Grizzly bears can operate much longer that humans due to the way their circulatory system/muscles work. Be prepared to take down more than one bear if necessary. 1. Maybe you should pay more attention to the world around you and have a little less Tude with everyone. 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. Yet, they have no idea what it feels like to pull the trigger much less shoot that pistol. Aim for the head or heart if possible. Youve all read how much ground a bear can cover in a few seconds..he kept his cool and did everything right once the holster fiasco was passed. 3. For many backwoods trekkers, hunters, and homesteaders the 44 mag is the mainstay of their bear defense. Why dont you stay there. It was day 3 of the hunt and we decided to head home due to adverse weather. All of your comments are irrelevant. is the standard most American hunters use. 2 (90-5-5) alloy and size them to .430. and 2700 fps, thus delivering massive energy on target. It isnt pleasant but I can shoot the 44 Magnum one-handed and manage a reasonable follow-up shot. Some hunters also prefer to use rounds with higher grain weights, such as 440 or even 500, for larger bears. A 44 mag with hard cast will travel a long ways through meat and bone if youre up close. 7mm Remington Magnum for Grizzly Or Brown Bear Hunting? Best Ammo 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. of energy. Caliber: .44 Magnum Barrel length: 4.125 inches Overall length: 9.6 inches Weight: 41.5 ounces Grips: synthetic Sights: front red ramp, rear adjustable white outline Action: double action Finish: polished stainless Capacity: 6 rounds Price: $949 Featured image: Doug Larson Discussion I dont even know if Hank The Anonymous was insulting me, or how, or about what, because Hank cannot use words. Why dont you get a go pro and hike around grizzly country in the spring season with bear spray and post your live videos. Its a matter of physics, do the math. The second time it was dead calm, but it sure wasnt a 16ft spray. However, bigger is not always better in my opinion. No, they had whole *lot* of time to think about how to do it, holed up in a drafty, cold cave with *nothing* to do but listen to cave-wife bitch and cake-kids squabble. While not stated in the account, one of the pictures indicates the first, crucial shot, was to the center of the bears chest. As he fell, he bit at the ground and ended up with a mouthful of sod. 2. A reliable Winchester pump-action shotgun and Brenneke Black Magic Magnum slugs. Aim for the center of mass whenever possible in order to ensure a quick and clean kill. Kinda says what needs to be said comparing us to bears. .45-70 Government (405gr SP at 1,330fps)(1,590 ft lbs): 35.2 Nelson continues to teach a bear defense course in Alaska, instructing geologists and representatives from other government agencies how to operate a wide variety of firearms platforms in a bear defense situation. They routinely feed on the gut piles of hunter-killed elk and, along with their cousins Alaska brown bears, are known to try to claim carcasses from hunters. Now do what I did when I was wrong last week. They must have been some real badasses.. You write em and put your name on em, you have to do that heavy lifting. Pistolero Magazine in the 1980s when shooting barnyard hogs found that there was no difference in killing power between the .357 magnum, .45 acp, 38 special and 919. Startled bears can be extremely volatile as can those with a fresh kill if they perceive that you are threatening to take their dinner. I doubt any bear could withstand two quick rounds from this one to the head! So thst you can show all the unknowable how absurd and violent they behive. 2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included. Had he chosen to come my direction, theres no telling what would have happened. One thing Ive never called you is stupid. Having shot a 44 magnum numerous times, I can tell you that it is not one of my favorite range guns. Best thing in the world? And that was from a pretty stout rifle round, .300 Win Mag IIRC. Among other things, I subscribed to Alaska Magazine for about twenty years, beginning in 1975, and Backpacker Magazine from the same year, but until the early 2000s, when its subscription subcontractor made it way more trouble than it was worth anymore, and subscribed to Outside magazine for many years, along with Backpackinglight.com. But whenever he's in an area with a serious and credible grizzly threat, he likes his 12-gauge shotgun loaded with slugs. He plainly states that he was researching attacks where pistols where used in defense. As he fell, he bit at the ground and ended up with a mouthful of sod. From thegreatwhitehunter.com: When Reed distracted the bear from its attack on me, I had time to concentrate on the holster. Your drugs. People must do that. I was born and raised there. That may no longer be entirely true, but the 44-mag cartridge is still a formidable piece of kit. Even the very biggest brown bears are 1,500 pounds. They were attacked by a large grizzly bear . Of which he found 29 accounts. When Jeff Newville faced his moment of truth with the grizzly, he barely had time to fire his revolver. However, most bear encounters are under less than perfect conditions. That is a big difference. will make it easy to kill black bears. But they dont press that fear button like bears, do they? I had no expectation that the pistol would kill the bear. Looking at delivered energy gives us a better idea of how the 44 magnum stacks up against other popular handgun cartridges suitable for bear defense. The bear had 2 options, attempt to scale the rocky cliff one direction, or head straight my direction. LAST TIME CALLED BUFFALO BORE GOT THE OWNER AND MUCH TALK AND HELP ON CARBINE AND PISTOL ROUNDS NEEDED FOR A SITUATION SINCE I AM ARMED ESCORT FOR LIVING. For big bear defense handguns, the Smith & Wesson 629 is hard to beat. Based on the .375 H&H, the .338 will send a 300-grain Barnes bullet out the barrel at 2500 fps with a devastating 4,100 ft.-lbs. A well placed shot from a .44 Magnum will penetrate both shoulders of a black bear with ease. Polar Bear Attack Stopped with Three Shots from .44 Magnum Revolver *** DO NOT GO INTO LOT ABOUT GRAINS AND SUCH AS I THINK THESE INDIVIDUAL CHOICES BASED ON SHOOTERS PREFERENCE AND SITUATION. 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. Grizzly bears enter a state of hyperphagia in the fall, a condition that provokes gluttony in preparation for winter hibernation. You can carry a 9 in bear country if you want, but make sure the sights are filed down! 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. If I had to camp for the night. BLACK BEARS: It stretched from the peak of the cabin to the ground. 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 . When I test sprayed it, there was the slightest cross wind. of energy, and it takes a big grizzly to weigh 1,000 pounds. Best Bear Defense Handguns of 2023 | Outdoor Life After all your names not Hank. Holy shit I cant stop laughing. Wont take too long until you go viral. They almost never attack . 2017 by Dean. Here are some tips on how to do just that: Many people have this question, and the answer is not a simple one. Sherman, set the wayback machine for September 7th, 2006. Almost any rifle or handgun cartridge can stop even the largest grizzly provided the shot placement is correct. statement Ive made people really understand what to do about bears? It wasnt even language. (THIS IS A SEPARATE SUBJECT. A sold core flat nose bullet has a better chance of penetrating a grizzly bears heavy skin, thick coat, and large bones than a hollow point that is designed to expand as rapidly as possible. I wonder if Grizzly Bear Spray would have been a safe alternative in this incident for the humans involved in this incident and the Grizzly Bear Would Still be alive. He carries a .375 H&H mag. At this kind of range the accuracy of the longer barrel doesnt much matter nor does the penetration, which doesnt much matter anyway. The number of large caliber rifle rounds that came out of that bastard were truly frightening. Heres a look at the eight best charge-stopping bear cartridges ever made. You criticize Dean for his 30 cases, all of which are sourced, yet you flat out refuse to source your own claims. That phrase is Youre fucked because the chances you survive such a situation are slim to none. Oddly enough, that same 158 grain LRN bullet is prone to through and through on people. 12 GA WHAT IT LACKS IN ENERGY IT MAKES UP IN WEIGHT AND SIZE/CAL. So, people are mauled by bears. People arent buying snubbies in big calibers for this kind of situation any more than theyre buying large knives because they want to join that one guy who actually did kill a grizzly with a Ka-Bar. If only those murderous hunters had been carrying bear spray, that poor bear would still be alive. 44 Mag against Grizzly ? | Shooters Forum Generally speaking, though, most 44 Magnum rounds should be able to stop a black bear or grizzly in its tracks. Even in the flawed study Efficacy of firearms for bear deterrence in Alaska the researchers only found 269 attacks in Alaska. In 1984, Winchester began to produce rifles chambered for cartridge, legitimizing Waters dream, and establishing it as a commercial cartridge. The 10mm is also coming into popularity because of capacity. A bear is not a human and self-defense rounds are not as effective on a bear as you might expect. Sure looks like a bunch of weakling dodging on your part, Hank. If I carried any handgun for self defense, Id only load it with one roundfor myself. Do your own research, calculate the very physics/ ballistics the Taylor Knock Down Factor. A 240-grain +P Buffalo Bore projectile carries roughly 1,600 ft.-lbs. The Army even ranted against the 30-40 Krag as being ineffective. 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. Considered by many to be the most versatile North American big-game cartridge, the .338 Win. Click bait makes me so mad I wish I had a .44 magnum! I do have one. Most black bears can be stopped with a bullet fired from as close as 20 yards away, but brown and grizzly bears can be much more dangerous and may require shots from further distances. The major reason is that they dont want to waste expensive ammo on the range. ON OCCASION DO ALSO CARRY MY 870 PUMP GUN IN 12 GA WITH RIFLED BARREL WITH SLUGS , SLUGS AND BUCKSHOT AND JUST BUCKSHOT WHEN MOSTLY THINK I MAY NEED TO COVER SNAKES, BEARS AND LIONS ALL IN SAME WANDERING. How many people were attacked by humans in the last 40 years? Just try to accept the fact that handguns are the best and enjoy the show while it lasts because the rage that exists in you is going to be your demise. The cause and the effect of the .44 shot is obvious in the video. 10mm vs 44 mag for bear defense - YouTube My uncle Dale dropped a charging sow with a neck shot at the same distance with a s&w 629. Generally speaking, though, most 44 Magnum rounds should be able to stop a black bear or grizzly in its tracks. When I need it, I simply have to grab my pistol and pull. Ruger just took a Super Redhawk and cut the barrel even with the frame extension. A 12-gauge shotgun and slug will deliver impressive energy and is effective to moderate ranges. As stated by Marshall and Sanow in Stopping Power, As a general trend, and all else being equal, stopping power increases as the size of the recovered bullet increases., In addition, their table Caliber Comparison on page 335 shows a significant advantage for .45 ACP over .38.special. Aim is critical too and handguns just arent accurate, nor can they match a rifle let alone a a rifle that needs hard cast bullets for this job anyways. And sometimes folks can save themselves with a handgun. i.e. I know hunters who routinely carry a bear defense pistol that they have never shot. https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2017/7/6/handguns-for-defense-in-bear-country/ That poor bear, he was just turning his life around. Over the decades, several cartridges have proved themselves as worthy against the nastiest bears North America has to offer. Good on him for having the clarity of mind to make such a shot, and for having the appropriate ammo in an appropriate caliber such that it could actually travel through a large bear and disrupt the spine and cause such a necessary instantaneous stop. Interesting study. Many laud the .44 Magnum as real bear medicine, and it's got plenty of power for a bear defense handgunas long as you remember that it's still not a rifle. He was a brave soul. .44 Magnum Bear Penetration Test! Can a Desert Eagle stop a Bear These are all factors that need to be considered when choosing a caliber for a serious and serviceable bear defense firearm. The pistol, from the picture and account, appears to be a Ruger stainless single action .44 magnum. The Black Magic Magnum is a 602-grain slug that carries 3,000 ft.-lbs. Not at all. As his head sagged to the ground, I shot him three more times in quick succession, out of fear and anger. Thankfully he decided to scale the cliff because it was a good 20 seconds or more before I could undo the straps to my rifle and get it pointed in his direction. No. Lets face it. The 44 magnum is no exception. A handgun is just plain Darwinism in motion. My cousin lives in AK and Ive helped him dress a bear. Finally, always remember that proper shot placement is key when using 44 mag ammo for bear defense. Can you kill a grizzly with a 9mm? - Good hunting I looked in the direction of Reed only to once again see the bear charging at me. What matters more is the right bullet. Really the extra bullet is unlikely to matter either. That was when I pointed the revolver and fired at center mass. WTF is your .44 doing up in a tree without your butt still attached to it? Kim had a Glock model 20 10 mm pistol with him. How many you need? Keep your distance if possible. Thats a cool chest rig. . They should be able to provide you with detailed advice and recommendations based on the specific area in which you live. A female grizzly will do almost anything to protect her cubs. Please dont take out your rage on your wife or kids tonight. of energy. Taylor Knock Out Factor. The 44 magnum is almost unspeakably more powerful than the 22 rimfire, so of course it will kill a bear. In this case . After all, I hadnt yet read any words from Hank, so I had no reason to do so at the time. Since then, I have switched to a GunfightersINC chest holster. Two questions: It would have been just as inaccessible while my body was pumping with adrenaline. This holster always lives on the outside of my outermost coat. Don't bet your life on bear spray. There was no time for the careful placement of the front sight, as the bear was nearly upon him. Actually looking for 300 grain .411 hardcast. .378 Weatherby Magnum (300gr FMJ at 2,925fps)(4,263 ft lbs): 47.0 NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE BEARS CLOSE TO CABIN EATING BERRIES OR GETTING A DRINK. 3) Self defense from a bear attack with a pistol is a cautionary tale at best, correct? Likely a happy accident for them due other evolutionary happenstances, but they are around because the weaker ones arent. 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. This is really what the .44 mag was designed for., Yup. 10 BEST PADDLE BOARD AND KAYAK COMBOS 2023 WITH BUYING GUIDE, Grizzly 300 Grain Cast lead bullet wide flat nose, Buffalo Bore 300-grain hard cast flat nose bullet, Buffalo Bore 300 grain jacketed flat nose. 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. I spray with mine regularly, even though I have to buy a lot more of it, both for practice and for making sure its as potent as can be. MY BEST ADVICE HAVING HAD TO DEFEND MY SELF MANY TIMES IN WAR AND CIVILIAN LIFE IS BE AND STAY PREPARED WITH BEST EQUIPMENT CAN AFFORD AND BEST ADVICE YOU CAN SEEK. While it is extremely effective, the main reason its been so widely-used is because shotguns like the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 are a fraction of the price of bolt-guns and, in turn, thats what the government has provided to its employees. I DO GET THAT:) I think akgunner wrote a comment below the article which is more helpful than the article itself. Your fat. You have a bone to pick with Dean and your bias is showing thru. Other calibers that come to mind are the Desert Eagle in .50 cal and the 10 mm. The 9mm has 350 to 450 ft/lbs. Bear Gun Shootout: The .44 Magnum. If you are carrying a handgun for self-protection against black bear, be sure to practice with it beforehand so that you are proficient in its use. This gun has a 2.5-inch barrel and is fitted with Hogue grips. All of that being said, in my past 4 years in Alaska, you know how many times Ive been attacked by a bear? Probably the worst-case scenario that anyone spending time in bear country can face is a charging grizzly bear. I found the account as I was searching for bear attacks where pistols had been used as a defensive measure. For me, the pros outweigh the cons enough to make a 44 magnum my choice of bear country pistols. For animals, I always get concentrated-stream types. This attack makes29 pistol defenses against bears that I have found. A 9, 38, or 45 isnt an adequate round for something as large as a bear, with think hide, fur and muscles. For example, I said Ive made lower-48 black bears leave my campsites a lot more than 29 times just by sounding irritated. Keep in mind that you might need a Magnum load to propel a heavy bullet to a decent velocity. I know a guy who emptied his 9mm into a Black Bearkilled it well enough. Gun Watch. 44 Mag Ammo for Bear: Protect Yourself in the Wild My hope was that the shot would sting the bear and help scare him away along with the flame and loud report. If you do encounter one, though, remember these tips: It is important to note that even if a 44 Magnum round does stop a bear in its tracks, there is still a chance that it could come back after being shot. 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. Human beings in the woods. I am looking forward to seeing them. However, as far as stopping power on even the largest grizzly bear, it delivers enough energy to get the job done. Smith & Wesson. 1. I heard that bear was a friend of Cecil the lion. Did you ever even bother to check on last weeks bear attack in Florida after I said you were wrong? 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. The 44 Mag does have its downsides. Quora - A place to share knowledge and better understand the world Im pretty sure, he would say, the gun is only as good as the person handling it. I distinctly remembered this one! I stood in a dumbfounded stupor. I am a fan of the .38 but grizz country aint the place for it. There is no doubt in my mind that the .44 magnum cartridge is a viable choice as a bear defense gun. As a firefighter for 25 years in a major urban dept. Depends on what type of bear. You have access to the Internets, just as others do. The .45 Long Colt revolver (or just Colt) fired a larger diameter bullet, with greater weight, and a significantly higher velocity than the .38 Long Colt, or even todays .38 special standard loads. To my surprise, the buckle was actually a snap and the strap peeled away. Mag. Hell, it wasnt even American. What is the title of Craig Boddingtons book? Admit that you were wrong and apologize. Although I seldom agreed with Jeff Cooper he was right when he said that if you use a handgun as an offensive weapon its tantamount to committing suicide no matter what the caliber. Alaskan Grizzly Bear Attack Demonstrates Effectiveness of .44 Magnum The rest of the time it stays secure in its holster. Believe it or not those that used pepper spray or just played dead survived more than those that pulled out hand guns and blazed away. A JSP bullet at a velocity that will completely penetrate the chest of an average-size bear is probably a better choice than a hardcast SWC solid. The Griz, as he is often called, is actually the North American Brown Bear. I can't imagine anyone feeling comfortable packing a .44 mag. Yes Im sure youve read 12,000 books on bear attacks and subscribe to bear attack monthly while you work out to bear attack shows. I could eat a can of alphabet soup and shit out a smarter statement than what you posted !!! the rifles were left outside the tents, but inside the protective alarm wire. You can easily see in this chart how the different calibers using standard factory loads compare in delivered energy down range. It was the first bear attack in the region in forty years, and it didnt kill him, it slashed at him when he let his dog out and stepped outside, probably in panic that he was being attacked by a pack. https://leeprecision.com/mold-6-cav-c430-310-rf.html and it bounced around inside its cranium it might stop it. Packing Pistols In Bear Country | An Official Journal Of The NRA 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? He includes several photographs. As Nelson has seen in bear defense training, many shooters have cycling issues with the 10mm due to the limp-wrist syndrome, something that isnt an issue with a revolver and is the last thing you want to happen during a bear charge. No joke, a full house 44 Mag in a rifle kicks. For hiking and camping, I prefer a chest rig. The 44 Magnum offers several advantages over the bigger calibers especially if you pick the right firearm. 8. If I was in the wilderness thered be a gun on me at all times. They dont. And to the the post of a guy shot many times with a 9mm, you are correct sir. The Ruger Red Hawk Alaskan owned by a friend who regularly hunts in Montana is his bear defense weapon. 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. According to Hornady's data, the XTP bullets from a 7.5-inch barrel clock at 1350 fps and generate . 44 mag ammo for bear can be a life-saving tool, but only if it is used correctly. The article was about pistols being used to defend against bears. I READ STORIES ABOUT THE GUIDE WHO KILLED THE BEAR WITH A 9MM ( LUCKY ALL I CAN SAY AND HE KNEW BETTER ME THINKS THAN TO CARRY SUCH IN BEAR COUNTRY) AND ALSO THAT MONSTER GRIZZ SHOT IN ALASKA AFTER HE KILLED AT LEAST TWO HIKERS AND TOOK ON GOVERNMENT HUNTER ON DEER HUNT WHO EMPTIED 7MM INTO HIM AND BEAR FINALLY DROPPED AT HIS FEET. I carry both, with bear spray on my left side and a .44 on my right, so IF the bear spray fails Im not completely f-ed. Best Bear Defense Guns for Hikers and Backpackers So, at this point 39.53% of my life. Whats your excuse? Presumably he removed it when they started cleaning the moose, which is probably the worst time to do so. . Proper 9mm bullets yield sufficient penetration in soft tissue, but it may not stop a bear quickly enough to avoid being mauled. Nelson killed one of his charging grizzlies with a .454 Casull, which he says is one of his favorite choices for bear defense. Of course, being familiar with your gun and practiced with its use is as important as the cartridge selection. I live in a small native village in bush Alaska.