The guys got lucky.. How in the hell did our ancestors kill them with a rock tied on the end of a stick? What is the title of Craig Boddingtons book? A Smith & Wesson Model 29, in .44 Remington Magnum - completely in the vein of Dirty Harry - still makes an excellent choice for the bear woods. The cartridge, when loaded properly, delivers more than enough energy to stop even the largest grizzly bear. You need to drop it in its tracks and firing off many multiple rounds, otherwise with that much recoil will be like the miracle in Pulp Fiction. Wont take too long until you go viral. As he fell, he bit at the ground and ended up with a mouthful of sod. I grew up half the time in Alaska and the other half in Seattle. I dont even know if Hank The Anonymous was insulting me, or how, or about what, because Hank cannot use words. Make sure to have several encounters. However, if you are reasonably accurate, a single strike on a vital area of a grizzly bear such as the head, shoulder, or internal vitals will generally produce a quick and humane kill. My uncle Dale dropped a charging sow with a neck shot at the same distance with a s&w 629. Remember that 44 mag ammo is not a magic bullet you still need to know how to use it effectively, Make yourself as big and loud as possible; shout and clap your hands, Try to scare the bear away by throwing objects at it or spraying it with pepper spray, If those things dont work, use your firearm to shoot the bear in the most vital areas: its head, chest or neck, The minimum caliber for black bear is .30-06 Springfield, A well placed shot from a .44 Magnum will penetrate both shoulders of a black bear with ease, When hunting black bear, use a rifle with good sights and a scope, Remember that handguns are not as powerful as rifles and may not provide enough penetration on larger bears. He or she could have one of the following, a 44 or larger with at least 300 grain flat nose, or a 12 guage shorty with 00 buck or a Brennicke slug. Kim had a Glock model 20 10 mm pistol with him. Do you actually think that you impress anyone by imitating other men? However, if we are considering the average person on an outdoor adventure, we need to look at the best fit option. The bear was just as startled as I. You have access to the Internets, just as others do. Does a 44 Magnum rifle kick? The accurate answer is "it depends". You should instead be astonished of its success and dominance instead of blaming it on things like youre made up fake news. Then you have to get on target which is easier with a shorter, lighter gun. These things WILL hurt you and & then kill you: According to Hornady's data, the XTP bullets from a 7.5-inch barrel clock at 1350 fps and generate . 2. Make sure to practice with your chosen firearm beforehand, and always check local regulations when traveling in bear country. Check the following. I can't imagine anyone feeling comfortable packing a .44 mag. They have not released their data, but they found handguns to be 84% effective against bears, surprisingly, more effective than long guns. It was a statement that very few of us are in the far north, so very few of us are in the far-north areas where black bears are so much bigger, aggressive, and dangerous. Consider that at full speed, a grizzly can cover 50 yards in less than 4.5 seconds. For big bear defense handguns, the Smith & Wesson 629 is hard to beat. It dispels the notion that pistols are useless as a defense. A female grizzly will do almost anything to protect her cubs. In a .44 Magnum a 240-grain JSP or a 220-grain or heavier silhouette-style bullet like Federal loads commercially and other bullet makers offer for handloading are also fine choices. The statistics lie with the .44 magnum as an effective handgun against a grizzly bear attack. Hes an intelligent and well-educated man who honestly believes his own be-afraid B.S., but its still be-afraid B.S. After all your names not Hank. American Buffalo Knife and Tool Co. is adding to its line of Roper Knives with the new Sunset Series Tumble Weed. Many bear attacks happen in brush where a shorter draw is preferable. Sad! and it bounced around inside its cranium it might stop it. I had also noticed that your post of 13:49 was damned good. Some others are .50 Desert Eagle, .454 Casull, .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum and the .480 Ruger. I mention this one because of its immense stopping power at extremely close distances. When carrying 44 mag ammo for bear protection, it is also important to be aware of the range at which you are likely to encounter the animal. It doesnt mean anything. No problem. Timothy Treadwell and his girlfriend Amie Huguenard were killed in an unprovoked grizzly attack in Alaska on October 6th, 2003. This weight advantage may amount to only a few ounces on a fully loaded pistol, but after eight hours of up and down mountains on foot tracking an elk or mountain goat, even a few ounces can make a difference. Keep your distance if possible. The minimum caliber for black bear is .30-06 Springfield. Zero. 6. of energy, while 1,000 ft/lbs is considered the minimum for a bear hunting gun. NOT A SHILL FOR BUFFALO BORE, REMINGTON, HORNADY OR WINCHESTER, BLACK HILLS OR OTHERS BUT JUST LIKE THE WAY THEY HAVE ALWAYS HELPED ME SELECT THE PROPER ROUND FOR THE SITUATIONS I WOULD BE IN. the rifles were left outside the tents, but inside the protective alarm wire. No gun. Are you melting snowflake? The Griz, as he is often called, is actually the North American Brown Bear. Im pretty sure Ive seen you as a full-time, Soros-funded troll over at The Federalist. AK: Kim Woodman Kills Charging Grizzly with 10 mm 29 July, 2016 On 29 July, 2016, about 4 p.m. Kim Woodman was attacked by a sow brown bear at Humpy Creek. He was a brave soul. Bear Gun Shootout: The .44 Magnum. Wheres your manning-up and saying you were wrong, Hank? Scotty, or Cisco or whatever his current intertube name is; I believe may be afflicted with the same disability as my unfortunate nephew. The first was simply a test to see how far it would spray. They are lucky to have survived given they left their primary defensive weapon in a tree! Great story. Even sleeping! Thats a cool chest rig. It is imperative that your bear defense gun is readily available, quick to deploy and that you can place a shot on target under extreme stress. Ruger chambers the .454 Casull in both the Super Redhawk with a 4-inch barrel and the Alaskan in a 3-inch variant, both of which are compact and easy to draw when things get up close and personal. Elmer Keith developed it to hunt AK Brown bears. ALL ANIMALS UNPREDICTABLE, BEEN BUCKED OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON BY MY USUALLY DOCILE AND FAITHFUL PINTO SEVERAL TIMES AND BITTEN BY MY SCOUT DOG IN NAM ONCE ON AMBUSH WHO REDEEMED HIMSELF BY SAVING MY LIFE THE NEXT AMBUSH. Its important to remember, however, that 44 mag ammo is not a magic bullet. However, most experts recommend using a bullet with a grain weight of at least 300 in order to ensure the greatest chance of success in stopping a bear. and 2700 fps, thus delivering massive energy on target. https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2017/7/6/handguns-for-defense-in-bear-country/ .30-06 Springfield (180gr Nosler Partition at 2,750fps): 21.8 AT 1.82 per round, I can afford to go to the range to hone my skills. And if you go into the North Bush influenced by Weingarten, he just might get you killed. Your gun needs to be accessible and not overly retained. One of the more powerful handguns available today, the .454 is capable of pushing a 300-grain Buffalo Bore bullet at 1650 fps with 1,813 ft.-lbs. Im not criticizing him for that, but he didnt say it was his research. At anytime I can simply reach forward, undo the straps, grab my rifle and Im good to go, or so I thought. 44 mag ammo can help you do just that. DO NOT SEE THE MTN LIONS MUCH BUT THEY ARE OUT THERE AS SEE THE TRACKS AND A GLANCE OUT THE WINDOW ONCE IN A WHILE. When I test sprayed it, there was the slightest cross wind. Some might think about these matters a bit more, so I also wrote some footnotes down below. Stopping power in a handgun cartridge is measured in numerous ways. I run a 480 Ruger now days but I took a lot of hides with my old Ruger Blackhawk and most dropped where they were hit. Above the lower 48 states, as you get farther and farther north, black bears do get bigger and bigger, more and more aggressive, and more and more dangerous, and you just might have to shoot one. Im comfortable carrying the .38, with better bullets, where I hunt. When Jeff Newville faced his moment of truth with the grizzly, he barely had time to fire his revolver. Ultimately, it is important to choose a round that you are comfortable shooting and that provides the best chance of stopping an attacking bear. Really the extra bullet is unlikely to matter either. Your comment is just what the doctor ordered. No. .375 H&H (300gr Hornady DGX at 2,530fps)(4,263 ft lbs): 40.7 If so, theyll need a no-safety, round-in-the-chamber-already handgun that doent get a longer barrel turned sideways under a billion pounds of pre-shot and still-biting-you-bear. A 9, 38, or 45 isnt an adequate round for something as large as a bear, with think hide, fur and muscles. I distinctly remembered this one! Since then, I have switched to a GunfightersINC chest holster. I live in a small native village in bush Alaska. Thorofare Country south of Yellowstone, Grizzly at 10 feet, .44 magnum and .357 magnum, September, 2013 (report from 2015) Then at about 2:45 p.m., a collared boar grizzly identified as bear No . I carry a 6 inch Redhawk with 325 grain hard cast lead handloads when I go to Grizzly country. His backup in case of a bear attack is a 500 S&W. Youtubes pretty good, and even has spray vs. grizzly vids too, readers. Talk about stopping power. Its good to be prepared regardless how many times you visit the wilderness. Using the Mag. I CARRY BEAR SPRAY FOR DOGS NOT BEARS. Bears, including grizzlies, have been killed with 22 long rifles. Hence common sense is applied to protect ones self. Woot! Ah I love the kind of hater you are, that you are so jealous of hand guns success even, though you deny you are jealous. The mot popular cartridge used against bears in terms of this compilation was the .44 Magnum, which is often cited by internet and forum warriors as the absolute smallest you should go in bear defense. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. Generally speaking, though, most 44 Magnum rounds should be able to stop a black bear or grizzly in its tracks. grains X muzzle FPS X inches /7000. Its a matter of physics, do the math. You have a bone to pick with Dean and your bias is showing thru. Youre not. Hes seen a large grizzly remain upright and functional for 90 seconds to 2 minutes after taking a fatal chest shot. Your personal decision to sit on your ass too much. Never needed it, but I remember he let me shoot it, almost knocked me over! Im pretty sure, he would say, the gun is only as good as the person handling it. Almost any rifle or handgun cartridge can stop even the largest grizzly provided the shot placement is correct. Biologically, grizzly bears are omnivores and will eat almost anything they come across. His father has tried in vain to get this sad lad committed to a psychiatric treatment facility for years with zero success. I heard that bear was a friend of Cecil the lion. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The black bear is the only animal in the continental U.S. that can provide the average hunter a reasonably accessible opportunity to hunt dangerous game - game with fangs and claws rather than horns and hooves. Im certain this is the most butthurt Ive made anyone on this website since that crazed lefty threatened to sue me. After all, I hadnt yet read any words from Hank, so I had no reason to do so at the time. We better remember that when we are out where the truly strong are. . grizzly charging at 30 mph, but the .44 magnum or better it will require is going to give you exactly one chance in 2.5 seconds to hit that bear precisely in the heart or brain. Since the bear usually knows where you are long before you are aware of the bear, your reaction time may be considerably less than 4.5 seconds. You cant speak of the pros without also talking about the cons in any situation. There is no definitive answer to this question as different bears will respond differently to various types of bullets. My hunting friend swears by his Ruger Red Hawk Alaskan. As the bear charge drill in his course demonstrates, the average bear attack will happen at 50 yards or less with an 800-pound animal moving at 30 mph. Interesting study. On Thursday, 19 March, 2015, a woman with a .44 magnum stopped a polar bear from attacking Jakub Moravec, 37, in the Svalbard archipelago. Its similar to the one my cousin uses. I havent seen anyone advocate using a pistol as an offensive weapon for bears in this thread, or in the article, it is specifically about using a pistol as a defensive weapon on a charging bear. Smith & Wesson. The major reason is that they dont want to waste expensive ammo on the range. Penetration is key, so hard cast lead is the way to go. I had no expectation that the pistol would kill the bear. I stood in a dumbfounded stupor. Lessons learned . There are some books out on bear attacks as well. Polar bear attacks are expected there, and tourists are not allowed unless they carry a high powered firearm. When it comes to recognizing and responding to a bear attack, few people have as much experience as Alaskas Steve Nelson, a former research geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey whos spent the last 41 years teaching bear defense courses in the Last Frontier. And he said nothing about thinking through the 29 reportswhich were somebody elses work, not his and making sure he understood them all the way through. The Ruger Red Hawk Alaskan owned by a friend who regularly hunts in Montana is his bear defense weapon. ======================================================================. And if you want grownups to take you seriously, you really do have to stop sounding just like Jesse Pinkman. has 780 ft.-lbs. Not at all. I was born and raised there. Neither survived. The majority of my travel is either via ATV or Snowmachine, while not on foot. The second time it was dead calm, but it sure wasnt a 16ft spray. The 44 Magnum offers several advantages over the bigger calibers especially if you pick the right firearm. A charging grizzly bear can reach speeds of 35 mph an hour for short distances and their acceleration rate is phenomenal. When it comes to defending yourself against a bear attack, theres no substitute for 44 mag ammo. Kinda says what needs to be said comparing us to bears. When I need it, I simply have to grab my pistol and pull. GRIZZLIES: In the far north, when attacking grizzlies are on sportsmen before they can aim a long gun, they un-chest-holster an big-blast Alaskan snubbie. However, Ive learned a few things. The second and third time I used bear spray was against overly aggressive dogs. With a 3-inch barrel and a six-shot cylinder combining for a weight of just 25 ounces, this gun was made to be both carried and shot. They have been documented stalking humans, attacking without provocation, eating humans they killed and more. Be prepared to take down more than one bear if necessary. i.e. 3) Self defense from a bear attack with a pistol is a cautionary tale at best, correct? Assume those links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click and buy. Presumably he removed it when they started cleaning the moose, which is probably the worst time to do so. If I had to camp for the night. Human beings in the woods. The bear, during the attack, moved from one hunter to the other, giving Doug the chance to access Reeds .44 magnum, that had been hung in a tree. If you end up underneath a Grizzly that mauling your ass pre-shot and still-biting-you theres a common, two word, phrase for that kind of situation. Keep your gun on your hip and always designate one to watch for bears. They know theyre probably going to wind up underneath any grizzly that charges, shot or not. But how much time have you spent in the far northern woods so far in your life? Dean Weingarten is a fear salesman, and not just in this article, but most of his others. 2. Global warming? Admit that you were wrong and apologize. Holy shit you have some serious issues. Hell, it wasnt even American. Otherwise, anyone thinking a handgun is good for bear defense should file off the front site and lubricated really well. I have watched ballistic videos from a FBI training video in shot placement. Proper 9mm bullets yield sufficient penetration in soft tissue, but it may not stop a bear quickly enough to avoid being mauled. Its the statement of a man who has experience, understanding, and appreciation. The heaviest I have found without casting my own is 265 gr. Considered by many to be the most versatile North American big-game cartridge, the .338 Win. However, if you are dealing with an especially large or aggressive bear, you may need something more powerful. You could try noticing that fact, wondering about it, and asking, Why wouldnt you choose a long-barreled gun that shoots with higher velocity, better penetration, more accuracy, less muzzle flip, less recoil, and holds one more bullet to stop a charging bear?. .73 (2 3/4) 12 GA Slug 437.5 gr @ 1560 FPS (2363/ ft lbs): 71 I have a more-than-full-time job except when I have the flu,like today,and Im not going to write your articles for you. I prefer to carry a flat nose jacketed bullet. Hes in a medical field, Id really like to know if he noticed any hearing damage after 4-5 rounds of *big boom*. Hell, no. For more information on how to protect yourself from bears, visit the website of your local hunting or outdoors store. Someone who hates you. . So yes, I did do my homework before opening my big mouth. He was about ten feet away coming up and over the initial log that I had tripped over. Heard that from a park ranger or game warden, no doubt. How many you need? 44 Magnum ammo should do the trick though! I learned things that could make the difference between success and failure. Smith & Wesson Model 629. Or cant hunt them easily/legally so shoot yourself a moose and wait around for the main event? Weight X Velocity X Diameter /7000 = TKOF FOLKS AT BUFFALO BORE AND HORNADY PARTICULARLY FRIENDLY, KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HAPPY TO HELP. Its also been incredibly popular among Alaskan hunters and guides, especially in lever-actions like Marlins 1895 Guide Gun, which is compact, fairly lightweight and highly maneuverable in close quarters.