If there’s one factor backcountry hunters ought to agree on on the subject of selecting between revolvers and semi-autos for bear protection it’s this: Neither is good. A bear, whether or not attacking out of worry, aggression, or starvation is a fearsome opponent. It could be silly to consider a handgun as a dependable bear stopper. A handgun can actually kill a bear, however the purpose of a stopping gun is to kill one thing this immediate — or at the very least hit it laborious sufficient that it’s distracted from attempting to chew, claw, or gore you within the second, shopping for you a number of extra valuable seconds to shoot it once more or take another motion to save lots of your disguise.
However even a less-than-ideal gun is healthier than no gun throughout a bear encounter. And we now have loads of information illustrating how they’ve been used to efficiently deter bear assaults.
A sidearm is a crucial element to defending your self in bear nation, however different forms of deterrents have their place. I all the time carry bear spray as nicely, for example, and have not too long ago bought a moveable electrical fence to arrange round my camp (or round a quartered animal) as a part of my total technique to deal with, or higher but keep away from, a possible encounter.
Switching to a Semi-Auto
I carried a revolver for a few years as my bear gun. Particularly I fielded, a Smith & Wesson 329 PD, which is a light-weight .44-magnum six-shooter that’s simple to hold however a beast to shoot. The body is created from scandium, which trims the burden of the N-frame gun dramatically however naturally will increase felt recoil.
Just a few years in the past, I shifted from the Smith to a Glock G20 Gen4 that I had modified by ATEI. The adjustments included the addition of cocking serrations on the entrance of the slide, a reduce to accommodate a red-dot sight, 360-degree stippling across the grip, scaling down the underside of the set off guard to get a better grip, stippled pads on the entrance of the body for the support-hand thumb, and an aftermarket drop-in barrel.
I discovered I may shoot the G20 extra shortly and successfully than the wheel gun and, as a result of it holds a lot extra ammo (15 rounds in comparison with six) and has a rail for mounting a light-weight, I didn’t look again.
The Advantages of a Revolver for Bear Protection
Regardless of my migration to a semi-auto, a revolver isn’t a nasty alternative both. This fall my buddy Cody carried his .357 throughout our elk hunt in grizzly nation. The simplicity of a revolver — there’s nothing to cock, no security to control, and within the occasion of a misfire one other pull of the set off will spark off the following spherical — plus the better efficiency of some revolver cartridges in comparison with what semis carry to the social gathering make a compelling case for the platform.
The good thing about Cody’s .357 versus the .44 Magnum I used to hold is twofold. First, it holds seven rounds, which is a considerable payload and narrows the hole a bit with semi-autos when it comes to capability. Secondly, it’s a a lot simpler revolver to manage than my S&W 329 PD.
Cody’s Smith & Wesson is a Mannequin 386 Sc/S, which is among the extra attention-grabbing Smith’s launched in the previous couple of a long time. It’s optimized for hid carry, with a brief barrel (2.5 inches), high-visibility adjustable sights, and lighter body that give it an empty weight (simply over 21 ounces) that’s in keeping with many compact semi-autos. (A Glock 19 with an empty journal weighs about 23.5 ounces, for instance.) It is among the higher revolvers for bear protection for my part.
Revolver vs. Semi-auto: Professionals and Cons
On the subject of selecting which platform to make use of for backcountry bear protection right here’s how they stack up, level by level.
- Capability: Semi-autos have a transparent benefit, although the seven rounds that the Smith & Wesson 386 carries might be greater than ample for any bear encounter.
- Firepower: The 10mm Auto has turn into the darling for backcountry carry, and there are numerous sorts of ammo loaded which might be optimized to be used in opposition to bears. The .357 Magnum additionally has all kinds of ammo accessible which might be appropriate for bears. This one is a draw.
- Low Mild Operation: Unhealthy issues are likely to occur at midnight giving weapons just like the Glock G20 that may mount a light-weight and laser an edge. Semis take this class.
- Reliability: Semis aren’t tough to run, however a revolver’s level and click on simplicity provides it a transparent benefit when judged by this metric.
- Shootability: Semi-autos have extra manageable recoil and are simpler to shoot precisely than revolvers. Many (if not most) new semi-autos are machined to simply accept red-dot optics proper out of the field, which is one other clear profit.
Choosing the Proper Ammo for Bear Protection
There are a pair philosophies behind the design of handgun ammunition for cover in opposition to bears, although each attempt to accomplish the identical factor. The purpose of every is to penetrate deeply via no matter bone or disguise is encountered. These bullets should have the ability to observe straight to get to the vitals, irrespective of the shot angle, if they will have an opportunity in opposition to a charging bear.
The normal design makes use of a heavy bullet created from a tough lead alloy. By necessity these bullets shall be touring at a average velocity, however their weight and non-expanding building permit them to penetrate numerous critter.
An instance of that is Federal’s Stable Core ammunition, which is what Cody utilized in his Smith 386. In .357 the hard-cast bullets weigh 180 grains and Federal coats them of their polymer Syntech materials, which considerably reduces lead fouling within the bore.
The flat-nosed bullet is designed to keep up its form with minimal deformation because it drives via disguise, muscle, and bone. I didn’t chronograph this ammo via Cody’s blaster, however it’s most likely trucking alongside at 950 fps or so out of the 386’s brief barrel.
In my Glock G20 I run Underwood Ammo’s 140-grain Excessive Penetrator load, which makes use of Lehigh Protection’s Excessive Penetrator bullet. That is mild for the caliber — 10mm Autos sometimes run a 180-grain cup-and-core lead bullet. That lighter weight permits it to be pushed at spectacular speeds, greater than 1600 fps from my Glock’s 4.6-inch barrel.
The Excessive Penetrators are mono-metal bullets, a flowery time period that means they’re created from a copper alloy with none lead or different supplies of their building.
Not like flat-nosed hardcast lead bullets, the Excessive Penetrator has a machined tip. The bullet has grooves formed like scoops that create a formidable wound channel. Due to the bullet’s velocity, the fabric it encounters — whether or not meat, bone, or viscera — behaves like a fluid, getting directed away from the bullet’s line of journey at practically 90 levels. That materials capturing to the edges augments the wound channel.
It’s a intelligent design. Like a hardcast bullet it resists deformation — which is what you need when coping with harmful animals — but it surely additionally damages tissue like a bullet that mushrooms. (You may take a deeper have a look at the sort of terminal ballistics on this story.)
Bear Spray Professionals and Cons
As I discussed above, a sidearm is only one piece of my bear protection technique. I additionally carry bear spray, which has its place as nicely.
Underneath the correct situations — that means when the wind is favorable and you’ve got adequate time to carry it into play — bear spray is an efficient deterrent.
In these conditions, the spray creates a fog-like barrier {that a} bear may have problem crossing and in the event you can squirt the peppery mist immediately on the bear’s face, all the higher. The consumer doesn’t have to be as exact or safety-obsessed whereas using spray as she or he must be with a handgun, which is certainly one of spray’s main advantages.
I maintain the spray in a holster that sits beneath my bino harness. In idea, I can make use of it from that location with a bear on prime of me, assuming I’ve the power and wherewithal to drag the protection tab free and squeeze the set off. I hope I by no means want to check that.
Bear spray has its limitations, nevertheless. Throughout my hunt with Cody we confronted extreme winds within the mountains, with sustained velocities round 25 mph and frequent gusts double that. Bear spray is basically nugatory below these situations.
And, in fact, if the wind is blowing again towards you from a menacing bear, the spray will work its magic on you, rendering it tough so that you can see and breathe.
One other state of affairs to think about is a bear attacking whilst you’re in a tent. The one good possibility on this circumstance is a firearm, as bear spray will solely pre-season you for the bear’s feast.
I carry these up as a result of literature from official sources, and people pretending to be “official,” usually speaks as if bear spray is all the time a greater possibility (or the solely possibility) in comparison with a firearm.
This recommendation carries greater than just a little whiff of anti-gun and anti-bear-hunting sentiment and ought to be understood as such.
The Psychological Sport of Bear Protection
Whereas having correct gear is important, an important factor when coping with bears (or any survival scenario) is maintaining your head screwed on straight. This can be a tough high quality to develop, however not unimaginable.
Coaching along with your sidearm and having a plan are each crucial. Dedicate time on the vary along with your bear gun — whether or not semi-auto or revolver — and also you’ll be extra prone to stroll away from an assault.
Preserve your consciousness in bear nation and journey with a associate every time doable. The percentages of survival go up dramatically with a couple of particular person is round. Make sure to stand your floor, or again away slowly and intentionally. You most likely know this however it’s price repeating — by no means run from a bear. It might probably set off their predatory assault response and a bear can cowl floor a lot sooner than you. Likewise, don’t assume you’ll be able to outclimb a bear up a tree. You may’t.
You probably have a hankering to buy a gun for bear safety, this record is an effective place to begin. The suggestions listed here are primarily based on years of expertise in bear nation.
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