Grizzly bear defense

[Aeolus]

I just moved to Montana and am not seeing this to be a potential problem. They actually trapped one last summer near by where I just moved. After a couple days of reading I see some myths about bear spray vs gun. And I choose gun. And also I think in the event I see a bear the first thing I'll do is draw my pistol. That seems like a common mistake. People see the bear and start doing something else, maybe yelling, moving, getting bear spray, well I have made up my mind that I will go gun as I do whatever else I decided to do. A bear can cover 49 yards in 2 seconds I read. I am a former police officer and that's about the idea with a knife attack and 21 feet. So pistol first and fast.
I read a lot of old timers say a 44 mag and a lot of new timers say a Glock 10 mm.
To be honest my training will work the Glock a lot better but what is some of you old heads experience? I always like to deal in facts not what ifs.

 

[memtb]

If you are very comfortable with the Glock, it should be considered! Many folks feel the semi-auto will give you more firepower, through the addirional rounds put downrange. From my limited knowledge on the issue, many folks never get off one round. Bears are near silent, very fast, and once committed....nearly bullet-proof, unless it is a CNS shot. Your Glock 10 MM, loaded with heavy(220 grain or so) pushed to the max, hard-cast bullets....it would likely be an adequate bear stopper. Provided, you can get a round into the CNS.

I'm a revolver fan, but that is not the question asked! Bullet weight is a huge advantage, when dealing with large, heavily built animals. Revolvers offer heavier bullets than are readily available with autos of similar bullet diameter. In a 44, I'd go 300+ grains. My personal chouce would be 45 cal, with 360 grain or greater hard cast bullets, pushed to 1100 fps or greater! JMO. memtb

 

[Salmonchaser]

There is a great thread on this, a wide variety of opinions, even from those who have seen a lot of Grizz.
I have a log book, documents nearly 20 years of close contacts,inside 50 yards, in Alaska with peninsula Grizz.
I believe your training will serve you well, stress inoculation is never a bad thing.
A 10mm is good, particularly as you are familiar with Glocks.
While I have not had to shoot a bear in the last 20 years, I have used spray successfully 3 times. I am always armed, normally have spray and have seen two bears killed at bayonet range.
I'm sure you'll see quite a few responses, always a popular topic.

 

[HARPERC]

......I choose gun. And also I think in the event I see a bear the first thing I'll do is draw my pistol. That seems like a common mistake. People see the bear and start doing something else, maybe yelling, moving, getting bear spray, well I have made up my mind that I will go gun as I do whatever else I decided to do. A bear can cover 49 yards in 2 seconds I read. I am a former police officer and that's about the idea with a knife attack and 21 feet. So pistol first and fast.......

Mindset you've got that correct. Your training favors the auto. Bears have continued following hits from 375 H&H magnum rifles. Pick your poison. I'm more revolver oriented, but see why folks are going semi auto.

 

[Salmonchaser]

 

[Mach 1]

Can't go wrong with your glock 10mm especially if that's what your used to.

 

[codyadams]

I would also say it depends what your comfortable/fast with. Like you, I am LE, currently a Deputy for the Sheriff's Department here. Consider how you will carry your sidearm in the field. I have limited experience, but from what I have seen, when you come up on a bear, it happens pretty fast. I carry one of two things, either a Glock 10mm, or a Taurus Tracker .44 magnum. I am comfortable and pretty quick with both. I think the best defense however, is to hunt with a partner that is also armed, and have bear spray as well. If the bear is curious and getting too close vs aggressive, this is where bear spray may help. If a bear is aggressive or hunting, it's going to be you or the bear, or my mentality, the bear or both of us. If I go down, I'm taking that SOB with me, I'm personally more afraid of turning into bear **** then just being plain dead. I think in a bear attack, having a combat mentality may help you survive.

 

[antelopedundee]

So how much trouble will you or could you be in for if you actually kill one?

 

[codyadams]

So how much trouble will you or could you be in for if you actually kill one?

Depends on many Circumstances. Last year a guy I went to high school with (graduating classes of 30-40...pretty small town) Shot a grizzly bear that was supposedly attacking him.....I have my doubts, as for 1. I know the guy, and I don't believe hardly anything he says... and 2. The attack marks looked like he got in a pretty vicious brawl with a 6 week old kitten. Yet, they did deem it self defense, and no charges of any kind were pressed, and I personally am not all tore up on the fact that a boar grizzly got taken out here in Wyoming.

Then again, do that in Montana, where the Governor I believe is one of the ones that shut down the grizzly bear season here in Wyoming, and you MAY be looking at some issues, I am unaware how the Montana G&F handles things up there. I'm still slightly bitter about that.....anyway, I digress.

 

[Aeolus]

So how much trouble will you or could you be in for if you actually kill one?

In all honesty. I am coming home to my wife and kids. I don't care the cost. And if your life is on the line no jury will convict you.

 

[MtPockets]

Depends on many Circumstances. Last year a guy I went to high school with (graduating classes of 30-40...pretty small town)

Cody, was that the off duty Game Warden who shot the bear while he was hunting? Or was there another one that I didn't hear about?

 

[codyadams]

Cody, was that the off duty Game Warden who shot the bear while he was hunting? Or was there another one that I didn't hear about?

That must have been another one, this guy worked in oil field I believe.

 

[Alibiiv]

I just moved to Montana and am not seeing this to be a potential problem. They actually trapped one last summer near by where I just moved. After a couple days of reading I see some myths about bear spray vs gun. And I choose gun. And also I think in the event I see a bear the first thing I'll do is draw my pistol. That seems like a common mistake. People see the bear and start doing something else, maybe yelling, moving, getting bear spray, well I have made up my mind that I will go gun as I do whatever else I decided to do. A bear can cover 49 yards in 2 seconds I read. I am a former police officer and that's about the idea with a knife attack and 21 feet. So pistol first and fast.
I read a lot of old timers say a 44 mag and a lot of new timers say a Glock 10 mm.
To be honest my training will work the Glock a lot better but what is some of you old heads experience? I always like to deal in facts not what ifs.

"Takes 2-3 seconds for the average person to travel 21 feet", and the average police officer 2-3 seconds (being generous here) to draw their weapon and fire; and, the average person, critically shot, 8 seconds to die! Not a great scenario, and.....I think that a grizzly is even faster!! My Glock 22, served me well for 23 years. For me the jury is still out for whether a revolver or a Glock 20 or Glock 40!!?? My training and experience is with a Glock, so presently it is a Glock. I had a Glock 40, however traded it for a Glock 20. I found the long slide too long to get out of a holster, plus I could not find a good holster for it. Anyway I don't hunt in grizzly country, however do hunt black bear. My thoughts are that I prefer a rifle, however when it's dark and I cannot see too far, I prefer the handgun; whether pistol or revolver. While sitting in the dark waiting to be picked up by your guide for 2-3 hours, and you cannot see your hand in front of you without a light, there's a warm/comfortable feeling knowing that you have sixteen chances for turning a bad situation into a better one. The heaviest heads that I can find that are jacketed are 200 grains or reloading; Power Pistol, 200gr Nosler bullet, about 1200fps, warm load. Buffalo Bore bullets make a 220 grain, hard cast bullet, but....then you run into the situation with the Glock barrels leading up or fouling due to the rifling. I am in the process of changing the Glock barrel out to a K&M Tactical barrel. That's one replacement barrel, however Glockmeister or the Glock store have many more replacement barrels. It is also recommended that the recoil spring is replaced with a heavier spring if shooting the heavy/heavier bullets. It has to do with keeping the barrel locked in battery longer, and better accuracy. If you search the various forums on here, you will find a tread that describes what I am writing about here. For the piston shooter, the rule of "4-3-1" should apply: a bullet diameter that starts with at least a 4, a bullet weight that starts with at least a 3 and a muzzle velocity of at least 1000 fps. I find this rule a very efficient rule also. I started out with a S&W model 65, and then learned to shoot a Glock. Although a little older, I know that I can learn to shoot a revolver again.

 

[Hand Skills]

Go with what you know, OP. Hard cast is not the same as lead. I know a few guys here in Canada running hard cast in Glocks. There is some good info about that on the Buffalo Bore site. FMJ would work too, just stay away from anything with a soft or hollow point, whichever way you go.