Study: Guns no more effective than pepper spray in bear encounters

Star-Tribune ^ | March 25, 2012 | KELSEY DAYTON

[caveat emptor]

The team found firing a gun is no more effective in keeping people from injury or death during bear attacks than not using a firearm.

Depends on whether you kill the bear with the firearm. My son took out a grizzly that was raiding his tree-planting camp kitchen in northern BC with a shotgun. Absolutely no chance of injury or death from that bear attack. I'll go with a firearm 7 days a week.

[Pollster1]

Who wants to deter a bear? With the right weapon, you can eliminate the problem and cook dinner at the same time.

[2harddrive]

One simply cannot derive the conslusion they presented, based upon the facts in evidence!

[sasquatch]

.500 Linebaugh revolver

That'll work.

[aviator]

Someone pointed out that all you need is a .22 pistol. Shoot your partner in the leg so that you can out-run him.

[Jeff Chandler]

.460 S&W Magnum

Those are FUN to shoot. And yeah, it would hurt a bear in a serious way. The ammo resembles rifle rounds, LOL!

[RetiredTexasVet]

Another government/environmentalist study that only lacks the stamp of approval by Mann, Hansen, Jones or other self acclaimed and infallible expert!

[Georgia Girl 2]

Spray and pray?

[GladesGuru]

Google “Dragon’s Breath” ammo.

Burnt Bruin!

[dfwgator]

Of course with sea bears, you need an anti-sea bear circle.

[dangerdoc]

Considering you are dealing with an animal with teeth and claws measured in inches, vital organs either feet of soft tissue or inches of bone away and the ability to run you to the ground even after being shot, avoiding pissing it off is probably wise.

In Alaska, hunters are on the menu.

[SaraJohnson]

Is this a joke?

[diogenes ghost]

"I think pepper spray is more effective than most people think."

Except in Canada, where pepper spray is considered a weapon and deemed illegal.....unless it is labeled 'bear spray'."

Bought a pack of spray from Cabelas that had three different sizes of sprays in one package. Was asked about them at Canadian customs in Hyder, AK, they inspected them and confiscated two...all three had drawings of bears on them, but only one said 'bear spray' making it legal.

And trust me, Hyder IS bear country, a fatality having occured there recently.

[rlmorel]

Hahaha...no, I am a lousy shot. Partly because my vision sucks, but mostly because I haven’t had enough instruction or practice.

I’ll tell you, I could just as likely be one of those people who wouldn’t even get off a shot.

If I want the gun, it is mostly because psychologically it makes me FEEL safer!

[Inyo-Mono]

or a Saiga shotgun with a 12 round magazine loaded with Brenneke slugs.

That would be my first choice.

[Talisker]

Still I think I would prefer a hot loaded S&W model 29 (hard cast Keith style 240 grain bullet) with a 5 inch barrel. I would rather have an even more powerful handgun but then you start talking about so much weight, one might not carry it.

That's precisely the problem this was created to solve:

Smith & Wesson’s 329PD .44 Magnum Lightweight Revolver

[Tupelo]

I am not one that is in love with large caliber handguns for my trail gun. I have heard of at least one Grizzly taken with a .22. LR or magnum? I don't know.
But there are exceptions to every rule. For a trail gun in Alaska, I think the .454 or .500 are a good starting point. At least until something bigger and better comes along.

[TheBattman]

Ummm... so a .44 Magnum revolver isn’t any more effective in deterring or ending a bear attack than pepper spray? I just don’t buy that. A couple of .44 slugs to center-body mass or head won’t slow down or stop a bear attack?

Please...

[Vendome]

Really? And bears are all cuddly.

I’ll take a galling gun loaded with .338 over pepper spray.

Or a friend with a broken leg.

[NonValueAdded]

You should carry a Kanawa in bear country.