Grizzly bear shot in self defense at 10 feet by Jimmy Cox with a 10mm, Sept. 18, 2018, AK
Posted on 05/13/2024 5:53:21 AM PDT by marktwain
The use of handguns as a defense against bears has been shown to be effective 98% of the time. In this study, all cases that can be documented, where a handgun was fired in defense against a bear, are included. This is done by design to guard against selection bias. All cases cite the source for the case information. Unlike other attempts to put a number on how effective handguns, long guns, or bear spray are in defending against bears, every case is described to readers so they can come to their own conclusions. Readers may disregard any incidents at their discretion. They may evaluate the cases themselves. One of the keys to a convincing inquiry is the availability of the data used. If a researcher will not show you the data, it is a matter of concern. Research cannot be duplicated unless the base data is understood.
Cases where a handgun was not fired are not included. Access problems for defensive weapons, such as handguns, long guns, bear spray, and edged weapons, are very similar. If the handgun or bear spray is left in a pack, it is much less likely to be used. The result is the same if the victim is unwilling to practice with their defensive tool so they are reasonably proficient. Extreme accuracy and speed with handguns are seldom necessary. Spray that is not sprayed or firearms that are not fired do not reflect on the ability of the device to stop bears.
As the number of documented incidents where pistols were fired as a defense against bears increased, the entire list became awkward. This is a link to the last full list of 104 incidents, published on June 21, 2021.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
The difference in this study is all the sources are identified and readers can read the synopsis of events anf make their own judgement as to the usefulness of the handgun in the event.
The famous papers by Tom Smith and Stephen Herrero do not identify incidents and have not released their data to the public.
Grizzly bear shot in self defense at 10 feet by Jimmy Cox with a 10mm, Sept. 18, 2018, AK
“ Cases where a handgun was not fired are not included”
…why bother.
98%?
That’s pretty damn good!
Unless you happen to be in the 2%................
Just the bear necessities..................
No fair to the bear!
No fair to the bear!
No fair to the bear!
Grizzly’s are a force to be reckoned with. Hand guns aren’t so effective with them I understand. Perhaps a 357? 44?
And not necessarily a large caliber pistol either. A .22 saved my life when I was hiking with my girlfriend when we unexpectedly roused a black bear. When it charged, reflexes took over, I pulled my pistol and took a hurried shot that struck my girlfriend in the leg and I was able to get away unharmed. So, yes, even a .22 pistol can save your life too.
LOL!
“I’ll be safe from a bear. I only have to run faster than YOU!”
That was hilarious!
Read the study.
Handguns are just as effective against grizzlies
That’s been the standard response for most people, but Dean is proving this to be a myth. Even a grizzly can be deterred from attacking when you fire a smaller caliber weapon at it.
And the idea is not to kill it but stop it from attacking.
Go read some of his other published articles on bears. He’s done a lot of research on this.
Here are the three previous cases and the last failure which makes up the 2%.
Bears might or might not be deterred by bear spray. But all these cases show they sure don’t like getting shot.
I happen to have a .357 Ruger Blackhawk Flattop that I load with Buffalo Bore hardcast bullets. That round is expected to go through 4.5 feet of griz bone and muscle before stopping. That combo was approved by Dean.
Need more range time....................
I’ve heard that .44 Magnum is the smallest caliber you should carry for Grizzly bears. The 10mm pistol in the picture wouldn’t qualify under those criteria, as the 10mm cartridge is ballistically similar to the .41 Magnum. It was obviously effective in that instance, so who knows.
Ruger’s line of Alaskan revolvers (designed for Grizzly defense) start at .44 Magnum and go up from there. They are also expensive.
https://ruger.com/products/superRedhawkAlaskan/models.html
Need more range time....................
There has been enormous pressure not to shoot problem bears, especially polar bears.
In fact, most of the polar bear populations have either grown or have stabilized. The idea polar bears were endangered has been a "climate change" myth, now shown to be false.
Polar bears were overhunted, but they were never in danger of extinction. When the hunting was stopped in 1976, the population has rebounded, just as you would predict.
Nice shootin’ Jimmy.
I’m thinking of hiking in bear country next month, do you want to join me?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.