.30-30 vs AR-10 vs 12gauge for grizzly bear defense

[AKAV8R]

Statistics say that bear spray is more effective than a gun at stopping a bear. I was wondering if there was anyone that has had first hand experience with either…

That statistic quote makes me chuckle as I think about all the bears I have hazed, sprayed with bear spray, zapped with tasers, shot with rubber bullets, cracker shells, and various firearms. Hundreds of times over the last 32 yrs plus. We have a lot of animal conflicts here. Years after the Police trainers (me included) began carrying and spraying combative suspects with people (O.C.) spray that was lauded as a miracle tool...it was learned that people, dogs, and bears that are focused and intent on assaulting someone, will continue to do that to the best of their ability when sprayed with whatever, or shot, or whatever...It's not that difficult for a human or animal to fight and function through the effects of the strongest pepper spray made. NEVER trust your life to such a substance, it may work great, or a little bit, or not at all. Black bears brown bears grizzlies. If it's a bear, it's unpredictable. Think of them like outlaw bikers, you might not have trouble with them but then again you very well might. Expect the worst and prepare for the best with lethal overwatch. The men and women of AK law enforcement have been testing this on bears for many years now. I hear plenty of animal loving characters speak frequently how great bear spray is, "nobody has to shoot the pretty bears!" Some of those well meaning characters are good friends of mine, one of which was brutally mauled by a sow Brown bear a few yrs ago. Not sure if he had spray on him at the time, but I know for sure he was not packing a firearm. I think he packs one now. Regards, kb

 

[HunterGatherer]

That statistic quote makes me chuckle as I think about all the bears I have hazed, sprayed with bear spray, zapped with tasers, shot with rubber bullets, cracker shells, and various firearms. Hundreds of times over the last 32 yrs plus. We have a lot of animal conflicts here. Years after the Police trainers (me included) began carrying and spraying combative suspects with people (O.C.) spray that was lauded as a miracle tool...it was learned that people, dogs, and bears that are focused and intent on assaulting someone, will continue to do that to the best of their ability when sprayed with whatever, or shot, or whatever...It's not that difficult for a human or animal to fight and function through the effects of the strongest pepper spray made. NEVER trust your life to such a substance, it may work great, or a little bit, or not at all. Black bears brown bears grizzlies. If it's a bear, it's unpredictable. Think of them like outlaw bikers, you might not have trouble with them but then again you very well might. Expect the worst and prepare for the best with lethal overwatch. The men and women of AK law enforcement have been testing this on bears for many years now. I hear plenty of animal loving characters speak frequently how great bear spray is, "nobody has to shoot the pretty bears!" Some of those well meaning characters are good friends of mine, one of which was brutally mauled by a sow Brown bear a few yrs ago. Not sure if he had spray on him at the time, but I know for sure he was not packing a firearm. I think he packs one now. Regards, kb

Thanks for that. Exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Heard similar stuff before but it was friend of a friend kind of stories.
Bears down here seem pretty tame most places. I’m usually a lot more worried about lions.

 

[AKAV8R]

Thanks for that. Exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Heard similar stuff before but it was friend of a friend kind of stories.
Bears down here seem pretty tame most places. I’m usually a lot more worried about lions.

Impressive animals, lions.

 

[RockAndSage]

Thanks for that. Exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Heard similar stuff before but it was friend of a friend kind of stories.
Bears down here seem pretty tame most places. I’m usually a lot more worried about lions.

As a generality, the only ones I ever have any concern about are really young ones - the ones not old enough to win a territory, that get pushed out, but don't have enough sense yet to leave humans alone. It seems a lot of the ones that get killed by authorities down here after some sort of pet or human incident were really young like that. The older ones are better hunters and aren't tempted, have their own territories, have had bad encounters with humans, etc.

 

[HunterGatherer]

As a generality, the only ones I ever have any concern about are really young ones - the ones not old enough to win a territory, that get pushed out, but don't have enough sense yet to leave humans alone. It seems a lot of the ones that get killed by authorities down here after some sort of pet or human incident were really young like that. The older ones are better hunters and aren't tempted, have their own territories, have had bad encounters with humans, etc.

I think you’re talking about lions … I had one hunt me while calling elk and had to shoot it with my bow. Had another one kill a fawn on the trail 80yds in front of me. They’re the ones that are more likely to hunt you than a bear IME…but it’s a much cleaner death than getting eaten by a bear. Or at least that’s what I tell myself

 

[RockAndSage]

I think you’re talking about lions … I had one hunt me while calling elk and had to shoot it with my bow. Had another one kill a fawn on the trail 80yds in front of me. They’re the ones that are more likely to hunt you than a bear IME…but it’s a much cleaner death than getting eaten by a bear. Or at least that’s what I tell myself

Lol, yes, exactly what I was talking about. Glad you caught that.

 

[ThorM465]

Statistics say that bear spray is more effective than a gun at stopping a bear. I was wondering if there was anyone that has had first hand experience with either…

That's because by user reporting metrics the spray has a 100% effective rate. You know why that is don't you?...

You can't leave a bad review if you're being digested by a grizzly.

 

[M1SF1T]

2 years ago, a couple and their dog were killed by a brown bear in a remote area of Banff National Park. 2 empty cans of bear spray were retrieved from the scene.