Posted on 03/20/2019 3:52:48 AM PDT by marktwain
In January 2018, I published some original research on the efficacy of pistols in stopping bear attacks. It started with this observation, on the Internet, and in print, many people claim that pistols lack efficacy in defending against bear attacks. Here is an example that occurred on freerepublic.com:
“Actually, there are legions of people who have been badly mauled after using a handgun on a bear. Even some of the vaunted magnums.”
OK, give us a few examples. As you claim “legions”, it should not be too hard.
I never received a response. I believe the claim was made in good faith. There has been much conjecture about the lack of efficacy of pistols for defense against bears. A little searching will find a plethora of fantasy, fiction, mythology, and electrons sprayed about the supposed lack.
In the original article, there were 37 instances of bear attacks where people attempted to defend themselves or others from a bear or bears, with a pistol.
The criteria for inclusion in this study is a pistol had to be fired to defend against a bear or bears. If a pistol was not fired, the incident was not included. If the use of the pistol stopped the attack, it was a success whether the bear was killed immediately, or left the scene, as long as it stopped attacking.
All methods of defense against bears have similar problems of access.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Three cases where the use of the handgun failed to stop the attack.
95% success rate. Better than bear spray. Includes exerpts and links to all incidents, from .22 rimfire to .460 S&W magnum.
I survived a Kodak bear attack with just a .22 picket pistol.
My buddy that I shot in the knee was not as lucky.
(Yes, a joke.)
Thanks. A variation I had not heard on an oldie but goodie.
If I hiked in bear country often (I don’t) I would carry a Taurus Judge. Unless anyone has a better suggestion.
.22 Picket,,,
.
Don’t Laugh!
.22 Long brought down a Record
Size Bear many years ago.
Fired by an older Indian woman
with a bolt action Rifle!
Lead spray is ALWAYS better than bear spray. And always carry a very sharp 8 inch hunting knife. There are other two legged predators out there just as dangerous.
I once killed a bear in my pajamas. How he got in there I’ll never know.
Really? A 410 slug will not stop a grizzly at 14,000psi. The .45 Colt this Taurus Judge can handle is standard .45 Colt loads. Better off with a Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt. These can be loaded to “Ruger Only” loads. These magnum loads are 30,000 psi. A true magnum load
Thank you Captain Spaulding.
I saw that picture, she got it right in the eye as it was at a full charge. I think there was a lot of luck involved heh.
She was actually a young teen at the time. She shot it with a .22 Long in the side of the head and it went down. She then followed up with all the ammo she had in the same place. The skull and story is online if you want to see it.
The Judge can take a .45 Colt round. The Judge is a versatile weapon that can be used in many situations. Plus, many people in the article used .22, .308, and 9mm to fend off bears. I think the Judge would do just fine.
Will my .357 Magnum be enough?
Ruger Alaskan in .454 Casull or .480 Ruger. Plenty of stopping power, and accurate, too. They were designed from the get-go with bear defense in mind.
95% success rate is good news. Sucks to be in the 5%........
There are these stories and I have heard personal accounts, but having a bear live isn’t the same as having a bear not stop its attack.
I have never heard of the bear continuing to attack after being shot.
http://www.bear-hunting.com/2017/7/45-caliber-found-in-bear-s-skull-july-15-2017
I’ll have to read that again. The one I saw was hanging in a building, I forget where I was, and it showed her with her rifle and this bear. The blurb under it just read that it was shot in the eye with a single shot 22. It was 1906 if I recall. I’ll be interested to see if it’s the same incident. Sounds like a wee bit of embellishing was going on then.
I’m thinking the success rate could be significantly higher.
A successful defense might not be reported, if the person thought he might have “issues” with state or fed authorities over having a gun, or firing a gun in a park.
An unsuccessful defense, where the person was mauled or killed and he had a gun, is much more likely to be recorded.
The one time I had to draw my gun against a 2-legged predator, was not reported to police. I figured nothing positive (for me) would come of it.
I’m sure Marktwain can
Post a link to That Story.
Thanks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.