Shooting a problem bear at a distance, with a long gun is likely to solve the bear problem without it being considered defensive.
I’d want a S&W 500 magnum.
And in other research, expert scientists have proven the sun comes up in the east.
Trust the science!
Yes, even a small caliber pistol shot through the leg of your hiking buddy will give you the time to get away.
(old joke, I know)
“because of the small sample, this is not a statistically valid difference.”
So the headline is completely wrong.
The fumble factor for sure, handguns are quicker to access and use. Long guns strapped over shoulders may or may not be ready to fire.
And fending off attack doesn’t mean killing the animal, just stopping it from killing you.
A friend of mine was part of a hunting party in Alaska. The guide carried a 12-gauge shotgun for defense against bears. Short barrel, and double barrel.
“Why a double-barreled shotgun?” my friend asked.
“Because two shots are all you’re gonna get,” was the reply.
I suppose the guide also carried a handgun. My friend forgot to ask about that.
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.
A moos on the other hand...
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.
Yeah....Niggly Bears.
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.
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.
I dropped a 45 several months back. It went off and shot my leg. Blew left shinn in two. My guess is a 45 is a pretty good defensive round for shooting a bear….
U.S. drafts plan to bring grizzly bears back to Washington’s North Cascades
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-drafts-plan-to-bring-grizzly-bears-back-to-washington-s-north-cascades/ar-AA1jnpUq