The case against guns

[Blind groper]

I am not an expert on bears, but it is really easy to check web sites, which I did. The Forest Service recommends that guns not be used against bears, and that bear spray works better, in that it increases your chances of surviving a bear encounter.

I suspect (though the web page did not say this) that bears are pretty tough beasties, and guns sometimes just enrage them. An enraged bear is not a comfortable companion!

If gun nutters insist on carrying guns in bear country, the question is whether the USA will run out of bears or gun nutters first?

[orpheus]

I am not an expert on bears, but it is really easy to check web sites, which I did. The Forest Service recommends that guns not be used against bears, and that bear spray works better, in that it increases your chances of surviving a bear encounter.

I suspect (though the web page did not say this) that bears are pretty tough beasties, and guns sometimes just enrage them. An enraged bear is not a comfortable companion!

If gun nutters insist on carrying guns in bear country, the question is whether the USA will run out of bears or gun nutters first?

That might considerably change the picture...

[Seth]

I believe Seth has stated (in fact I know he has) that he carries both - bearspray and a firearm. Why would he do that if his first resort was his firearm?

Can we get some people with a memory spanning more than the last sentence they typed in here?

I do carry bear spray in grizzly country. Not routinely in black bear country though, they aren't normally as aggressive. Which I resort to first depends on the conditions and situation. Bear spray doesn't work for shit if the wind is blowing in your face...it just seasons you a bit, adding a nice piquancy to your otherwise rather bland taste.

[Seth]

I am not an expert on bears, but it is really easy to check web sites, which I did. The Forest Service recommends that guns not be used against bears, and that bear spray works better, in that it increases your chances of surviving a bear encounter.

I suspect (though the web page did not say this) that bears are pretty tough beasties, and guns sometimes just enrage them. An enraged bear is not a comfortable companion!

If gun nutters insist on carrying guns in bear country, the question is whether the USA will run out of bears or gun nutters first?

You do have to carry the RIGHT gun. My .50 AE Desert Eagle handgun is up to the job, as is a .44 Magnum or a .454 Casull.

And then there's rifles and shotguns.

Carrying multiple tools of defense is always a good idea, which is why I carry both a concealed handgun and a pepper spray container in public. Which one gets used depends on the situation.

[Jason]

.44 mag is a bit light if you ask me. 12 gauge slugs of any kind do the job well enough. .308 is a bit light, but heavier loads work. .30-06 with 200gr bullets are about optimal unless you just want it dead.

[Seth]

.44 mag is a bit light if you ask me. 12 gauge slugs of any kind do the job well enough. .308 is a bit light, but heavier loads work. .30-06 with 200gr bullets are about optimal unless you just want it dead.

.308 in a LaRue OBR semi-automatic rifle allows you to put multiple rounds on target till it stops moving...even better.

[Jason]

I generally don't spray and pray.

[Seth]

I generally don't spray and pray.

I don't either. I aim carefully and send rounds to vital areas in sufficient quantity to kill the subject. One or ten doesn't matter, it ain't hunting, it's self-defense.

[Collector1337]

I doubt bear spray has the range of a .44 magnum. I'll stick with the .44 mag.

You don't believe the US Forest Svc's data? Or you just like to play fast and loose with your own safety?

Rangers have guns...

And you know for a fact that they don't have bear spray too?

They might have it in a vehicle, but they definitely don't walk around with it. They walk around with guns though.

[Collector1337]

I suspect (though the web page did not say this) that bears are pretty tough beasties, and guns sometimes just enrage them. An enraged bear is not a comfortable companion!

Thinks bullets only "enrage" bears. LOL!

No, bullets tend to kill bears just like anything else.

Your ignorance is hilarious.

[Blind groper]

Collector

Re bullets killing bears. Yes, if the bullet is well aimed. However, the Forest Service does not warn against using hand guns, and relying on bear spray instead for no good reason.

Seth's recent posts conjured up this image of the guy falling into water and sinking like a stone with weight of all his armaments. There is such a thing as being over equipped.

[Tero]

He stood his ground
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/2 ... t-to-Court#

but was black. Tough luck.

[orpheus]

I doubt bear spray has the range of a .44 magnum. I'll stick with the .44 mag.

You don't believe the US Forest Svc's data? Or you just like to play fast and loose with your own safety?

Rangers have guns...

And you know for a fact that they don't have bear spray too?

They might have it in a vehicle, but they definitely don't walk around with it. They walk around with guns though.

You know this how?

[Tero]

I was thinking more about bear logic. At close range he is faster at killing you. Why shouldn't he? If he runs he could get pellets in his leg again.

[Seth]

I doubt bear spray has the range of a .44 magnum. I'll stick with the .44 mag.

You don't believe the US Forest Svc's data? Or you just like to play fast and loose with your own safety?

Rangers have guns...

And you know for a fact that they don't have bear spray too?

They might have it in a vehicle, but they definitely don't walk around with it. They walk around with guns though.

They walk around with both, or one or the other. If they are law enforcement rangers, who are a select and specially trained subset of Rangers, they carry sidearms, have shotguns and AR-15s in their vehicles, and in places like Glacier NP they DO carry bear spray also.

Non-LE Rangers don't carry firearms but DO carry bear spray when in the wilderness in bear country.

It depends on where they work. The Rangers at Gettysburg and other non-wilderness parks generally don't carry either unless they are specifically LE Rangers.