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VIDEO... Charging Bear Pistol Test

Louisiana Shooter said:
That AR surprised me. Makes me wonder about the 450BM chambering in an AR.
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The AR got me thinking that a large frame AR with a 16 inch barrel in 375 Raptor might be a good thing.

When I spent my summers sea kayaking on the coast of BC and AK I carried my 870 slugs first and then 2 #4 buckshot thinking that if I was still shooting I would probably be shaking and maybe soiled my shorts. Spent many nights/days camped in the willows as that was all there was when I needed to stop so any bears I would see in those situations would be up close an personal and winning might be achieved by blinding the bear with buckshot. While sea kayaking a pistol was not an option given I was in BC and AK.
 
I certainly believe the story. It is the kind of thing that happens. A perfect shot at close range. That said, others should not use it to recommend bear loads.
In the 60s an Indian guide told me he saw a world record Alaskan Brown taken using a 220 gr .30-06 with one shot at about 70yds. I believe that too. So what do these events prove? It can and has been done. If you want to base your opinions based on these, go ahead but don't expect everyone else to agree.
 
G40 MOS, Trijicon, brake, Kenai holster. Ran 6 boxes of Underwood, Buffalo Bore and Double Tap hard cast to ensure functionality. Drawing from holster sometimes.

If nothing else the horrendous noise from the brake might make the critter to take a pause.

I have a Delta Elite that I had melonited, but I shoot the G40 better.

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One of my friends had a weak recoil spring on a Glock. Velocity was lower. 100 fps won't make any difference at close range but
I was just curious. We were shooting at 100 on plates and 1500 fps from my .41 made hits easier
 
wboggs said:
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.
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I put a post up a few years ago which is back on the first page about loading 10mm.
 
After watching the video and seeing the most shots out of the semi probably trumps in the short timeframe, would a G19 loaded with the hard cast be a terrible idea?
 
I'm sure that Allen realized that he would get NO shots off with a rifled weapon if it were slung on the shoulder in that short time frame.... so he had to use those weapons in a ready position... which also means.... that if he did the pistols in a ready position... then he might have gotten off twice the amount of rounds.... so that sounds like it favors the pistols in both situations.... ready or non-ready.
 
wboggs said:
See comnent above
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I’ve spent a fair amount of time wandering, hunting, fishing and photographing in wilderness areas. I can’t think of anything that would, under all circumstances, stop a PO’d grizz at less than 30’ unless the remedy was correctly administered.
So my point is that a cool head under stress would seem to be just as important as the size of the rock in the slingshot.
 
One issue that the video does not indicate is the geometry of a charging bear. The bear's head in the video is at the same height as the shooter, in reality the head is lower even for a polar bear unless the shooter is a midget. You may be asking "What the hell does that have to do with anything?", if you think about it a lot. Apparently, a fair number of people when shooting at a charging bear hit it behind the vitals because it is very difficult to "lead" the shot correctly.

I spent a few days in the company of a trapper/goose guide on Hudson's Bay just south of Churchill, polar bear central as they all stop off to mate and wait for the ice to come in. The guide spent about 11-1/2 months in the bush and had to shoot about a dozen polar bear in self defense. The guide said the only way to really keep from having to lead the bear is kneel down when the bear is charging you, then you replicate the geometry of the video and you do not need to lead the bear at all just aim for the nose. He had two guns a side x side 12 gauge and a 303 Enfield in original form and they seemed to work for him. It would take balls to kneel down when a bear is charging but what he said made sense.

The guide also taught me the purpose of dogs, one to alert you had a problem, secondly to keep the bear occupied as you poured lead into it. He said you better shoot fast if you only have one dog because it will be dead quick with two or more the dogs tag team the bear, one will distract the bear as the other attacks and then switch roles. The guide was of a sort that you listened
 
Lots of arm chairing, Monday morning quarterbacking. I have tested some buffalo bore and HSM hard cast lead. 1 test 500lb beef standing face on at 10 yards 357 mag 180 hard cast lead HSM bear load. Usual head-on shot placement found the bullet in the hip almost complete penetration. Oh ya 686 4".
Next was 10mm G-20 full size not 6". 220 Buffalo Bore hard cast lead mid-sized whitetail buck to follow up shot from a rifle tracking(whole other story) Shot facing away at 22 yards complete passthrough stern to stem.
Carried my XDM 10mm last year in Bristol Bay and fired two warning shots at a young brown not quite committed or they would not have been warning shots. I too like the Kenia Chest rig. You have to be able to deploy whatever you are carrying quickly.
We typically will shoot more accurately with autos and quicker follow-up shots with heavy loads. My wife shoots her M&P 9mm quite well with a 150gr hard cast Buffalo Bore. I have yet to test those on anything live yet.
As an instructor for firearms, I have had the unique opportunity to test people in different situations that are a surprise to them for reaction and accuracy. Unless the person is an extremely accomplished revolver shooter the auto will win the day hands down. There is no other medicine than shot placement.

Good day
 
A semi auto 10mm just has to be a part of everyone's protection no matter what, because even if your big bore rifle or handgun didn't do their job during the initial attack, then you can still empty the 15 round mag into the bear with a one handed grip while it's trying to claw and bite you body parts.... you surely couldn't miss at that close range. You can do a lot of shooting during those seconds of remaining life. If those 15 rounds didn't stop it... then you could simply say... Yes, Lord, I did my best... here I come.
 
Almost any caliber and cartridge will kill. How long are you willing to wait for the aggressor to bleed out? 3-5 min or more? The issue is if you are the target of the aggressor or not because getting chewed on adds urgency to the situation.
A 10mm with 728 pounds of muzzle energy and penetration is good but is it as good as a 45 caliber at 1325 fps and 1,267 ft pounds of ME when a bear has your femur in its jaws. Staying awake and physically capable during an encounter will be tough, betting you will be able to get multiple rounds off may be wishful thinking.
 
I believe a victim to be is suppose to hit the dirt, face down so that the bear does not tear up your body's frontal parts... especially your face and throat... so... while it is working over your top side... you can be holding the semi in one hand behind your head, while emptying the clip into it's throat-face area.... which should turn it into an instant bear rug upon your back.... kinda like in the movie... The Revenant. If he had pulled out a semi the moment he saw those cubs... the ending would have been way way different. Just watch that scene again with a semi in his hands.

PS... your not trying to fill the bear with bullet holes and try to make it bleed out.... your trying to break up it's head, face, and neck area.... that area stops them... not bleeding out the body.
 
daniel brothers said:
I just came across this Guy's charging bear testing system and thought you Guys might enjoy it... he even has another video of doing it with rifles and shotguns... it's a true eye opener as to how many accurate shots that might be possible during a 2-3 second charge.

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Most guys hunt with a buddy. Two guns not one.
 
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