Bears: best shot

[sevensix2x51]

My Canadian friend says to carry bear spray and wear some little jingle bells on your pack to make your presence known when hiking in bear country. He also says that the best way to know if you are in bear country is to look for their droppings. Supposedly, their scat is easy to identify. It smells strongly of pepper, and has little jingle bells in it.

On a more serious note, if a bear is really charging you and you have no choice but to defend yourself with a 9mm, I would probably just put every round I had into upper-center mass, you can probably sneak a few in just below the neck and above the ribcage, since they run on all fours. I would go for the FMJ, since I haven't ever seen a heavy hard-cast load for 9mm. I base this on absolutely nothing, however.

http://www.inberg.ca/hunting_essentials/black_bear_anatomy.htm

[Synergy]

Yeah, well, thanks guys. 8 replies & every one missed what was said in the introductory post:

"Yes, I'm fully aware that 9mm is far from being a good choice for bear."

"What I'm asking is when one doesn't have the choice, has only 9mm,"

So I guess I never will find out where, in what part of their body, is the best & most effective place to shoot a bear.

Thanks anyways! I'll keep searching....

Do you reload? Use the 147 grain ball and load for a +p power.

[CK_32]

Best bet is getting a ak pistol and spraying the hell out of it.

Your better off throwing your 9mm at him and scaring him off. But like said above bear spray is best if anything. I wouldn't trust anything under a 50BMG for a for sure kill on one.

[Dhena81]

Yeah, well, thanks guys. 8 replies & every one missed what was said in the introductory post:

"Yes, I'm fully aware that 9mm is far from being a good choice for bear."

"What I'm asking is when one doesn't have the choice, has only 9mm,"

So I guess I never will find out where, in what part of their body, is the best & most effective place to shoot a bear.

Thanks anyways! I'll keep searching....

No one answered your question the way you wanted because its not a good idea. Besides what part of a 9mm not considered being effective against a bear did you not understand?


Personally I would rather shoot in the ground to scare. Rather than shoot a bear in this magical place which your going to be able to hit under extreme stress that will enable you to stop a bear with a 9mm.

[Steve1968LS2]

If you stop a bear with a 9mm go buy some lotto tickets and then head straight to Vegas cause you're one lucky mofo..

[-hanko]

Yeah, well, thanks guys. 8 replies & every one missed what was said in the introductory post:

"Yes, I'm fully aware that 9mm is far from being a good choice for bear."

"What I'm asking is when one doesn't have the choice, has only 9mm,"

So I guess I never will find out where, in what part of their body, is the best & most effective place to shoot a bear.

Thanks anyways! I'll keep searching....

You're very welcome...

WHERE are you hiking??

-hanko

[JTROKS]

A bear charging and all I have is a wondernine... Assuming it's a brown bear facing me and my nine has normal/non-CA mags I would be aiming at the head/mouth/nose/eyes area of the bear. 15 rounds should slow him down some, but I'm gonna be ready to do my move, a quick skip to the left or right and ninja flip it to the next high spot. Now I'll be reloading during this move. Bear would have his mouth wide open at awe due to my display of agility and coolness factor. Then I'll double tap him through the mouth straight into his brain. How's that?

On a serious side. I wouldn't want to encounter a grizzly or brown bear and all I have with me is a 9mm pistol. You can get a used 5 shot pump shotgun for around $250 and a box of slugs for around $7. The best way to prevent a bear encounter is not to enter his domain, but if you insist then respect the bear. If he doesn't want you there then find another area to explore.

I love this youtube clip. I don't understand a word they are saying, but they all laughed at it in the end.

[epcii]

I don't know how true the claim is that a 9mm round will bounce off of a bear's skull. But, if anything, I'd say anywhere on its underside. More preferably, neck or chest. Neck to go for major arteries and maybe get into its chest, seeing as they walk on all fours. Chest for obvious reasons.

[Spirit 1]

I don't know how true the claim is that a 9mm round will bounce off of a bear's skull. But, if anything, I'd say anywhere on its underside. More preferably, neck or chest. Neck to go for major arteries and maybe get into its chest, seeing as they walk on all fours. Chest for obvious reasons.

Thanks! That's what I've figured would be best, mouth, neck, chest. I read that their heart is very low in the chest cavity so maybe a pretty difficult shot. Mainly hoping to at least buy time to get away. Kind of hard to believe that a bear who has just been shot 10, 15, 20 times will still feel like Mr. Bada** & want to keep up the charges.

To others: I live in a remote area in bear & mountain lion country in central Cal.
Person was attacked by bear a couple of miles away last year or so, F&G also had to come & dispatch a vicious mother bear & 2 mean yearling cubs recently, another woman was extremely & severely mauled by a mountain lion a short while back.

I cannot have a long gun or large caliber gun with me at all times. Just like your own house & grounds, when you're outside doing stuff in the yard or whatever, you can't be constantly dragging along a .375 H&H rifle can you? I can park a 12 ga loaded with slugs or a large caliber rifle fairly near, but gotta get the 20-30+ feet to grab it!

Main reason I never asked this question before, though I really need the answer: because I knew lots of guys would roll out with nothing but scathing insults about my gross ignorance, incredible stupidity, amazing lack of knowledge about ballistics & firearms, plus extremely lame brain about bears in general. Well, ya didn't let me down on that one anyway!

I framed the first post to make it clearly known: there's absolutely no possibility of any other choice in personal defense under the circumstances. I will invariably find myself continually exposed to possible attacks on a daily basis. By your answers being the only answers, which are impossible to accomplish, then I'm supposed to leave the 9 in the house and forget about self defense!

'xcuse me, but that ain't real bright either, is it? I'd rather take my chances with the 9 & spare mag!

Thanks...

[Lugiahua]

it's actually cheaper and easier to just buy a bear spray from nearby store than train how to kill a bear with 9mm...

[Corbin Dallas]

Hi all, wondering about the best shot on a bear with a 9mm. Bears are around here and many times it's impossible to carry a long gun, or I don't happen to have one with me.

What I'm asking is when one doesn't have the choice, has only 9mm, where to shoot that critter? Assuming him charging....?

Thanks!

Get bear spray and carry a 10mm with extra magazines and some doubletap or buffalo bore HOT rounds.

You'd probably be better off throwing your 9mm at the bear over shooting at it with a 9mm...

[KracknCorn]

Thanks! That's what I've figured would be best, mouth, neck, chest. I read that their heart is very low in the chest cavity so maybe a pretty difficult shot. Mainly hoping to at least buy time to get away. Kind of hard to believe that a bear who has just been shot 10, 15, 20 times will still feel like Mr. Bada** & want to keep up the charges.

To others: I live in a remote area in bear & mountain lion country in central Cal.
Person was attacked by bear a couple of miles away last year or so, F&G also had to come & dispatch a vicious mother bear & 2 mean yearling cubs recently, another woman was extremely & severely mauled by a mountain lion a short while back.

I cannot have a long gun or large caliber gun with me at all times. Just like your own house & grounds, when you're outside doing stuff in the yard or whatever, you can't be constantly dragging along a .375 H&H rifle can you? I can park a 12 ga loaded with slugs or a large caliber rifle fairly near, but gotta get the 20-30+ feet to grab it!

Main reason I never asked this question before, though I really need the answer: because I knew lots of guys would roll out with nothing but scathing insults about my gross ignorance, incredible stupidity, amazing lack of knowledge about ballistics & firearms, plus extremely lame brain about bears in general. Well, ya didn't let me down on that one anyway!

I framed the first post to make it clearly known: there's absolutely no possibility of any other choice in personal defense under the circumstances. I will invariably find myself continually exposed to possible attacks on a daily basis. By your answers being the only answers, which are impossible to accomplish, then I'm supposed to leave the 9 in the house and forget about self defense!

'xcuse me, but that ain't real bright either, is it? I'd rather take my chances with the 9 & spare mag!

Thanks...

Your not gonna get a definite answer with your question... unless someone hunts bears with 9mms on a constant basis. Bears are burly creatures and no matter what you want to think a 9mm can or can not do, it doesn't change the fact it's a little round. You can probably kill it eventually, but when you're in a bear attack, you want to stop it immediately. Whether the myth of bouncing bullet off the skull is true or not, you may not even hit it's head when it's charging. A body shot with a 500s&w will probably take it down or severely hurt it way more than a 9mm. Hey, it's your life and you can feel comfortable with whatever caliber you choose, but don't think a bear is going to just stand there and let you take the time to aim at specific parts.

[ginman]

If a 9mm is only option, aim for the throat or strait at the nose or eyes. I think that's your only hope really. Hitting the bear in a place that forces it to stop.

[Spirit 1]

If a 9mm is only option, aim for the throat or strait at the nose or eyes. I think that's your only hope really. Hitting the bear in a place that forces it to stop.

And thanks for that too! That's makes 2 useful answers to the question and both similar, also what I'd figured was best to do too. Hope I never have to find out what works or doesn't.

[aghauler]

My Canadian friend says to carry bear spray and wear some little jingle bells on your pack to make your presence known when hiking in bear country. He also says that the best way to know if you are in bear country is to look for their droppings. Supposedly, their scat is easy to identify. It smells strongly of pepper, and has little jingle bells in it.

http://www.inberg.ca/hunting_essenti...ar_anatomy.htm

Must have seen this poster:


I met two bears at the corner of my garage one afternoon, I was practically run over by them, I mometarily thought "I can scare these guys off" then realized "yo momma" was BEHIND me somewhere (she is a 400-500 pounder and a fast runner, had just gone around the corner of the next house) at which point I retreated to my front porch and let the two 100+pounder kids pass through.