Gun Versus Bear Spray
BY Herschel Smith
7 months, 1 week ago
I really like Dan Becker, and I especially like his faith commitment to Christ.
However, I think he got sold a bill of goods by interviewing someone who claims to have the last word on the gun versus bear spray debate.
It’s no debate in my book. I will never go into the bush without a large bore pistol. End of story. And all of what this “expert” claims are potential pitfalls of use of a firearm aren’t really pitfalls in my book, and I also think he ignores the potential pitfalls of the use of bear spray. If you’re worried about your ability to use a firearm under pressure, carry a revolver in a shoulder holster. A revolver is simple to use.
For my part, I’ve carried a .44 magnum wheel gun, but if I am carrying 450 SMC ammunition, I’ll carry it in a 1911 (with an enhanced recoil spring, i.e., 22#), with a round chambered and on safe, which is an advantage with the 1911 design. It’s easy to sweep the safety off while raising the pistol. A Hill People Gear kit bag worn on my chest puts this within hand’s reach of being able to deploy it.
Dan, if you’re listening, if you want another perspective on this by someone who has compiled the largest, most well-researched catalog of bear attacks and how well firearms do, contact Dean Weingarten (who writes at Ammoland).
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On April 8, 2024 at 12:22 am, Tales From the Putrid Swamp said:
Get some way to block scent as well.
The really awesome RealTree suits can be up to $400+.
Why not hunt game with the bear spray as well. (s/)
A bear’s sense of smell is so acute that they can detect animal carcases upwind and from a distance of 20 miles away. You should just assume that they can smell the food in your food bag too.
Bears have an incredible sense of smell because the area of their brain that manages the sense of smell, called the olefactory bulb, is at least 5 times larger than the same area in human brains even though a bear’s brain is one third the size.
(h/t-Section Hiker)
On April 8, 2024 at 5:33 am, Bad Dancer said:
I just went through this with my Goddaughter who is about to attend gradschool in a northernly area. The ammoland article and author you referenced were of great value in convincing her to select and train with two firearms and that bear spray would just be flavoring for Mr. or Mrs. Bear.
The biggest deciding factor for her was that she wears contacts and bear spray has similar properties to CS gas and pepper spray where once your contacts are contaminated its a race to beat the clock to get them off before damage occures.
On April 8, 2024 at 5:51 am, Mark Matis said:
What happened to the old adage:
“Never go into the bush alone!”
If you adhere to that, all you need carry is a 22. You don’t need to be faster than the bear. You only need to be faster than whoever is WITH you!
On April 8, 2024 at 11:17 am, Georgiaboy61 said:
Bear spray doesn’t work. Why? Because it does not incapacitate the animal to any great degree. It depends upon unpleasantness of sensation and pain as deterrents, and most bears – being the tough critters that they are – are not much dissuaded by these things.
Sure, there is a chance that the bear won’t like the effects of the spray upon its eyes, nose and mouth, and will retire …. but there is also the chance that all the spray will do is enrage the animal that much more, assuring that it is even more-motivated when it attacks. Which is precisely the outcome you do not want.
Our host is quite correct: Do not venture into bear country without a large-bore handgun. That’s the minimum; if you have the option, carrying a hard-hitting big-bore rifle or a shotgun with slugs would also be prudent.
On April 8, 2024 at 1:06 pm, Herschel Smith said:
“No, bear, don’t eat my Kayak!” “Stop, bear!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3qhEIZBlX8
On April 8, 2024 at 4:11 pm, Grumpy51 said:
@GB — VERY similar to humans…… one reason why depending on OC spray is a fool’s errand….. yes, it works on the average Joe, who doesn’t want to be inconvenienced. But not on the drugged person, or the person who can push through…… which is why firearms are used…..
On April 16, 2024 at 9:12 am, Latigo Morgan said:
Now, I’ve purchased aerosol cans of various products and had them not work when I got home. They include deodorant, spray paint, WD-40, and spray cleaners. I’ve had aerosol cans “de-gas” after usage and then being stored.
So, my questions are: A) How can I know my $45-$50 can of bear spray will work, let alone be effective? B) If I test the bear spray, how long will the can hold gas afterwards? C) If I don’t use the bear spray, what is the shelf life?
I’m not even going to get into effectiveness of the spray on a pissed off bear hyped up on adrenaline.
Firearms? The minimum I carry is a .357 Mag. Usually a .44 Mag or .45 ACP. I know they will go bang when I pull the trigger, no matter how long the ammo has sat on the shelf before I go out with it.
And honestly, if you are going out into the wilderness without a firearm and being proficient using that firearm, or at least having someone with you who is, then we have a term in the mountains for such people – scat.
Davy Crockett is the only person I’ve heard of who was able to grin down a ba’ar.