Punching An Attacking Grizzly In The Face Might Work, But Not Recommended

Cowboy State Daily ^ | JULY 29, 2024 | Mark Heinz

[Red Badger]

I’m a bit more than a ‘Twinkie’, I’m more of a roast pig...............

[Rummyfan]

Whats the of joke? A man checked in at the Ranger Station before going hiking in grizzly country. He told the ranger he was carrying a 357 for protection.

The ranger told him he might want to file down the front sight and the trigger guard.

Why’s that the hiker asked?l
It will make it less painful when that bear shoved that pistol up your a**.

[blueunicorn6]

No, but I did exactly what you’re not supposed to do:

I ran back down the trail screaming “Bear! Bear!”.

[minnesota_bound]

If you miss then the bear will bite down on your arm and throw you around like a rag doll.

Look at the 3rd bear in the background:
INTENSE BEAR FIGHT caught on camera - 3 different angles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJVFbr99H8o

John West - Bear - comedy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP92j-uEnps

[Zhang Fei]

[If I ever decide to go walking -or biking - in Grizzly country, I will punch that charging bear with my 7.62mm semiautomatic, gas-operated shoulder weapon.]

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The problem is if it sneaks up on you, or simply lies in wait unbeknownst to you. A couple of handguns would seem like a better bet. Lighter, handier. Hard to shoulder a long arm while grappling with it. Of course, a rifle would be helpful against armed 2-legged critters that you might run across.

[Chainmail]

I agree that it would be unrealistic to be carrying an M-14 while biking (!) but if you are walking and alert - as someone should always be if there are eaters in the area - an M-14 employs very quickly from a low-carry sling.

Did that for a living a while ago and it never failed me!

Of course, full-auto worked best...

[Zhang Fei]

[I agree that it would be unrealistic to be carrying an M-14 while biking (!) but if you are walking and alert - as someone should always be if there are eaters in the area - an M-14 employs very quickly from a low-carry sling.
Did that for a living a while ago and it never failed me!

Of course, full-auto worked best...]

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Certainly. The issue is when one arm is preoccupied with not letting an unfriendly critter rearrange your face, while you’re trying to draw with the other. At close quarters, handguns are inherently easier to deploy with one hand.

[Chainmail]

"Certainly. The issue is when one arm is preoccupied with not letting an unfriendly critter rearrange your face, while you’re trying to draw with the other. At close quarters, handguns are inherently easier to deploy with one hand."

Agreed. I suppose the trick would be to engage the bear much earlier in its attack - but the really nice thing about the M-14 was that its wooden stock and steel buttplate is a superb "discourager" in the really close-in stuff. Almost never had to resort to that mode in real life, except for the time I woke a thug for his time on the guard and he woke up swinging and clipped my nose. My instincts brought that 11 pound rifle with steel buttplate into his face, which caused us to take him to the Corpsman for treatment and me to stand his watch for him.

Oddly, that particular thug was elaborately courteous to me from then on.