Lessons From Handgun Defense Failures Against Bears

AmmoLand ^ | April 4, 2022 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

123 documented cases where handguns were fired in defense against bears. Three failures. 98% success rate.

[Magnum44]

Seems like this is a repeat article that comes up every few months.

[FreedomPoster]

Was anyone surprised a .22 pistol failed to protect against a polar bear? Man, that’s some really stupid preparation for going into an area known to have polar bears.

[LouAvul]

By this time, all prudent men will know that, when in griz country, carry either a Marlin 45-70 Guide Rifle or a 12 gauge pump loaded with 3 1/2 inch slugs.

[COBOL2Java]

A .22 against a Polar Bear?

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

We’re the bears hit or just scared off?

[Mr Ramsbotham]

About as many bears are killed by bears, each year, for every thousand bears which exist, as have been recorded as killed by people defending themselves with handguns against bears, in the last hundred years.

That bears repeating.

[stockpirate]

My 450 Bushmaster may have an impact?

[Red Badger]

[JusPasenThru]

Da…Bears…

[coloradan]

Yeah. I never head into polar bear country without at least a .380 auto. What were they thinking?!

[SaveFerris]

Heh

[aMorePerfectUnion]

I’d choose a Karelian Bear Dog AND a gun.

[Monterrosa-24]

I am well prepared for polar bears and usually chose one of my magnum revolvers. I have a three-inch S&W model 657 41 magnum, a six-inch S&W model 57 41 magnum, and a 9 and half inch Ruger RedHawk 44 magnum with a 2x Leopold. I guess deterrence works cause I’ve had no polar bears trouble since I’ve lived in Alabama.

[marktwain]

Seems like this is a repeat article that comes up every few months.

There are updates, probably what you are recalling.

This is the first looking specifically at failures.

[GreenLanternCorps]

Shoot the flare gun at the polar bear?

[marktwain]

Shoot the flare gun at the polar bear?

Flares are commonly used to scare off polar bears.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I wonder if a .500 Magnum can stop ‘em.

[marktwain]

Most calibers work well. The polar bear is the only failure with a .22, but only seven cases where a .22 was used altogether. The other six were against black bears.

The most commonly used is the .44 magnum. 37 cases of the 123, all successful.

[Magnum44]

Ok, I guess it seems repetitive because I haven't run into any bears between the last article and this one. But I’m keeping my eyes open...