Best gun to use in a bear attack?

[WWG]

Never been attacked by one, but I can tell you from experience they definitely don't like getting shot in the a** with a 30-06

 

[10thmountain]

Bear bells, bear pepper spray, dog whistle, stay on the beaten path. Dont do anything stupid to get attacked by a bear, aka...petting a cub, feeding them, fake attack them, don't wear a bear suit.

 

[MallNinja Team 6]

I'd go with Lehigh Penetrator projectiles in just about any caliber:

http://www.lehighdefense.com/pages/xtreme-penetrator


If you just keep talking with your group and make constant noise the whole time your chances of running into a bear are absurdly low.

 

[WWG]

Welcome to the ODT

I second that, the man came here looking for information, not to flip ammo. What a breath of fresh air.

 

[Grant S]

For pistol, this is exactly what the 500 S&W was designed for. They kept making handguns for this bigger and bigger because they kept finding that they needed to. Even the 500 isn't great for stopping a big Bear. It's about the equivalent of a 308 Win rifle round with maxed loads. The problem is that anything bigger is simply impractical to try and shoot. These things have a vicious recoil.

If you're going to carry a long gun one of the Marin Guide Guns is just about perfect. 45-70 is the classic, but I think they make them in 450 and 444, too. Any of those will sort out a big bear at close range nicely. They are also reasonably light and fast.

If your standard is to discourage a less than completely determined bear, the S&W 500 will do the job. If you want to have a high likelihood of stopping a bear that has every intention of killing you and is in a full charge at close range, go with the Guide Gun.

What about the 12 Guage with slugs?

 

[Zeake]

What about the 12 Guage with slugs?

Will work just fine

 

[Bear44]

What about the 12 Guage with slugs?

Sure, but if you're going to go that way why not a guide gun? Slugs are great. Heavy bullets at higher velocities are better. They hit harder and penetrate more deeply as long as you make a good bullet choice.

 

[10thmountain]

Slugs are .72 cal....good to go....

 

[batoncolle]

What about the 12 Guage with slugs?

12 gauge is fine. Every guide I met in Alaska carried one.

Just remember to call out "hey bear" every few minutes, and wear a bear bell so they'll be able to hear you inside the bear after he eats you.

 

[Bear44]

12 gauge is fine. Every guide I met in Alaska carried one.

Just remember to call out "hey bear" every few minutes, and wear a bear bell so they'll be able to hear you inside the bear after he eats you.

Now that's funny!