You need to know what type of attack is occurring to know how to response. Did you surprise the sow and cubs? If so, then playing dead may keep you alive. Is it a predatory attack? Then you better fight with everything that you have. Grizzly bear can go from being peaceful to full-blown apex predator in a split second. They can also cover some serious ground in a blink of the eye.

Once a grizzly's adrenaline kicks in, it is amazing how long they can survive despite being mortally wounded. I'm not talking about slow agonizing deaths like a gut shot. If you don't take out the CNS, they can stay alive a lot longer than you'd think.

Use what makes the most sense, or at least what you have. Fishing? Then a handgun with purpose-built ammo (ex: Buffalo Bore) makes sense since your hands are occupied. Packing out meat? Rifle or shotgun (no soft slugs). Hunting? Rifle.

I always heard a good grin would work.

Also a lot more capacity. Had a guide that carried one once. He said he preferred the extra rounds to the the bigger 6 shot guns.

9mm for bear , of course

The bear story is quite the tall tale.

How do....

From my recent Alaskan moose hunt I was inquisitive about what I needed to know as far as “protocol” for brown bear encounters go. My guides response:

“You don’t go anywhere without a weapon, no matter the day, the time, or the activity. I have a 10mm or a 416 rigby. You can take mine with or you can take yours (referencing late night bathroom runs), I don’t care which, but you must be armed. Any time of day a weapon must be on your person or within arms reach. All guns will always be loaded with safeties on unless situations (I.e safety regarding accidental discharges i..e climbing a tree) dictate otherwise. There are three bears that you must have heightened alert with (not that you can ignore any of the others):

1) young boar - they think they are hot stuff and adrenaline is pumping as AZ-Hunter mentioned above. They are usually all jacked up. They have something to prove & are willing to do so.
2) sow with cubs - motherly instincts drives them to do anything to protect her offspring
3) an emaciated/hungry bear - they take risks when food is available.”

We had two bear encounters. One while fishing which resulted in us simply watching each other from about 30 yds and that was it. The other was when a young boar was passing through as we were waiting on the river bank with moose meat in tow waiting on the Super Cub extraction. He caught wind of the meat and turned to make a b-line for it. The three of us (me the hunter, the guide & the packer) stood up w/ guns ready and positioned ourselves in between him and the meat. Several tense moments and a couple of bluff charges and it was over. Closest he got was about 15-20 yds. Even with three of us armed, I personally did not feel in control of the situation or felt like we had the upper hand. They are massive apex predators with explosive speed and power. I knew that if he charged I would like only get one shot off with my rifle before he would be on me or more guides. The distance they can close with one explosive leap is mind boggling. This compared to a realistic 3 shots max with a handgun. What’s the right decision? Great question.

It’s the Wild West out there, take what is most comfortable for you. Bigger may be better, but it ain’t always right. Lots to consider. Great read. Thanks for the link/post.

I wouldn't want to shoot a charging pitbull with a 22 short, I also wouldn't want to shoot a charging grizzly bear with a 9mm.

I'd rather shoot a charging grizzly with a 9mm than spray one with pepper spray

Yep

This is a classic case of: “A lot more hinges on the capability of who is holding a gun than most are willing to accept when assessing its effectiveness”.

Playing dead is not alway a good option. I was hiking to the Heart Lake geyser basin in Yellowstone with a fairly large group. At the trailhead we met a Park Ranger (young lady). She started down the trail about 45 min ahead of us. After about an hour we came upon her body. She had gotten between a mother and her cubs. The mother attacked and ripped her to shreds. She tried playing dead but that didn't work. She finally was able to crawl under a log and protect herself somewhat. The bear ripped her scalp off, punctured a lung and a kidney, bit off her left butt cheek, and tore the flesh and muscle off her left leg down to the bone. It took us almost 4 hours to stabilize her and get her ready to transport. She was one luck gal.

With all due respect... now remember i'm saying with all due respect i don't believe for a second that the hair stopped a 3030. It is a great story though.

And no disrespect by me. I love those stories and particularly the way those old timers could tell them.

Today we and particularly me often get caught up in facts. A well told tall tale is very entertaining, and certainly can be true or at least based on some truth with embellishments.

If your going to use a 9mm for grizzly defense make sure you file the front sight all the way down so it doesn't hurt so bad when the grizzly sticks up your...

I thought he was referring to the OT post about killing a bear with 9mm

My largest capacity 9mm carries two more rounds than my largest capacity 10mm. I think I'll stick with the 10mm.

That was painful to read.

I don't recall anyone carrying a 9mm for grizzly or brown bear when I lived in Alaska. 44 Mag seemed to be the preference, and folks made sure they practiced.

Interior or coastal ?

I was up in Wyoming on a back country elk hunt just outside of southern boundary of YNP in Oct and we had multiple close calls with Grizz. At one point, a pair snuck up on us and were as close as 40 yds.

Given that they can run over 30 mph, it would have only taken them approx 2.5 seconds for them to be on us from that distance. Whatever firearm you have, you need to have on you and readily accessible.

Yikes, where am I and where is my pistola?

Use hard-cast bullets, cause its a long way from your butt to your brain, when the bear shoves it up your azz!!!

I have family in Alaska and when this discussion occurs, caliber choices are all over the place. The only common denominator is hard cast.