Glock 20 vs big bear

[ECVMatt]

I hate to start another handgun vs bear thread but found this on the net and thought it was interesting. A couple guys in Alaska went to retrieve a moose from the previous day's hunt and were charged by a large grizzly bear. One guy fired two rounds from his glock 20 and killed the bear. While this is not conclusive proof of the Glock 20 or the 10mm, it shows that handguns are viable for this application. You can see the bullet hole just above the snout.


<Below is the link provided by the OP. JohnKSa>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/299589237107193/permalink/685978508468262/

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Yep, if loaded properly the 10mm can be effective with good marksmanship. I would trust it.

Too bad the bear had to die.

 

[JohnKSa]

Obviously a fabrication. Pistol bullets just bounce off of bear skulls.

Seriously, according to an article in the August 2018 American Rifleman ( "Nine Lives of the 10mm Auto" by Jeremiah Knupp) Denmark has issued 10mm pistols to their Sirius Dog Sled Patrols for polar bear defense since 2000.

From the article, "...the 10mm ... has proved successful in several close-range encounters with ... polar bear ... most involving multiple rounds fired rapidly at extremely close range."

 

[tarosean]

A couple guys in Alaska went to retrieve a moose from the previous day's hunt and were charged by a large grizzly bear.

So what you describe is illegal in AK and other states. (Bear claims the kill. is that Bears, unless you can prove you were starving to death "necessary for survival".)

Im no expert on necessary but it doesn't appear to be the case.

IF they are really that stupid to advertise their misgivings. I would doubt the entire story..

 

[HB]

Seems odd youd pose with an animal like that as well

 

[Browning]

So what you describe is illegal in AK and other states. (Bear claims the kill. is that Bears, unless you can prove you were starving to death "necessary for survival".)

Im no expert on necessary but it doesn't appear to be the case.

IF they are really that stupid to advertise their misgivings. I would doubt the entire story..

Not necessarily.

Hunters went to retrieve the moose, didn't know what the bear was there, went to leave as soon as they saw it and were charged and after killing the bear with minimal effort and no injuries (due to the awesome killing power of the 10mm of course) propped the bears head up and posed with it.

How would that be illegal?

 

[huntsman]

I’m More interested in cartridge used.

 

[FL-NC]

There's a dog sled unit in Scandinavia (I think) that carries Glock 20's for bear defense. Most black bear guides I saw in Maine carried a 45 ACP. I saw a wounded black bear killed with a 9mm.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Seems odd youd pose with an animal like that as well

That was kind of my take on it also. Personally I would be pretty upset.

None the less, the potency of the cartridge can't be denied. I'd like to know what ammo he used also. I assume a hard cast of some kind.

OP do you have a link to an article? I'd like to read it.

 

[ECVMatt]

I probably should have add some more info, but it was late...so. The Fish and Game was called immediately by the hunters and they determined that is was a legitimate use of force. They shot a moose late and had to come back to finish getting it out (leaving an animal to waste is also a crime in Alaska). They tried to approach the moose carefully, but the bear came from behind them or off to the side. I agree that bears are beautiful, but they will also kill you. I will try and get the original link up shortly...

 

[MTMilitiaman]

Grizzlies in MT are substantially smaller than the ones in AK, but having found myself looking uphill at one, I can attest that there isn't a firearm, let alone handgun, that will feel adequate when the time comes. They are big, powerful, and deceptively fast. If I knew I was going to have to defend myself from a grizzly in advance, I would want an RPG. That being said, I do carry a Glock 20 in the woods. I use a 200 gr XTP loaded to 1250 fps from Grizzly Cartridge Co for defense, and have taken deer with that load. I have a 200 gr FMJ loaded to the same velocity that I use for practice, and when I am in bear country. Either load would be better than nothing. Still, while I consider myself a fan of the 10mm Auto and have ample respect for its performance and capabilities, I still don't consider it a bear cartridge.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

RPG.....lol that's good stuff.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

Pretty good shooting.

 

[Jeb Stuart]

Man, that animal looks surreal. Look at the claws and think of the pure strength. Have watched so many video's of them and it is hard to believe how fast and quick they are. I also think the shooter is lucky. He could have hit the beast and just not at the right spot. A high capacity, weapon would seem like a necessity. And a whole lot of training.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Never doubted it could do it, there's just better choices.

 

[JohnKSa]

Re-opened. Link to the story has been added to the OP so we can work from that rather than make up our own stories.

 

[Bushpilot]

Peoples lives come first but I agree with the others who think it's a shame the bear had to be killed... If given the option I'd prefer to just let the bear have the moose but in all fairness to the hunter it sounds like he didn't have much of a choice...

 

[Jeb Stuart]

I think anyone would have been glad to let the Bear have the Moose. Certainly not worth dying over. I personally have hunted all my Life, but never have enjoyed killing any animal. I enjoy walking through the woods on non hunting deer days as much as I do going out on opening day. Hate even shooting the squirrels in my back yard, actually get very fond of them. Until they just have to be culled because of some of the damage they can inflict on the House. I know nothing of Grizzly behavior, it does seem odd that the hunter could not have left the area after he saw the Bear on the Moose. Fortunately we only have Black Bears and they have never been a threat. Most will run away especially if you just make some loud noises.
What animal will I shoot in a heart beat? Damn Starlings. Nothing but a invasive cancer to the bird population. Not fond of Coyotes either, especially after seeing one attack a little dog. The wild Pig in my area do so much damage to the Back Bay habitat it is crazy. And the same with Nutria.
I have read quite a bit about hunting Wolves. I really wish they could curb the hunting of them. Beautiful animals, same as the Grizzly.

 

[Bushpilot]

it does seem odd that the hunter could not have left the area after he saw the Bear on the Moose.

After reading the article it sounds like the first time the hunter saw the bear it was already charging him....

"At this point we haven’t spotted the moose yet but has seen the crows kick up, and less then a second after that you hear the roar, from our 12 o clock, and boom freaking 7 1/2 foot brown bear yards 10 yds away and full charge,"

 

[Yujun]

Send this story over to Dean Weingarten at TheTruthAboutGuns.com or GunWatch.blogspot.com, he compiles stories of successful bear defense using pistols.

 

[jmr40]

Considering a guide and hunter were attacked just a week or 2 ago in Idaho by 2 grizzly while processing an elk I don't see much reason to debate the actions in Alaska. The hunter was able to get away, but the guide did not survive the attack

I carry 200 gr DoubleTap ammo in my G20 or G29 when in bear country. I have 44 and 357 mags that I prefer to leave home. The Glocks hold 11-16 rounds of ammo and are much lighter and more compact. I will always have them with me, the bulkier, heavier magnum revolvers may get left behind. That ammo penetrates several feet in game animals and has been used by hunters to cleanly take elk, moose and even cape buffalo. I have no doubts about it's ability to stop a bear.

This isn't the 1st time a big bear has been stopped by a 10mm. In fact there are several documented cases out of Alaska where 45 ACP and even 9mm have stopped attacking bear. With the right bullets, in the right spot they can work.

 

[MidRoad]

Sucks the bear is dead. But it sounds like they didn't have a choice. Kill or be killed .Jeb pretty much summed up my thoughts

I wouldn't wait around to see if it was just a mock charge......good shooting on the guys part. Good thing he was wearing brown pants!

 

[Loyalist Dave]

..., having found myself looking uphill at one, I can attest that there isn't a firearm, let alone handgun, that will feel adequate when the time comes. They are big, powerful, and deceptively fast. If I knew I was going to have to defend myself from a grizzly in advance, I would want an RPG. ....

Agreed! That's a hell of a shot at a moving bear, and I'm not sure if I'd carry a 10mm Glock or a S&W 57 in .41 mag and a 6" barrel. Would I have enough time to get more than 6 shots off? Not certain.

LD

 

[MidRoad]

Agreed! That's a hell of a shot at a moving bear, and I'm not sure if I'd carry a 10mm Glock or a S&W 57 in .41 mag and a 6" barrel. Would I have enough time to get more than 6 shots off? Not certain.

LD

I kinda have the same thoughts. I've seen videos of how fast they can close distances. Add adrenaline on top. I doubt you'd get more than 2 shots off . Hence why I think whatever gun you are more accurate/comfortable with may be more important than total capacity.

 

[CraigC]

Proof that anything can work, once. Can it be counted upon to work in any given situation? No.

I carry 200 gr DoubleTap ammo in my G20 or G29 when in bear country. I have 44 and 357 mags that I prefer to leave home. The Glocks hold 11-16 rounds of ammo and are much lighter and more compact. I will always have them with me, the bulkier, heavier magnum revolvers may get left behind. That ammo penetrates several feet in game animals and has been used by hunters to cleanly take elk, moose and even cape buffalo. I have no doubts about it's ability to stop a bear.

Have you weighed your G20 loaded?

It is folly to place so much faith in and importance on capacity. You can't miss fast enough to win a gunfight.....or a bear charge. All you're going to get is 2-3 shots at most, best to make them count. The 10mm is terribly light in the loafers for anything much larger than deer or average sized hogs. Unfortunately, semi-auto shooters are just now starting to learn what revolver shooters have known for 80yrs but somehow, this disconnect endures. It's been commonly accepted that a 240-260gr .44/.45 at 1200fps is a good dear/hog load but somehow, the 10mm is magic and hammers Cape buffalo. It's pure nonsense and eventually, stunt hunters like Razor Dobbs are going to get someone (or themselves) killed. Handguns are extremely capable but you have to choose the right tool for the job.

Having dug bullets out of "several feet" of game animal, it's nonsense. There's a reason why we use 300-500gr .44's, .45's, .475's and .500's for big critters. The 10mm is not sprinkled with pixie dust.