Hes seen a large grizzly remain upright and functional for 90 seconds to 2 minutes after taking a fatal chest shot. To my surprise, the buckle was actually a snap and the strap peeled away. CALLED BUFFALO BOAR AND USING ONE OF ROUNDS THEY RECOMMENDED FOR MY SITUATION AND BEARS. A well placed shot from a .44 Magnum will penetrate both shoulders of a black bear with ease. But bears are all-natural and organic, and everybody knows that anything that is all-natural and organic is safe and good for your health, right? People claim there are multiple instances where people with pistols failed to stop the attack and/or kill the bear. Should be easy to find if they are out there. 12 GA WHAT IT LACKS IN ENERGY IT MAKES UP IN WEIGHT AND SIZE/CAL. In some cases, it may not even penetrate the bear's thick hide. . Is it fun to shoot? I looked in the direction of Reed only to once again see the bear charging at me. Because of this thing called real world experience. Such senseless killing. And to the the post of a guy shot many times with a 9mm, you are correct sir. Feel free to reach out to us or read our affiliate disclosure and privacy policy. SEE IT. 2 (90-5-5) alloy and size them to .430. But they dont press that fear button like bears, do they? While some may consider it the minimum, its plenty powerful enough to stop an onerous bear. Luck by definition means the odds are against you. Some of them are like a fog. . .73 (2 3/4) 12 GA Slug 437.5 gr @ 1560 FPS (2363/ ft lbs): 71 The heaviest I have found without casting my own is 265 gr. 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. 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. .30-06 Springfield (180gr Nosler Partition at 2,750fps): 21.8 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. .44 Remington MagnumConsidered by many to be the minimum for big bear defense rounds, the .44 Remington Magnum was first introduced in 1955 for revolvers and gained widespread popularity in the 1970s thanks to Dirty Harry. and 2700 fps, thus delivering massive energy on target. Click bait makes me so mad I wish I had a .44 magnum! We must not have read the same post. He includes several photographs. So, show us the instances that will change the percentages. Only one of them ended in failure. 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 . To answer the question completely, we would need to evaluate the . Now that you mention it, my wife was the one that told me Right after asking if the life insurance was up to date, It might have continued on to hit the spine, resulting in the instant collapse of the bear.. However, as far as stopping power on even the largest grizzly bear, it delivers enough energy to get the job done. WHEN FURTHER A FIELD ALSO CARRY MARLIN SS 1895 LEVER WITH BUFFALO BORE RECOMMENDED ROUND IN 45-70. If only those murderous hunters had been carrying bear spray, that poor bear would still be alive. 44 mag ammo for bear can be a life-saving tool, but only if it is used correctly. Your drugs. It depends on the situation, as well as the type of bear in question. The 44 magnum when compared with the other large-caliber bear defense cartridges is rather lightweight in the recoil department. I know hunters who routinely carry a bear defense pistol that they have never shot. cartridges like 7mm Rem, which are both versatile and dependable. For example, I said Ive made lower-48 black bears leave my campsites a lot more than 29 times just by sounding irritated. Some hunters also prefer to use rounds with higher grain weights, such as 440 or even 500, for larger bears. The short barrel makes this pistol quick and easy to draw and maneuver, it is lighter than most other 44 magnum revolvers. *** I am skeptical. .45-70 GovernmentFirst adopted by the U.S. military in 1873, the .45-70 Government has been one of the longest-standing big-game cartridges of all time. The Ruger Red Hawk Alaskan owned by a friend who regularly hunts in Montana is his bear defense weapon. Hes an intelligent and well-educated man who honestly believes his own be-afraid B.S., but its still be-afraid B.S. And whatever you do, never try to approach or touch a dead bear. Ultimately, it is important to choose a round that you are comfortable shooting and that provides the best chance of stopping an attacking bear. The first time a strong cross wind completely redirected the spray 90degrees to the side. Tyler Freel A 12 gauge's effectiveness can vary tremendously based on the ammunition used. has 780 ft.-lbs. Here are some tips on how to do just that: Many people have this question, and the answer is not a simple one. Because so many hunters got bowled over, mauled,and prevented from shooting straight when they tried to shoot from underneath a grizz with long-barreled handguns. Check the following. Why, oh why, wasnt that gun on someones hip? Im pretty sure Ive seen you as a full-time, Soros-funded troll over at The Federalist. My state used to require a class and a license to buy pepper spray, and I lived there, so I took the class. Along with delivered energy, we must also consider bullet weight and velocity. of energy. Thats a cool chest rig. . You criticize Dean for his 30 cases, all of which are sourced, yet you flat out refuse to source your own claims. for grizzly protection. As soon as I rounded the corner I spotted a probably 900lb brown bear, not barely 20yds away. You write em and put your name on em, you have to do that heavy lifting. Seems that the bleeding hearts in the state in which he resides view the rights of wild animals and violent sociopaths as superior to those of regular folks. The bear was just as startled as I. Personally, multiple rounds at close range with 00 buck will rip your fucking eyeballs out, no matter what you are. Need to read Elmer Keiths accounts of animal attacks in Hell, I was there. Never had to shoot a bear with it, and hope it stays that way, but pretty confident it will do the trick if needed. Probably the worst-case scenario that anyone spending time in bear country can face is a charging grizzly bear. Great choice. I grew up half the time in Alaska and the other half in Seattle. Male grizzlies will defend their territory to the death. Bears can be very dangerous when theyre angry, so its best to stay out of their reach. I stood in a dumbfounded stupor. There are other downsides to carrying larger firearms that may not pose as big a problem for some people. in Southern Cal., I have been on many gangland shootings involving the 9mm.While it does have the necessary power to kill people, as often as not, people survive being shot with this caliber.The last call involving a 9mm, the victim was shot 15 times and was still fighting us to get up off the gurney and get some payback. Some sites would have you thinking you can kill a bear with a .45 magnum even if you did manage to hit it hours before he killed you. Since grizzlies tend to be more aggressive than black bears, more problem encounters occur with grizzlies than other bear species. If Im on my ATV my rifle stays in your typical V shaped rifle mount that attaches to my front rack, retained by rubber straps. A Black bear just killed a guy in Florida there, genius. Any way you slice it, the .357 has proven itself as a worthy close-range bear stopper. When Jeff Newville faced his moment of truth with the grizzly, he barely had time to fire his revolver. It isnt pleasant but I can shoot the 44 Magnum one-handed and manage a reasonable follow-up shot. 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. They have not released their data, but they found handguns to be 84% effective against bears, surprisingly, more effective than long guns. of energy, and it takes a big grizzly to weigh 1,000 pounds. Admit that you made a mistake, Hank, and that you were wrong, and apologize. The 44 magnum is almost unspeakably more powerful than the 22 rimfire, so of course it will kill a bear. You should be using slugs, and not just your average deer slug but hot ones, and you can forget about buckshot. 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 more energy and penetration the better, provided you dont select a firearm thats too powerful for you to adequately manage. 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. The full account is worth reading for anyone interested in the dynamics of bear attacks and the effectiveness of pistols for defense against bears. .50 Alaskan Taking a .348 Winchester case and necking it out to accept a .510-inch, Alaskan Harold Johnson was able to successfully convert a Winchester Model 1886 rifle into a .50-caliber, bear-killing machine. The first was simply a test to see how far it would spray. TWO OR FOUR LEGS , SLITHERS OR SWIMS( ATTACKED BY SHARKS ONCE, HAD .223 BANG STICK THANK YOU VERY MUCH, END OF SHARK AND ATTACK) BE PREPARED. Otherwise, anyone thinking a handgun is good for bear defense should file off the front site and lubricated really well. photo from thetruthaboutguns.com. As his head sagged to the ground, I shot him three more times in quick succession, out of fear and anger. Some others are .50 Desert Eagle, .454 Casull, .500 Smith & Wesson Magnum and the .480 Ruger. 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. Do not take chances with this powerful ammunition if you are unsure about your shooting ability or if there is any doubt that a bear could be stopped with the round you are carrying, it is best to retreat and seek safety. Ive personally gotten black bears to leave my campsites dozens of times just by raising my voice a little, and (when with others) Ive literally run them off dozens of other times. Bear spray is worthless Ive used it three times. Finally, always remember that proper shot placement is key when using 44 mag ammo for bear defense. A charging grizzly bear can reach speeds of 35 mph an hour for short distances and their acceleration rate is phenomenal. https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2017/7/6/handguns-for-defense-in-bear-country/ As Nelson points out, the first shot may end the charge but doesnt always kill the bear, which means its handy to have a rifle that can make the longer follow-up shot. Do you actually think that you impress anyone by imitating other men? 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. Can a 44 Magnum kill a bear? I know a guy who emptied his 9mm into a Black Bearkilled it well enough. When youre out in the wild, its important to be prepared for anything. Of course, being familiar with your gun and practiced with its use is as important as the cartridge selection. And they dont work well if you dont shake the cans from time to time, just like spray paint. 357 Mag, and says, when it comes to handguns and bears, what matters is getting the most hits on target in the shortest amount of time. So youre absolutely not man enough to admit that you were wrong about the Florida attack, then? Sourced? That was when I pointed the revolver and fired at center mass. Can a .44 Magnum L5 Desert Eagle stop a Bear attack? My partner had never been Face To Face with a Bear before, but he did well (said he never heard a word I said) You just do what you have to do, thats all. 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. This powerful ammunition can help you take down even the biggest bears. Elevated them to cult status, whether they deserve it or not. You have access to the Internets, just as others do. The comparative recoil data shows the difference between our chosen calibers. I can't imagine anyone feeling comfortable packing a .44 mag. Its good to be prepared regardless how many times you visit the wilderness. Several folks have even successfully killed bears with a 9mm. But while our hands were fresh we shot the revolver first. He said that handguns stop attacking bears almost 100% of the time. I had also noticed that your post of 13:49 was damned good. ONE DEAD HIKER EMPTIED .38 IN HIM AND CAN SEE HOW WELL THAT WORKED. .375 H&H (300gr Hornady DGX at 2,530fps)(4,263 ft lbs): 40.7 Biologically, grizzly bears are omnivores and will eat almost anything they come across. Spray products vary. Keep your gun on your hip and always designate one to watch for bears. 12-Gauge SlugAccording to Nelson, the 12-gauge slug gun is by far one of the most popular choices for bear protection in the Alaskan bush. Your gun needs to be accessible and not overly retained. The Glock 20 chambered in 10mm has become a popular carry choice in bear country. The .357 is also available in smaller-framed revolvers that fit smaller hands, making it ideal for women and less experienced shooters. You cant speak of the pros without also talking about the cons in any situation. The second and third time I used bear spray was against overly aggressive dogs. The 44-magnum pistol that I occasionally shoot is a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan model. I dont have any particular issue with what youve said so far, but you must understand that by refusing to give any actual citation of your sources you are undermining your own argument. 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. 1) are these Alaskan hunters from Alaska? Im not criticizing him for that, but he didnt say it was his research. I scanned the far shore to see if it was a nice one, maybe I would take it, I didnt see it, so I asked him where? 44 mag ammo can help you do just that. I could not figure out how it held the gun in place, so I grabbed the buckle and attempted to rip it off. Big credit to the guy finding his calm in that situation; it allowed him to place a well aimed shot . We have to think. Based on ballistic testing and field use, Nelson recommends Brennekes Black Magic Magnum or DDupleks Monolit 32 solid steel slug. As for his own writing, yeah, I sure do criticize it. Or cant hunt them easily/legally so shoot yourself a moose and wait around for the main event? Dude you should stop before you have a heart attack. There was no time for the careful placement of the front sight, as the bear was nearly upon him. Take a deep breath and realize this is an anonymous Internet forum. of energy, while the 10mm has about 728 ft.-lbs., both with a 180-grain Buffalo Bore bullet. 6. Ive also bothered to read Weingartens stuff for years. Again, Im not saying this because I necessarily disagree with you, Im saying it because it hurts your own cause. He was able to stop the attack by shooting the bear as it charged at him. I am not sure I can perform this feat with a 450 Casull or a .460 S&W. 3. Mossberg 500 vs 590: Which Shotgun Is Right for You? This is why Forest Rangers use a slug (.73 cal = 12GA) a poor mans elephant gun under 50 yards that rivals a .458 Win Mag. All in the family wish him nothing but the best, however his violent and irrational demeanor makes him a true pariah and danger to himself and anyone around him. I found the account as I was searching for bear attacks where pistols had been used as a defensive measure. Even the very biggest brown bears are 1,500 pounds. Comparatively, the 44-magnum ammunition I prefer to carry for bear defense is much cheaper than some. They did not have a .44 magnum. WTF is your .44 doing up in a tree without your butt still attached to it? I've killed big bear with one shot (usually .338 mag) but I was also in on a bear kill with my hunting partner when things didn't go well. Next to Bison, they are the second largest cause of fatalities and mauling s in Yellowstone Park. Kinda says what needs to be said comparing us to bears. Note that the .38 Long Colt used in the Philipines was even less powerful than the .38 special, and US troops did in fact prefer the .45 Colt revolver to the .38 Long Colt. An instantaneous drop like that pretty much requires a spine hit for instant paralysis. He said it was his hunting partners gun. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This way it wont hurt you as much when the bear shoves it where the sun dont shine. 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. .454 Casull Developed by Dick Casull and Jack Fulmer in 1957, the .454 Casull is a dangerous game hunters dream come true. When I worked as a hunting guide, my boss introduced me to our hunters as PETA Joe, do to my love of critters, I dont trust bears, theyre hard to make friends with. Gun Watch. Grizzlies may become aggressive for a number of reasons. 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. Presumably he removed it when they started cleaning the moose, which is probably the worst time to do so. He was about ten feet away coming up and over the initial log that I had tripped over. My uncle Dale dropped a charging sow with a neck shot at the same distance with a s&w 629. Of absolute importance when you choose a handgun caliber for bear defense, stopping power is at the top of the list. Besides, it only takes one trip for things to go badpotentially. He had a long explanation for why this happens, which I boiled down to two sentences above. It is easy to see that the 44 Magnum is far from being the most powerful handgun in the world. Craig Boddingtons new book dispels the myth that carrying a handgun in big bear country is effective in stopping a bear. Hes read some books so hes an expert. Many bear attacks happen in brush where a shorter draw is preferable. Neither survived. 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. Redding Reloading Equipment has added a New 3-Die Set for the 300 HAMRa bottleneck cartridge based on a modified .223 Remington case necked up to 30-caliber. 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. What did work was the short barrel shotgun. Alaskan Grizzly Bear Attack Demonstrates Effectiveness of .44 Magnum, How to Horrify the Mainstream Media in One Easy Step, Gun Review: Springfield Armory Ronin EMP 3 9mm 1911, https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2017/7/6/handguns-for-defense-in-bear-country/, https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140415-black-bear-florida-attack-habitat-wildlife-conservation/, http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/41heavy.htm, https://leeprecision.com/mold-6-cav-c430-310-rf.html. Considered by many to be the most versatile North American big-game cartridge, the .338 Win. To give folks working in dangerous animal country a very portable self defense tool. You have to do more than say there are books out there, you have to read em. I see youre suddenly changing from Jesse Pinkman language to an exact imitation of Donald Trump-tweet language.Why? As he fell, he bit at the ground and ended up with a mouthful of sod. That same bullet in a .357 Magnum exits a four-inch barrel upwards of 1,400 fps. The cartridge, when loaded properly, delivers more than enough energy to stop even the largest grizzly bear. test, none of us were looking forward to running the S&W 329 PD with the Hornady 240-grain JHP loads I had brought along. They must have been some real badasses.. It was used 12 times. Make sure to practice with your chosen firearm beforehand, and always check local regulations when traveling in bear country. SEEMED GOOD EDUCATION AS MADE IT HOME DUE TO FASTER DRAW AND ONLY 4 HOLES IN ME, MANY MORE IN TWO LEGGED BEARS WITH RED STAR BELT BUCKLES. Considered by many to be the minimum for big bear defense rounds, the .44 Remington Magnum was first introduced in 1955 for revolvers and gained widespread popularity in the 1970s thanks to Dirty Harry. Your cigarettes. 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. 1. and it bounced around inside its cranium it might stop it. Youtubes pretty good, and even has spray vs. grizzly vids too, readers. Do your own research, calculate the very physics/ ballistics the Taylor Knock Down Factor. 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 majority of my travel is either via ATV or Snowmachine, while not on foot. For me, the pros outweigh the cons enough to make a 44 magnum my choice of bear country pistols. Hell, no. Grizzly bears enter a state of hyperphagia in the fall, a condition that provokes gluttony in preparation for winter hibernation. He plainly states that he was researching attacks where pistols where used in defense. But I always heard that bear spray worked better than a gun. All of your comments are irrelevant. You have a bone to pick with Dean and your bias is showing thru. Value. I am not looking to go toe to toe with a Grizzly, but if I am out bow hunting or have set down my rifle to gut a deer it is far better to have a handgun that will effectively penetrate a large animal than to scramble for my rifle if I get charged. Because a bear will suffer irreversible and irreparable damage to its heart, lungs, spine, and brain if it is shot, the only way to kill it is to shoot it so that it can be killed. 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. It wasnt even language. Make sure youre familiar with your firearm and its capabilities. Global warming? Your comment is just what the doctor ordered. Talk about stopping power. You might have learned that if you didnt try to snub total strangers over the internet and instead tried to speak as intelligently as the author just did when he disputed my claims just now.