Good gun for bear protection

[ppine]

Here's a classic topic- what gun do you prefer for bear country? How about for bears with humps? How about white bears?

My favorite is my great uncles's old Model 71 Winchester in .348 the strongest lever action ever made.

[Lamebeaver]

A rifle gives you a false sense of security. If I were going to carry a firearm, it would be a Browning Semi-auto in .338 Winchester Mag.

A 12 gauge semi auto alternately loaded with slugs and 00 buck would be a better choice.

The best choice would be bear spray.

[wvbreamfisherman]

.348 or .358 Winchester is adequate for most bears. The problem is getting a bead on a bear before it is on top of you. A shotgun with buckshot and slugs is a bit more forgiving, but still needs pointing. Bear spray comes out in a stream and you can "walk" it onto the target. That would be my first choice.

Actually my first choice would be to avoid needing to use any of that stuff, but sometimes that option is taken out of your hands.

[EddieK47]

First choice,bells on your backpack to let them know you are there.If you suprise them you are more likely to be attacked.Kinda like a kid with a KitKat on halloween.Spray would be my next choice and as a backup a 44mag revolver.But you best know how to use a pistol because it's the worst defence in the wrong hands.

[ponderosa]

I hike in grizzly country all the time. Bear spray is my choice. It is proven effective by both research and practical experience in the field, and it's a lot easier to use proficiently when there are only seconds to react to a fast moving target. I think that most people who believe they'd get off a killing shot at a charging grizzly bear are probably fooling themselves. And unless I'm hunting, I don't really want to spent 12 miles hiking with a rifle strap over my shoulder, along with my backpack.
I own guns, enjoy shooting, and was raised by a gunsmith, but I believe bear spray to be a better defense for hikers.

[Lamebeaver]

You don't really need to protect yourself against black bears.

A grizzley will often do a "bluff charge" they run at you then stop short. This is the prefect range for bear spray...and too late for a firearm. So now you've got a dead bear and you're in trouple with the law.

[CozInCowtown]

Bazooka .

[wvbreamfisherman]

Originally Posted by CozInCowtown

Bazooka .

LOL Coz! Yeah, a bazooka or rpg or recoilless rifle would make great bear medicine. A bit heavy for hiking, but definitely plenty potent!

[ppine]

I am all for bear spray. Having worked in Alaska seeing bears everyday at close range, there is nothing false about the protection of a large firearm. A .44 mag is good for Alaskan life insurance. If you get charged by a large bear you can kill yourself.

As for black bears. There are now 500 pound bears around Lake Tahoe that have lost all fear of humans, that do not hibernate in winter. The problem bears are airlifted to the mountain range behind my house.

My neighbor was working on a large estate near the lake this spring. He saw 8 different bears regularly in the course of working on a house up there. In May a new blonde colored bear showed up and wandered around the job site for about an hour. He didn't wuff or snap his jaws. He just lowered his shoulder and charged. My friend made it to his truck with 25 feet to spare because he was paying attention. A small percentage of black bears, especially males, perceive humans as prey. Many more people are injured by black bears in Alaska than other types.

For many people this is a theoretical discussions. For others it is based on experience.

[wvbreamfisherman]

Mainly theoretical for me, although I've based what I've written on conversations with folks with a lot of Alaskan experience. Here in WV the bears tend to be fairly small and shy, but I wouldn't want to get between one and a cub, or try to drive one off of some food.