Archived Posts » 59,859,448
Where to shoot a bear?
6/9/2011 11:52:51 PM
I just picked up a 44mag and have been walking around my woods a lot and have seen a few black bears. Nothing I needed to worry about but got me thinking if one charges at me where would I aim at? I would think to aim at the head but have no idea. Any help would be great. Thanks guys.
6/10/2011 12:09:03 AM
Center mass...
6/10/2011 2:35:37 AM
Dibs on guns
6/10/2011 6:13:16 PM
I think Groucho said something about one in your pajama!
This is a pretty good image of bear anatomy.
Bear Anatomy
This is a pretty good image of bear anatomy.
Bear Anatomy
6/10/2011 7:20:21 PM
From a very, very, very long distance.
6/11/2011 1:15:55 AM
In the head with a 12 gauge slug.
But really, anything containing vitals (head or just below it).
But really, anything containing vitals (head or just below it).
6/11/2011 4:12:11 AM
Originally Posted By Inebriated:
In the head with a 12 gauge slug.
But really, anything containing vitals (head or just below it).
In the head with a 12 gauge slug.
But really, anything containing vitals (head or just below it).
I was carrying a 12 gauge with slugs but got to be to big of a pain in the ass. Would a 44mag be powerful enough to penetrate the skull of a black bear with the right round?
6/11/2011 9:55:57 AM
Yes, the 44 will take care of a bear.
6/11/2011 4:20:37 PM
Thank you
6/11/2011 7:43:04 PM
Fellow named Kelly has killed elephants, rhinos and hippos with a .44 mag, so yea it'll do just fine on a puny black bear. Heck for the average size black bear a .357 mag is sufficient. I personally carry a .45 Colt, but that's just because I like loud and boomers.
6/11/2011 10:04:14 PM
Originally Posted By jeepnik:
Fellow named Kelly has killed elephants, rhinos and hippos with a .44 mag, so yea it'll do just fine on a puny black bear. Heck for the average size black bear a .357 mag is sufficient. I personally carry a .45 Colt, but that's just because I like loud and boomers.
Fellow named Kelly has killed elephants, rhinos and hippos with a .44 mag, so yea it'll do just fine on a puny black bear. Heck for the average size black bear a .357 mag is sufficient. I personally carry a .45 Colt, but that's just because I like loud and boomers.
Thanks. That's good to know.
6/23/2011 5:45:12 AM
if the bear is coming at you(wich should be the only time you should be thinking of shooting it) aim for the nose. a little high and you get the head or meybe the spine, a little low and you get the chest. if its really a shooting situation your not gonna have time to pick your shot and this gives you the most latitude for mistakes in a "oh shit" situation.
7/13/2011 3:40:47 AM
When all else fails just put the muzzle in his mouth and pull the trigger 
7/14/2011 11:52:09 PM
Originally Posted By Shiell:
When all else fails just put the muzzle in his mouth and pull the trigger
When all else fails just put the muzzle in his mouth and pull the trigger
Yea that would do it but I'm hoping never to let them get that close.
10/2/2011 11:32:40 PM
a broadside shot through both shoulders would be ideal; however, that won't happen with a pistol.
10/2/2011 11:34:28 PM
Or if it's charging!
10/9/2011 5:23:45 PM
Originally Posted By ariesfromhell:
if the bear is coming at you(wich should be the only time you should be thinking of shooting it) aim for the nose. a little high and you get the head or meybe the spine, a little low and you get the chest. if its really a shooting situation your not gonna have time to pick your shot and this gives you the most latitude for mistakes in a "oh shit" situation.
if the bear is coming at you(wich should be the only time you should be thinking of shooting it) aim for the nose. a little high and you get the head or meybe the spine, a little low and you get the chest. if its really a shooting situation your not gonna have time to pick your shot and this gives you the most latitude for mistakes in a "oh shit" situation.
+1, This. I pack a S&W 629 .44 Magnum, 3 - 300gr JHP's followed by 3 - 340gr +P Flat Nose rounds. Big enough to drop a typical sized Black Bear with 2-3 rounds, depending on shot placement.
10/10/2011 11:52:24 AM
10/16/2011 3:00:40 AM
You want to be carrying flat nose HARD CAST bullets. Period. Buffalo bore or corbon or the like. You are trying to break bones. Vitals shots aren't going to do shit to an already charging bear. Head, shoulders or spine is what you want to hit. As they charge they will be in a position where those are the parts that are facing you. By aiming at the nose as was said above you are maximizing your chance of hitting something that will stop slow down the bear.
In all reality you will do well to put any shots on target at all, much less exact skeletal shots.
If you really want to see what this is like, go outside (no guns, just an eye opener) and have a friend throw a basketball as hard as he can at you from 30 yards away. Imagine trying to hit it while it is bouncing toward you (only faster than he can throw). That will be your target.
Talking about putting one in the bears mouth above, that's only slightly a joke. You need to think about the fact that if that bear makes it and takes you down you have to keep the gun and be able to put one in it's head in a way you aren't going to shoot yourself. It's the worst case scenario but you should plan for it anyway.
If you aren't hunting and don't care about noise, you will avoid all bear problems by making noise when you are in the woods.
BTW, you haven't really been close to shitting yourself until you are walking through dense vegetation and a 9 foot brown bear stands up from behind a downed tree less than 10 yards away.
Just have to stand there and wait to see what he is going to do....
In all reality you will do well to put any shots on target at all, much less exact skeletal shots.
If you really want to see what this is like, go outside (no guns, just an eye opener) and have a friend throw a basketball as hard as he can at you from 30 yards away. Imagine trying to hit it while it is bouncing toward you (only faster than he can throw). That will be your target.
Talking about putting one in the bears mouth above, that's only slightly a joke. You need to think about the fact that if that bear makes it and takes you down you have to keep the gun and be able to put one in it's head in a way you aren't going to shoot yourself. It's the worst case scenario but you should plan for it anyway.
If you aren't hunting and don't care about noise, you will avoid all bear problems by making noise when you are in the woods.
BTW, you haven't really been close to shitting yourself until you are walking through dense vegetation and a 9 foot brown bear stands up from behind a downed tree less than 10 yards away.
Just have to stand there and wait to see what he is going to do....
10/16/2011 3:03:38 AM
No offense intended, but completely ignore this document if you are talking about a charging bear. Hunting a bear and shooting a charging bear are two completely different things.
1/29/2012 6:09:55 PM
Originally Posted By D-RAS03:
I was carrying a 12 gauge with slugs but got to be to big of a pain in the ass. Would a 44mag be powerful enough to penetrate the skull of a black bear with the right round?
Originally Posted By Inebriated:
In the head with a 12 gauge slug.
But really, anything containing vitals (head or just below it).
In the head with a 12 gauge slug.
But really, anything containing vitals (head or just below it).
I was carrying a 12 gauge with slugs but got to be to big of a pain in the ass. Would a 44mag be powerful enough to penetrate the skull of a black bear with the right round?
Easily.
2/26/2012 6:20:51 PM
Originally Posted By Shiell:
When all else fails just put the muzzle in his mouth and pull the trigger
When all else fails just put the muzzle in his mouth and pull the trigger
If that fails, put the muzzle in your mouth and pull the trigger!!!!!!
3/5/2012 4:54:42 PM
