The Frontier Sixshooter Community Message Board - Bear spray will get you killed

Bear spray will get you killed (reply)

Mike P — Thu, 19 May 2022 16:16:53 +0000

Agree -
In my opinion Black Bears in the lower 48 aren't given to being aggressive.
That said, if surprised, and protecting cubs, I don't want bear spray...
Any bear in AK can be an issue, but the black bears I saw acted like foxes when browns bears were in the area, furtive and looking for easiest quick opportunities.

Not sure about the bear spray .. (reply)

woody — Sat, 14 May 2022 17:26:49 +0000

Having sprayed people and see lots sprayed by others I’m not sure I would want to defend myself against a pissed off bear with OC spray!!! It’s very effective against humans in most situations. But I would look at it like this. If something or someone wants to tear you apart or kill you the option you should use is deadly force. With that said I would say anything such as a .45 or .357 and up would be effective if you use proper ammo and put a round through the CNS.

Bear spray will get you killed (reply)

Byron — Thu, 12 May 2022 18:44:37 +0000

We received a call last from my son who is LRRP Sgt in Alaska that a soldier in a sister unit had been killed by a bear while his team was on a land nav training mission. The Airborne Arctic Warfare Combat teams are training like crazy right now (Thomas jumped 5 times last week) and a heavy emphasis is being placed on using maps and compass instead of GPS. Wonder why.

Until recently when the teams were in bear country which is most of Alaska one soldier would carry a M14 with heavy ammo for protection. Also, most of the team would have a loaded mag of green tip tucked away in their rucks.

The woke leaders decided that they did not want the bears shot so the M14 was replaced with bear spray.

The predictable thing happened.

black bear defense (reply)

Jared — Mon, 09 May 2022 15:58:18 +0000

Any of those choices would work fine. I have never killed a black bear but have shot a lot of hogs that have a similar dense build. Shot placement and penetration are most important followed by tissue destruction. I would go with which is most comfortable to carry and shoot quickly and accurately. Follow up shots would be a definite possibility.

More on the subject (reply)

Paul — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:53:03 +0000

https://www.ammoland.com/2018/02/defense-against-bears-with-pistols-97-success-rate-37-...

There was an article that showed up recently (reply)

Paul — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:51:34 +0000

on the subject of handguns for defense against bears. I can't find the one I was thinking on, but here's one that sites some of the same studies - plus adds in the use of bear spray. Me? I'd FAR rather depend on something that sprays lead than pepper. Rumor has it that a high percentage of bears LIKE spicy food...

https://pistolwizard.com/studies/bears

black bear defense (reply)

Gunner — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:15:21 +0000

I always thought JD Jones made sense with his idea of a bear defense packing handgun.....

4" 44 mag with heavy hard bullets for penetration loaded to around 1,000 fps second.

He thought high velocity ammo could cause recoil issues for a fast follow up shot and preferred more controllable ammo, allowing the hard cast bullet to punch a hole in the bear for blood loss.

For me it would be a 41 Magnum with a 250 gr Keith style hard cast running 1,200 fps but thats just me : )

Gunner

Not sure about the bear spray .. (reply)

JT — Thu, 05 May 2022 23:29:53 +0000

BEARS ARE OFTEN FOUND WITH BLOOD IN THEIR CLAWS AND TEETH AND BEAR SPRAY ON THEIR BREATH

Not sure about the bear spray .. (reply)

JimT — Thu, 05 May 2022 19:40:39 +0000

sometimes it works .. sometimes not. If I had the bear spray I would want someone that I knew could shoot under stress with me with a gun that would do the job

Never shot a bear but... (reply)

Hoot — Thu, 05 May 2022 19:17:16 +0000

I'd think any of those would do the job. Which do they shoot the best?

black bear defense

bj — Thu, 05 May 2022 16:06:43 +0000

A family member who camps a lot in Colorado is interested in black bear defense. I used to think that a black bear was more of a shaggy deer than a threat but in the past few years I've read about women being killed and partly eaten by black bears so I'm taking them more seriously.
The candidates would be:
1911 with 250 grain hard cast by Buffalo Bore
S&W 1006 or Glock 20 or Glock 29 in 10mm with 220 grain hard cast by Buffalo Bore
S&W 69 with 240 grain or 290 grain hard cast
big can of bear spray