Will a .22 kill an adult black bear? I want to kill a large black bear for self protection, and protecting my family. We live on the edge of the city, and the bear comes in every week for garbage, plus whenever it feels like it, through our fences, over our fences etc. and is doing a lot of damage. I only saw it twice. My wife sees it every day now, on her evening walks or bicycle rides and must go past it on the trail, within yards or feet. It is part of a group of 10 - 12 black bears, but seems to be the most intrusive. I have called authorities for 2 years and trust me, they will do nothing. They ask us to make adjustments, and live with the creatures. So people keep their children inside and can%26#039;t believe this circumstance.

I only have access to a .22, 6 shots, and would use maximum velocity hollow points. Can this penetrate a bear%26#039;s skull, or should it take a vital organ volley of bullets? I don%26#039;t particularly want to be mauled. BTW, one woman was killed and her husband was mauled. Bear was killed.

Additional Details

2 months ago

The killer bear, which was killed, was another bear, not the one I%26#039;m concerned about. The risk remains the same.

Best Answer

NO! A 22, unless you get very lucky, will not penetrate the skull of a Black Bear. The best route would be to shoot it right behind the ear, if you are good enough of a shot. This would severe the spinal cord at the base of the neck. Odds are though you may just p*** the bear off and make it attack. I really have no advice for you other than be very careful. These things can become very aggressive. It is a wonder, with it%26#039;s lack of fear for humans, this thing has not attacked and killed someone. Bears become dangerous when they loose their natural fear of humans!

Asker's Rating:

It answered the question which was specific, and with detail. I have no access to other weapons or do not wish to add people to assist. We carry bearspray - mace in a holster and a knife and have not yet taken offensive, just concerned about defense or people. Bear was 75 yards from me yesterday.

Other Answers (11)

• unless you have coconut sized kahunas,and are a dead on shot while a charging black bear is coming at you because close range and a number of well placed shots is the only way you will take down a adult black bear.Purchase some bear bangers and bear spray that might be your best bet.Wounding a black bear in a residential area could be more devastating than you could expect.If you can pick up a 303 Lee En-field they are cheap and easy to find that will do the trick.
• i doubt a .22 can do it. personally u need a shotgun[rifle] to do the job. because even if you get lucky enough to hit it, it will not do any real damage and the bear might just attack you. at least with a shotgun if you don%26#039;t get the bear in the skull it can still be injured enough not to attack.
• In theory, you could drop an elephant with a .22. In practice, it would be a messy way to commit suicide. Just have everyone in your family carry mace and insure that no food is left where the bear can get at it. This includes garbage and birdseed.
• A .22 could kill a bear, but I would not recomend it. I doubt it would penetrate the skull. Get someone who know what they are doing to help you get a humane kill. You may have to use a bow, but you need an expert to do that.
• Yes it will kill a Black Bear, in fact it has been used to kill one of the largest Brown Bears ever taken in Alaska but I wouldn%26#039;t recommend it.
  
  Better choice is bear repellent (pepper spray) and loud noise.
• A head shot maybe . If you are serious about taking it out and you feel you are left with only that option then you should get a rifle ( high power ) to do the job .
• I seriously doubt a .22 will kill a full grown bear. Try a big gun. Or if you%26#039;re a real man, you%26#039;ll wrestle it until it taps out in submission.
• Yes my grandfather killed an adult bear with a .22 when he was in canada and it took quite a few rounds to kill him.
• NO!!!!!!! Dont try it!!!!
• That won%26#039;t work. Try spit balls with a straw.
  
  GOOD LUCK!!! LMAO