Has anyone had to put their protection to the test? I don't plan on fooling with grizzlies anytime soon, but I was curious about the logistics of deploying spray and a handgun. Do you spray first and ditch it for the gun, or do spray with the non-dominant hand and have the gun ready to go?
Bear protection
- Thread starter dittydogood
- Start date
BuckSmasher
Lil-Rokslider
This plus spray when hunting Grizz country in MT.
I assume you are talking about hunting in Idaho Grizz country? I don't usually carry bear protection in areas with only black bears.
BuckSmasher
Lil-Rokslider
I never have but I am thinking about not carrying spray anymore. A couple of high-profile cases of it not working plus the first hand accounts of two people I know that accidently sprayed themselves has me wondering. A face full of bearspray in the backcountry could be as life threatening as getting mauled if your airways start closing.
My son has run BB Hardcast thru has 19 and 43 with no problems. I believe the Hardcastle doesn't foul like softer lead
I used to carry both spray and a sidearm but have since decided to leave the spray at home. At the moment of truth I know that I will be very limited in decision-making and really want to only have one option available. I think either option is fine but I prefer the pistol. What I want to avoid is indecisiveness.
Nothing says you can't shoot copper jacketed solids.
Turkeygetpwnd38
WKR
If not in a grizzly dense zone, nothing, but if archery and grizzly encounters possible, I run a Glock 20 with CORBON 200 grain hunter flat nose bullet so you don't run into the hardcast lead/glock barrel issue. My personal set up is a ANR holster with RTI adapter on a GCODE RTI optimal drop plate. This set up puts the pistol dropped 2in, enough to clear my pack belt, but not so much of a drop that it pulls out at a weird angle on your draw. I have found with this set up, it is comfortable enough where you actually wear it all day after putting on 10-12 miles, and when you want to take it off, you just pull the holster off with the quick detach and don't have to mess with taking it off your belt. Can post pics if you like.
Around well fed bears I carry bear-spray and maybe a Glock 20; alone and traveling light around un-educated/hungry bears, Glock 20; early and late season bird hunting, a 12 ga (with birdshot, prayer and a "wait for it, wait for it, wait for it. . ." attitude; during deer/caribou/moose season a .308Win.
Salmonchaser
WKR
I always carry spray. June 1 to late September I’m guiding in Alaska, always have a can on my belt. Most days I carry my 454 also. Some of the streams I fly into I’ll take a rifle, ditching the pistol.
I’ve sprayed three bears.
I carry the spray week side and any time I’ve sprayed the pistol was in my other hand.
I don’t think spray is an absolute, if I had to choose one weapon system I’d take a fire arm.
Any weapon system requires training, so negligent discharges are possible, not a reason to ditch it.
Environmental conditions might cause problems but your on board computer should be letting you know that’s a bad direction. Yes you may get some on you, even after the bear has left. Just about Every police academy in the country sprays rookie officers and requires them to engage in a training fight after, it’s not just a light exposure either. An indirect exposure is unpleasant but very survivable.
In 20 seasons of guiding in Bristol Bay I’ve bumped into a lot of bears, you simply can’t assume what they will do.
I like to have options available. using your brain, employing your senses is your most important tool.
I don’t think there is a wrong answer spray vs handguns, simply too many variables. The bears I’ve sprayed were likely going to be shot but the spray worked. They weren’t charging, just being very pushy, not giving us the opportunity to get out of their way.
A bear charging at close range is not going to give you any time to consider options. They are unbelievably fast. The two we’ve killed, beginning to end, the fight was over in under five seconds.
I’ve sprayed three bears.
I carry the spray week side and any time I’ve sprayed the pistol was in my other hand.
I don’t think spray is an absolute, if I had to choose one weapon system I’d take a fire arm.
Any weapon system requires training, so negligent discharges are possible, not a reason to ditch it.
Environmental conditions might cause problems but your on board computer should be letting you know that’s a bad direction. Yes you may get some on you, even after the bear has left. Just about Every police academy in the country sprays rookie officers and requires them to engage in a training fight after, it’s not just a light exposure either. An indirect exposure is unpleasant but very survivable.
In 20 seasons of guiding in Bristol Bay I’ve bumped into a lot of bears, you simply can’t assume what they will do.
I like to have options available. using your brain, employing your senses is your most important tool.
I don’t think there is a wrong answer spray vs handguns, simply too many variables. The bears I’ve sprayed were likely going to be shot but the spray worked. They weren’t charging, just being very pushy, not giving us the opportunity to get out of their way.
A bear charging at close range is not going to give you any time to consider options. They are unbelievably fast. The two we’ve killed, beginning to end, the fight was over in under five seconds.
Attachments
Shraggs
WKR
2 years ago in Colorado a cat appeared 12’ from me while resting on a log and after a sequence of calling. Pack was off 6’ away and spray was in pack. Wouldn’t have mattered wind was in my face. Good lesson.
Ended with out incident.
Above note and residue, I took time to practice before my first trip. Stayed in yard down wind and 90* to wind. Waited before walking back into house... but even after a couple minutes there must have been some swirling areas around house and the second that stuff hit me in a deluded fashion, damn near brought me to my knees for 10 seconds or so. Then it was quite the irritant for couple hours. Another lesson, deploy that in a tent and I feel you’ve made a bears job easier.
I think it’s a challenge to manage two options like spray a pistol and your bow which is in hand... if I’m not hunting, maybe I would have both tho.
I only carry a pistol now, and I sleep with it. Two of us had pistols and two had spray. I think that worked partnership is better, not that anyone can predict an incident or we won’t be separated by some distance, etc.
If no grizzly then im carrying 38 s&w airlite with buffalo bores hard cast. Very light defense for cats and black bear. Crimson trace laser is nice too.
If grizzlies then glock 20 also with a laser, laser max specially. Buffalo bore HC.
If I ever get to go to Alaska it will be my s&w 629 and I will shoot as many rounds as it takes to be as proficient as I am with the other two.
Ended with out incident.
Above note and residue, I took time to practice before my first trip. Stayed in yard down wind and 90* to wind. Waited before walking back into house... but even after a couple minutes there must have been some swirling areas around house and the second that stuff hit me in a deluded fashion, damn near brought me to my knees for 10 seconds or so. Then it was quite the irritant for couple hours. Another lesson, deploy that in a tent and I feel you’ve made a bears job easier.
I think it’s a challenge to manage two options like spray a pistol and your bow which is in hand... if I’m not hunting, maybe I would have both tho.
I only carry a pistol now, and I sleep with it. Two of us had pistols and two had spray. I think that worked partnership is better, not that anyone can predict an incident or we won’t be separated by some distance, etc.
If no grizzly then im carrying 38 s&w airlite with buffalo bores hard cast. Very light defense for cats and black bear. Crimson trace laser is nice too.
If grizzlies then glock 20 also with a laser, laser max specially. Buffalo bore HC.
If I ever get to go to Alaska it will be my s&w 629 and I will shoot as many rounds as it takes to be as proficient as I am with the other two.
pdxmatt
FNG
Looking closely at a Glock 20 for the same idea, and the nefarious two legged predators as well. I've never carried a pistol at all until grizzly country last year in Wyoming (and also carried spray) but feeling like a pistol is some really nice insurance no matter where I'm hunting. I'm sure you'll make a good choice. The hard cast bullets seem like the most important element over the caliber.
- Banned
- #33
I have a Marlin Guide gun in 45-70 just for that purpose. Went on a canoe trip up in the Noatak 2 years ago and saw 21 brown bears in 7 days. Some closer than I would prefer. I came home and bought a guide gun. I am going back in the area this Aug for 13 day canoe/fishing trip and will have that and a S&W model 500 with 4" barrel. Both with Buffalo Bore brand ammo. Powerful stuff. I could not recommend it high enough. Overall length 37 " and weighs 7lbs.
NJDiverDan
WKR
I carry either my S&W .500 or my S&W 329PD .44. The .44 is about half the weight but about 3X the recoil. I can single hand a follow up shot much faster with the .500 as it has a ported compensator on it. Been debating on getting the .44 ported to reduce the muzzle flip and recoil to make it better suited for that follow up shot.
Either is carried in a Diamond D chest rig, below and to the left of my bino harness.
Either is carried in a Diamond D chest rig, below and to the left of my bino harness.
We discussed that earlier in the thread. The hard cast bullets are fine, the soft lead ones are a no go. Those aren't the ones you would shoot for bear anyways.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
S2R1820jc
Lil-Rokslider
If you’re gonna take a pistol make sure it’s one that you can shoot accurately or it won’t do any good
rbljack
WKR
My set up now is a Glock 29. I bought 200 grain Underwood hardcast, and 220 grain Buffalo Bore Hardcast. I bought both so I can shoot each at paper and check for tumbling. I found some info on youtube about certain ammo in heavy hardcast tumbling out of the Glock stock barrels. I also bought a JC Custom Kydex holster, and it can mount to my kifaru hip belt right behind a belt pouch. I probably wouldn't carry that set up during a rifle hunt, but on hikes and my upcoming turkey hunts my Glock 29 will be on me. Looking forward to trying this set up out. And I should mention that im not in griz country. But with that said, cougars and black bears can be a concern when turkey calling for sure.
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