Posted on 10/15/2023 5:06:35 AM PDT by marktwain
A surprising result of the research to determine if handguns are effective when used in defense against bears is that they appear to be more effective than rifles or shotguns. This is a surprise. Rifles and shotguns tend to be more powerful than pistols. They are also easier to use accurately at a distance. When expecting a bear encounter, the preferred firearm is almost always a high-powered rifle or a shotgun.
Much of the advantage of accuracy at the range of rifles and shotguns is eliminated because most defenses against bears occur at very close ranges. Defensive handguns have been designed with close-range defense in mind. They are specifically designed for quick access and repeated fast shots at close range.
In the study, Efficacy of Firearms for Bear Deterrence in Alaska, the authors found handguns to be marginally more effective than long guns, with long guns at 76% effective and handguns at 84% effective. Herrero and Smith, the authors of the study, note because of the small sample, this is not a statistically valid difference. The study included many instances where a firearm was not fired for various reasons.
One of the main reasons handguns appear to be more effective is because they are fired more often in defense against bears. Handguns are meant to be carried on the person, usually in a holster. Holsters are ergonomically designed and extensively tested to allow quick access during stress. The same holsters are designed to prevent the firearm from being lost during strenuous activity.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
The statistics are very difficult to know. Successful defenses, where the perp runs off without physical harm to anyone, are seldom reported.
It appears success is in the 95%+ range.
A moos on the other hand...
“Moose”. LOL! I supposed they moo a little.
No, no, no! Honey...just give us honey and we will go away.
I have an Alexander Arms “Beowulf AR50” w/ 375gr FMJs/HPs and take that into the woods with my CCW sidearm Kimber 1911 “Ecxlipse Target II” .45cal ACP w/230gr FMJ/HPs, and that one goes everywhere with me. I’ve never seen a bear here in south central PA, but have once seen a large grey wolf, which disappeared quickly with a chicken in its mouth, probably from a local farm. We do have black bears, but they’re further north.
He might have the same plan.
Yeah....Niggly Bears.
That looks painful.
On my list is to go test fire some large caliber sidearms which I’ve never handled, including the 500 and the Desert Eagle 50AE and 44MAG (the latter of which appears rather impressive with a compensator, and 8 rounds to-boot).
Bear attacks and Progressive attacks as well
Any mention of different handgun ammunition? Not just bullet shape or composition, but how many grains of propellant?
And since prior to hibernation, bears tend to put on a lot of fat, I imagine penetration can vary a lot.
Only a few cases have that level of detail. In one case, it was claimed hollowpoint defensive .40 caliber ammo did not penetrate well, but a forensic analysis was not done.
I have been a student of the defensive use of firearms against wild things since the 1980’s. I killed a charging black bear in my yard in Alaska with a .308 rifle and deterred a charging brown bear with 12 ga cracker shells. Both encounters were less than 25 yards when I opened fire. Handguns are for last ditch survival and are very specialized for this purpose. I carry a Ruger Redhawk .44 magnum loaded with heavy cast lead solid bullets at high velocity in an easily accessible chest holster. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Draw, flash sight picture, fire, repeat, repeat, repeat until it becomes automatic. If you have time grab a long gun. I now live in NW Montana with lots of black bears and an increasing grizzly population. Most importantly BE BEAR AWARE!
Haven’t been in brown bear country, lately, but if I were somewhere where there was a chance of running into Yogi I would carry a rifle or 12 guage and a 10mm.
Intetesting study, though.
It’s always better to be armed.
Thanks.
Never gets old.
Like “I don’t have to outrun him, Paleface, I, just, have to outrun you!”🤣
Many shots with a 10mm Glock is better that one or two from a revolver i n a similar amount of time. The muzzle rise from a .454 Casul or other hard kicking magnum makes followup shots slower than a with semiauto weapon.
True, but then you could beat the bear to death with it.
I agree. I can handle MY.44 mag shooting MY ammo because that is what I have practiced with since I got my first Redhawk in 1982. I tried a .454 Casull and that is too much for me. 10mm is VERY controllable. No matter what you use there will only be three seconds or less to get it done so you MUST practice because a 105mm howitzer firing beehive rounds won’t fit my chest holster…
Beau carries his ‘Hand Cannon’ which is this HUGE revolver that he uses for Black Bear. I can hardly LIFT the thing, let alone fire it.
“The guide carried a 12-gauge shotgun for defense against bears”
Saw a video a few years ago of seal watching trip in either Canada or Norway. The guide carried a relatively short barreled 12 gauge pump shot gun across his chest for polar bear defense. First shell or maybe two was a “firecracker’ type to deter bear then buckshot then last 2-3 were slugs. Had to carry it or a rifle by law.
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