.40 S & W for Black Bear

[W.E.G.]

If you're gonna shoot at bear at handgun distance, you better not miss.

__________ __________

 

[Simpotico]

@Ranger30-06: I'm not going to spend the day crawling the internet to prove you don't know what you're talking about. Cadzow shot the Polar with a .223. The Inuit have been using the .223 on brown, black and polar bears for decades. NO ONE who lives in the wilderness or an Alaskan village where they pay $13 for a gallon of milk is going to carry or let alone have access to .458 SOCOM or any other "exotic" round..... It's a question of logistics.

In summary, @Robert B: Your .40 S&W will do the job. Train with your handgun, use a well made bullet and be confident in your equipment but above all, stay aware of your surroundings.

 

[Ranger30-06]

@Ranger30-06: I'm not going to spend the day crawling the internet to prove you don't know what you're talking about. Cadzow shot the Polar with a .223. The Inuit have been using the .223 on brown, black and polar bears for decades. NO ONE who lives in the wilderness or an Alaskan village where they pay $13 for a gallon of milk is going to carry or let alone have access to .458 SOCOM or any other "exotic" round..... It's a question of logistics.

In summary, @Robert B: Your .40 S&W will do the job. Train with your handgun, use a well made bullet and be confident in your equipment but above all, stay aware of your surroundings.

12 years of being up close and personal with wildlife while out camping and the like means I have no idea what I'm talking about? Please. Loose the personal insults Mr. keyboard commando. Make sure you tape your brown bear hunt with your .223. I've always wanted to see what a bear looks like when he's laughing.

 

[Lunie]

As a general statement, it just amazes me that the same people who say that .357 or .44 MAGNUM is the minimum for bear, seem to have a stroke when someone mentions they would use something like .30-30 WCF or .30-06 Springfield. Somehow those two are vastly underpowered when compared to pistol caliber rounds. Makes lots of sense, doesn't it?

 

[Loosedhorse]

Makes lots of sense, doesn't it

Actually, it does.

Those favoring handguns are starting (I would guess) from the assumption, "The likelihood of bear attack is so low I won't bring a long gun; I'll bring a handgun, because that's more convenient." And then they discuss which handgun caliber.

If someone has decided to go to the trouble of bringing a long gun, might as well bring one that has "caliber to spare." JMHO.

If I was going brown bear hunting, I'd bring a pretty mean, thumping rifle. If I'm carrying a gun "just in case," I might choose a far less powerful handgun.

 

[Simpotico]

@Ranger30-06: I'm not insulting you; your own comments have made the point of proving that you don't know what you're talking about better than I ever could have done.

Fact, .40 S&W will do the job on black bear...

 

[Mike1234567]

To those folks who insist on carrying a long gun for defense against bear attack... what about those of us who may run into a black bear but live in an area where we must conceal carry?

 

[481]

To those folks who insist on carrying a long gun for defense against bear attack... what about those of us who may run into a black bear but live in an area where we must conceal carry?

Unless they can conceal the long gun in a way that doesn't run afoul of the law (in those jurisdictions where it would), it would appear that they are probably outta luck.

Sometimes one must "make due" with sub-optimal armament.

 

[Mike1234567]

Yup...