Even a .38 Special will do the job, but...

EmpyreanNivalG19 · Feb 19, 2022

.38 Special Effective Against Wyoming Grizzly Bear

During a grizzly bear attack on archery hunters in September of 2011, one hunter used a .38 Special revolver to stop the attack.

www.ammoland.com

That's another example of the dictum: "...any bullet, regardless of size or caliber, injuring these organs will cause instant incapacitation. It is the nature of the structure injured, not the nature of the bullet that causes incapacitation."

[Regarding the last shot the hunter fired.]

ChuteTheMall · Feb 20, 2022

Guns beat arrows.

Dave514 · Feb 20, 2022

One of the earliest bear vs man stories I remember reading included a picture of a partially eaten man with a .38 special he had emptied in defense.

I'm going to want more gun.

HKMark23 · Feb 20, 2022

Dave514 said:
One of the earliest bear vs man stories I remember reading included a picture of a partially eaten man with a .38 special he had emptied in defense.

One of the earliest bear vs (wo)man stories I remember reading included a picture of a maybe 110# woman holding the single shot 22lr she used to kill a world record Grizzly Bear

Dave514 said:
I'm going to want more gun.

All the gun in the world doesn't make up for poor placement

Oh and PS...
My story included evidence that it actually happened

amd65 · Feb 20, 2022

.30 Carbine, which I’m told is insufficient for home defense…

Dave514 · Feb 20, 2022

HKMark23 said:
One of the earliest bear vs (wo)man stories I remember reading included a picture of a maybe 110# woman holding the single shot 22lr she used to kill a world record Grizzly Bear

All the gun in the world doesn't make up for poor placement

Oh and PS...
My story included evidence that it actually happened

Was she being attacked? Because I've seen huge wild boars killed with a .177 pellet to the ear hole. That doesn't mean you want that to stop an attack.

And please, feel free to consider a .22 adequate for defense against a grizzly bear.

Bren · Feb 20, 2022

I am torn between: (1) "anybody that took down a grizzly bear with 3 rounds of .38 special is a hell of a shot" and (2) "anybody that goes into the woods with a .38 special for a backup gun isn't a shooter."

bubbatime · Feb 20, 2022

It sucks that fish and game officers treat it as a crime scene and gather evidence and photos and then even submit it to the US attorney for review. That kind of treatment almost makes a man want to shoot a bear to stay alive and then depart the area and keep his mouth shut.

Jonah77 · Feb 20, 2022

amd65 said:
.30 Carbine, which I’m told is insufficient for home defense… View attachment 1037949

For a second….

I thought that was Lee Harvey Oswald.

Ordell Robbie · Feb 20, 2022

Can the .22 or .38 calibers stop a bear?

Apparently yes.

Should a .22 or .38 be a guys first caliber of choice as a defensive gun in bear country?

They wouldn't be mine...

yep380 · Feb 20, 2022

This 38+p ammo is nothing to sneeze at

38 Special +P 158gr. Keith Black Cherry Coated Hard Cast Hunting Ammo

Underwood Ammo offers the most comprehensive and innovative Underwood Ammo™ Supersonic Handgun Ammo for personal defense & hunting. Shop now .38 Special +P Lead ammo with Hi-Tek Coated Hard Cast.

www.underwoodammo.com

BALLISTICS INFORMATION
Muzzle Energy (ft. lbs) : 548
Muzzle Velocity (fps) : 1,250
Sectional Density : 0.180

Is it my first choice for shooting a bear? No. It’s not even my third choice. But it’s better than nothing.

The two hunters in the OP were bow hunting. The handgun was not the focus of the trip. I get why they had a 38. When I’m bow hunting, I don’t want to cart along an 8” 44 mag loaded with horse pellets.

And again, as we’ve seen over and over; shot placement, not caliber gets the job done.

mj9mm · Feb 20, 2022

30 carbine is a crazy round. It was used with some success as a military cartridge, that little full metal jacket bullet is driven pretty fast and penetrates well. It’s defensive use is far from stellar. Penetration in a Grizzly is useful…

HKMark23 · Feb 20, 2022

Dave514 said:
Was she being attacked?

How is that in any way relevant?
Is a poorly placed shot somehow more effective if a bear is attacking?
BTW she was a highly experienced lifelong hunter/trapper and dropped the bear with one shot

Because I've seen huge wild boars killed with a .177 pellet to the ear hole.

Whomever did that was clearly not an experienced hunter as there is nothing vital behind the "ear hole"
Must have been using some sort of magic pellet

That doesn't mean you want that to stop an attack.

Who said anyone did?

And please, feel free to consider a .22 adequate for defense against a grizzly bear.

HKMark23 · Feb 20, 2022

mj9mm said:
30 carbine is a crazy round. It was used with ~~some~~ great success as a military cartridge, that little full metal jacket bullet is driven pretty fast and penetrates well. It’s defensive use ~~is far from~~ has been proven stellar. Penetration in a Grizzly is useful…

FIFY

Dave514 · Feb 20, 2022

HKMark23 said:
How is that in any way relevant?
Is a poorly placed shot somehow more effective if a bear is attacking?
BTW she was a highly experienced lifelong hunter/trapper and dropped the bear with one shot

Clearly whomever did that was clearly not an experienced hunter as there is nothing vital behind the "ear hole"
Must have been using some sort of magic pellet

Who said anyone did?

You're an odd fella.

hogfish · Feb 20, 2022

HKMark23 said:
How is that in any way relevant?
Is a poorly placed shot somehow more effective if a bear is attacking?
BTW she was a highly experienced lifelong hunter/trapper and dropped the bear with one shot

Clearly whomever did that was clearly not an experienced hunter as there is nothing vital behind the "ear hole"
Must have been using some sort of magic pellet

Who said anyone did?

The point: "...one hunter used a .38 Special revolver to stop the attack."

HKMark23 · Feb 20, 2022

hogfish said:
The point: "...placement and penetration trump caliber and bullet type"

FIFY

HKMark23 · Feb 20, 2022

Dave514 said:
You're an odd fella.

That is very true... but at least I know one doesn't shoot boar in the "ear hole"

G30 Medic · Feb 20, 2022

I add this to "Bear gun/attacks" posts.

To the best of my knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study on the above, if you know of one that is more comprehensive, please post it.

Update: Handgun or Pistol Against Bear Attack: 93 cases, 97% Effective (ammoland.com)

CDW4ME · Feb 20, 2022

but... a revolver is comparatively capacity deficient compared to a semi.

Would I rather defend myself with 38 special revolver or Glock 19? Glock 19, no contest.
But CDW4ME how about for a "quick trip to the store" in a "good area" - Glock 19 still.

In before a revolver can be shot from a coat pocket; LOL Okay, carry it as a 2nd gun.

Even a .38 Special will do the job, but...

.38 Special Effective Against Wyoming Grizzly Bear

EmpyreanNivalG19

.38 Special Effective Against Wyoming Grizzly Bear

ChuteTheMall

Dave514

HKMark23

amd65

Dave514

Bren

bubbatime

Jonah77

Ordell Robbie

yep380

38 Special +P 158gr. Keith Black Cherry Coated Hard Cast Hunting Ammo

mj9mm

HKMark23

HKMark23

Dave514

hogfish

HKMark23

HKMark23

G30 Medic

CDW4ME

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