Bear Spray vs Pistol while hunting in GRIZ country.....

[washingtonmuley]

I always carried the .454 on Kodiak and other places in Alaska while fishing. I would rather fire something that I am pretty sure is going to work vs. something/bear spray that I hope will work.

[Mudman]

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/how-hot-is-it-understanding-pepper-spray/       This is for the people who think mace or pepper spray is hotter than bear spray.  Its complicated and involves misleading advertisements but BEAR spray is much stronger as you can read here....

[Seahawk12]

Griz have been spotted in enough areas that i consider most of the state griz country.
I dont enter the woods without a firearm.

[Thenewguy]

I live in Montana- the only right answer is both

[BlackRiverTaxidermy]

I was attacked by a grizzly in 2010 while on a mule deer hunt in Wyoming. Long story short, I actually packed a pistol and left it at camp the day of the incident because of the weight (.45 auto). I was able to finally put the bear down with my Tikka 30.06, however after the whole incident, investigation, and speaking with Wyoming Fish and Game, who were AWESOME by the way, I walked away knowing that if/when I hunt in grizzly country again I will have both!
The statistics are in your favor with spray. Studies showed you have a 50/50 chance with a gun during a charge. Most people have been proven to miss during high stress/adrenaline filled moments AND even if you hit the bear a grizzly gets further enraged by pain, just like when they fight another bear. Unless you brain shoot them, which is difficult in itself due to their skull and a moving target, the bullet strike in an adrenaline filled bear can prompt more adrenaline and just anger them, like a tweaker getting tazzed by police  .
If using the spray you have a 93 percent change of walking away unscathed, but you have to deploy the spray correctly and buy the RIGHT spray. Creating a cloud with the spray on a charge grizzly disorients them when they hit/run into it. The warden I spoke too said he had stopped numerous charges with spray. Instead of inflicting pain, prompting rage, the spray disorients the grizzly thus, most of the time stopping the charge by interrupting their primal focus. There are lots of sprays out there I later found out. The wardens, and studies, said to buy the big cans that have no less than a 50' spray length and to sweep in front of the grizzly, don't actually try and hit the running bear unless hes already within the 50' mark.
With all that said....the grizzly that came after me was starving, therefore I may have been able to stop his charge with spray but I am sure he would have found a way around the spray. Therefore....PACK BOTH. The spray is your best defense and may keep you safe for most charges of a surprised animal or sow with cubs, however if you meet the one bear that is intent on getting you to the ground then a death sentence is the only alternative and a can of spray won't do that for you. Joel-

[Mudman]

   Exactly how I feel about it, well said.

[boneaddict]

Indeed, Well said.


2many, its on here somewhere.  Ill see what I can find

[boneaddict]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,6522.msg72335.html#msg72335

[JimmyHoffa]

I know it has been mentioned before, but one of the main issues with that spray vs gun statistic is it compared 'bear spray' against all firearms (not just agreed upon bear hammer types).  So, a guy with a 9mm/.38 spl/.243 is given the same odds as a guy with a .460SW/.375HH/.45-70.

[Bob33]

I know it has been mentioned before, but one of the main issues with that spray vs gun statistic is it compared 'bear spray' against all firearms (not just agreed upon bear hammer types).  So, a guy with a 9mm/.38 spl/.243 is given the same odds as a guy with a .460SW/.375HH/.45-70.

Yes, although the title is "Bear Spray vs. Pistol" so that rules out rifles.

[Tim in Wa.]

https://www.cliffcanoe.com/bear-rules  read the last bullet point on this list.This guy has a bunch of experience with bears all over N. America

[tgray]

Both! Spray and hope it does the trick. S&W 329 PD for when I'm fighting for my life. We run into big grizzlies every year in Wyoming, 7 years and only had to spray one so far

[buglebrush]

https://www.cliffcanoe.com/bear-rules  read the last bullet point on this list.This guy has a bunch of experience with bears all over N. America

One of the more common sense list I've read.  Thanks for that.

[Scheindogg]

Here is a very cool video comparing the 10mm and 357 magnum testing through a raw bear skull.
He was using CRAP (for bear defense purposes) 10mm ammo and it did a helluva job, makes me feel assured when I get my glock 20 (same gun he tested with) and get some nice hard cast bullets I'll be set!!
I realie the video isn't exactly scientific and he was shooting very close range and the adrenaline would make it hard to aim and all that, but I'm just saying this is a very cool video

Worth a watch

[Tbob]

I've always taken my pistol with me, but I just ordered a can of counter assault bear spray. Probably gonna leave the pistol at home this year...