Posted on 05/14/2024 4:26:34 AM PDT by marktwain
Many readers are interested in how various handgun calibers have performed in defense against bears. This is a complicated subject. Sometimes, any caliber will do. Sometimes a level of power may be required. Sometimes, a level of accuracy or speed may be required. Many permutations exist. The most important aspect, if a confrontation occurs, is to have a firearm available, easily and quickly accessible. The specific caliber is less important. These updates include all the incidents we have been able to document to the date of the update, after several years of intense searches. We always appreciate readers who help us document more cases.
Here are all the cases which have been documented where .22 rimfire caliber handguns were fired in defense against bears. The .22 Long Rifle caliber has dozens of loads. It has not been possible to know which particular load was used in each case. Some .22 Short loads are more powerful than some .22 Long Rifle loads. The same applies, to a lesser extent, with .22 Magnum rimfire loads. If instances of the use of .17 caliber or 5mm rimfire are found, they will be included with the .22 rimfire information. The 11 incidents are listed in chronological order. Eight are .22 LR, three are .22 Magnum, there is one failure, against a polar bear (fatal), one success against a brown/grizzly bear, and eight successes against black bears. Three people suffered relatively minor injuries. Darcy Staver was killed after her husband drove the black bear away, with warning shots from the .22. Then he left to get help. He took the .22 handgun with him. The black bear came back and killed, then started eating, Darcy.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
"All the cases" means all the cases which have been found and documented over several years of diligent searching and requesting anyone with knowledge of a case to send it to the researchers.
The Smith & Wesson 500 or a 44 Magnum might work, but in my time in Alaska a good 12 gauge pump or automatic shotgun loaded with slugs (.69 caliber?) seemed to be the weapon of choice around homestead. Back then optimum pistol calibers were limited to the .44 Magnum which isn’t a bad round but against a charging bear it might not be so effective. I have a friend that used to live around Homer, he swore by a .458 Winchester magnum... he said the first shot should be to the hips to sit them down in the second shot to blow the heart out of their chest as they attempt to rise paws up in a defensive posture thus fully exposing their chest cavity.
He also pointed out... if you want the bag a moose plant roses.. they can’t resist a rose bush.
Ha ha.
Be careful out there.
Good trade, don't you think?
I never understood why that guy took the gun and left his wife on the roof by herself. I would have either stayed on the roof with her or we would have left together. I don’t think my late wife would have stayed by herself even if I told her to.
This is apparently the same approach that Darcy’s hubbie took.
As to that. Since she was consumed mebbe he shot her first.
I don't want to second guess the decisions of those involved.
I, personally, would have been more heavily armed, and kept them closer.
“Rose Bush”
.
The Payson attack was a miracle in that someone administered an IV.
.
Thanks Dean
“Rose Bush”
Never heard of her, is she a descendant of G. Prescott Bush?
No...
It’s a plant that Moose Like!
‘Moose bit my sister’is more my Style!
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