Animal Attack
Bear Attack Survival Kit
Save yourself from being the main course in Yogi’s pic-a-nic basket with this S&W Bear Survival Kit. 
Smith & Wesson has assembled an “Emergency Survival Tool Kit” that revolves around their 460PD or 500PD revolvers, it is available with either. S&W’s Herb Belin, who developed this kit, emphasizes the short and very powerful .460 S&W and .500 S&W Magnum handguns as defense against bears. The idea of the snub nose is that it allows easy use even if attacked while in your sleeping bag in a tent, according to Herb. A longer barrel would make it more difficult to use in such a confined place and at point blank range, accuracy isn’t that much of an issue. That’s not an unheard of occurence, so he has a point.
The revolvers is equipped with a 2.75 inch unported barrel and a bright yellow Hogue Recoil Reducing Grip. Unless they are truly magic, best be prepared for a very sore hand after firing this one on the range. Anyone with a weak grip need not apply.
The remainder of the kit includes: an Ultimate Survival Blastmatch firestarter and four packages of WetFire tinder, Ultimate Survival Saber Saw, Jet Scream whistle and 2 x 3 StarFlash signal mirror, a Silva Polaris baseplate compass, two MPI Mylar Space Emergency Blankets (Note to Herb, see above article) and a Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops liner lock folding knife. Also included is the book, “Bear Attacks of the Century – True Stories of Courage and Survival” by Larry Mueller and Marguerite Reiss; just in case you weren’t paranoid enough about bears. All this is packed into a fitted bright yellow Harddig Storm Case. A ballistic nylon holster for the revolver is included. MSRP is $1150.
How practical is this kit? Well, individually, the components are generally very good and ought to be carried on your person for use if needed. If you are traveling into bear country, a powerful firearm is advisable. While a rifle or shotgun with slugs is preferred, most of those we know that travel in such areas also carry a powerful handgun and you’d be hard pressed to find one more powerful than these two.
Tags: Animal Survival, bears, grizzley, gun
Discussion
14 comments for “ Bear Attack Survival Kit ”
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Recent Comments
- Joseph D.: In the event weather,seismic,and volcanic conditions make your home unsafe for
- Robert: Down To The Roots Magazine gave me LOTS of ideas and
- Alan: Although there are many calibers that are capable of killing a
- Dash Riprock: If you live in a climate that gets colder I recommend
- Dash Riprock: Buddying up with a weasel or two will keep your rodent
April 16, 2008, 9:48 am
Thats a pretty sweet lookin kit. Can’t imagine shootin off a .50 shortbarrel, unless my life surely depended on it!
July 1, 2009, 10:10 pm
I have shoot a 357 magnum revolver befor and that was I thought a big gun.I’m 16 and that had some power i don’t even want to know that guns power.
July 13, 2009, 3:51 am
ill stick to my 10 inch for any 500 round personally if you missed the first shot of that you arent likely to get another
January 3, 2010, 2:08 am
PotD FTW
February 6, 2010, 2:43 pm
Actually, the 500 doesn’t have as much kick as you’d think. The Hogue grips are amazing and deal with the recoil very well. Just don’t try to over control the weapon and you’re good. It’ll rise and then drop right back in position. I love my 500
April 13, 2010, 5:58 pm
[...] Ok – Sorry guys for leaving off so many good options. Question: (I'm kind of a noob on this stuff) Is a magnum round going to trump a regular round? Example: 44Mag > 500? Right now I'm looking at ………… Bear Attack Survival Kit Survival Digest [...]
April 13, 2010, 8:58 pm
I have heard the same thing, about “over controlling” Im sure your right on the money!
July 22, 2010, 9:36 am
Buying a pistol to defend against bears is not a good idea. First, know bear behavior if you are in bear country and avoid a confrontation. Second, get some bear spray. Unless you practice constantly with a firearm, you’ll be unlikely to hit a charging bear. Ever seen a video of a sow charging a threat to her cubs? They can cover 30 yards faster than you can get a pistol out and aimed – spray is easier to deploy and use.
Third, visit websites for Alaskan outfitters and hunting guides…you’ll find out what they recommend. To really be sure of killing a charging grizzly or brown, even a 30-06 rifle is really not enough. You need a 375 H & H round to be sure. So I think its insane to depend on a pistol.
July 26, 2010, 7:54 am
Have to agree with Randall. Any firearm is a last resort. ear spray – LARGE size first. After that I prefer the Ruger 454 Casull Alaskan for my back up.
August 2, 2010, 7:03 pm
One of my hunting buddies was nearly mauled to death by a bore grizzley. The pepper spray had only made him more mad. It was his partners 300win mag that put a stop to it with seconds to spare. I always carry when in bear country..home by the way. I think if you had ever really been in that situation…like I have…you’ll either have both the pepper and the gun, or you’ll stay out of the woods.
November 22, 2010, 10:44 pm
I love the idea of this kit, as I have camped out in bear country with a shotgun loaded with rifled slugs “just in case” a bear found my campsite or tent interesting. I mind my bear country manners in terms of food containment and all, but one never really knows about bears – especially after a long drought. Don’t know about grizzlies, but even a hungry black or golden bear can be troublesome, and I would imagine having to empty the S&W .500 Mag to have any effect. The main idea is to push the bear back long enough so as to better enable your escape. Anybody thinking that they could “bag a bear” with a handgun other than a T/C with a magnum rifle load – is flat-out delusional.
December 14, 2010, 12:43 pm
I have the 500 2″ but not the skittle colored handle. Yes it is a handfull and borderline painful, but if it breathes, my snubby will kill it.. Period!! Bear, elk, elephant, even a hippo(better have good shot placement). I did some unscientific balistics with an old encyclopedia set. 6 volumes duct taped(12″ total) SW686(357) in 3″ish, SW629(44mag)3 1/2″ish, Snubby 500 blew a hole out the back of all 6.
January 24, 2011, 2:40 am
[...] I love how with all these survival kits there is never any thought given to water. Why can't they throw in a 2 dollar stag water bottle? Also link somewhat related. Bear Attack Survival Kit Survival Digest [...]
February 26, 2011, 8:03 am
Although there are many calibers that are capable of killing a brown bear with one properly placed shot, in a crisis situation, panic and surprise often negates accuracy. In these cases, I hope for a cartridge that leaves a large wound channel and massive fluid shock. The 500 S&W certainly fits the bill. For the reasons already addressed in the article, I like the short barrel on this model. To those who believe that a 500 S&W is a questionable weapon for dispatching a grizzly, I suspect you have not seen/read the ample evidence of such guns routinely being used to kill grizzly and various large African game. While I would be more comfortable confronting a grizzly while sitting inside an armored vehicle with a big game rifle chambered in 500 Nitro Express, I will happily accept a 500 S&W as a tent mate.