Anyone ever stop a charging bear with a handgun?

[Mobuck]

"Where was your point of impact?"
As I remember it, the first shot was a smidge below a line between the eyes. That's too low on a bovine with head lowered. Second shot was about 3" higher.
"Did he ever explain why he opened the gate?"
Guess he wanted to see if I was as good as I'd claimed to be. :rolleyes:

 

[carbonfibrebob]

I went bear hunting once, the warden stopped me and made me put my clothes back on

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

No, I came much closer to having to shoot a moose that charged our group riding ATV’s. We figured out the cow moose had just had a calf and apparently thinking it was protecting the calf. I related the incident at Illiamna when I was fishing and walking up the hill to the parking lot, and had adolescent grizzlies all around us, including at the top of the hill, with me carrying a chain of salmon in one hand and my 44 in the other.
At another point we had a black bear that I believe to have been predatory that followed us a ways on a trail but with 2 of us, it finally gave up.
I know couple of guys that have, one with a 44 mag and the other with a 454, in his yard while taking his garbage out to the curb for the garbage guy. Both were grizzlies.
A bear doesn’t have to actually charge you to get shot, just not willing to leave (in one case) your yard, and being testy.
For the most part few people aren’t going to shoot one if they can avoid it, due to everything that goes along with it, legally.

 

[Mobuck]

"For the most part few people are going to shoot one if they can avoid it, due to everything that goes along with it, legally."
^^^THIS^^^
The last time I hunted in Montana, I listened to local archery hunter who had killed an aggressive grizzly. He fired 5 times with a 44 mag and commented that his first "warning' shot was a big mistake. The shot triggered a full on charge. His opinion was if he'd placed the first shot on the bear with a quartering angle, the charge might not have happened and the bear might have retreated to die from a shoulder/lung hit. As it was, the bear was within 10 feet when stopped by a frontal brain shot. The three shots that missed the head but struck neck/shoulders of the bear had no effect.
The man was dragged through all sorts of questioning and accusations for months. :censored:

 

[Topfueler1]

I bow hunt in the western MD and WV mountains. My sidearm is a Taurus Ultra Mag 444 .44 Magnum 4 inch barrel Titanium (not made anymore to expensive) glad I bought mine when I did the first year it came out. I use my handloads and factory loads 240-260-280-300 grain hard cast flat nose high performance coated. That is what you want for deep penetration and expansion. I prefer a revolver over a semi auto which can jam. I do have 10mm both in a S&W revolver 610 and Springfield XDM semi auto. I'll take the .44 over the 10 any day of the week. I don't play around. No I haven't taken a black bear out yet with it. I had one a little too close for comfort and I fired off a round near him. I wanted to see how it would react to the blast and concussion. It took off like a fighter jet with the afterburner on. Never saw it again. Just my two cent story!

 

[mirglip]

The man was dragged through all sorts of questioning and accusations for months. :censored:

If that's the way Game Wardens are going to behave, we're better off talking to Lawyers instead of Game Wardens.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I bow hunt in the western MD and WV mountains. My sidearm is a Taurus Ultra Mag 444 .44 Magnum 4 inch barrel Titanium (not made anymore to expensive) glad I bought mine when I did the first year it came out. I use my handloads and factory loads 240-260-280-300 grain hard cast flat nose high performance coated. That is what you want for deep penetration and expansion. I prefer a revolver over a semi auto which can jam. I do have 10mm both in a S&W revolver 610 and Springfield XDM semi auto. I'll take the .44 over the 10 any day of the week. I don't play around. No I haven't taken a black bear out yet with it. I had one a little too close for comfort and I fired off a round near him. I wanted to see how it would react to the blast and concussion. It took off like a fighter jet with the afterburner on. Never saw it again. Just my two cent story!

Heck the bears I've come across while hunting MD, PA and WV would run if you yelled "BOO".....except for the ones close to residential communities that are "well fed".

 

[Elder User]

That's why I always carry Punch in my Heritage 22LR Barkeep. Haven't seen a bear yet.

 

[blume357]

How could you ever consider shooting this cute critter?

 

[41Dude]

How could you ever consider shooting this cute critter?

View attachment 86952

If he gave me a bad attitude, I would pop a cap in his ... :LOL:

 

[Fox Mike]

although you might make it mad...

That's for sure. The point being that 'something' is better than nothing, if only a little bit. If I were in 'bear country' I am sure that I would have, at least, my 357mag.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

There was a time years ago I got angry at the bears for tearing down my feeders, grill/smoker, trash cans, etc...and wanted to take them out....but bears are bears and they are just doing what bears do. They are still roaming around and looking for easy chow in the neighborhood. The damage I sustained from them is 100% my fault. I've bear proofed about as much as I can. When the garage is finally up that will solve the trash issue (they have torn apart the different sheds/trash bins we tried). However, I will still have the G19 w/147 gr HST or the G40 w/180 Buffalo Bore on me when taking the trash out, or walking folks to their vehicle at night. Momma bear does not like to be surprised when she has her kids with her....the others usually run when you yell "go away bear" or "boo".

 

[peachhead]

I imagine the only hope that I would ever have for stopping a charging bear would be that the smell of poop is not attractive and would make him stop long enough for me to get away.

 

[Track14]

I imagine the only hope that I would ever have for stopping a charging bear would be that the smell of poop is not attractive and would make him stop long enough for me to get away.

nah, just condiments for a bear.

 

[gnappi]

The best shot placement to stop a bear charge is to your hiking friend's knees. The bear will stop to eat your friend while you get away.

 

[shorthair]

The only 'charging' animal I've faced was a 700# rogue steer. Neighbor couldn't get it loaded to take to sale barn and I offered him $100 for the carcass to use as dog food (animal had received massive doses of ?? injected medication so not safe for human consumption). I walked into the corral with my Nylon 66 expecting to shoot the steer from the 'safe side' of the fence. Owner threw open the gate and steer came at me like a freight train from 100' away. First shot was a bit low but second shot dropped the animal as it came on fast. Boot toes to steer nose ended up being about 6'.
I'm just guessing the speed of the 'charge' was similar to a bear and the headshot target size a bit bigger but probably less head bobbing than a charging bear.
Based on this single scenario, I'd choose a moderately powerful cartridge that was controllable in a relatively fast firing firearm vs a more powerful round that limits follow up shots. A disabling shot such as breaking the shoulder of a charging bear seems questionable unless using a large caliber rifle.

50 Winchester Express in a 1886 works really well on rouge cattle.

 

[shorthair]

The best shot placement to stop a bear charge is to your hiking friend's knees. The bear will stop to eat your friend while you get away.

22 short in your buddies foot is all you need. That way the animal rights people will be happy since the slug will go through the foot and won't give the poor bear lead poisoning.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Yes. I beat it into unconsciousness with the grip of my LCP II. Had to hit him TWICE!

 

[Jeepnik]

The best shot placement to stop a bear charge is to your hiking friend's knees. The bear will stop to eat your friend while you get away.

You know a fellow named Timothy got ate by a bear. His girl ran away. The bear tracked down the girl and then ate her. So, unless you are real close to a fast car don't bet on your strategy.

 

[Elder User]

That's why I always carry Punch in my Heritage 22LR Barkeep. Haven't seen a bear yet.

I also do that but I keep six Silvertips in my pocket in case of werewolves . You might also want keep your loaded 22 MRF in your other pocket.

 

[Jeepnik]

I always figured the ultimate supernatural critter weapon would be a shotgun loaded with silver crosses that had been dipped in holy water and dried before loading.

 

[Gutshot]

Yes I have. Long story short I was hunting Black Bear in New Mexico on the Apache Reservation near Dulce. We chased a Bear with dogs the Apache guide though he knew where it was going. We jumped in the truck literally circled the mountain got out to wait listening for the dogs. Next thing we know the Bear is heading straight for us, not a dog in sight or a howl in the air. The guide got a little excited {he had no gun} and started repeating shoot shoot shoot, My first shot no reaction from the Bear the Bear still coming straight on, my second shot the Bear collapsed with both front legs folded underneath his body. Later found my first hit the Bear in the meaty part of his right shoulder went through and hit the right rear ham and exited. My second shot hit just over his left eye dropping him. My weapon? Ruger 5.5" SS Redhawk in 44 magnum, 240 grain JHP hand loads. It was a mature male weighing just under 400 lbs {389} live weight per the Chiricahua Apache F&G scale.

 

[KIR]

I still would like to know if some sort of loud siren of sorts would scare off a bear???

 

[TheTexasRAT]

I still would like to know if some sort of loud siren of sorts would scare off a bear???

I would think an airhorn would scare bears. But then again I would not bet my life on it, but I will bet my life with a 45 COLT.

 

[s4s4u]

I still would like to know if some sort of loud siren of sorts would scare off a bear???

Depends on the attitude of the bear, I expect...

 

[Justice B. Swift]

I recently purchased a Springfield Ronin in 10mm with this in mind. That said I have a Ruger Super Redhawk chambered for the .480 Ruger, which has been my current choice. Factory load is the Hornady 325gr. XTP at 1325 fps., and my pet hand load is the Missouri Bullet's 340gr. flat point cast bullet at over 1400 fps. Recoil is noticeable, but very manageable and the 100 yard energy surpasses the .44 magnum's muzzle energy. I hope not to need it, but ready if called upon. I will admit to liking the capacity of the 10mm, but not above the reliability of a good revolver. My $0.02 . As I experiment with the 10mm cartridge and weapon we'll see how things progress.

 

[thinckley]

the 100 yard energy surpasses the .44 magnum's muzzle energy.

Not discounting what you're doing, and I like the way you think, but I think you'll have a hard time claiming you shot the bear in self defense from 100 yards...

I've managed to not jump on the 10mm bandwagon.... so far, but it sure is getting harder and harder to make up excuses not to get one. Since my last two purchases added two new calibers, I can't even use that excuse anymore...

 

[kentucky yeti]

I've managed to not jump on the 10mm bandwagon....

I jumped on it back in the late 80's. Never looked back, and never a doubt as to its capability with the loads it was originally built for. So much that for autoloaders, I sold all 11 of my .45 ACP's with thousands of rounds of ammo, and my half dozen or so 9mm's that I never did really warm up to and their ammo. I have 10mm's in several auto pistols, a couple different Ruger revolvers, a Contender, and a couple of carbines. I did keep my .44 mag SBH revolvers.

 

[thinckley]

I jumped on it back in the late 80's. Never looked back, and never a doubt as to its capability with the loads it was originally built for. So much that for autoloaders, I sold all 11 of my .45 ACP's with thousands of rounds of ammo, and my half dozen or so 9mm's that I never did really warm up to and their ammo. I have 10mm's in several auto pistols, a couple different Ruger revolvers, a Contender, and a couple of carbines. I did keep my .44 mag SBH revolvers.

That's the thing.... I am too much of a .45 ACP and .44 Mag. If I do add 10mm it will initially be to add my Night Watchman collection.

 

[shorthair]

Yes. I beat it into unconsciousness with the grip of my LCP II. Had to hit him TWICE!

The bear or your buddy?