Pistols or Handguns 95% Effective When Used to Defend Against Bear Attacks, 63 Cases

Ammoland ^ | 17 March, 2019 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

In January 2018, I published some original research on the efficacy of pistols in stopping bear attacks. It started with this observation, on the Internet, and in print, many people claim that pistols lack efficacy in defending against bear attacks. Here is an example that occurred on freerepublic.com:

“Actually, there are legions of people who have been badly mauled after using a handgun on a bear. Even some of the vaunted magnums.”

OK, give us a few examples. As you claim “legions”, it should not be too hard.

I never received a response. I believe the claim was made in good faith. There has been much conjecture about the lack of efficacy of pistols for defense against bears. A little searching will find a plethora of fantasy, fiction, mythology, and electrons sprayed about the supposed lack.

In the original article, there were 37 instances of bear attacks where people attempted to defend themselves or others from a bear or bears, with a pistol.

Of the 37 attacks, there was only one failure, giving a success rate of 97%.

The criteria for inclusion in this study is a pistol had to be fired to defend against a bear or bears. If a pistol was not fired, the incident was not included. If the use of the pistol stopped the attack, it was a success whether the bear was killed immediately, or left the scene, as long as it stopped attacking.

All methods of defense against bears have similar problems of access.

[riverrunner]

For all of you.

The Belle Twin story.

https://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2017/06/bella-twin-22-used-to-take-1953-world.html

[riverrunner]

You need to take time and read the articles and the failures.

[riverrunner]

Why don’t you read the article there are 357 saves in it.

[LouAvul]

I've never shot a bear so I have no empirical evidence one way or the other, but ballistically, the 357 magnum definitely has the power on paper to do the job. If I were going to go into bear country with the 357, I'd take my Ruger GP100. It's strong enough to handle even the stoutest of loads with no problem.

I'd also load it with a combination of solid points and something that would offer expansion. If a bear has his thick winter coat on and plenty of fat stores, you'd need a bullet that will penetrate.

Larry Kelly, founder of Magnaport, was in his cabin on a bear hunting trip when a bear wandered in. Kelly shot the bear six times but the loads were hollow points and expanded and stopped short of vitals. Larry escaped and after that, used only solid points/hard cast bullets. And his gun was a Ruger Super Blackhawk. 44 magnum.

That said, there are 357 loads specifically designed for bear country. Just make sure your handgun is up to the task. I wouldn't want to go into bear country with a Rohm.

[Magnum44]

I was making a joke.

[marktwain]

The Indian woman who shot the world record grizzly bear was Bella Twin, who shot the bear in 1953, with a Cooey single shot .22 and .22 longs.

Here is the a good story, with most of the details about the incident.

Here is another story, with a few more details, that I wrote for The Truth About Guns.

[riverrunner]

Serious subject.

For those of us the live in bear country.

[Magnum44]

Not like this subject hasn't been written about a hundred times before though, and you need to lighten up, Francis.

[Big Red Badger]

Bella Twin,,
Proves once Again;
Location,
Location and
Location!

[MileHi]

I think the Judge would do just fine.

I don't. Standard .45 Colt loads are pretty anemic, more so from a short barrel. There are hotter loads but you need a Ruger pistol for those. A 5" Blackhawk would be handy for this purpose. The Judge would fit nicely in the "little bit better than nothing" category. YMMV

[sarge83]

Depends on the size of the bear and more importantly the round you are firing. A hard cast hunting round gives you an excellent chance. Try something from Buffalo Bore. I live in black bear country and carried a S&W Model 19 with old Georgia Ammo, Deer stomper hunting rounds and felt safe. Currently I carry a Virginian Dragoon .44 magnum with heavy hunting rounds.

[Vaquero]

I agree. The Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan is the way to go with 480 Ruger or 454 Casull or even .44 magnum. A small little dynamo. Though I wouldn’t want to do a lot of practice shooting with this especially with the hotter rounds. it’s a snubby. For when you get up close and personal.

[Cobra64]

.454 Casull

[MileHi]

Yep, but even a 5” Vaquero with hot, heavy hard cast .45s would do ya good and is a little lighter for hiking than my 6” Redhawk.

[Magnum44]

LOL. 😂

[Celtic Conservative]

They make a carbine kength judge rifle as well. That might be more accurate.

CC

[Vaquero]

I have 2, 5.5” ‘old style’ vaqueros in .45 Colt. One bisley one regular. I used to use them to shoot cowboy action matches. I have loaded them for hunting with 250 and 300 grain jacketed soft points from 1100 to 1400 FPS. This should stop most critters. I like hard cast and have loaded them too.

[Rebelbase]

Heimo Korth is one of the last people allowed to live in ANWAR. He uses a 12 ga. for bear protection. There’s a Vice video where a grizzly is stalking his camp an night and he goes out with a flashlight and gun and kills it.

[mad_as_he$$]

Heimo Korth is a bad ass. Always enjoy stuff about his life.