Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns .38 special for bear?

And I you.

I'd take that over cancer or drooling away in a nursing home.

Bears should not be allowed to own handguns of any caliber size or power level

Ah, I always knew you were one of those anti-gun freaks pretending to be a hunter/gun looney JWP......... Just kidding. E

Just think of that Bear firing his 38 soecial from behind cover... The tought makes me laugh

You have a good point there, however I can come up with a lot of other ways more preferable to meet my maker then ending up as a pile of bear crap. (as if I really had a choice in the matter)

Damn Liberal...Don't you know we have a right to keep and arm bears??

Well, your best defense against bears is understanding them and knowing how to stomp around in their stomping ground. If all you have is a .38 Snubbie, then that's what you have. Consider some high pressure pepper spray as your first defense and the .38 as last ditch. Black bears are not aggressive at all unless you push them into a corner. 99.9% of the time the only people who find themselves in a fight with a bear either pushed the situation or were oblivious of how to wander in bear country and came between a bear and her cubs. In the case of Griz, if you surprise them and you're inside 50 yards, they'll often charge, so you'd really better know what you're doing in griz country.

Take the .38 with a +P 158 SWC, and remember it's 4 for the bear and 1 for you. Go with God.

OK, OK, I give! I kind of figured I'd get raked over the coals on my question. I really didn't think I'd get any "Sure it's plenty of gun" answers, but like I said, it's all I have as far as pistols. Anyway, I backpack in bear country (Black bear) every year and have never had any problems, and I kill a bear almost every year with my bow or rifle. I just always wonder when I'll run into that cranky bear and if the .38spcl would be worth carrying. Apparently it's not. I did have one run-in two years ago, while scouting for hunting, with a bear that didn't run off. It actually climbed a tree across a small gully about 60 yds. off and looked at me. I had my 38 with me and thought, "This thing isn't going to stop that bear if it decides to come at me". That little encounter is what prompted my origional question. Anyway, Thanks for the laughs.

You've made similar statements before Steelhead. The guy said he wants something to carry while backpacking.

If you are going to carry 50-70 lbs on your back for a 3-7 day trek, is it really so hard to understand why a sidearm would have an advantage over a rifle? You've called me stupid before, but gee....

Abner, I have personel knowledge of a camp tent crawling griz that was finished off with a 38 in Montana in the 1970's as my stepdad is the one that ended up in the fire over it. You would be best served with a heavier pistol but if that is not possible load your 38 with a heavy hard cast SWC pushed as hard as it will go and avoid at all cost getting your butt in any situation that you would need it by being as noisy as you can while trekking. Russ

What blanket said - and - a 38 spl beats the HE// out of fingernails !!
Mark

The noise of the round going off and hitting the ground may scare it away...

P.S. You shot that bear with the 38 Special it will probably EVENTUALLY die. Most likely you will first...

Get another gun in a more effective chambering. How much is your life or friends and families worth?

In the chamberings you have I'm undecided but you might be better off to throw the gun at the bear.

Seen the 38spcl fail on a medium black bear, more than one slug richochet off the bear's skull (this was discovered later while skinning the bear). Another houndsman came to the rescue with the almighty 30-30!

Move up to the 41mag, 45 long colt, or 44mag.

MtnHtr

Abner, there was a lot of kidding on this thread but you appear to be a good sport.

Rather then purchasing another handgun, you may want to consider the buddy system while hiking and scouting. Just make sure the buddy is slower than you are.

Now having been in such a situation as a bear trying to chew you up, I can honestly say, that having a handgun may make one feel better mentally but unless you have one of the biggest made such as the .44mag with 300 grain hardcast bullets or a .454 Casul, I would want a fast operating lever gun in 45/70 or 444 magnum in my hands instead.

AND it will put an end to the suffering...
no YOUR suffering and screaming.
Then the bear can enjoy his snack in peace!

Just count your shots and save the last one !

I think I'll go with Roundoak's advise. I have some rather rotund friends I think I can out run. Other than that, I don't see a larger handgun in the budget, and I'm sure not carrying a rifle on a back pack trip (other than a back pack hunting trip) so I guess I'll just keep dong what I've been doing for thirty years and not worry about it. I will, as always, have my 38 along for two legged problems.