Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns .45 ACP for bear protection - what bullet?

It's about like telling a cop not to bother wearing body armor because armor makes him stupid and take unecessary chances, or telling someone not to wear a seat belt because they will drive better knowing they're at greater risk.

My god it worked


http://www.nationalparkstraveler.co...rs-denali-national-park-and-preserve5943



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A grizzly bear that emerged from a thicket and charged two backpackers in the backcountry of Denali National Park and Preserve was shot and killed by one of the two who was carrying a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol, according to park officials.

The killing Friday is believed to be the first instance of a hiker killing a grizzly in the park's wilderness. The killing occurred in the original Mount McKinley National Park portion of the Denali, which was expanded by two-thirds in 1980.

Until February, when Congress changed the rules, it was illegal to carry a loaded firearm in that portion of Denali. While the rule change now allows hikers to carry firearms in all areas of Denali, it still is illegal to discharge them, park officials said.

Park officials did not speculate whether the killing was justified. This is believed to be the first instance of a visitor to a national park killing an animal with a firearm since the gun regulations were changed.

According to a release from the park, the two backpackers, a man and woman, were hiking in dense brush along the edge of Tattler Creek, which is at the west end of Igloo Canyon roughly 35 miles from the park headquarters.

"The man, who was in the lead, drew a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol when they heard a noise coming from the brush. When the bear emerged from the thicket and ran toward the other hiker, he fired approximately nine rounds in its general direction. The bear stopped, turned, and walked back into the brush, where it quickly disappeared from view," said the release.

The two then headed roughly 1.5 miles back to a road, where they encountered a park employee, who called in the incident and took the two backpackers to the Toklat Road Camp. A ranger there did a short preliminary interview with them at approximately 10:00 p.m. Because of the concern that a wounded bear was in the area, four backcountry units were immediately closed, and bus drivers were instructed to not drop off day hikers in the Igloo Canyon on Saturday.

"Early Saturday morning rangers and wildlife technicians flew to Toklat via helicopter to conduct a secondary interview with the two backpackers. Afterwards they flew over Tattler Creek and all of side tributaries, very low at times, to determine if there was an active, wounded bear," the park release said. "No bears were seen during the overflight, and late in the afternoon three rangers hiked into the site. The bear was found dead in a willow thicket approximately 100 feet from the pistol casings at approximately 6:00 p.m.

"The bear�s body was transported via helicopter to a landing site on the park road and brought back to headquarters on Sunday, where park wildlife biologists are assisting with the investigation of the bear carcass. The backcountry units have been reopened."

The case is still under investigation, and the names of the backpackers are not being released at this time. Park wildlife biologists and rangers are trying to determine if there was a justification for shooting the animal.

The estimated grizzly bear population in the park north of the Alaska Range north is 300-350 animals.

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That's impossible John, those bullets just get tangled in their fur. Absolutely zero penetration with that round.

Once again guys, no one on here is saying the 45 is ideal, but its better than nothing and with the right load will penetrate. Some of you guys need to do some of your own penetration tests to verify these things for yourselves. You would be amazed at the results. Like too much velocity hinders penetration. Load a hardcast flat meplat to the sweet spot and watch it go. Energy does not transfer to killing power. I find it amazing the amount of animals that were harvested back in the day with the 45 colt, the 45/70, the 450/400 ect... Animals must have evolved with bullet proof skin, they were obviously much easier to kill with the "light loads" before the invention of super velocity. Sheesh

+1����

The Denali hiker cheated, he didn't dump the magazine after four rounds.


But,


"...he fired approximately nine rounds in its general direction..."

Lord help those bears if they ever charge someone with a cool head, and even modest skills with a 1911 handgun.

They had to point that out, wonder if charges are pending against the guy.

Shhhh, don't anybody tell ppine that people actually used .357s and .45acp's to protect themselves from grizzlies, he might have a coronary. It just can't be so.

(Again, no one on this thread has said either is ideal. What they've said is if that's what you have, they will work with good bullets and proper shot placement.)

Hey, I hadn't considered that. Anything can fail. A premature discharge with a one shot wonder can be a problem.

And didn't Ron Burgundy shoot his eye out with that stuff?

Guess I better stick to pavement where I'm safe. In the city, they all fall to hardball, dontcha know.

I have a Colt 1911 and find it to be reliable. Several people have been talking about feeding problems with unusual ammo. When it comes to bear guns, there is no room for reliability issues.
Another reason most experienced bush people carry revolvers or rifles.

If I read your account of Denali correctly, the bear traveled 100 feet from where he was shot without anyone pressing him. So if you shoot a bear at close range, say 20 yards, or 60 feet he has plenty of time to keep coming, kill your ass and keep going before he dies.

You should do yourself a favor and shut the [bleep] up.


Travis

Laughin'. I think bear spray is good, but I was glad to have my handgun that day. I was a ways out from the "safe boundary" of a .45.



Travis

No, no, he makes a great point.

Now you have to wield "enough" handgun to DRT a bear.....no mention of placement....odd.

Yeah, maybe he should STFU...

Hawk,
thanks
Cheyenne,
I used to live in Laramie. What you call "cowboy guns" are the original military and police guns. Starting with the Colt 1873 peacemaker and the US Cavalry. Then the Colt Service Revolver in WWI. If it weren't for Browning's miraculous design military and police would still be shooting revolvers. Some of them still are.

This guy is a [bleep] genius.


Travis

He's well up in the running for the "Biggest Campfire douche of 2013" award, and we still have over 6 months for him to earn the title.

Must be tough going through life exacly 180 degrees off axis...

This thread is hilarious

the year is young

the technique is to empty your .45 in the general direction of the bruin
and then run as fast as you can, while screaming like a little girl!