Hi derby dude,
That is an excellent link.
There are two schools of thought of bear defense. I fish in the High Sierra where black bears are common. Thank God I have not had a bear encounter. But were I to get into the back country, I would go prepared.
Black bears are not as difficult to dispatch as griz; however, they can be more deadly. Many fisherman use one and done handguns. These guns are characterized has being chambered for massive rounds. The problem is that they're difficult to bring to battery in a hurry and recoil prevents quick and accurate follow up shots. Thus, if a survivor's first shot with a one and done handgun is a miss another accurate shot becomes doubtful.
I just returned from another High Sierra fishing trip. I took a 1911A1 with 230 grain +P LE ammo. I know that there are far better handgun rounds, but my reasoning is speed to battery, sight picture retention (very crucial), and extremely fast and accurate follow up shots. Moreover, I can reload 8 more rounds in less than 2 seconds.
Were I to fish where girz lives, I would not feel comfortable with a handgun. I would much prefer an 870 with slugs or a Guide Gun with Buffalo Bore rounds. Girz is a horse of a very different color. They are much more difficult to dispatch. Therefore, a shoulder weapon makes more sense, at least it does to me.
Another factor with big bore handguns for bear defense is dedication to proficiency. I have fired .41 Mag, .44 Mag, & .454 Casull handguns, all with heavy rounds. I know that it would take wearisome practice to become proficient to the degree necessary to feel comfortable using such a weapon for bear defense.
A survivor must keep in mind that a bear encounter is almost always a close range deal, which is why speed to battery is so important. Bears can run as fast as quarter horses, which is why sight picture retention is crucial. At close range it is crucial to stop a bear's charge, which usually requires a CNS hit. Hence, any handgun round capable of penetrating a bear's skull or neck at close range will work. And here is why I prefer a weapon that remains on target and can put a lot of rounds on target in a huge hurry.
As in all use of deadly force encounter, avoidance is always my first option. However, with bears, it is likely that they will stalk a survivor, which means very quick and decisive reaction.
I will be back in the High Sierra a few more times this season in pursuit of elusive trophy German brown trout. Many times I have caught myself in such intense focus on fish that I am at loss of my surroundings. Sasquatch could sneak up behind me & I wouldn't know it. This means that it is not unlikely that my only shot, if I am lucky enough to get one, will be a contact shot while a bear is trying to kill me. Were such an unfortunate attack occur, it would be imperative that I can bring my weapon to battery and fire in a heartbeat, which might just be all the time I have remaining above ground.
And who says trout fishing in bear country ain't potentially life threatening???
BTW, in CA it is legal for fishermen to carry handguns while fishing. We need a federal law that allows fishermen to carry handguns and shotguns for bear defense while fishing in all national parks and all federal lands.
John Locke first penned that the right to life is a natural right that comes from God. Government lacks authority to interfere with our natural right to life. Thomas Jefferson recognize our natural rights, and he included them in the Declaration of Independence. James Madison forever memorialized our right to keep and bear arms, which means carrying them, in order to assure our natural right to life. Fishermen must be able to defend themselves from all threats to life while back country fishing.
Take care,
R
