An interesting read.

 

Speaks volumes for high capacity handguns in bear country.

 

Have you checked this out?

 

I hate to read of things like this, just because that was a one-in-a-million situation. She knew exactly where to put the bullet and then put a number of them into the brain to insure the kill. What if she was rattled enough to miss that shot? The .22 Long would have bounced off the skull.
Some uneducated people will quote this and say that .22 is good to kill bears.

I hate it when people say that .22LR is good for self defense or good for feral hogs or whatever. Yes, sometimes it will kill when placed in the exact right spot but what about the imperfect shots that don't kill instantly?
Attackers have survived multiple 9mm or .38 rounds, why would you think one .22LR will stop the threat every time?

I believe in carrying enough gun and overkill is preferred. For home defense I use 10mm (and 9mm) and for hogs I shoot 6.5 Grendel AR and Glock 40 10mm.

 

Good story, I’ll bet a lot of people are reading stories like that (which probably explains the popularity of G20’s in Alaska). I guess I’ll stick with my .375 H&H even if it doesn’t fit in a holster.

 

These type threads remind of a quote by a fictional character of Larry McMurtry's creation in a book called "Boones Lick.'

"Folks are tougher than they look. Most are just plain unwilling to die if they can get around it."

In my experience, the same can be said for animals :⁠-⁠)

 

Any mention of Larry McMurtry and I mention his greatest book: Lonesome Dove, made into a mini-series. BEST movie out there. He gave Gus the best lines to explain life in a nutshell.

Thrown in there for good measure was "we don't rent pigs" or "any man that would rent a pig, can't be stopped."

"You can't just want one thing in life cuz you'll liable to be disappointed. The way I see it is you've got to learn to love all the little everyday things – like a sip of good whiskey, a soft bed, and a glass of buttermilk...”

"Yesterday's gone, we can't get it back."

"Woodrow, you just don’t ever get the point – ‘It’s not dyin’ I’m talkin’ about, it’s livin’.”

It’s been quite a party ain’t it?

Disclaimer, most of the quotes were from memory so may not be verbatim.

 

From the original story, I wish I knew at what point did the bear stop charging within those 13 of 16 hits? I wonder if one of those guys was alone, which one or both would have survived? I only carry 10 in my Glock 20 but also only hunt in black bear county, no griz or browns. Still an interesting read.

 

I do not cross paths with grizzlies. To date.... never. For the same reasons mentioned in the writeup.... if I ever was in such a scenario, I would hope to have a 350L m4gery slung. But very unlikely.

 

Good read and this time of the year many are preparing for fall and winter hunts.
*Going to Grizzly country is NO joke. These stories offer some insight but nothing better than the knowledge of local trappers, hunters and local guide groups. I am old now and have no plans to get to Bear country this season. All trips to bear country should have some research data and input of local guides.
*Grizzlies rule the woods and own the moment. Odds are not in your favor.
*Grab the popcorn when discussing bear defense.
The appropriate combination of firearm, ammunition, sighting system, and prepared readiness can determine tragedy or survival.

 

One of the problems with bears is that it's difficult to anticipate their disposition.

 

I think there is enough evidence to safely suggest any bear attack is rare. Any success/failed defensive attack defenses are also actually rare.
Bear hunts, less rare. Keep it civil.
From here, attitudes look flared on all sides.

I would bet, by the numbers any gun beats no gun if a gun is to be used. I also bet, as both presented cases of this rare event suggest....
Skill matters most.

Skill is gained via practice/execution. Hard won experience.

 

Old shooter adage.... in a year.... a shot a day beats 364 shots on a single day.

 

When I say I tried not to comment is when I comment. It's always good to compound data gathered from real life situations but they all differ. The incident described is unique, it involved 2 Green Berets who got off 16 shots. 13 of which hit the bear somewhere, 1 in the paw, that counts as a hit.

As far as Bella Twin, she's a legend. One in a million or not it's something she did with enough documentation it's considered a factual event downing the world record bear with a single 22 shot. She had the advantage, of having the bear up close and personal and not charging. She knew what she had to do and did it.

Both stories totally different but lessons can be derived from each. Is a 10mm enough to stop a bear? If you can land 13 shots it probably may be. Is a 22 enough to stop a bear? If your shot placement is right.

I'm certainly not going to criticize 2 Green Berets who aimed for center mass and hit the bear 13/16 times. I would probably roll the dice and try for a head shot or try to break his shoulder 44mag style. That's the gamble where you win big or lose big. He be dead or you be dead.

Can I analyze the situation and form a plan in a fraction of a second? Absolutely not! That why as I type this sipping my coffee I plan what to do and in the fraction of a second I hope to act. Then again Mike Tyson famously said, "everybody has a plan until you get punched in the face." Bella had a plan and punched the bear in the face first.

 

That is a heck of a lot closer to a grizzly than I would ever care to be...

 

A very good read.

….closer than I’d ever care to be unless it’s at a zoo!

I’ll be sharing this. Thank you.

 

I have only seen one grizzly in my life. Yellowstone 15 years or more ago. To me, (no judge of bears), it looked like about a three year old possibly weighing 400 pounds or so. Hard to judge, but I’ve seen a lot of 200/250 pound hogs and this bear was easily twice as big. We viewed it from the relative safety of a Ford Excursion at about 35/40 yards. It payed us no mind, not even a “whas up” look our way. Some people dumber than me were out of their cars taking pictures having no clue what that animal is capable of should it want to.

Beautiful animal that has worn out its welcome in the wilderness areas adjacent to the park. It’s a pity that in our current world coexistence is so complicated. They used to be a fixture, but that was then, and unfortunately this is now.

We, in Texas, are looking at a similar future as there are more and more black bear sightings every year. East Texas gets LA and AR bears, South Texas gets Mexican bears. They can’t be molested at all, just like the alligators were for years. Guess what, we have had an alligator season for years now. The problem with bears though, they will tear up an anvil if they smell food. That means just about every deer camp wherever they roam. Think of them as a 300 pound racoon ! I’m afraid we are not gonna like the journey we are gonna be on for the next several years.