Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Is Bear Spray Better Than a Pistol?” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/is-bear-spray-better-than-a-pistol/.
Is Bear Spray Better Than a Pistol?
- Thread starter Mike H.
- Start date
Talyn
SAINT
Good article.
Living in/recreating in 2 out of the three mentioned states being in "Griz" country is an every-day reality especially since the populations are expanding out of the Greater Yellowstone & Glacier NP/Bob Marshall Recovery areas.
Bear spray as been proven to be very effective, I carry both spray & firearm every time since Griz activity is/has occurred 360 deg. where I live, even in the valley bottoms where 99% of folks live.
What's MIA in this article is how to use bear spray when being charged. One must aim low since a charging griz will run under the spray if you aim like a handgun. Aiming low will make it so the bear will run into the spray as it closes.
If you want to carry a heavy all-steel 1911 that fine but the 10mm XD/XDm line (when will SA reintroduce the 10mm in the 5.25 XDm Elite?) gives you more ammo capacity & can go into action faster since 99% of griz encounters are at very close range.
Living in/recreating in 2 out of the three mentioned states being in "Griz" country is an every-day reality especially since the populations are expanding out of the Greater Yellowstone & Glacier NP/Bob Marshall Recovery areas.
Bear spray as been proven to be very effective, I carry both spray & firearm every time since Griz activity is/has occurred 360 deg. where I live, even in the valley bottoms where 99% of folks live.
What's MIA in this article is how to use bear spray when being charged. One must aim low since a charging griz will run under the spray if you aim like a handgun. Aiming low will make it so the bear will run into the spray as it closes.
If you want to carry a heavy all-steel 1911 that fine but the 10mm XD/XDm line (when will SA reintroduce the 10mm in the 5.25 XDm Elite?) gives you more ammo capacity & can go into action faster since 99% of griz encounters are at very close range.
Keystone19250
SAINT
Although a great article I remember articles in the past have links to click on at the end regarding items discussed, why not the bear spray in this article?Hello all, here is today's article posted on TheArmoryLife.com. It is titled “Is Bear Spray Better Than a Pistol?” and can be found at https://www.thearmorylife.com/is-bear-spray-better-than-a-pistol/.
Talyn
SAINT
Deploying Bear Spray | Be Bear Aware Campaign
bebearaware.org
What is Bear Spray and How to Use It - Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op Publication
If you’re heading out into bear country, arming yourself with bear spray is a smart move. But, be sure you know how to use it before you go.
www.rei.com
best bear spray
The Best Bear Spray For Wildlife Encounters in 2023 If you have ever spent any amount of time in bear country, you know the importance of having the best bear spray you can get your hands on with you. Bear spray is also known as
www.americasstateparks.org
Good article, Mike. Thanks.
For me personally, I would prefer to carry .44 magnum in something like a Super Redhawk. I know you have fewer shots, but I prefer the reliability and being able to shoot without worrying about the slide being interfered with. But (and this is a big but), I don’t live in or visit griz country. Just black bears in this area.
For me personally, I would prefer to carry .44 magnum in something like a Super Redhawk. I know you have fewer shots, but I prefer the reliability and being able to shoot without worrying about the slide being interfered with. But (and this is a big but), I don’t live in or visit griz country. Just black bears in this area.
RandomHero
Custom
When will they introduce an XDM Elite in a .40 or .45 in a 4.5 or 5.25?
HayesGreener
Ronin
I loved the story about conservationists recommending you carry bear spray and wear bells to ward off griz on the trail. And the guide who says it is easy to identify griz poo because it has little bells in it and smells like peppers.
Area52
Professional
It was an interesting video. What I found a bit conflicting was bear spray @ 4 second full discharge at 20-30 ft and if it doesn't stop the attack, drawn (or have at-ready) the sidearm to continue the fight, which the author accomplished in training mode, 7 rounds in 6 seconds on target.
Let’s suppose 20 feet, 4 sec. blast of bear spray, followed up with 6 seconds of gun fire…and likely charging bear speed will cover probably that 20 ft. in - 1 second...and that’s if a bear is applying the Tueller Rule. Time is a luxury.
It’s going to take a good amount of practice… or narrow the choice of the two options?
I don’t know but I think if a bear is already in charge mode at 20-30 ft, it’s a darn good to convince me it isn’t just going to stop on the dime. I wouldn’t want to be in a predicament to guess wind direction and when seconds count, trying to fog it’s snout before it takes a swipe at me.
I don’t spend any time in the backwoods of any bear country but the kids do and have expressed interest in the .44 though never shot one. The only advice I could render is to find so with a .44, then try out (my) .38 spl, .38 +P, then a .357 magnum load for a feel. Then try getting 6 rounds on a 12” bullseye as fast as possible with each of the three loads. Finally while still fresh, try 6 with the .44 magnum.
I forwarded them the article, hopefully it will shed an informative light on situational awareness and training, but also I‘ll bet the 10mm will be the choice.
Let’s suppose 20 feet, 4 sec. blast of bear spray, followed up with 6 seconds of gun fire…and likely charging bear speed will cover probably that 20 ft. in - 1 second...and that’s if a bear is applying the Tueller Rule. Time is a luxury.
It’s going to take a good amount of practice… or narrow the choice of the two options?
I don’t know but I think if a bear is already in charge mode at 20-30 ft, it’s a darn good to convince me it isn’t just going to stop on the dime. I wouldn’t want to be in a predicament to guess wind direction and when seconds count, trying to fog it’s snout before it takes a swipe at me.
I don’t spend any time in the backwoods of any bear country but the kids do and have expressed interest in the .44 though never shot one. The only advice I could render is to find so with a .44, then try out (my) .38 spl, .38 +P, then a .357 magnum load for a feel. Then try getting 6 rounds on a 12” bullseye as fast as possible with each of the three loads. Finally while still fresh, try 6 with the .44 magnum.
I forwarded them the article, hopefully it will shed an informative light on situational awareness and training, but also I‘ll bet the 10mm will be the choice.
Talyn
SAINT
10mms of various types are popular in the Northern Rockies for those in Griz country.
RandomHero
Custom
I have luckily never had to defend myself from any bear attack. However, if I had to do so, it would not be spray. Just as humans that are exposed to O.C. spray and chemical agents, some are immune to the effects and can eat the chemical agents and maintain as it has no effect on them.Deploying Bear Spray | Be Bear Aware Campaign
What is Bear Spray and How to Use It - Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op Publication
If you’re heading out into bear country, arming yourself with bear spray is a smart move. But, be sure you know how to use it before you go.www.rei.com
best bear spray
The Best Bear Spray For Wildlife Encounters in 2023 If you have ever spent any amount of time in bear country, you know the importance of having the best bear spray you can get your hands on with you. Bear spray is also known as
I would hate to use some "bear spray" and have the bear that has decided to attack me for his dinner be one of those immune to the spray and maul me to death. Especially when I could have been putting some well placed rounds on target the whole time instead of the spray.
My method would be a firearm without question.
Deploying Bear Spray | Be Bear Aware Campaign
What is Bear Spray and How to Use It - Uncommon Path – An REI Co-op Publication
If you’re heading out into bear country, arming yourself with bear spray is a smart move. But, be sure you know how to use it before you go.www.rei.com
best bear spray
The Best Bear Spray For Wildlife Encounters in 2023 If you have ever spent any amount of time in bear country, you know the importance of having the best bear spray you can get your hands on with you. Bear spray is also known as
Talyn
SAINT
There's no guarantee that a griz or a black bear (they've killed people) won't have you for dinner if you're carrying a handgun.
RandomHero
Custom
I can reassure you, I would rather take my chances with a firearm rather than some spray any day of the week. And I am confident if you were honest about it, you would too.
HayesGreener
Ronin
Aren't you supposed to save one round for youself in case everything else fails?
RandomHero
Custom
dramey
Alpha
You are supposed to shoot your partner in the knee so that you can get away.
Talyn
SAINT
I live in griz country, and as I posted earlier in this thread I carry both since I'm covering my bases.
Considering that I've lived in Griz country for 30+ years, and that my former career involved bear management, I'm likely much more familiar with the country and large critters in it than you are. So that's my honesty.
It's any ones' decision what they want to carry for protection for large wild animals.
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Talyn
SAINT
Hunters get chewed on every year during hunting season since the bears get into hyperphagia, and are out trying to fatten up as much as possible.
They've learn when they hear a gun shot that can be like a dinner bells so they bee-line towards the potential dead animal, then the hunter may have an close encounter. But bow hunters going for elk often run into trouble also.
They've learn when they hear a gun shot that can be like a dinner bells so they bee-line towards the potential dead animal, then the hunter may have an close encounter. But bow hunters going for elk often run into trouble also.
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