It's also a perfect example of the state of fear you guys are living in. Nice how they include a... what is that... a book or a DVD about bear attacks?
I fired a S&W 500. It's a ************* stupid gun. You've got one shot, so you better make it count. In the time it takes you to reposition, somebody with a semi-auto 9mm will have emptied their clip, or the bear will have closed range.
Ignorant, not sure if you saw the link I posted earlier with similar info. A study done up in Alaska showed bear spray was what... 96 or 97% effective in stopping an attack, and IIRC, the other 3-4% were not killed.
Yet these same guys go on and on about "it's a tool" and "being prepared" and "Rather have it than need it", etc. But you want to bet they don't carry a can of bear spray IN ADDITION to a gun?
This isn't about numbers or reality. This is religion. Religion allows them to deny the numbers, and create their own reality.
These guys are 10 times more likely to get hit by lightning than they are to get attacked by anything. Yet you think they carry a SPOT device, HAM radio, or any form of long-range communication? I bet most of them don't. But it's all about "being prepared", "having and not needing", isn't it?
Oh, but they can fire a gun off into the air to create a non-directional, non-specific signal to... somebody who might hear it, maybe, if they're lucky.
Rob, that is just marketing. Why else would somebody buy a weapon like that? As far as usefulness, it is debateable; you may be able to empty the mag on your 9mm, but are you having any effects on the bear other than making it angry? The .500 WILL have effects on the bear if you hit it. Using large hard cast bullets that break bones on impact will take a bear down and allow a follow up shot. That being said, I will never buy a .500.....
I backpack quite often, so I have to watch my weight. Taking a pistol AND bear spray is not practical, so I take the one that is more useful overall. (I also bring the dog--maybe he can carry the spray....) For camping, I probably should get some bear spray, but to be honest, if a bear comes into my camp site, it needs to be dispatched.
I have 5 kids, so spraying a bear so that it can come back while we are trying to pack everything up is counterproductive. Most folks gloss over the fact that the spray becomes an attractant after it disperses. I don't want that bear and every other bear in the area coming to visit while I HAVE to pack up because I just made my camp site bear bait..... Animals are smart--when deer season comes around, the big bucks hunker down in the bush. If a few more bears get shot around campsites, then bears won't come around so much. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy viewing wildlife and think bears are beautiful, but I don't put their well being over me and mine. If the dog and a little noise won't scare a bear off, then it is game on.
If I was going out alone, then yes I would carry a SPOT device. Same with a HAM radio. I don't go out alone much, so I haven't bothered with either just yet.
Every person who has ever taken hunter safety knows about signaling with a firearm. Don't discount it until you learn about it.
Religion requires faith. I'd say you have more of a religion because you have faith that you will not be attacked. I hope that I am not attacked, but am ready for it anyway.
Once again, this is not about fear. I can't defend myself from lightning--you should know better than to be throwing fallacies around like that.....
Anyhow, happy Tuesday!
Dan
