This debate has a lot of parallels with the current trend of smaller rifle calibers for big game.
Less recoil generally results in more accurate shooting.
Plenty of small handgun calibers have the penetration capability to hit CNS on any bear.
More shots and less recoil, means more likelihood of hitting CNS sooner.
The reliability debate is honestly just comical to hear in 2025. If a revolver were more reliable, you would see them being used at police departments, military units, and other people that dont just carry for a chance encounter, but specifically and intentionally put themselves in danger on a regular basis.
As far as the non-CNS shots and warning shot type situations, I think a lot goes unreported, so there is not accurate stats on that. If a bear is curious and gets too close for comfort, a warning shot might actually work, and if there is no blood drawn, is there a requirement to report that to the local wildlife people? Likely not in many places.
The emphasis on CNS hits is because that’s the only thing that is an immediate stop. We all know a deer can run up to 75 yards even with a disintegrated heart and lungs. The military and police world refers to this as timers and switches. CNS is an off switch. A determined bear shot in a lung, may still close distance and maul a person before its brain finally times out due to blood/oxygen loss.
Less recoil generally results in more accurate shooting.
Plenty of small handgun calibers have the penetration capability to hit CNS on any bear.
More shots and less recoil, means more likelihood of hitting CNS sooner.
The reliability debate is honestly just comical to hear in 2025. If a revolver were more reliable, you would see them being used at police departments, military units, and other people that dont just carry for a chance encounter, but specifically and intentionally put themselves in danger on a regular basis.
As far as the non-CNS shots and warning shot type situations, I think a lot goes unreported, so there is not accurate stats on that. If a bear is curious and gets too close for comfort, a warning shot might actually work, and if there is no blood drawn, is there a requirement to report that to the local wildlife people? Likely not in many places.
The emphasis on CNS hits is because that’s the only thing that is an immediate stop. We all know a deer can run up to 75 yards even with a disintegrated heart and lungs. The military and police world refers to this as timers and switches. CNS is an off switch. A determined bear shot in a lung, may still close distance and maul a person before its brain finally times out due to blood/oxygen loss.
