but you must be careful because only certain pistols can stand up to the hot loads. The Ruger Black Hawk is one with the muzzle energy being 1267 foot pounds with a 325 grain slug. They also have the same type of round in other calibers. One of my latest additions was a S&W Shield in 45 auto and the Buffalo Bore 255 grain +P for when I move and hike in the Smokies come my retirement in less than a year. Usually black bears don't bother people but I don't want to be the exception and I wanted the Shield to help keep the weight down. Plus it was a good excuse to get another pistol.

By the way, while hiking in the Tetons on Paint Brush Canyon Trail, I encountered a moose at about 20 yards and a sow grizzly with two cubs at about 150 yards. It was a nice feeling to be armed.

[QUOTE="phorwath, post: 1503862, member: 4191"......Hard to top that. Well... maybe a flame thrower, if it was reliable and packable. [/QUOTE]

Only made me think of being mauled by a really ****ed burning bear.

Only made me think of being mauled by a really ****ed burning bear.

Mmmmmm I was thinking wrapped in bacon and eating it in the field. My flame thrower must be hotter than yours.

tmmcampbell said:

Only made me think of being mauled by a really ****ed burning bear.

Mmmmmm I was thinking wrapped in bacon and eating it in the field. My flame thrower must be hotter than yours.

Click to expand...

lol what a meal, a side arm is a must for me in Bear territory

I won't argue the efficacy of firearms. I believe there are many factors to consider and the groups using said methods. Personally, I vote firearms hands down. But I will concede that a person who knows nothing about or has no experience with firearms may be better served with pepper spray. Large caliber handguns are difficult to shoot accurately, even at close range for the average person (think typical hiker). You can see pepper spray and its continuous stream and under the stressful conditions of a bear attack, may be easier to manage. I also fully realize the limitations and effectiveness due to range, wind, and other factors that affect its usefulness. Again, I'm a proponent of firearms but I realize there is room for both and understand that each have their place.

Well...maybe replace the bear spray with Spidermans web of steel.....if it can stop a speeding auto and lift it off the ground...no bear stands a chance....

Bear Spray wont kill a bear, bullets will. Dead is the sure way to end the threat, spray will and can tic the bear off and make things worse.

The only place I can see using bear spray Is in Seattle.

J E CUSTOM

and Portland......