Grizzly bear shot in self defense at 10 feet by Jimmy Cox with a 10mm, Sept. 18, 2018, AK
Posted on 10/26/2025 6:24:28 AM PDT by marktwain
The use of handguns to defend against bear attacks has been shown to be effective 98% of the time. This update details 16 more cases where a handgun was fired in defense against a bear or bears. In this study, all cases where a handgun was fired in defense against a bear are included. This guards against selection bias. Every case is described in detail, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.
If researchers refuse to disclose the data used to support their papers, it detracts from the validity of the conclusions. Extreme accuracy or speed with handguns does not appear to be required. Fifteen of the additions are handgun-only cases. One is a combination case. The total number of cases has become awkward to publish. Links are included to the last full list, published on June 21, 2021, of 104 incidents, and the updates published since then.
The first update was published on April 11, 2022. Eleven additional cases where handguns were fired in combination with other lethal instruments were published on March 16, 2022. The combination cases are not included in the handgun-only statistics. The second update was published on November 21, 2023. Total cases increased to 170. The third update was published on May 8, 2024. Total cases increased to 190.
In this fourth update, there are now 175 cases involving only handguns. Four of the handgun-only cases were deemed failures. Combination cases, where handguns were fired in combination with other lethal instruments, are included for completeness, but are not used to determine handgun effectiveness. The number of all documented cases where a handgun was fired in defense against a bear or bears now numbers 205. The 16 additional cases are listed below in chronological order.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
“The use of handguns to defend against bear attacks has been shown to be effective 98% of the time. “
Knowing my luck, I’d be in the 2%................😫
“The use of handguns to defend against bear attacks has been shown to be effective 98% of the time. “
Knowing my luck, I’d be in the 2%................😫
Grizzly bear shot in self defense at 10 feet by Jimmy Cox with a 10mm, Sept. 18, 2018, AK
Here are three of the four failures. It is not hard to understand why they were failures.
https://www.ammoland.com/2022/04/lessons-from-handgun-defense-failures-against-bears/
The fourth failure was a failure of warning shots to drive off polar bears. No one was injured.
I’d be interested about their effectiveness against wolf pack attacks.
I’d bet it isn’t so good. Gonna happen.
Always take a slow person with you in bear country.............
Thanks for posting these. Got tired of hearing “never shoot a bear with _______, you’ll only piss it off.”
Even a .22 will work if used right, and just about anything is better than bear spray.
Attacks by wolf packs are far less common than bear attacks.
What I am seeing is when one wolf is shot, the pack stops attacking. Not what Valerius Geist expected, but it is what I see. I recall four cases, two in Wisconsin, and one in Washington State, one in Oregon. In all four, wolves were acting very aggressively. Then one wolf was shot, and the rest backed off.
Even with the Russian wolf attacks, the wolves seem careful in their choice of victims. Most of the victims of wolf attacks are children and women.
It is far more common for bears to run off when shot, than to continue attacking.
The most persistent cases seem to be when the bear is defending a food source, such as a moose carcass.
On the other hand, “center of mass” (since there’s so much of it) might provide some wiggle room . . . .
The only good bear is a dead bear. Kinda like a commie.
Very good article. Lots of valuable info and answers many questions.
Obviously. I was speaking of the past as indication of the future. As wolves become more numerous, depletion of prey and habituation to people will cause them to become more brazen. The best records of wolf attacks on people are in Will Graves' "Wolves in Russia."
Still 49 times better odds than bare (no pun intended) hands.
As Americans, I understand that we are supposed to believe that there isn't a problem a gun can't solve, but do you know this to be factually true (supported by evidence)?
I'm asking a serious question, because I am hearing two equally compelling arguments.
Yes, wolves are social, they’ll pause to take a vote and if there’s a dead voter, that’s usually decisive.
Would a .357 Magnum be enough? Against a Grizz?
I like those odds.
A friend who hunts Elk in Idaho also carries a 10mm Glock in case of grizzly. He’s never had to use it.
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