Best .45 ACP round for black bear protection

[Doug Hamilton]

@calling4life - loved the video but what “animal” attack is that preparing for - a “sparrow”?

I think the next time I have to face a pigeon in full frontal charge mode I will remember this video.

 

[schwerpunkt88]

I always wonder, what kind of bears are better?

 

[Jack Stevens]

Here's a quick watch, this shows you how to practice for defense against an animal.

In Alaska, they practice the “Bear Attack Drill,” set up like so:

As it was explained on another forum:

Setup the Bear Drill:

Set up four to six targets in a staggered pattern, placing the farthest 50 feet downrange and the closest at 5 feet. Also, alter the height at which you position the targets, placing them between 2 ½ to 4 ½ feet above the ground.

You can use IPSC targets or cut out 8-inch circles of cardboard. In either case, put a 2 ½-inch black spot in the center of the target. (This spot represents the bear’s nose, a useful aiming point.)

How to Shoot The Drill:

Move your eyes ahead of your gun and learn to time your shot so the trigger breaks the moment your front sight settles on the black dot. Don’t start and stop the gun in a jerking motion - keep it moving smoothly.

Use a shot timer and start with your firearm at the low ready. Set the timer for 3 seconds. At the sound of the buzzer, bring the gun up to the farthest target and get a sight picture (front sight on black dot).

Whether you pull the trigger is up to you, but either way, quickly transition to the next target and then the next. Keep the gun moving in a smooth back-and-forth motion. Before the 3 seconds are up, you should have taken a sight picture on each target, finishing on the closest one.

One clean hit is better than a bunch of misses, and the drill can be shot with a rifle or a handgun. But if you’re using a handgun, you want to try to get at least THREE good hits in that time frame - the more, the better.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I always wonder, what kind of bears are better?

Gummis?

 

[Neophyte]

For black bear I’d use Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman.45 ACP +P.
It’ll go through seven meth heads and a station wagon full of nuns so I wouldn’t carry it in town. You’ll want a heavier recoil spring too.

 

[Safari Dave]

I have a friend who had to put one down last year that was coming for him. He was able to do it with a .22 pistol!

 

[Jack Stevens]

I have a friend who had to put one down last year that was coming for him. He was able to do it with a .22 pistol!

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I have a friend who had to put one down last year that was coming for him. He was able to do it with a .22 pistol!

I suppose it's possible that someone had a bear that "was coming for him" and he killed it with a .22 pistol. I would need a lot more details to believe it though.