Defending yourself from animals

[madstyle1]

My friend is in the market for a gun for protection. He does a lot hiking and doing outdoor stuff, anyway he was looking into the SR9C but then asked me if a grizzly bear was to chase after him will he able to protect himself from a bear attacj with a 9mm? Thanks for all your opinons.

[ElDub1950]

Not a chance with 9mm.

If a grizzly bear is the realistic threat, personally I wouldn't want anything less that a 44M.

Yeah, yeah, I know you guys can take down the biggest griz with your .22 keltech with one round to the eyeball.

But I can't so 44M would be the bare minimum for me.

Edit: The posts below are correct that bear spray should be the #1 choice.

[Oceanbob]

Assuming he's not an experienced shooter. I would recommend Bear Spray only. A real experienced shooter with a capable hand-cannon would be hard pressed to take a Grizzly.

[Red Devil]

Spectracide PRO 18 oz. Ready-to-Use Wasp and Hornet Killer Aerosol Spray

[bluewrx]

Just have your friend hike with a fat guy that he can out run him. On a serious notes, 9mm only going to make the bear mad at him.

[CK_32]

Don't do it the bear might sue!!


If your buddy was a B/A and knew what he was doing I'd say a 10mm Glock 20 nothing less...

But since he probably hasn't gone past an air rifle I'd agree with the others some kind of non firearm defense will do more good.. And please spare your buddy and tell him and not have him get a 10mm and kill him self...

Have him get a Glock 17/19 learn to shoot that maybe even a 21 to get use to shooting and then when he's ready and has range time jump to a 20.

[Arkangel]

Just have your friend hike with a fat guy that he can out run him. On a serious notes, 9mm only going to make the bear mad at him.

Good advice, but you should tell him to take more than one fat guy....

There might be more than one bear

[sargenv]

Where is he going to find a grizzly bear in California? or am I missing something here?

[21SF]

Only the illegal grizzlies guarding pot plants lol

[vliberatore]

Not a chance with 9mm.

If a grizzly bear is the realistic threat, personally I wouldn't want anything less that a 44M.

Yeah, yeah, I know you guys can take down the biggest griz with your .22 keltech with one round to the eyeball.

But I can't so 44M would be the bear minimum for me.

Edit: The posts below are correct that bear spray should be the #1 choice.

FIFY

[Mossy Man]

Where is he going to find a grizzly bear in California? or am I missing something here?

+1

you'd probably be better off carrying a bag of trout ziplocked for a decoy and then run

[ParanoidCivilian]

I think the OP has a wild fantasy about running into bears during his evening walk around the local Wallyworld.

[llamatrnr]

9mm is fine, but, as always, placement is king. Put your pistol to your temple and get it over with . . .

[AlbcAlbrr]

9mm is fine, but, as always, placement is king. Put your pistol to your temple and get it over with . . .

Okay, that's really funny. Glad I wasn't drinking at the time.

[dangerranger]

Its unlikely he will ever have a problem with a bear. the few bears Ive seen in the wild all have run quickly away from people. Now pot growers......