Realistic Defensive Shooting Drills for Bear Attacks
BY PGF2 years, 1 month ago
Mr. Weingarten explains several drills that can be used to prepare for a bear encounter.
Realistic bear defense drills can help prepare gun owners for actual situations.
The success of Eli Dicken in stopping a mass murder in the early stages, with excellent marksmanship at a claimed 40 yards, has engendered a plethora of people creating and executing some form of a “Dicken Drill” of ten shots at 40 yards.
There have been a number of “bear defense” exercises, usually arranged to simulate a worst-case scenario. I know of one such scenario, as it was related to me, by the inventor/trainer who ran it for a major agency.
The “bear” ran on a cart, as I recall, starting 10 yards away. Speed was determined by the person who ran away from the shooting line, pulling the bear, which also moved up and down on the terrain, toward the trainee shooter.
I’ve seen a video of a drill similar to this.
The trainer prepped the trainee, to be tested, thus the trainee was armed with a pump shotgun with a sling. There were rounds in the magazine, but none allowed in the chamber. The shotgun had to be slung on the shoulder, with the safety on, and the bolt locked forward. To engage the target, the trainee had to unsling the shotgun, disengage the bolt lock, work the action, disengage the safety, then shoot. Alternatively, the trainee could unsling the shotgun, disengage the safety, dry fire the shotgun, which would disengage the bolt lock, work the action, and then shoot.
Once preparation to do the drill was ready, the trainer would engage the trainee with a question or small talk. When the trainee’s attention was off the “bear” the trainer would give the secret signal to start the bear charging at the trainee. Unsurprisingly, few trainees managed to get off a shot and hit the “bear”.
Trainers can create a drill to obtain the effect they want to establish.
A bear’s brain is reasonably close to the size and shape of a 12-ounce beverage can. To build confidence in shooters concerned about bear defense, I suggest these drills, taken from actual bear defense situations. The 12-ounce can should be oriented close to how it would be in a bear.
I have serious reservations about going for a headshot with a grizzly or even a black. Their skull is pretty thick. Large caliber hits at center mass seem like the best option. He explains The Ralph Fletcher Drill, The Dusel-Bacon Drill, The Cecil Rhodes Drill, and The Tanner Allen Drill.
On September 28, 2022 at 3:08 pm, 0007 said:
Not sure why anyone walking through (known) bear country would have an unloaded weapon on a shoulder sling. At the very least slung with a round up the spout and the safety engaged. And if I was really worried it would be on my chest with a single point. YMMV
On September 29, 2022 at 3:54 am, Chris said:
I see a great meme potential in the Dusel-Bacon drill…
CIII