Bear protection handguns?

I've got some packs of Black Cat fire crackers. Way more than 15 + one pops.

Way more effective than 15 + 1 in any 10mm scattergun. Lighter to pack around too! Better than both the big advantages quoted for the 10mm Autos.
How thoughtful of phorwath to supply fireworks for the bears to celebrate eating him........
 
Tough way to make a living, robbing restaurants. How many restaurants does one have to rob, to survive over a lifetime?

Evidently not so many, if you also suck as an armed robber. Shoot yourself and die in the process. Or someone else takes you down.

Short-lived career, either way...
If I remember correctly, he was about 23 YOA. The reason I was right there is because he and his partner, (another unit caught him about a mile away) had been hitting restaurants in that area every day for a week or so. He was out on bail for another robbery and was no great loss to the world. The 60 some odd dollars we recovered (this was 1974) would have kept him and his partner in heroin for a day. His last words were, "Tell my momma I'm sorry." I did just that when I delivered the death notice.
 
How thoughtful of phorwath to supply fireworks for the bears to celebrate eating him........

Just catching up here, and I sense your 10mm may have felt maligned by my post. So I went back and read it again. It just doesn't seem that bad.

But I thought I should add, they really are pretty powerful! The Black Cats, I mean.

That, and a guy can carry a 1000 pack. Barely notice the weight.
 
Holy moly, the amount of pontification on this thread is amazing. Because I love this subject, I tried hard to get through it but I think most of you missed the most important post of the 24 pages. The article Cfrey referenced is an analysis of actual bear encounters when handguns were actually used in self-defense. Successful defense=attackee lived. Caliber, energy, rounds carried, sectional density, blah, blah, blah. When it was all said and done, even the .22lr was effective in thwarting most bear attacks. Really good, informative article. Makes all of the theories and arguments pale. Carry on!

I'll challenge anybody regarding the 10mm and it's adequacy in the woods for bear defense. It's a good argument and I understand the reasoning behind others lack of confidence in using it. For me, it's only possibly the reliability and that exists in a revolver to a degree as well. What I can't do is stand behind someone saying that the .22 rimfire is in the same group for bear defense. Even if it's the only pistol I own, I know I wouldn't have it on my hip for bear protection. I'd sling a lightweight, short barreled 12GA and have it where it's easily accessible. The bow would be on my back while traveling thru bear country. Sure a .22 RF COULD kill a bear if it was completely relaxed possibly feeding and the bullet was placed perfectly thru a soft area or open orifice in the skull if the bullet could reach the brain. I don't think a bear hit anywhere else by a .22 RF would even know it was hit while in a charge on a human. That alone wouldn't kill an attacking bear regardless of how many shots were taken. Soft light bullets just won't make it where they need to go. I'd take my chances with a .380 fmj first. I'd still be a pile of snot, guts and hair in the end. Real good chance I would with any pistol I used regardless.
 
If I remember correctly, he was about 23 YOA. The reason I was right there is because he and his partner, (another unit caught him about a mile away) had been hitting restaurants in that area every day for a week or so. He was out on bail for another robbery and was no great loss to the world. The 60 some odd dollars we recovered (this was 1974) would have kept him and his partner in heroin for a day. His last words were, "Tell my momma I'm sorry." I did just that when I delivered the death notice.
As Johnnie Cash would have sung, "Momma tried, Momma tried...."
 
I'll challenge anybody regarding the 10mm and it's adequacy in the woods for bear defense. It's a good argument and I understand the reasoning behind others lack of confidence in using it. For me, it's only possibly the reliability and that exists in a revolver to a degree as well. What I can't do is stand behind someone saying that the .22 rimfire is in the same group for bear defense. Even if it's the only pistol I own, I know I wouldn't have it on my hip for bear protection. I'd sling a lightweight, short barreled 12GA and have it where it's easily accessible. The bow would be on my back while traveling thru bear country. Sure a .22 RF COULD kill a bear if it was completely relaxed possibly feeding and the bullet was placed perfectly thru a soft area or open orifice in the skull if the bullet could reach the brain. I don't think a bear hit anywhere else by a .22 RF would even know it was hit while in a charge on a human. That alone wouldn't kill an attacking bear regardless of how many shots were taken. Soft light bullets just won't make it where they need to go. I'd take my chances with a .380 fmj first. I'd still be a pile of snot, guts and hair in the end. Real good chance I would with any pistol I used regardless.
What's that old story about the 22LR being a great bear gun...........for shooting your girlfriend in the knee as you run from a bear. I image that's why many girls carry .380s. :) :) :)
 
Kinda thinking a .22 to the knee isn't necessary, a bear will catch the fastest runner.
I hope so, let that predatory response kick in. But if it catches wind of me he might think I'm a "Kobe" hooman. Especially while at hunting camp ;)
 
As mentioned B4, the Gun Fighter Kenai holster is your friend.

Mine's packed in the truck for my afternoon hike down by West Yellowstone this afternoon
Kenai is an excellent holster but it did not work well for my Glock 40. It was too tight and I cannot take it out of the holster without holding the holster or strap. My gunsmith has the same handgun but had to some mod with it. I ended up with a Diamond Outdoors holster and it ones with mad holder for half the price. But best of all I can pull it out of foster easily with one hand. Cheers!
 
Kinda thinking a .22 to the knee isn't necessary, a bear will catch the fastest runner.
The .22LR to the knee keeps GF from out running you. Bear catches slowest runner first, for appetizer, faster runner shortly thereafter for dessert, allowing faster runner to die all sweaty. Kinda like salty people seasoning for the bear. Yum, Yum.....
 
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