( Presented this same inquiry on the AK. Forum , -- and thought I might get more opinion here ) .

Have read , and talked to lots of folks on this subject , -- last few years .

There seems to be big controversy on the best way to Survive a Bear Attack .

Some experts say your chances of Surviving a Charge are actually BETTER , if you wait to see if the Charge turns out to be a bluff . -- Evidently , this advice is based on the stats. that a majority of charges do turn out to be bluffs .

Some say that you can tell if it's going to be a bluff by the bear's gait as he charges . -- If both front feet are coming down togeather , -- it's for real . But if the Bear is Single-Footing it , -- it's going to be a bluff .

Others say all Bears are too unpredictable to make ANY distinctions .

Advice ranges from , -- stand your ground , and if no bluff develops , shoot at close range like African Back-Up Shooters do .

All the way to , " If the Bear sees me and is heading straight for me , -- I begin to shoot to stop the Bear , -- regardless of range " .

I know that in many cases there's no TIME to make any choices . -- Also , there's many variables , like what cartridge you have onboard , how the local Game Laws are stacked , -- etc. etc .

But I would listen tight to any opinion on this forum , -- especially from those who live and hunt in high population Bear Range .

------------- MMCOUGAR .

Tough call. I don't think a bear deserves to die unecessarily, but when it's my life on the line, the decision would be made very easily. I like big rounds in .358 and up for bear, I just don't want to take chances. I would probably stand my ground for a moment to see if it would slow or veer off, but if he were barrelling down on me, he'd catch a fury of lead, no doubt about it. The force of mother nature's creation is one to be reckoned with.

I have a very simple policy on this; it is to make ready if a bear sees me and acts aggressively in any manner. If, he approaches me, I will wait until he is within fifty yards and then, if he demonstrates even the slightest aggression, I shoot to kill, instantly, period.

I prefer my .375 H&H, my .338 Win. Mags., my 9.3x74R or my .45-70s for this, all with heavy, premium bullets and I also like to carry an air horn to warn bears of my presence in areas of poor visibilty. I detest the idea of killing a bear without reason, but, I do not take stupid chances with them, either.

*** REPLY TO KUTENAY ---

Yup, sounds like you're about where I am .
If it's within 50 Yds. , and I think it's aware of my presence , and it's moving straight toward me , -- try to stop the Bear .

But if a few experts , or stats. from a number of good studies , could convince me that my survival chances are actually BETTER , -- to wait for the BLUFF to reveal itself ; -- then I might consider waiting .

But that's scarry , -- how many of us know how to lead an incoming animal at close range , that's closing at 35 ft. per second ??

How many of us can consistantly hit a grapefruit sized brain , or a salami sized spinal column , that approaches at 35 ft. per second ??

That's a hell of a gamble .

One good thing about waiting until a charge is close , -- is that the target gets bigger .

But counter-point , is that you're gambling on one , maybe two shots , -- under massive stress . -- That's the African stopping-rifle-Double scenario .

And , given Grizzly and Brown Bear legendary ability to absorb lead , .458 Win is probably in order .

Do I hear any proponents for WAITING ??

I don't know who you would consider an "expert", but, I have almost 50 years of experience at this, working in the most remote parts of B.C., frequently alone. I know most of the "experts" currently popular with the public and, in fact, I taught basic bear safety to one of them mentioned in a well-known book on this, when I was a B.C.F.S. "straw boss" in 1969.

Do NOT attempt to shoot an oncoming bear, especially a Grizzly, in either the brain or spine; this is foolish as these animals characteristicly swing their heads from side to side when approaching a "target". This makes such shots very difficult and wounded bears are even more aggressive than they originally were.

Shoot for the center of the chest, to rupture the aorta, this will induce hypovolemic shock to the brain and shut down a big animal quicker than any other realistic shot. Follow up with a calm, precise brain shot, to hell with the trophy skull. I have seen this work with quite a number of bears.

Do not use a rifle such as a .458, unless you are VERY experienced with such cannons; they are too hard to shoot accurately for most folks and are too heavy to carry in the mountainous country where Grizzlies primarily live. If, you have an Elephant stopper such as this, you will probably end up leaving it at the cabin or truck due to weight issues and thus will not have it when you need it. This is experience talking and the rifles/calibers I mentioned work best and carry easiest; a Marlin Guide Gun, with Buffalo Bore ammo in a Kifaru Gunbearer is about ideal for bear protection....which is why they are so popular here in B.C. and in Alaska, etc.

He who hesitates is lost.....especially when facing an aggressive bear.

kutenay, sounds like GOOD ADVICE to me. I'll take it, if I'm ever charged by a dangerous animal. Regards, AIU

Why not a 12ga. with a short rifled barrel firing slugs? I can run ammo through a pump 12ga quickly and stay on target better.

I have never shot a bear so I really don't know, but have always figured it would be my choice. An Ithica mag 10 would be a good one to in my way of thinking. Nate

suppose this is a good question-many times asked. .30-30 are ever popular where I live and they would wait till the last minute and shoot em in the head. Me I have and used many various calibers with confidence if you can say that an still prefer my .45-70 for all close in work here in Ak. I too have shot em in the chest and I just do not care what is said if they are that close it is your a##! Times are many they turn and run off realizing their confusion but in between their kill site or their younun you are in trouble. If you have a back up it does not mean you are any safer. I have heard "backup" before but I do not expect their decision or shot to be the one that is called "on" to play it safe. Still carry the biggest bullet you can accurately shoot! If it is to heavy to carry you may as well tie it up in a pack board and mount it on wheels when you are ready to shoot.

Thanks for input . --- Several years of researching around on Bear Charge defense , has not dug up some of the info. in this thread .

KUTENAY , -- Especially thanks for the tip on the Kifaru Gunbearer . Beat I could find up to now was a gizmo where you slide the rifle down into a thin hard-scabbard between your head and the pack , -- too slow .

I have no doubts about your being an expert , -- I'm no expert myself , -- but know enough to recognize highly knowledgable stuff when I hear it .

Herrero , Phd. -- shows an inverted crescent shaped target area on frontal presentation Bears -- located right under the lower jaw , -- like a dog-collar . --- I have always felt in my bones that under the extreme stress of a Charge , such a target was impractical , ( as is a CNS target ) .

Further, many combat-handgun schools teach that human instincts dictate shooting to the
" center-of-mass " when under adrenaline stress . --- So your advocacy to shoot center-chest , on a Bear Charge , makes the best sense . ( Many others say target the shoulder first , -- to " break-down " the Bear ) . --- Didn't know about the Aorta effect , -- but I agree with you , -- Damn fine insight .

..... So I'm starting to think this popular stuff , about your chances of surviving are BETTER , if you wait for a possible bluff to develop , -- is propaganda put out there by Teddy-Bear lovers and Radical Environmental types that would rather die than shoot a Bruin .
( I'd like to tap into their feelings when a Grizzly was bearing down on their tender asses ) .

---- Highest Regards , --- MMCOUGAR .

--- BIG NATE -- I'd like to get some opinion on 12 Ga. - 3" too . -- Just put a blurb on the Alaska Forum on the subject . Reaction times on many of the recorded Charges are so short that a Shotgun makes a lot of sense . ( One to five seconds to stop a Charge ? ) .

Many say that to be effective on adrenaline-pumped Bears , the round must be able to penetrate a Lg. Bear's skull , -- but if one were able to " feed " , the muzzle to the Bear in the last split seconds , firing continuously , -- it may be a different story .

Strings of heavy buckshot at point blank ranges are destructive beyond belief , ( especially in THREE INCH , 12 GA. ) . --- With the best of the Dependable Auto-Shotguns , you can crank out 3-4 shots a second with some practice .

They might not penetrate the skull into the Brain Cavity , -- but with a Facer , -- the animal might not have jaw muscles to bite with or eyes to see with .

--- Interesting Concept .

---------------------- MMCOUGAR .

One of the problems with head shots is that the skull is curved and may deflect the bullet.Buckshot is a poor choice as it doesn't penetrate well. A good standard slug or in a rifled barrel the Win Partition would be the best.