Self Defense bear spray vs pistol
- Thread starter Ikeepitcold
- Start date
hoshour
Veteran member
Good advice. Mike told me one time he uses buckshot to solve the accuracy issue, but as you said, better than either spray or gun is trying hard to avoid an encounter to begin with. From what I've read, most attacks are from bears surprised in close quarters by one or two people.
Pretty useless video, it presents no data or facts, it's just a fluff piece that presents the opinion of the guy doing the video. Several absolutely false statements too. His statement that you should avoid bear habitat just doesn't work for some of us because we don't live or hunt in open prairies. In the end you better feel really confident about what you choose to use because because you wont have any time to use an alternative solution.
Probably one of the most ridiculous statements that I’ve ever seen on this forum. No facts? No data, Really?
Coming from a Game and Fish officer and fromDan that consistently hunts in bear country I think they both have lots of useful information for guys that haven’t been in griz country.
Last edited:
https://craigmedred.news/2017/06/29/bear-spray-yes-or-no/
Very interesting artical about predatory vs protective bears
Very interesting artical about predatory vs protective bears
If you took absolutely nothing away from this video then I feel sorry for you. Good luck out there and be safe!
For a 3:18 minute video, I thought it was very well done, Dan.
It would be hard to narrow down the appropriate response to every possible bear encounter in that amount of time.
I agree with you that you should get comfortable and competent with whatever you use for protection. Do what you can to mitigate as much risk as possible and still have a good hunt. The chance of a surprise encounter with a charging bear is extremely low if you just use a little common sense.
It would be hard to narrow down the appropriate response to every possible bear encounter in that amount of time.
I agree with you that you should get comfortable and competent with whatever you use for protection. Do what you can to mitigate as much risk as possible and still have a good hunt. The chance of a surprise encounter with a charging bear is extremely low if you just use a little common sense.
I couldn't have said it better myself, thanks AKaviator. There's a lot of varying country out there where griz live. Think about the terrain where you're going to hunt and make an educated assessment for what will work best for you!
JimP
Administrator
You need to do more than just decide what is going to be best for you to use between a firearm and bear spray.
If you choose a handgun you are going to have to practice and practice. Not just go shooting a couple of weekends a year. You are going to also be able to hit a tennis ball size area on the bear to stop him in his tracks, not very easy on a moving target even with a rifle much less a handgun. Also if the bear is in full charge odds are if you don't kill him on the spot you are going to be in trouble, either getting him off of you or the mauling that is going to happen by a mad bear.
That is where bear spray comes into play on it's effectiveness. A bears main sense is his nose and once that spray hits it and he breathes it in the bear is usually going to stop and try to figure out what just happened or to try to get away from that burning sensation. With the spray you don't even have to hit him directly since it puts out a fog and everything within that area that you pointed it at is going to get hit by it. Yes, even you if it bounces back onto you or you don't have it aimed correctly.
When I went up to British Colombia on a grizzly hunt the outfitter strapped a double action 44 magnum onto his chest. I asked him if he was a good shot with it and he said that he wasn't. I then asked him why he packed it instead of a rifle or shotgun in grizzly country. He told me that his intentions were to shove the pistol into the bears mouth and pull the trigger 6 times.
If you choose a handgun you are going to have to practice and practice. Not just go shooting a couple of weekends a year. You are going to also be able to hit a tennis ball size area on the bear to stop him in his tracks, not very easy on a moving target even with a rifle much less a handgun. Also if the bear is in full charge odds are if you don't kill him on the spot you are going to be in trouble, either getting him off of you or the mauling that is going to happen by a mad bear.
That is where bear spray comes into play on it's effectiveness. A bears main sense is his nose and once that spray hits it and he breathes it in the bear is usually going to stop and try to figure out what just happened or to try to get away from that burning sensation. With the spray you don't even have to hit him directly since it puts out a fog and everything within that area that you pointed it at is going to get hit by it. Yes, even you if it bounces back onto you or you don't have it aimed correctly.
When I went up to British Colombia on a grizzly hunt the outfitter strapped a double action 44 magnum onto his chest. I asked him if he was a good shot with it and he said that he wasn't. I then asked him why he packed it instead of a rifle or shotgun in grizzly country. He told me that his intentions were to shove the pistol into the bears mouth and pull the trigger 6 times.
tim
Veteran member
shoot a can of bear spray off and see that they do not have much range at all. bear spray is defiantely up close and personal.
JimP
Administrator
One place that I have read that people get into trouble with the spray is that they will spray it around their camp site, which now turns it into a condiment.
tim
Veteran member
interesting article for sure. I am surprised craig medred did not talk about when he was mauled by a bear hunting moose with a 454 casuall on the Russian river. If I remember right it was sept of 1992. I know about that, because I did the first aid on him.
WapitiBob
Veteran member
We startled 2 Bears last year, albeit Black Bears.
Both at less than 15 yards and each encounter was over in less than 2 seconds. Fortunately, both Bears went 90 deg instead of coming our way. Both my partners had pistols and I still laugh at their stupid comments that "had it come at us I'd have shot it." Those Bears were 50 yards away and going strong before we even knew what the hell had happened.
Both at less than 15 yards and each encounter was over in less than 2 seconds. Fortunately, both Bears went 90 deg instead of coming our way. Both my partners had pistols and I still laugh at their stupid comments that "had it come at us I'd have shot it." Those Bears were 50 yards away and going strong before we even knew what the hell had happened.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
I am a competition pistol shooter (NRA Distinguished Expert) and shoot large caliber handguns (45 Colt) every week. I literally shoot 1,000's of round in a year. I not sure I could hit a charging bear fatally. We don't get to practice or shoot with a full charge of adrenalin overdosing our body, which I am sure would be happening. My preference would be a shotgun loaded with buckshot, but it is another longgun to carry.
I have hunted elk once in Grizzly country and had my .50 S & W revolver and bear spray with me. My guide told me if we got charged, he would shoot and I would spray. We did see bears several time. I think if I ever went back< I would carry 2 cans of spray and use them both, one in each hand.
I have hunted elk once in Grizzly country and had my .50 S & W revolver and bear spray with me. My guide told me if we got charged, he would shoot and I would spray. We did see bears several time. I think if I ever went back< I would carry 2 cans of spray and use them both, one in each hand.
Last edited:
dirtclod Az.
Veteran member
12ga. right beetween the eyes.Practice with a pistol...right JimP those Javelina are hard to hit.Lol!! See you in Jan.dirtclod Az.
JimP
Administrator
I'd forget about the rifle if he doesn't have a tag, but pack a shotgun for grouse and a bear deterrent. Then if he is working as your back up as you field dress a animal he can load it full of 00 buck or even a couple of slugs.
You could load up the first round as 00 buck and then the next two as bird shot, but don't hit those grouse with that 00 buck.
Mr dirtclod, I am practicing at the range. I admit that I blew it last year with my handgun but come this February when I am down there they had better look out, I'll be ready for them. Running, sitting, feeding, sleeping or what ever else.
You could load up the first round as 00 buck and then the next two as bird shot, but don't hit those grouse with that 00 buck.
Mr dirtclod, I am practicing at the range. I admit that I blew it last year with my handgun but come this February when I am down there they had better look out, I'll be ready for them. Running, sitting, feeding, sleeping or what ever else.
Bonecollector
Veteran member
Slugz
Veteran member
That made me laugh just as much as Kiddoggys daily jocularity thread
( compliment)Dan Pickar putting out useless info .....ha.....funny stuff.
Back to refreshing the Colorado web page every 10 minutes
Still smiling as I hit Post Quick Reply
I'll tell you what's really ridiculous to me is a guy from Reno telling a guy that lives in SW Montana that his opinion about bears is ridiculous. My opinion is just as valid as anybody else's opinion, that was my point, unless the video showed statistics or tests as proof they are just running their mouths like you.