What's a good self defense gun for Grizzlies?

[NikatKimber]

Very nice gun! Is it yours?

 

[arenathlete]

I spent many years in North Idaho before I retired, and my barber there spent summers guiding fishing expeditions into the heart of bear country. His solution was a Stevens 311 12ga SXS. One barrel loaded with a slug, and the other with "00" buck.
He had successfully used this combination on several occasions when curious grizzlies had gotten un comfortably close or had charged his party. He applied it like this: "First, you give him the buck shot in the face or chest area. If the Bear is merely curious this will usually cure that, and he will retreat.
If the bear is determined, and seems to have his heart set on "surf AND turf", then the buck applied that way will stop him and nine times out of ten, he will sit down on his haunches while he tries to figure out what hit him, then you deliver the slug to the chest.
JMHO

This guy's got it right; having grown-up in AK the combo we walked-in with was a mossberg 500 8 shot with first one 00 buck(cocked and locked) followed by 2 slugs with that buck/slug combo filling the rest of the tube.
Another great rifle choice is a .45-70 gov; Pops put a medium sized brown bear down on a small camped out little susitna river enbankment.

 

[arenathlete]

I suppose it depends on what you are doing, and what the laws are, as to what the best gun would be. If I were fly fishing, I'd have a S&W .460 or a .44 mag at minimum. If I were doing something else where I could legally carry a rifle or shotgun, I would carry them instead of a handgun any day of the week.

Current laws in AK allow you to carry a firearm as long as it's not concealed. Sounds crazy, but true. Of course, there's the courthouse, schools and etc..... but taking a stroll down the street is perfectly legal.

 

[MoBoost]

This little boy: http://www.magnumresearch.com/Expand.asp?ProductCode=BFR45-707

 

[AKguy1985]

RPG-7 for the win.

[Broken External Image]

LMAO i was going to say that!! beat me to it, IMHO i'd go with a .44 mag, .454 or a .500 S&W.

 

[ssgrock3]

a revolver in .460 gives you plenty of power for bears, with the flexibility of being able to shoot .454 and .45 colt. Without the .500's vicious recoil so I've heard. this one would do the trick...http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=114109188

 

[yukonjack]

Current laws in AK allow you to carry a firearm as long as it's not concealed. Sounds crazy, but true. Of course, there's the courthouse, schools and etc..... but taking a stroll down the street is perfectly legal.

Actually current Alaska law allows you to carry concealed without a permit as long as you meet the requirements. You can't carry where not allowed and on some federal land the carrying of fireamrs is also restricted.

http://www.dps.state.ak.us/Statewide/PermitsLicensing/concealedhandguns.aspx

 

[MBB]

S&W 329PD with 300 gr bullets at 1150 fps.

It's a light-weight pistol that you can carry all day. Extended range time with heavy loads is not much fun, but it's a joy to carry. It will be there when you need it, unlike the heavy .44 that you left at the house because you didn't want lug the thing around.

 

[gunnut]

this reminds me of a story when i was at outdoor america. an older gentleman wandered up to the counter and wanted to look at an ar-15. of course the sales people always ask, "what purpose do you want it for?" he answered, "well we go camping a lot in the rv and i'd like something if we ever happen to stroll up on a bear." a few of us chuckled, amazing the sales person didn't and said, "sir, let me show you this 12 guage shotgun instead."

 

[arenathlete]

Actually current Alaska law allows you to carry concealed without a permit as long as you meet the requirements. You can't carry where not allowed and on some federal land the carrying of fireamrs is also restricted.

http://www.dps.state.ak.us/Statewide/PermitsLicensing/concealedhandguns.aspx

I should have been more accurate with my quote it's not any firearm but rifles can be carried in AK.


This thread was about a good self-defense gun; unless you're putting plenty of lead down-range on a big-boy pistol accurately and within the parameters of a Kodiak bear coming down on you; get a shotgun.

Better yet; keep the bear bells on unless you're doing something that requires stealth and get a big-ass can of pepper spray for someone else in your party to carry as a first attempt to disengage the bear.