Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Using Handguns or Pistols in Defense Against Bears Update 104 cases 97% Success, 6 May 2021
Gun Watch ^ | 25 June, 2021 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 06/25/2021 6:38:25 AM PDT by marktwain

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last
The entire article is included. Future updates will only include new information.
1 posted on 06/25/2021 6:38:25 AM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marktwain

So the lesson is that a number of people have been killed trying to defend themselves from bear attacks using murderous assault weapons.


2 posted on 06/25/2021 6:42:01 AM PDT by AndyJackson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

A bear had been rummaging through my garbage. It was mid morning and I see the bear heading from the woods towards my garbage. I stepped out on the porch a few feet away, he barely glanced at me. I raised my 9mm and put three rounds fifteen feet behind him. He turned, ran back past me towards the woods. I went inside. But instead of sprinting away into the woods, the ba$tard turned right at the free standing garage, circled around, peeked around the corner to see if I was still out, then lumbered over to my garbage can, picked it up and hauled it into the woods, where he proceeded to dismember the bags. My neighbor watched the whole thing from the pistol shots to the dismemberment. She thought it was hysterical. I ended up keeping my garbage in the locked garage.

Bears are smart. And, even a small bear weighs in at more than a large man.


3 posted on 06/25/2021 6:45:22 AM PDT by Gen.Blather (Wait! I said that out loud? )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

What an amazing collection of cases!!


4 posted on 06/25/2021 6:56:58 AM PDT by syriacus ( 2020 US Elections: "The PAUSE heard 'round the WORLD." )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gen.Blather

That....is a good story. I can just picture that bear peeking around the corner, and then going for your garbage can.


5 posted on 06/25/2021 6:57:02 AM PDT by Jane Long (America, Bless God....blessed be the Nation 🙏🏻🇺🇸)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
No matter how you read this, it's better to have a gun handy than not have one.
It's not going to be 100% success every time, but certainly better than no gun.
The few examples when it failed is no excuse to dismiss all the cases when it worked.
Outrageous what-if scenarios are not helpful in the real world.
This is the case for all defensive gun use. Gun enthusiasts know this and don't claim otherwise.

6 posted on 06/25/2021 7:00:55 AM PDT by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Who asks a bear if the want hot sauce with their meal?


7 posted on 06/25/2021 7:05:01 AM PDT by BuffaloJack (Neither safety nor security exist in nature. Everything is dangerous and has risk.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gen.Blather

Yes we are smart. Glad somebody started recognizing it.


8 posted on 06/25/2021 7:12:04 AM PDT by AndyTheBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: AndyTheBear

“Yes we are smart. Glad somebody started recognizing it.”

That seemed to be a puzzling non sequitur. Then, I saw your handle. Okay...I’ve finally stopped laughing...whew!


9 posted on 06/25/2021 7:15:06 AM PDT by Gen.Blather (Wait! I said that out loud? )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Excellent writeup!!


10 posted on 06/25/2021 7:18:59 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AndyTheBear

Packers always beat the Bears and they didn’t need any stinkin handguns to do it...


11 posted on 06/25/2021 7:23:14 AM PDT by stylin19a (I have kleptomania, but when it gets real bad, I take something for it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Chilling,
But Good information.
Thanks Dean.


12 posted on 06/25/2021 7:37:17 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (Be Still and Know that I Am God. Rev 19)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Very interesting article. BTW, I was made fun of a couple years ago when we visited friends and went hiking. They weren’t “keen” on me carrying while staying at their home. So I simply brought my .380 pocket gun and thought “oh well, it’s better than nothing”.
While on a hike we started talking about what would happen if we came across a bear. My buddy said “I’d use my bear spray”. I replied, you do know bear spray works about 12% of the time and a gun works 97% of the time”.

We discussed for a bit and headed back. About a year later my friend sends me a photo of his new 10MM Glock...SWEET! He thought about it and decided for the amount they hike they need something lethal.


13 posted on 06/25/2021 7:40:41 AM PDT by mikelets456
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Outstanding work, Dean.

L


14 posted on 06/25/2021 7:42:22 AM PDT by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

There was a guy i knew named Del Zeisloft who got a 800lb black bear one year. When asked how many bullets he used to kill the bear he said “all of them” Not sure what kind of rifle he was using maybe a .308


15 posted on 06/25/2021 7:48:41 AM PDT by kvanbrunt2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

I wonder if FMJ ammo would be better against a bear than hollow point, penetration being important?


16 posted on 06/25/2021 8:03:48 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jeff Chandler

Many believe FMJ ammunition is the better choice for bears.


17 posted on 06/25/2021 8:11:59 AM PDT by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Even a 22 can be effective. So much for calibre snobs.


18 posted on 06/25/2021 8:16:46 AM PDT by Seruzawa (The political Left is the Garden of Eden of Incompetence - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain; All
For those who are fans of wanting a caliber which starts with a "4" or larger, the three cases of failure were with a .22, a .38, and a .357. It is unclear if the bear was hit with either the .38 or the .357.

However, all incidents below .40 caliber totaled 27, of which 3 were failures. (89% success rate).

No failures were found with calibers .40 or above, which totaled 77.

Of course, in data sets of such a small number of samples, the statistics are not all that meaningful. Better to read the cases and make up your own mind of what works and what doesn't.

19 posted on 06/25/2021 8:25:37 AM PDT by marktwain (President Trump and his supporters are the Resistance. His opponents are the Reactionaries. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Jack O’Conner’s favorite indigenous guide was attacked twice by the same grizzly. He survived, but was driven insane.


20 posted on 06/25/2021 8:29:59 AM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson