VIDEO... Charging Bear Pistol Test

[jcm800]

Good article showing the anatomy of a bear skull and it's weaknesses. The world record grizzly was taken by an experienced Indian woman with a 22LR at 30'.... talk about balls of steel.

Carved Polar Bear Skull Shows Where to Aim when Attacked

The brain inside a bears skull is smaller, more narrow, and further back than many people understand. These images of a carved skull show where to aim, from various angles, to hit the brain.

www.ammoland.com

 

[762willdo]

I read that book, twice. That guy was full of shit. If he were alive today he’d be an oracle on 24 hour campfire and the fguffey fan club president.

He said from the safety of his moms basement….. i Guess a guy from Minnesota would know more the a pro hunter in Alaska so I’ll take your word for it, by the way what is the population of brown bears in Minnesota?

 

[wboggs]

I like this.....quoted from the article:

"Many people claim that handguns are useless for protection against bears. Numerous examples have shown that this is a false notion. Handguns may not be ideal as defensive weapons for bears, but they can be effective. In a defensive situation, you have to use what is available."

They are effective. Back in the day, many Alaskan guides used a 4" .44 mag. They didn't carry it because it was ineffective.

 

[Prose]

He said from the safety of his moms basement….. i Guess a guy from Minnesota would know more the a pro hunter in Alaska so I’ll take your word for it, by the way what is the population of brown bears in Minnesota?

I recall reading that book next to my wood stove in one of the two homes I owned in Alaska. I return every couple years to hunt and fish and will again next month. I've hunted most everything there is to hunt (moose, caribou, brown, black, and grizzly bear included). I've hunted mountains in summer and winter. I've done coasts and inland. Fly ins, hike ins, boat trips and river floats too. Copper river basin, Arctic, Chicken and Tok. Kenai Peninsula, Glenallen, Delta Junction, FNSB, Talkeenta. I've done everything that guy ever did and more. I also trained many a pro-hunter and guide in defensive pistol and rifle use, as well as firearm usage to hundreds of people. I don't get my knowledge from story tellers whether in a book or on the internet.

This may be a forum full of fishers, shooters, hunters, and other liars, but we have an uncompromising commitment to accurate load data and ballistics here. The author of that book claims many fantastical shots that we would ridicule if they were posted here. Anyone that knows basic ballistics, SDs, or bullet construction knows that the book is mostly a work of fiction. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[762willdo]

Well your resume must be true, it’s on the internet, I’ve lived up there as well in western Ak. Kotzebue, nome, emmonak, Russian river on the Kenai, Dutch harbor and cold bay plus all over southeast. the only thing I haven’t hunted is brown bear, not because I couldn’t but because I simply didn’t want to.

 

[Prose]

Well your resume must be true, it’s on the internet, I’ve lived up there as well in western Ak. Kotzebue, nome, emmonak, Russian river on the Kenai, Dutch harbor and cold bay plus all over southeast. the only thing I haven’t hunted is brown bear, not because I couldn’t but because I simply didn’t want to.

Well next time you practice don't use a sled representing a grizzly bear. Instead, fly this kite to represent the erratic airborne charge that grizzlies are known for. Use a 220 swift.

 

[wboggs]

Well your resume must be true, it’s on the internet, I’ve lived up there as well in western Ak. Kotzebue, nome, emmonak, Russian river on the Kenai, Dutch harbor and cold bay plus all over southeast. the only thing I haven’t hunted is brown bear, not because I couldn’t but because I simply didn’t want to.

Know anyone who used a .220 swift?

 

[Bamban]

Well your resume must be true, it’s on the internet, I’ve lived up there as well in western Ak. Kotzebue, nome, emmonak, Russian river on the Kenai, Dutch harbor and cold bay plus all over southeast. the only thing I haven’t hunted is brown bear, not because I couldn’t but because I simply didn’t want to.

When you lived in Kotzebue, which is a couple of hundred miles south from where my Uncle sent me, did you ask the natives what cartridge they used to kill Polar bears,?

 

[daniel brothers]

A 220 swift is nothing more than a HOT 22-250, which native Alaskan Indians use all the time, so I wouldn't think twice about putting a Hot 20 cal bullet into a bear's ear area... BUT NOT on a charging bear, which is what this thread is all about. It's all about re-thinking bear defense in a slightly real time situation. His test is not perfect for sure... but it's a start in the right direction for a serious wake-up call. I personally own 12 ga shotguns... 44 mag pistols... and 357's... but.... I will NOT be going up into bear country again without having a heavy bullet, 10mm semi auto pistol. I once bowhunted Sikka blacktail deer on Kodiak Island with a short barreled 12 ga with slugs stuck down in my backpack... but I would have been toast as well if a bear charged me within 3 seconds of running space. A 15 round clip of 10mm would have at least given me a shot or two while on my feet, with many more shots available while it chewed my butt... that is, if I could still be holding onto the pistol. I remember someone awhile back say that if you have time, it's best to get down on a knee while shooting because your shots would be more inline with straight on shots to the head, throat, and vitals.... plus your already down in a more controlled position instead of it knocking you flat off your feet, onto your back. Everyone thinks he can handle a 3 second surprised bear charge, and get off at least one good shot... BUT REALLY??? Nobody really knows until tested. I hope I'm never tested that way, but if I lived in big bear country... I hope that I would have enough sense to pass all kinds of little scenario testings before that one time testing came along to where I had to defend myself or those who are with me.

 

[Bamban]

Summer of 74 while hiking down the shores of the Artic Ocean we ran across a capsized canoe. Nearby were 3 weapons scattered about; two bolt guns and a 12G pump. The surprise, the guns were a 222 and 223.

We sent inquiry to Point Hope and Point Lay if there were any of their people missing. Negative was the response.

On my way home for R&R a couple of weeks later the layover was at Kotzebue. At the local watering joint talking to some natives, I was surprised to hear that they hunt Polar bears with either a 222, but mostly 223, GI issue ammo that they get for free. With the aid of dogs to stand up the bear then they shoot them in the neck. Never went out with them to witness, but the missionary living with the natives seated next to me on the flight to Anchorage confirmed what I heard at the bar. The priest struck the conversation with me thinking because of my Asian face I came from one of the vilages.

 

[wboggs]

Summer of 74 while hiking down the shores of the Artic Ocean we ran across a capsized canoe. Nearby were 3 weapons scattered about; two bolt guns and a 12G pump. The surprise, the guns were a 222 and 223.

We sent inquiry to Point Hope and Point Lay if there were any of their people missing. Negative was the response.

On my way home for R&R a couple of weeks later the layover was at Kotzebue. At the local watering joint talking to some natives, I was surprised to hear that they hunt Polar bears with either a 222, but mostly 223, GI issue ammo that they get for free. With the aid of dogs to stand up the bear then they shoot them in the neck. Never went out with them to witness, but the missionary living with the natives seated next to me on the flight to Anchorage confirmed what I heard at the bar. The priest struck the conversation with me thinking because of my Asian face I came from one of the vilages.

Don't confuse native hunting with what you will be doing. It is completely different in all respects unless you go with them and use their techniques. In the 60s my wife worked at the Public Health Hospital in Seattle which was responsible for the care of all the Indians and Eskimos in the NW, including Alaska. She came to know and love many who lived in the prime polar bear areas and some of them invited me up to hunt with them on dogsleds. They explained the hunt and I quickly got the big picture, enormous risk and hardship for a non-native. I did go up and flew over the ice to see many bears and gained even more respect for those that live life on the edge just to survive. I never again thought about hunting polar bear by any method. Let them be, they have earned that right.
Browns and grizzly are another thing and I have hunted many of them.
Just my thoughts, I think we have too many armchair hunters responding.
Bill

 

[Bamban]

Don't confuse native hunting with what you will be doing. It is completely different in all respects unless you go with them and use their techniques. In the 60s my wife worked at the Public Health Hospital in Seattle which was responsible for the care of all the Indians and Eskimos in the NW, including Alaska. She came to know and love many who lived in the prime polar bear areas and some of them invited me up to hunt with them on dogsleds. They explained the hunt and I quickly got the big picture, enormous risk and hardship for a non-native. I did go up and flew over the ice to see many bears and gained even more respect for those that live life on the edge just to survive. I never again thought about hunting polar bear by any method. Let them be, they have earned that right.
Browns and grizzly are another thing and I have hunted many of them.
Just my thoughts, I think we have too many armchair hunters responding.
Bill

There was no village by our RADAR site where I was for a year, a place called Cape Lizburne. Killed a Caribou and only sighted one Polar bear while glassing the Arctic Ocean beach from the top of the mountain. Foreground is our bottom camp, I lived at the top camp with 7 other souls.

 

[effendude]

I forwarded this video to a buddy who owns an outfitting business in Montana, just north of Yellowstone and Alaska, just east of Denali. He runs horseback hunts in both areas. Elk, deer, black bear and cougar in MT, sheep, moose, caribou and grizzly in AK. He has always carried a S&W 4" barreled .44 mag revolver on his hip. His thinking is that a bear, charging from the brush, is going to scare your horse and you won't likely stay on. The next moment, you'll find yourself on the ground with a bear in your face while your rifle bounces away on the horse. You'll be shooting point blank into a bear's face and body while he is attacking you. He has had bears surprise him or other guides before and luckily the bears ran off instead of attacking the hunters.

He called me yesterday after watching the video. He went out and bought himself a 10mm 1911. I trust his judgement.
Scott

 

[daniel brothers]

I trust his judgement as well Scott.... you may have just helped save someone's life....WOW.

 

[wboggs]

I hope he loads it with some hard cast heavy loads and not those sold for self- defense. I have been shooting a 10mm since the 80s when they first came out and most of the commercial ammo is going to be inadeqate in the absence of perfect shot placement.
I haven't looked but Buffalo Bore may have some good bear loads.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I hope he loads it with some hard cast heavy loads and not those sold for self- defense. I have been shooting a 10mm since the 80s when they first came out and most of the commercial ammo is going to be inadeqate in the absence of perfect shot placement.
I haven't looked but Buffalo Bore may have some good bear loads.

Underwood is what most carry

 

[effendude]

I trust his judgement as well Scott.... you may have just helped save someone's life....WOW.

Just picked up a Gunfighters Inc Kenai chest holster for this exact purpose

Kenai Chest Holster - Across the Chest, Fast & Efficient Draw | GunfightersINC

Carry your firearm confidently outdoors with the Kenai Chest Holster. Perfect for hiking, camping & hunting. Your ultimate outdoor companion.

gunfightersinc.com

Scott

 

[wboggs]

Just picked up a Gunfighters Inc Kenai chest holster for this exact purpose

Kenai Chest Holster - Across the Chest, Fast & Efficient Draw | GunfightersINC

Carry your firearm confidently outdoors with the Kenai Chest Holster. Perfect for hiking, camping & hunting. Your ultimate outdoor companion.

gunfightersinc.com

Scott

That is the perfect holster

 

[wboggs]

Underwood is what most carry

I guess there aren't many reloaders in the guide profession but I always loaded Cast Precision heavy wide nose using 2400 and a heavy crimp in my .41 and .44 4" S&Ws. 14-1500 fps giving deep straight line penetration.
I'm old school but a well tuned and honed S&W double action would still be my choice if I were still hunting.

 

[Bocephus]

It is nonsense with a capital "N". Many bullets will do the job. It depends on the angle of a frontal shot since the skull is slanted. A good bullet will go completely through a skull if hit from the side, back, or proper frontal angle.

A lot of differences between will, might, maybe, etc besides the number of letters in each word. Lest we forget what DID happen:

What .22 Rifle did Bella Twin use to Kill a World Record Grizzly in 1953?

Bella Twin is shown with the world record grizzly bear that she shot in 1953 with a single shot .22 rifle. The question is, what rifle is she holding???

www.ammoland.com