Details of Bear Defense with .22 LR Revolver in 1962

[Elderberry]

 Ammoland Inc. Posted on February 6, 2023 by Dean Weingarten   

In the research done by this correspondent and colleagues, much credit must be given to those who sent detailed information about bear attacks and pistol defenses.

As incidents of defense against bears with pistols mounted, some did not have enough information to be considered documented. One of those was mentioned by Warden Louis Kis in “More Alaskan Bear Tales” by Larry Kaniut on page 276. In previous articles, it was mentioned as an incident requiring more information. Readers were asked to provide information. The information was presented thus:

    Early 1960s, North Fork of the the Flathead river in Montana, .22 H&R 9 shot revolver, grizzly bear.

    The worker approached a bear in a black bear snare. The bear charged the worker, who shot it with the .22 revolver. The bear died, but it took some time to do so, as told by game warden Louis Kis. p. 276, More Bear Tales

There was no name of the person who did the shooting, no date, and no specific location.

The request for more specific information has been answered.

“It is not surprising that Kis got most of the story correct but did not have all the details and got one or two things wrong.  Allen continued with Fish & Game and did significant grizzly bear research in Montana. Here are excerpts from the letter by Allen Schallenberger:

The incident with the grizzly bear happened in the 1962 spring trapping season. Another worker was helping Chuck then. I met the guy once but have forgotten his name. A 500-pound male grizzly bear was caught in the steel jawed trap and took it and the tangled up drag about two miles where the bear hid in an aspen patch. Chuck and his helper tracked the grizzly on foot. The helper was armed with a 12 gauge shotgun and all Chuck had was his nine shot Harrington and Richardson Model 939, double action, .22 revolver in a holster on his belt.The grizzly charged and Chuck stood still waiting for his helper to shoot. He looked around and the helper was running off with the shotgun. Chuck turned to run and tripped over a tree root and fell to the ground. The 500-pound male grizzly ran up to Chuck and stood up on his hind legs over him with the trap on a front paw. Chuck pulled out his .22 revolver and fired all nine shots in it. Some missed, some glanced off the grizzly’s skull and one went into an eye socket, killing the bear. I shot that .22 when working for Chuck in 1963. It was first manufactured in 1958.

More: https://www.ammoland.com/2023/02/details-of-bear-defense-with-22-lr-revolver-in-1962/

[roamer_1]

Warden Louis Kis

Louis Kis has his own tale to tell...
https://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2008/01/grizzly-attack-caught-camera/

As I recall, He dumped six from a .357mag into that bear at point blank, and still took an ass-kicking.

[roamer_1]

There's another one that goes around up here... About a cook at a hunting camp, who met with a standing griz just outside of camp. When the bear raised he shot him dead, point blank through the roof of his mouth at the very last second. One shot.

Later, while retelling the tale, the cook went white and shaky as he realized the rifle he had with him was a .22LR

[Elderberry]

I read of a polar bear that was killed. When they examined its body they discovered a .22 bullet lodged in the roof of its mouth that had not penetrated.

[roamer_1]

I read of a polar bear that was killed. When they examined its body they discovered a .22 bullet lodged in the roof of its mouth that had not penetrated.

I wouldn't want to bet on a .22 against a griz... Even through an eye, or the roof of the mouth... which are the only vulnerabilities available to a .22