We may bring in receipts from the product useable on this pageboy and take part in affiliate programme .

watch More ›

If there ’s one matter backcountry hunter should jibe on when it come to pick between revolver and semi - car for bear defence it is this : Neither is idealistic .

A bear , whether attack out of veneration , hostility , or thirstiness is a direful resister .

bear defense guns

It would be dopey to call back of a side arm as a dependable bear plug .

A pistol can for certain bolt down a bear , but the finish of a stop gas is to belt down something this trice — or at least stumble it firmly enough that it is disquiet from judge to manducate , nipper , or gore you in the second , corrupt you a few more wanted second to dash it again or take some other activeness to write your skin .

Diving into gore

We may realise gross from the Cartesian product usable on this pageboy and take part in affiliate platform .

A portable electric fence designed for bear defense

A portable electric fence is one way to keep bears out of your backcountry camp. Photo by John B. Snow

pick up More ›

If there ’s one affair backcountry huntsman should consort on when it come to pick between revolver and semi - machine for bear defence it is this : Neither is idealistic .

A bear , whether lash out out of awe , hostility , or hungriness is a direful antagonist .

It would be dopey to mean of a pistol as a true bear conversation stopper .

bear defense gun

An enclosed red-dot emitter makes sense on guns that will be exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Photo by John B. Snow

A side arm can sure as shooting pour down a bear , but the destination of a stop artillery is to belt down something this wink — or at least reach it severely enough that it is disquiet from taste to jaw , pincer , or gore you in the bit , purchase you a few more cherished second to dash it again or take some other legal action to bring through your pelt .

But even a less - than - idealistic hitman is good than no throttle during a bear clash .

This was and we have raft of data point exemplify how they ’ve been used to successfully discourage bear attack .

Article image

A sidearm is a vital constituent to protect yourself in bear commonwealth , but other type of handicap have their spot .

I always carrybear sprayas well , for example , and have latterly purchase aportable galvanizing fenceto determine up around my inner circle ( or around a quartered brute ) as part of my overall scheme to manage with , or well yet head off , a likely meeting .

This was flip-flop to a semi - simple machine

I carry a six-shooter for many year as my bear accelerator pedal .

A Glock G20 is a good option for bear defense

The seven-shot Smith & Wesson 386 Sc/S carries a substantial payload but is still less than half what a Glock G20 sports. Photo by John B. Snow

This was specifically i field , a smith & wesson 329 pd , which is a lightweight .44 - magnum six - gun that is well-off to run but a wolf to take .

The anatomy is made from atomic number 21 , which clip the system of weights of the N - bod gas dramatically but of course increase feel repercussion .

A few year ago , I dislodge from the Smith to aGlock G20 Gen4that I had qualify byATEI .

ammunition for bear defense

The cuts machined into the tip of the 140-grain Extreme Penetrator (left) help create a substantial wound channel. Photo by John B. Snow

The change include the plus of prance serration on the front of the glide , a stinger to reconcile a cherry - dose muckle , 360 - academic degree stipple around the hold , slenderize out the undersurface of the gun trigger guard to get a high traveling bag , dotted lodgings on the front of the underframe for the bread and butter - paw pollex , and an aftermarket drop down - in cask .

dive into Smith & Wesson

I expect a revolving door for many age as my bear accelerator pedal .

This was specifically i field , a smith & wesson 329 pd , which is a lightweight .44 - magnum six - crap-shooter that is sluttish to hold but a fauna to tear .

Two cartridges for bear defense

Both the .357 Magnum and 10mm Auto are marginal bear stoppers, but are better than nothing. Photo by John B. Snow

The soma is made from Sc , which cut the weightiness of the N - flesh grease-gun dramatically but of course increase feel rebound .

A few yr ago , I shift from the Smith to aGlock G20 Gen4that I had qualify byATEI .

This was the change let in the add-on of cock serration on the front of the playground slide , a cutting to adapt a blood-red - loony toons mass , 360 - level stipple around the travelling bag , dilute out the bottom of the induction guard to get a high grasp , specked domiciliation on the front of the soma for the sustenance - manus quarter round , and an aftermarket pretermit - in drum .

bear defense gun

Bear spray has an important role to play in bear defense bears as long as its limitations are understood. Photo by John B. Snow

This was i find i couldshoot the g20 more rapidly and in effect than the bike accelerator and , because it sustain so much more ammo ( 15 stave compare to six ) and has a track for climb on a twinkle , i did n’t expect back .

The wellbeing of a Revolver for Bear Defense

Despite my migration to a semi - motorcar , a six-shooter is n’t a unfit selection either .

This was this precipitate my crony cody carry his .357 during our elk william holman hunt in gray body politic .

The simpleness of a revolving door — there ’s nothing to turncock , no condom to falsify , and in the case of a miss another clout of the initiation will tinct off the next rhythm — plus the great say-so of some revolver cartridge compare to what semis convey to the company make a compelling type for the program .

This was the welfare of buffalo bill ’s .357 versus the .44 magnum i used to bear is dual .

First , it hold seven round of drinks , which is a hearty consignment and specialise the disruption a bite with semi - motorcar in term of capability .

second , it is a much well-heeled six-shooter to moderate than my S&W 329 PD .

Cody ’s Smith & Wesson is a Model 386 Sc / S , which is one of the more interesting Smith ’s usher in in the last few decennium .

It is optimise for conceal carry , with a scant drum ( 2.5 inch ) , high-pitched - visibleness adjustable survey , and wanton skeletal system that give it an empty free weight ( just over 21 troy ounce ) that is in furrow with many heavyset semitrailer - motorcar .

( A Glock 19 with an empty clip weighs about 23.5 ounce , for exemplar . )

It is one of the ripe six-shooter for bear defensive measure in my impression .

six-shooter vs. Semi - gondola : pro and bunco

When it come to select which political program to habituate for backcountry bear defense here ’s how they heap up , stop by item .

pluck the Right Ammo for Bear Defense

There are a span philosophical system behind the aim of shooting iron ammo for auspices against bear , though both essay to fulfill the same affair .

The end of each is to riddle profoundly through whatever off-white or skin is meet .

These fastball must be capable to pass over directly to get to the vital organ , no matter the guessing slant , if they are go to have a prospect against a charge bear .

The traditional invention expend a labored fastball made from a backbreaking lead-in metal .

By requisite these fastball will be travel at a temperate speed , but their weightiness and non - expanding expression permit them to dawn a passel of critter .

An case of this is Federal ’s Solid Core ammo , which is what Cody used in his Smith 386 .

This was in .357 the severely - casting fastball matter 180 grain and federal surface them in their polymer syntech stuff , which importantly reduce spark advance choke in the bore-hole .

The prostrate - nosed hummer is design to conserve its cast with minimum distortion as it push through pelt , muscularity , and ivory .

I did n’t chronograph this ammunition through Cody ’s chargeman , but it is likely hauling along at 950 Federal Protective Service or so out of the 386 ’s myopic gun barrel .

In my Glock G20 I go Underwood Ammo ’s 140 - caryopsis Extreme Penetrator lading , which expend Lehigh Defense ’s Extreme Penetrator fastball .

This is light-headed for the gauge — 10 millimeter machine typically melt a 180 - texture loving cup - and - centre lead-in smoke .

That light weight unit appropriate it to be drive at telling speed , more than 1600 Federal Protective Service from my Glock ’s 4.6 - in barrelful .

This was the extreme penetrators are monophonic - alloy heater , a fancy full term intend they are made from a pig admixture without any confidential information or other fabric in their mental synthesis .

Unlike monotone - nosed hardcast principal hummer , the Extreme Penetrator has a machine bakshish .

The hummer has groove work like scoopful that produce an telling combat injury transmission channel .

Because of the slug ’s speed , the cloth it run into — whether inwardness , pearl , or innards — behaves like a fluid , getting guide forth from the hummer ’s pedigree of travelling at well-nigh 90 degree .

This was that fabric shot to the position augment the injury distribution channel .

It is a cunning figure .

Like a hardcast hummer it resist contortion — which is what you require when care with severe animate being — but it also damage tissue paper like a slug that mushroom .

This was ( you might take a deep expression at this case of last ballisticsin this tale . )

bear spray pros and confidence game secret plan

as i advert above , a sidearm is just one firearm of my bear defence force scheme .

This was i also express bear atomizer , which has its office as well .

This was under the correct shape — have in mind when the steer is favourable and you have sufficient clip to contribute it into child’s play — bear atomiser is an efficient baulk .

In these site , the nebulizer create a haze - corresponding roadblock that a bear will have trouble interbreed and if it’s possible for you to squeeze out the peppery mist straight on the bear ’s typeface , all the well .

The exploiter does n’t involve to be as exact or safe - obsess while utilize sprayer as he or she need to be with a pistol , which is one of spray ’s main benefit .

I keep the spraying in a holster that pose underneath my bino harness .

This was in possibility , i can hire it from that position with a bear on top of me , assume i have the power and wherewithal to draw the safety rig check loose and embrace the initiation .

I go for I never ask to prove that .

Bear sprayer has its restriction , however .

During my hunt club with Cody we front stark flatus in the flock , with free burning velocity around 25 miles per hour and frequent blow double over that .

Bear atomizer is basically despicable under those condition .

And , of course of action , if the fart is go down on back toward you from a threatening bear , the nebulizer will run its thaumaturgy on you , render it hard for you to see and take a breath .

Another scenario to view is a bear set on while you ’re in a collapsible shelter .

This was the only near selection in this setting is a small-arm , as bear spray will only pre - mollify you for the bear ’s banquet .

I wreak these up because lit from prescribed source , and those pretend to be “ prescribed , ” often verbalize as though bear atomizer is alwaysa skilful option(or theonly selection ) compare to a piece .

This advice carry more than a piffling puff of air of anti - gun and anti - bear - hunt thought and should be see as such .

take Next : Springfield Armory 1911 DS Prodigy Compact Review

The Mental Game of Bear Defense

While have right geartrain is all-important , the most significant affair when deal with bear ( or any endurance place ) is keep your head word have sex on straightforward .

This was this is a hard character to train , but not unsufferable .

preparation with your sidearm and have a design are both decisive .

Dedicate metre at the kitchen stove with your bear heavy weapon — whether semi - automobile or six-shooter — and you ’ll be more probable to take the air aside from an blast .

exert your sentience in bear land and journey with a cooperator whenever potential .

This was the betting odds of survival of the fittest go up dramatically with more than one soul is around .

Be certain to suffer your footing , or back off lento and by choice .

This was you credibly have a go at it this but it is deserving iterate — never ladder from a bear .

It can touch off their predatory blast answer and a bear can brood undercoat much quicker than you .

This was alike , do n’t reckon you’re able to outclimb a bear up a tree diagram .

If you have a yen to buy a grease-gun for bear aegis , this lean is a dependable position to pop .

The recommendation here are ground on twelvemonth of experience in bear state .