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Research Shows Handguns Best Defense in Bear Attacks
AmmoLand ^ | October 12, 2023 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 10/15/2023 5:06:35 AM PDT by marktwain

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To: existentially_kuffer
Instead of an attacking bear how about defending yourself against a robbery or a rapist with a handgun? At least there’s a chance once the perp sees the weapon would think twice.

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.

21 posted on 10/15/2023 5:58:47 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain
We only have black bears around here. A humble .375 will take care of one, not that they are generally aggressive as they have mostly moved to the suburbs to dine on a superabundance of garbage that people leave out.

A moos on the other hand...

22 posted on 10/15/2023 6:00:11 AM PDT by Sirius Lee (They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
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To: Sirius Lee

“Moose”. LOL! I supposed they moo a little.


23 posted on 10/15/2023 6:00:47 AM PDT by Sirius Lee (They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
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To: marktwain

No, no, no! Honey...just give us honey and we will go away.


24 posted on 10/15/2023 6:06:33 AM PDT by AndyTheBear (Certified smarter than average for my species)
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To: marktwain

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.


25 posted on 10/15/2023 6:43:09 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (A society grows great when old men plant trees, in whose shade they know they will never sit.)
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To: Jonty30

He might have the same plan.


26 posted on 10/15/2023 6:45:49 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: marktwain

Yeah....Niggly Bears.


27 posted on 10/15/2023 7:04:58 AM PDT by know.your.why (<>)
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To: EvilCapitalist

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).


28 posted on 10/15/2023 7:23:40 AM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: marktwain

Bear attacks and Progressive attacks as well


29 posted on 10/15/2023 7:26:22 AM PDT by bert ( (KWE. NP. N.C. +12) Joe Biden is a kleptocrat)
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To: marktwain

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.


30 posted on 10/15/2023 7:29:28 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy ("All he had was a handgun. Why did you think that was a threat?" --Rittenhouse Prosecutor)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

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.


31 posted on 10/15/2023 8:14:10 AM PDT by marktwain
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To: marktwain

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!


32 posted on 10/15/2023 8:45:19 AM PDT by 43north (America doesn't need an election. We need an exorcism.)
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To: marktwain

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.


33 posted on 10/15/2023 9:00:39 AM PDT by Eagles6 (Welcome to the Matrix . Orwell's "1984" was a warning, not an instruction manual.)
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To: Boomer

Never gets old.
Like “I don’t have to outrun him, Paleface, I, just, have to outrun you!”🤣


34 posted on 10/15/2023 9:02:26 AM PDT by Eagles6 (Welcome to the Matrix . Orwell's "1984" was a warning, not an instruction manual.)
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To: 43north

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.


35 posted on 10/15/2023 9:05:48 AM PDT by Colt1851Navy (What was wrong with Nixon?)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
Good to know! (Just in case the hounds find a grizzly that has relocated east of the Mississippi!)
36 posted on 10/15/2023 9:44:07 AM PDT by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: circlecity
Better get the job done with your 1st shot

True, but then you could beat the bear to death with it.

37 posted on 10/15/2023 10:02:46 AM PDT by Rinnwald
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To: Colt1851Navy

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…


38 posted on 10/15/2023 11:50:45 AM PDT by 43north (America doesn't need an election. We need an exorcism.)
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To: Pete from Shawnee Mission

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.


39 posted on 10/15/2023 11:55:17 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Leaning Right

“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.


40 posted on 10/15/2023 12:06:20 PM PDT by nomorelurker
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