Posted on 09/15/2018 6:38:54 AM PDT by marktwain
I had heard this story before, at ;east where the dead bear’s jaw was twisted into the guys calf muscle and they had to cut the head off, but this story fills in what happened and ALL the gory details.
God job posting, too. No formatting issues at all!
Great nugget of info here for my fellow Glock shooters...contact shots with a. Glock are problematic.
If the slide is 1/8 of an inch punched back the gun is out of battery and will not fire.
Well, he is an experienced bear guide. I don’t think he is stupid, or doesn’t know bears, but he let complacency get the best of him.
I just know I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss his misfortune as simple stupidity, but rather Murphy’s law happens to the best of us.
I’ve known too many great Air Force pilots who auger in, because of complacency or just taking one to many changes.
Death eventually catches us all, despite the best caution.
A Charging Bear!?!
He’s looking at a Hellfire Missile
As far as I’m concerned!
.
Live Long and Prosper!
#1 - You are 180 degrees wrong. When hunting dangerous game you need straight line penetration, NOT expansion. All serious dangerous game loads for any handgun utilize hard cast lead bullets that just blast through hide, muscle, and bone without expanding to reach the vitals. The Hornady Critical Defense line are law enforcement loads meant for use on humans, not bears. Here in N. Idaho I carry a .357 magnum loaded with 185gr. hard cast lead bullets with a big flat point. I am confident in my ability to stop an attack by any predator around here with that weapon (if I don’t happen to having a 12 gauge or my .45/70 handy).
#2 - Bear meat can be delicious depending on what they have been eating and the how it is prepared. Bears are often infected with trichinosis which can be fatal to humans so the meat must be cooked thoroughly to kill the larvae. I once harvested a Prince William Sound Alaska black bear. All he had been eating was beach grass (Grass fed bear?). We made a Yankee Pot Roast out of his hind quarter for our wedding and it was delicious. A few years later in the Spring of 1990 I shot a charging black bear in my back yard in Wasilla, AK who had been feeding on a rotten winter kill moose. We butchered it properly. The meat stunk so bad when I tried to cook it that I ran outside with the frying pan and flung the meat into the woods. I had two Labs who would eat anything and they wouldn’t touch that meat. Off to the dump with the bear meat.
I have the hides of both of those bears displayed on walls in my house. I wouldn’t think of using the hides of such fine animals as throw rugs! I also made nice mounts with the skulls. Big teeth!
I read a study some guy did on point blank discharge into an animal (he use cows at a slaughterhouse, but the research was about bear), and the results were uniformly bad.
He used several different models of semi-autos (1911, Glocks, Hi-Power) and revolvers.
Hide, hair, flesh and just gunk very often tied up the gun, and the take away was never use a semi point blank on a bear if you can help it. Back it off 6 inches.
Revolvers didn't have any issues.
I was born in Raton and grew up in CO near Trinidad. Lots of bear in the area.
A friend of mine is a tactical firearms instructor with about 35 years experience. We were talking about revolver vs. high cap semi in a gun fight. My question assumed a situation where a CC carrier with good basic training but no prior experience in a fire fight has to go to guns. In that circumstance, which type is better? I argued revolver on the grounds of simplicity. I was told that extensive studies have be made regarding percentage of shot placement by first time fighters at close range. When the fear and adrenaline hit, fine motor control goes right out the window. The on target shot percentage is about 18%. So, a 5 round revolver likely won't produce a hit. A six round pistol produces just over 1 hit. I've been told to go with capacity.
An old saying goes “A pistol is something to use to fight your way to where you left your rifle”
That being said I went through a three year period in the mid 90s, where I only carried my Redhawk in .44 magnum while deer hunting. Up to 75 yards (my set limit) it drops them as quickly as when I use a 30-06 or 12 gauge slugs.
The Marlin Guide gun in .45-70 (Which i load to very hot…not for Trapdoor pressures) is what I would carry on Kodiak Island. That or a pump mossberg or Remington 870 with sabot slugs. Short easy to swing and powerful.
Yeah, FBI requirements of 12” min penetration is on humans. Pretty sure you’d want a good bit more on 400 lb bears.
Is w1n1 your editor?
(messinwithya)
Yeah probably a semi auto is better for most.
I have been considered an ‘ok’ shot (going down hill with age). I’ve shot a bit in competition. Not great…not last. I have hunted with pistols.
I have never HAD to save myself from a dangerous situation. I have no idea what would happen if a threat was present. I’d like to think I’d keep my presence of mind at that time, but who knows until you’re put in that situation
When I carry in town it’s semi auto light compact 9mm. When I walk through the woods in my hunting camp (not while hunting) where there are black bears or perhaps a rabid raccoon, a .45 Blackhawk with hot loads or a 1911 .45acp which is lighter to carry. (I’ve moved toward lighter carry pieces as I age)
My primary bear protection gun is a tubular magazine 12 gage loaded with 10 375 GR slugs, if I don't have that slung across my back then it is a short barreled Winchester 94 stoked with corbon 45LC +P 225 Gr DPX ammo.
I have not hunted bear in decades but have killed two in the last twenty years because they were bothering my livestock or would not leave our home.
The last one I killed came into our home grounds and tore the door off of my garbage shed and refused to leave. Dead bear.
The one before that was during a family horse/mule packing camping trip in a large designated federal wilderness area. We were many miles from the trail head or vehicle access.
This one came to the edge of our camp, and decided to fight my big dogs. The dogs stood him up and I took him down. The bear died, my family, dogs, and livestock were a little worked up but safe.
We live out with the critters and most of the time there is zero threat to us or our domestic animals.
When a threat from a bear or cat comes up we survive and they do not. I've had more big cat problems than bear problems over the years.
No problem. I keep us safe and there are sudden and quick consequences when the big predators become a direct threat to us or our livestock. I'm at the top of the food chain/pecking order and fully intend to stay that way. These situations are rare but real and come with where we live and our lifestyle. This is not the city nor even the "rural" city people think about. This is an area that is far from any civilization that most of our state and country doesn't even know exists. Our home sits 50 miles from any medical provider and 85 miles from the nearest hospital. We are responsible for our own security from both two and four footed animals.
Good advice.
When there was a rogue bear that attacked two people a month or so apart in my neighborhood about a year and a half ago, I started carrying my .454 or my Beowulf instead of my usual EDC, for a while, but that got kind of tiresome and cumbersome for doing chores etc.
So, I converted one of my 1911s to .460 Rowland and use .255 gr hard cast Buffalo Bore ammo, or 260 grain jacketed flat point handloads in it.
... although the Lehigh Defense 200 grain Penetrators show a lot of promise, combining velocity, significant tissue disruption and penetration.
I agree. It would seem that a little bit is missing from the story. Glad he’s alive to tell it though.
Thanks for your insights.
FYI Ping
I recall something about a gal hitting a guy in the back with a pipe or something. He was able to still attack her. Some thought it was a lack of resolve or whatever to smash his head in with the pipe. Perhaps the same with this bear on those initial few shots? Thank goodness the guy survived.
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