Posted on 10/10/2019 5:31:29 AM PDT by marktwain
On 16 September 2019, Chris Gregersen and Donivan Cambell were bow hunting elk in Montana, in the Gravelly Mountains, when they were attacked by a grizzly bear. They had gone out for an afternoon hunt, and had hunted up steep drainage, climbed the opposite slope, and had been calling for elk on the opposite side of the ridge with a bugle call.
They were returning to their truck and camp. They stopped calling on the top of the ridge, crested the ridge, and were on a steep downward slope, moving toward the creek at the bottom, on an old game trail. There was no cell service in the area.
The weather was clear, in the 50s, with a slight breeze. It was 6:30 p.m. The sun was low in the sky. They wanted to get back before dark.
In addition to their archery equipment, both men had 9 mm pistols. Chris Gregersen had a Glock 43. Donivan Campbell had a Sig Sauer P320. Both guns were loaded with full metal jacketed (FMJ) cartridges.
Chris said he carried the Glock 43 because it was small enough to be taken every day.
Both men are professional biologists, with degrees in wildlife ecology, working in their chosen field. They are familiar with bears and bear behavior. They live and work in Washington State. They are both longtime hunters and fishermen. They are proficient woodsmen.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
220, 221. Whatever it takes.
If I were to try with a 9, I think I would want a lot more of them.
I was thinking FMJ makes small holes, but, then again, it probably allowed it to penetrate that thick hide. They were lucky.
Yep.
Glock 18
Beretta 93R
Lots of 30 round fun sticks
And a clean pair of pants!
I'm somewhat surprised at this story myself. Absent the injury shown in the article, I'd have never believed this story. They're both very fortunate.
This article caused me to realize that I was missing something from my hunting pack. Just bought a quick clot kit for my upcoming Elk hunt. Earlier this year I picked up a chest holster for my .357 Magnum to get it off my hip and out of the way of the rifle stock when it is slung on my shoulder.
All happened in mere seconds. Very scary. Glad the guys reacted so well.
These guys were lucky. You can’t ever have too much firepower when it comes to aggressive animals. Although we’re starting to see black bears here in East Texas, our big threat is wild hogs the size of small Honda 4-wheelers. Yeah, you can kill them with a well-placed .22 shot - sometimes. I was out squirrel hunting one year and had one charge me out of nowhere. I shot him right between the eyes with a .22 long rifle point blank and it didn’t even phase him. The only thing that saved me was I could run around a tree faster than he could. I had to drop the rifle to climb the tree. I would have given anything for one of their 9mm pistols. But, a grizzly bear? Maybe they will invest in some really serious firepower for the next time out.
Yes, with bears penetration is the key.
Glock 34 for me. Love it and with the extra muzzle weight you can shoot rapidly with no flip.
What I don't get is, isn't this testimony to the marginal effectiveness of the 9mm on bears? In the previous account about this encounter it was mentioned that one of the guys unfortunately got hurt... let's say not as bad as he could have been. Would more gun (10mm etc) have prevented the injury, it's not for me to say but I can't help but ask the question. <>(Yes, I'm just a keyboard rambo here and I admit it...) But let me ask - If the 9mm is a good choice, why not a .38 revolver loaded with +P's? Why not a .380 or a Makarov? No, on both counts? So we've established then that the 9mm meets only minimal specs for bear defense, notwithstanding the legend about the young native American lady who killed a bear with a single shot from a .22.
And who figured this choice out? Are there known cases of people trying to defend themselves from bears with .38's, 380's, etc, who weren't successful?
Again, my comments are from the safety of my office, but if I'm given a pop quiz, right now... (Congratulations! You're going salmon fishing, TOMORROW!!, or something like that) I'm taking my SP101 loaded with the baddest 180 grain hardcast loads I can get, before any 9mm and praying earnestly for no bear trouble. I would figure in any case I'm not getting more than five shots at him/her.
Now, if it's not a pop quiz (as in, "go right now, with only the stuff you have right now"), my own choice would come down to either a Redhawk in .45 colt (kinda heavy, isn't it?) or a 10mm.
I suppose a 9mm would be better than nothing... analogous to carrying a .22 in the city...
Just my POV...
In grizzly country, seems to me the best pistol fires 12 gauge slugs.
Read an article by a professional Alaskan guide years ago; he recommended forgetting about killing them. Try to take out the shoulder girdle so they can’t go on all fours to run you down.
A decade or so ago there was a elephant in Florida that went ino the must in a public area.
I can’t remember the circumstances but a police officer responded and killed that elephant with a 9mm.
I wouldn’t take a 9 but if that’s all I had the 34 is the way to go. I would guess they they estimate the risk for each trip. The 9 is their minimum.
This time of year I don’t think young cubs are an issue and the risk might be lower. By now they are all fattened up ready to hibernate.
“A 9mm did the job. The shooter purchased a 10mm when he got home.”
Whatever you have is better than bear spray, which is just seasoning for when the bear eats you.
The world record griz was killed with a 22 long!
I am surprised that there is no mention here of hard cast for bears.
Go to Buffalo Bore’s web site and read what he has to say about hard cast and penetration.
A few 9’s will not cycle 100% of the time with hard cast, so shoot two or three boxes to be sure yours will.
Note that Cor-Bon also has special loads for bears.
Exploding would be my choice.
It looks like they were carrying FMJs. Should have used buffalo bore.
I carry a Blackhawk in 41 Mag with hard cast.
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