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Bear spray vs Bullets
- Thread starter Wyodog
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WildRose
Well-Known Member
I hear grizzlies consider it a wonderful condiment.
Old Hickory 45
Well-Known Member
I was archery bear hunting in MN when I saw an old cinnamon boar chase two young mothers and their children out of a berry patch.
I returned with an old Ithaca double 12 GA shotgun with one barrel loaded with a slug and the other barrel stoked with a cut load.
The same old devil charged and I killed him within just a few feet from where I stood. His charge was no bluff.
I have serious thought bear spray would have been worthless.
When I opened the old shotgun, I discovered I had fired the cut load. The cut load blew up three neck bones and severed the spine.
A known fact of black bears is they appear to run close to you as if running around you and suddenly step in on you. That is exactly what that old devil did. He had a clear path to run in the other direction or around me.
I returned with an old Ithaca double 12 GA shotgun with one barrel loaded with a slug and the other barrel stoked with a cut load.
The same old devil charged and I killed him within just a few feet from where I stood. His charge was no bluff.
I have serious thought bear spray would have been worthless.
When I opened the old shotgun, I discovered I had fired the cut load. The cut load blew up three neck bones and severed the spine.
A known fact of black bears is they appear to run close to you as if running around you and suddenly step in on you. That is exactly what that old devil did. He had a clear path to run in the other direction or around me.
The one scenario that really spooks the bejesus out of me is returning to a kill site to pick up remaining quarters. Even hung up 100+ yards from kill is an interesting mental challenge! I often thought how nice to have a Benelli M4 with full bore slugs under this scenario!
cornshank
Well-Known Member
When we were around 17 or so , hunting in the trinity alps
My buddy and each killed a buck and could only pack out 1 1/2 at a time and we had to leave 1/2 to come back for the next morning.
So we hung it in a tree ,in a deer bag about 6' high ,then he says ,( rub your shirt on it and the bears won't touch it) , I look at him like he is crazy .
Next morning we set out with only a small .22 pistol and Get to within 75 yds of where the deer was and don't see the white bag in the tree?
Then a big black bear stands up from under the tree and is looking at us ,and I give a big growl , buddy try's to cover my mouth, the bear decides to give us our half back , so we cautiously sneak over , and my buddy covers me while I cut away the section the bear had just started on .
In this case I don't think the small pistol would have helped .
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Bear spray does carry with the wind. A situation where the wind is blowing in your face while using bear spray during an attack may just incapacitate you to the point where you could not use your hand gun effectively.
I had a real life experience about 12 years ago, my hunting partner had bear spray, and I carried a 44 magnum pistol. We had a black bear that kept showing up all morning as we were hunting elk, and seem to be following us. We tried the yelling and screaming and telling the bearer to go away, it didn't seem to be working for this bear. At one point we finally stood our ground and the bear just kept walking slowly towards us growling and popping his jaw. He got within about 15 feet and my partner sprayed him with bear spray, at that point it really upset him and he accelerated his move in on us. I already had my 44 magnum pistol drawn and aimed at him he got to about 6 feet from us and I fired striking him in his left eye and killed him instantly. It was asked earlier why a 44 magnum instead of one of the larger caliber pistols. I'm very accurate with my 44 mag, and the follow up shots are just as accurate. I tried a 500 Smith & Wesson, and it was not as accurate for me. I found a 44 mag to be more trustworthy for me . So I always carry my pistol, I don't worry about the bear spray.
Grizzly60
Well-Known Member
Just add salt to the pepper spray, and you'd be salt and peppered. Taste better.
Calvin45
Well-Known Member
Some people prefer their food spicy (I'm one of them)….perhaps some bears acquire a taste for it over the years and find unseasoned outdoorsmen bland!
WildRose
Well-Known Member
Not only that you'll be properly seasoned why hacking, gagging, throwing up, and blind.
Quick snack for a big bear.
WildRose
Well-Known Member
Even a light .44mag is punishing for a lot of people to shoot.
Whether it's self defense against bears or bad guys, you've got to be able to handle the recoil when that moment comes and for several shots because one usually won't do it.
I carry 240gr JHP's in the 44mag and 210JHP's in the .41. I have 225gr JHP's for the 10mm for big hogs and bears if/when I'm in bear country.
With the new digs, we are now in bear country all the time so it's a bit of an issue.
What is a cut load?
HARPERC
Well-Known Member
Dooner
Well-Known Member
Cut around the shot shell so that when you pull the trigger, the whole intact portion of the load shoots out the barrel. We used to call it reaming a shell.
