9mm Handgun puts down Charging Bear

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 6/20/2018 | J Hines

[awelliott]

Yep, that was definitely a Hail Mary....

[Delta 21]

Anyone that relies on LUCK when dealing with firearms and bears is an IDIOT.

I wonder what he will carry with him the next time he goes into bear country?

[Delta 21]

Bears are people too!

[BlueLancer]

Sorry, but I prefer my calibers a little bit larger ...

[Delta 21]

4-6 foot penetration into bone and flesh from a 9mm +p?

Crushing is so much more graphically entertaining than slipping and sliding but call me very skeptical.

[TheNext]

1911 45 proven in 2 World Wars

[Blood of Tyrants]

If a bear is charging, you’ll empty all the rounds you have in a revolver, too.

[Fightin Whitey]

Agreed.

[CommerceComet]

That would work but I think the bazooka would be sufficient as well. Who worries about penetration when you have explosive rounds?

[marktwain]

There have been four successful, documented uses of 9 mm handguns to stop bear attacks. One was a black bear in Colorado, two grizzlys in Alaska (the Phil Shoemaker account is one of these) and one grizzly in Montana.

http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2018/02/defense-against-bears-with-pistols-97_25.html

[BlueLancer]

That would work but I think the bazooka would be sufficient as well. Who worries about penetration when you have explosive rounds?

True, but not when you're aiming at the bear two counties away ...

[jonascord]

There is this rumor about punctuation..

[CommerceComet]

I had heard, not supported, that a good number of natives in Alaska carry 243s. I love my 243 browning but I am not so sure I would take it with me into bear country.

I was recently watching a documentary about a survivor of a polar bear mauling returning to the site of the attack. The Canadian government requires armed guides to accompany visitors in this area. The video showed the guide loading the rifle: a .243 Winchester. I was astounded. Personally, I'd want a mid-.30 caliber magnum (probably a .358 Norma or a .338 Lapua as the Scandinavians apparently know how to deal with big bears) or a .45-70 with high-pressure bear loads.

[DesertRhino]

Lacked penetration? Buffalo Bore 9mm hardcast gives 4 to 6 FEET of penetration depending on the bone vs soft tissue combo.

He shot it in the vitals because that was the shot he had. A brain shot didn’t present itself. But that round could have easily brained him through a bear skull.

[DesertRhino]

“I’d have thought that all a 9mm would do is make the bear angry.”

That’s true. Just ask anybody. Also a .25 acp can’t penetrate a leather jacket and can’t kill anyone.

[leopud]

yes, the description’s 4-6 feet seems optimistic...
But for the reference: NATO spec. 9mm 124 FMJ can penetrate in excess of 32 inches of calibrated ordnance gelatin as a “general rule”.

[leopud]

P.S. as further reference, for extrapolation...:
9mm 115 FMJ penetrates about 24 in of calibrated ordnance gelatin

[DesertRhino]

Buffalo Bore is pretty meticulous in their claims. For example, they do not list ridiculous velocities from test barrels like most manufacturers. They list actual chrono results from specific pistols of varying barrel lengths.

IE.. they tell you from a 1911, a glock 19, and a subcompact of some kind.

If they say 4 to 6 feet, you can take it to the bank. It HAS been proven. And the variance probably depends on how much bone it has to break through.

[leopud]

Optimistic synonyms: auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, hopeful, likely, promising, propitious, rose-colored, roseate, rosy, upbeat;

[Sa-teef]

My 25-06 Remington is a fine load for open range antelope and deer. But I would feel much more comfortable in Alaska heavy cover if my guide was "loaded for bear".

None of us were there but I'm glad it worked out for these folks.