9mm Big Enough For Bear?
BY Herschel Smith
8 years, 3 months ago
I have been guiding brown bear hunters and fishermen and bear photographers from our homestead within Becharof National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for 33 years and have had numerous close encounters with bears. Until now, I have never had to shoot an unwounded bear to protect either myself or clients, but the other week an event occurred and my good fortune changed. When it happened, I was fully aware of what was going on and how big the bear was. I also managed to stay aware of where my clients were, even when the bear was directly between us. The woman I was guiding said that while she did not remember smelling the bear’s breath, it was close enough to her face that it could have bitten her!
I have killed enough bears to know how important shot placement can be, even with large-bore rifles. I was well aware of the limitations of my 9mm pistol, even with Buffalo Bore ammo. I was aiming for a vital area with each shot; because it all took place between 6 and 8 feet, they were not far off. But hitting the head and brain of a highly animated and agitated animal is a difficult shot.
You can read his justification for leaving home with a single stack 9mm. I’m glad everything worked out for him and everyone except the bear.
But I have to tell you, I just wouldn’t carry a 9mm on any kind of expedition into the Alaskan wilderness. That just seems like you’re asking for trouble. What if his shot placement wasn’t so good? On the other hand, I suppose you could ask that about any cartridge.
On August 14, 2016 at 11:43 pm, TheAlaskan said:
Jeez…an Alaskan bear guide with a 9mm. What could possibly go wrong? There’s another story of a fella stopping a charging brownie with a 10mm near Homer, Alaska…and still another of a fella stopping a charging brown with an AK-47 south of Anchorage (much better choice than just about any handgun.) I suppose one could even stop one with a rim-fire round…or even a knife as Boone is said to have done. I’ll just stick to my 12 gauge or 44 mag.
On August 15, 2016 at 8:46 am, Fred said:
Gene Moe
On August 20, 2016 at 9:15 pm, joe said:
Here’s the story about Mr. Moe …
http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/larry-mueller-and-marguerite-reiss/2007/09/last-stand
On August 16, 2016 at 1:28 am, TheAlaskan said:
That’s why I always carry my buck knife…just in case. Funny, I lived in Kodiak for 23 years and never heard the Gene Moe story. I can say though, that hunting Afognak black-tails often brought in Kodiak’s to your deer or gut pile.
On August 16, 2016 at 2:06 am, Daniel Barger said:
One…luck is a poor substitute for skill and proper preparation, but it beats having nothing.
And per Einstein there are only two infinite things….the universe and stupidity and we can’t be sure of the universe. The moron with the 9mm was damn luck this time. Next time it might not work out so well.
On August 17, 2016 at 1:56 am, TheAlaskan said:
My sentiments also. I’ve known bear guides from various parts of the State…not a one carried pistol autos for bear protection. Even our black bears are huge. Black, Brown, Kodiak, Grizzly or Polar, any one of them would make me feel mighty flimsy if all I had was a 9mm auto when they decided to ruin my day.
On August 20, 2016 at 6:46 pm, Shooter said:
Speaking as a 4-year professional elk/deer/bear guide, there is no “magic” handgun round… ALL handguns suck. For something like a brown bear, you want the least suck you can actually hit something with, which means .41 Mag, .44 Mag, hot-loaded .45 Colt, etc… If you have to go auto-loader, I’d stick with 10mm.
A hot-loaded .45-70 lever gun, or maybe a .375 H&H would make a lot more sense, though!