Yosemite National Park

[Tom98915]

Originally Posted by spc

I'll bet Cabelas has it. Maybe Big 5 or Sportsman's Warehouse.

spc

Just don't get any bells with it

[Quietpi]

The bear spray is easy to find. REI, any outdoor/backpacking - oriented shop will almost certainly have it.

If you have no experience or training with OC, though, beware that deploying the stuff does have it's risks, particularly if you're aiming upwind, if you get my drift...

[moondog]

Use Pepper Spray Instead of Guns to Stop a Charging Grizzly | Field & Stream

Interesting reading on carrying and using. I think Calif is limited to 2.5 oz cans of pepper spray and the big cans of "bear spray" might be illegal.

[PHM]

Originally Posted by moondog

Use Pepper Spray Instead of Guns to Stop a Charging Grizzly | Field & Stream

Interesting reading on carrying and using. I think Calif is limited to 2.5 oz cans of pepper spray and the big cans of "bear spray" might be illegal.

No, the bear spray is not intended for humans and is exempt from that restriction.

You can buy the bear spray at most outdoor sporting goods, like big5, bass pro and REI.

[sealbeach]

Originally Posted by moondog

Use Pepper Spray Instead of Guns to Stop a Charging Grizzly | Field & Stream

Interesting reading on carrying and using. I think Calif is limited to 2.5 oz cans of pepper spray and the big cans of "bear spray" might be illegal.

No, you are restricted to SHIPPING more than 2.5 oz cans of pepper spray, a retailer can sell it, you cannot have it shipped. Turner's has a nice selection of bear spray.

BTW, I for one don't feel like getting that close and friendly with a charging bear, people winge and whine about "will a handgun stop a bear" nonsense all the time, I feel pretty damn confident that a .45ACP FMJ will drop just anything you might find attacking you, anytime, anyplace. At present in National Parks you cannot CCW, so the bear spray is about your only option. Personally, I stay out of National Parks for now, and stick with Nat. Forest land...where I can legally CCW. Next year when we regain the right to CCW in Nat. Parks will be a time to celebrate....I am already planning a backpacking trip to King's Canyon Nat. Park

[PHM]

Originally Posted by sealbeach

No, you are restricted to SHIPPING more than 2.5 oz cans of pepper spray, a retailer can sell it, you cannot have it shipped. Turner's has a nice selection of bear spray.

BTW, I for one don't feel like getting that close and friendly with a charging bear, people winge and whine about "will a handgun stop a bear" nonsense all the time, I feel pretty damn confident that a .45ACP FMJ will drop just anything you might find attacking you, anytime, anyplace. At present in National Parks you cannot CCW, so the bear spray is about your only option. Personally, I stay out of National Parks for now, and stick with Nat. Forest land...where I can legally CCW. Next year when we regain the right to CCW in Nat. Parks will be a time to celebrate....I am already planning a backpacking trip to King's Canyon Nat. Park

Sealbeach,

I hope you never are encountered by a charging bear.

Believe me a 45ACP will not do the job, handguns are intended to stop humans not bears. A 45 ACP is a very slow bullet and does not have the penetration power to do the job against a big bear like a grizzly, a smaller brown bear maybe. You would be much better off with a 357 magnum, 44 mag, 454 casull, 500 mag etc, 45 ACP was just not intended for that.

Most humans don't even die against handgun shots, much less a bear.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by PHM

Sealbeach,

I hope you never are encountered by a charging bear.

Believe me a 45ACP will not do the job, handguns are intended to stop humans not bears. A 45 ACP is a very slow bullet and does not have the penetration power to do the job against a big bear like a grizzly, a smaller brown bear maybe. You would be much better off with a 357 magnum, 44 mag, 454 casull, 500 mag etc, 45 ACP was just not intended for that.

Most humans don't even die against handgun shots, much less a bear.

While I agree that the .44 and above is the better choice, i'm not convinced that the .357 is a better choice that the .45.

Again, you have to look at the avg size of the bear that you would be involved with.

RE: the "won't stop a bear" that is an incorrect statement. While it is true that it won't stop ALL bears, it will indeed stop a LOT of bears. The avg bear taken while hunting in California has been under 300 # for the last several years (sorry, DFG changed their site and i can't find squat on there now).

RE: "Most humans don't even die against handgun shots," I'd like to see proof on that... it may also be true that "most" humans don't die from shotgun or rifle shots too... Not sure.

I'd still be MUCH happier with a .45 with ranter T and an extra mag or two on the hip than i would be with a dinner condiment spray.


EDIT:
RE: "won't stop a bear" - Not sure if you changed the wording or if I read it wrong the first time.

[sealbeach]

Originally Posted by PHM

Sealbeach,

I hope you never are encountered by a charging bear.

Me too!!!

According to the Obama administration, things will never get better unless YOU'RE willing to take the first step.

In this case, when you see the animal charging, SMILE, put your gun DOWN on the ground, raise your HANDS to show that you're not armed and BACK AWAY from your weapon. When the animal sees that you are taking the first step and are not a threat to it, then it will stop and in a few seconds you'll be hugging (I guarantee it)...really!

This is called UNILATERAL DISARMAMENT and it's designed to end violence. Even if you are killed, the animal will likely remember your gesture of good will and will spare the next fellow.

So when you see the bear, the moose, the lion—just say, "Yes, we can!" It may be the LAST thing you say, but it will be the first step in an ongoing process.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by sealbeach

Me too!!!

According to the Obama administration, things will never get better unless YOU'RE willing to take the first step.

In this case, when you see the animal charging, SMILE, put your gun DOWN on the ground, raise your HANDS to show that you're not armed and BACK AWAY from your weapon. When the animal sees that you are taking the first step and are not a threat to it, then it will stop and in a few seconds you'll be hugging (I guarantee it)...really!

This is called UNILATERAL DISARMAMENT and it's designed to end violence. Even if you are killed, the animal will likely remember your gesture of good will and will spare the next fellow.

So when you see the bear, the moose, the lion—just say, "Yes, we can!" It may be the LAST thing you say, but it will be the first step in an ongoing process.

That's freakin hilarious. thanks sb!

[Tom98915]

Originally Posted by PHM

Sealbeach,

I hope you never are encountered by a charging bear.

Believe me a 45ACP will not do the job, handguns are intended to stop humans not bears. A 45 ACP is a very slow bullet and does not have the penetration power to do the job against a big bear like a grizzly, a smaller brown bear maybe. You would be much better off with a 357 magnum, 44 mag, 454 casull, 500 mag etc, 45 ACP was just not intended for that.

Most humans don't even die against handgun shots, much less a bear.

I find that interesting because when the 45ACP cartridge was developed by John Browning, it was tested on large animals and it was proven to drop a bull with one, maybe two shots. I know, we're talking cows and not bears. But even then, it's a big animal. Here's where I got that info:

Background Information on the M1911 .45 Caliber Pistol

Still, if I ever encounter a bear I will make sure that I run faster than the person behind me.

[Python2]

Originally Posted by Tom98915

I find that interesting because when the 45ACP cartridge was developed by John Browning, it was tested on large animals and it was proven to drop a bull with one, maybe two shots. I know, we're talking cows and not bears. But even then, it's a big animal. Here's where I got that info:

Still, if I ever encounter a bear I will make sure that I run faster than the person behind me.

Yeah right! not according to my experience...went bow hunting for pig and brabados ram on private ranch down south a year ago. Here is the ram

I was also packing my carry piece, Kimber Pro CDP II. I stucked em with three arrows and was still trotting like a drunk. I hate it when it is not a clean kill so decided to finish him with my 45. Two shot and did not even budge. Figured I miss. Since he was on a steep slope and was aiming for a third shot, I figured he simply slip and rolled over about fifty feet down. I was very dissapointed missing him at approx. 20 yards.
So, while hanging and being skinned by our host (told him the event) he called me and showed me the bullet that fell off from the neck when he pulled the skin down. Apparently the bullet penetrated the neck and stopped just before it exited the skin on the other side. Second shot was a miss.
Oh, I used a ball ammo.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Tom98915

Still, if I ever encounter a bear I will make sure that I run faster than the person behind me.

Make sure the person behind you has a big plate of NACHO's and a couple of tinker bells

[PHM]

Originally Posted by 1buba

While I agree that the .44 and above is the better choice, i\\\'m not convinced that the .357 is a better choice that the .45.

1buba,

It\'s really not up for debate, the fact that a 357 exerts more energy than a 45ACP round is a matter of Fact, not opinion, it is a much more powerful round. The round itself is smaller, but the load and FPS is much faster, thus exerting more energy than a 45 ACP.

[Tom98915]

Originally Posted by PHM

1buba,

It\'s really not up for debate, the fact that a 357 exerts more energy than a 45ACP round is a matter of Fact, not opinion, it is a much more powerful round. The round itself is smaller, but the load and FPS is much faster, thus exerting more energy than a 45 ACP.

Well if that is the case, I'll consider carrying my CZ52 with Winchester factory rounds. It will definitely put a hole in anything you point it at, has easily twice the velocity and exerts 520ft lbs of muzzle energy vs 350 for the 45auto with a 230gr bullet - basically a small rifle cartridge in disguise, similar to a .357's ballistics. Still, I will make it a point to run faster than the person behind me...

[Mtn. Medic]

Speaking from personal experience... A .357 will do a number on an averaged sized California black bear. I'd bet a .45 would too.