Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Phil Shoemaker Video On Big Bears

Here's the some simple math. Let's say a bear is at 25 yards (75feet) and charges you at 30mph (45feet per second). 75 feet/45feet per second = 1.67 seconds before you're bear food. Let's say you're a competition grand master shooter with weak 9mm target loads. At that skill level you'll be able to draw in 0.9 seconds, and have .25 second splits after that. So 1.67sec - 0.9 = 0.77 secs. 0.77/0.25 splits = 3 shots.

So if you are the best of the best of the best, you'll get three shots off in a 25 yard, full speed charge. And you'd have to be Jerry Miculek to stand a chance to have all three of those shots be in a vital zone on a moving target. Maybe as the thing is gnawing on you, you'll get another shot or two at point blank range. That's 5 shots. I don't get this 17 round magazine preference for this type of defense. I know I'm only going to get 1-2 hits on the bear, I figure shoot it with the most powerful thing I can, and that's not 9mm. First shot speed does not change with caliber.