Has anybody had to use a firearm to defend themselves from a bear, if so what did you use?

[Hobob]

I had my short hair jump a bear grouse hunting, when I saw it I emptied my semi auto 12 in the air to chase it off which brought the dog to me as he was trained to do. The bear came too and I distinctly remember looking down at an empty shotgun in my hands thinking how dumb i was. The bear ran by me though and away into the woods and all was well except for some wet pants.

[Ontario Honker Hunter]

I had to get my .357 out saddle bag once for a problem grizzly in the trail. When he stood up, I dismounted and armed myself. Seeing me on the ground was enough and he dropped off the trail to let me by. I also had my black lab with me and if he'd charged I'm sure she would have run interference long enough for me to put him down. She was a great dog. Someone had to shoot that bear anyway about six weeks later. Not a big one either. Just young and stupid. Damned shame.

[Gary Devine]

I have baited black bears with my trail cameras for some time. In most cases a black bear is a shy and timid animal. I had a dead deer on a bear's bait pile and walked up to check my cameras and a bear was lying ten yards away. He got up and ran away. All I had was a machete in hand.

Now a Grizzly or Brown bear you better be loaded for bear. Use a 44 Magnum handgun on them.

[WisconsinWhitetail]

No, and hopefully I will never have to!

[Treestand]

YES & NO I was Deer Hunting in Up-State New York were your Big Game Tag has One Buck,One Doe,One Bear,Only (1982)after the morning hunt I broke for lunch,while Eating lunch by a large Rock wall over looking a deep ravine, my Rifle was cross my lap...the brush 30'/40'in front of me was moving back&forth at that point the face of a Black Bear Pops out and looks right at ME!(I think it was my lunch meat he smelled)I dropped my lunch and mounted my rifle looked in the Scope put the Dot on his Chest(he was standing)touched off three rounds of 100Gr..from my 243Win M/100. I will never Drag a Bear out by my self ever again.326+/-#

[AAM]

Has anybody had to use a firearm to defend themselves from a bear, if so what did you use?