Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Phil Shoemaker Stops Charging Grizz with 9mm

They don't have the wherewithal to deploy bear spray either.




Dave

Wouldn't mind having a pistol with the bear spray but (would prefer that), but just make sure you know ahead of time which gets used first, so no time is wasted in indecision at the moment.

What gets used first would be situational.

You don't get to choose how an encounter might happen.

Better be able to think on your feet, and make fast choices.

You can say it till you are blue in the face, but a lot of people will hedge their bets otherwise.

Applies to 2 legged encounters as well.

Everybody should have a can of spray to hose down the face after you shoot.

Just common sense.




Clark

Thinking of getting Phil tattooed on my back shooting the bear...

Bears are like many animals that often “bluff” charge when they feel threatened. This is where OC spray might be handy in those circumstances where time and space would allow its use.

Shooting a “warning shot” into the ground/water has been used successfully, so I wouldn’t hesitate to try that if it was feasible.

Here's a warning shot (2:03 on video) that worked out pretty well for Fred Eichler .... all he had was a bow, I believe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmB41C9qbqE

OC spray is like any less lethal use of force, whether one is dealing with bears or people. When faced with a lethal threat, the initial piece of equipment to grab is one that delivers lethal force. Less lethal then gets deployed if circumstances allow it to be deployed, but a lethal alternative always should be available and immediately ready to use in case the less lethal alternative fails. No time should be wasted on indecision at the moment of the initial encounter.

A grizzly bear is more dangerous than a very strong human armed with a knife in each hand.

Watch this and tell me if you would use Spray or a GUN.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUG8UPsgE3U

So, is he still toting the 9 in those fishing spots, or has he changed brands?

My worthless .02.

I've been in a situation where a black bear suddenly charged me. I had a gun on my hip and I wasn't ready for it. The only thing I had time to do was run. I've played it over a bunch of times in my head and no amount of training would have changed it for me.

While I'm glad this gentleman has a happy ending to his story, I can't for the life of me figure out why a guide in the middle of grizzly country would *choose* to take a 9mm. Yes, it worked. Nobody died.

But how often are you going to be able to pick your spots, aim for the vitals, and take your time? So often it's over before it starts and the hunter/hunted has time to get off one quick shot. What if the bear had come for him first? He wouldn't have had time to pick his spot and aim for the vitals. It would have been all instinctual.

If you are taking a single stack 9mm as your primary firearm into the middle of grizzly country with clients, you're a fool. Plain and simple. If I showed up to camp and my guide was doing the same, the first thing I'd do would be to find a new guide.