There's a really nice Ruger New Model Blackhawk in 44 mag at a local pawn shop. Beautiful bluing, Pachymar grip and 51/2" barrel. I'm in the market for a 44 mag and don't have a bunch of money to spend. They want $295.00 for it. Can't a SA revolver be used effectively for self-defense in the woods against Bear, cougar and/or 2 legged types? I guess the consensus is that DA's are preferred so you can use it with one hand if necessary. What about a lever-action rifle or pump shotgun? A shooter needs both hands for these? Should I hold out for a DA 44 mag? Best Regards, J. Parker
DA or SA for the woods?
- Thread starter J. Parker
- Start date
Legionnaire
New member
For your application, I'd stick with DA. SAs are great for hunting, but I'd not want to rely on one for defense. Of course, to turn a phrase, "The SA you have with you is better than the DA you left at home," and there are plenty of cowboy action shooters (not to mention the original gunfighters) who do their work fast and furious with the SA.
If cost is the issue, take a look at the Taurus Model 44 with 4" ported barrel. Taurus has made great improvements in quality over the years, and the M44 would fit your price range.
Shoot straight.
If cost is the issue, take a look at the Taurus Model 44 with 4" ported barrel. Taurus has made great improvements in quality over the years, and the M44 would fit your price range.
Shoot straight.
MrMisanthrope
New member
I dunno about DA's >necessarily< being faster... I can draw and fire my Casull 5 times and put all five 2200 ftlb, 350gr slugs into a paper plate at 50 feet...in 4.2 seconds (IPSC timer)
Bisley grips roll for FAST recovery.
BTW... Those Pachmayers are DEATH to rapid recovery on an SA.
[This message has been edited by MrMisanthrope (edited October 25, 2000).]
Bisley grips roll for FAST recovery.
BTW... Those Pachmayers are DEATH to rapid recovery on an SA.
[This message has been edited by MrMisanthrope (edited October 25, 2000).]
P
PreserveFreedom
Guest
There used to be a Sheriff's deputy in AZ that could fire 6 shots from his SA revolver into a playing card in under 2 seconds. Unfortunately, he passed away from unrelated causes just over a year ago.
Ron Ankeny
New member
I should probably stay out of this, but what the heck I'll put in my 2 cents worth. First, just because a few single action shooters can shoot them blazingly fast is no indication that the average Joe can learn to be as proficient with a single action as he can with a double action.
Next, I frequently shoot with the firearms trainer for the Game and Fish bear specialty team. He likes to tell about the moving target he constructed that comes right at the shooter. Apparantly, the target is tough to hit and to make a shot that would simulate a CNS hit is next to impossible. For that reason and others, the first line of defense for the grizzly bear management team is 2 million heat unit bear spray. The 629 revolvers with hammerheads are a last ditch effort to shoot a bear off of a team member.
A rifle or shotgun is preferable to a handgun. Unfortunately, if you carry a rifle over your shoulder or on a pack frame, you won't have the time to deploy it in the event you are actually attacked by a bear.
I know two people who were attacked by bears and mauled while hunting. Both were carrying rifles in their hands and neither had a chance to shoot the bear before or during the mauling. Both did manage to shoot the bear after the initial attack before the bear could take another chunk out of them.
If you feel spray is not adequate, carry a gun. If you have a single action and you like it, then why not pack it?
Next, I frequently shoot with the firearms trainer for the Game and Fish bear specialty team. He likes to tell about the moving target he constructed that comes right at the shooter. Apparantly, the target is tough to hit and to make a shot that would simulate a CNS hit is next to impossible. For that reason and others, the first line of defense for the grizzly bear management team is 2 million heat unit bear spray. The 629 revolvers with hammerheads are a last ditch effort to shoot a bear off of a team member.
A rifle or shotgun is preferable to a handgun. Unfortunately, if you carry a rifle over your shoulder or on a pack frame, you won't have the time to deploy it in the event you are actually attacked by a bear.
I know two people who were attacked by bears and mauled while hunting. Both were carrying rifles in their hands and neither had a chance to shoot the bear before or during the mauling. Both did manage to shoot the bear after the initial attack before the bear could take another chunk out of them.
If you feel spray is not adequate, carry a gun. If you have a single action and you like it, then why not pack it?
J.Parker, odds are, you'll not be attacked by a bear or mountain lion. Of course, as we all know, if you are attacked, odds no longer matter, because in an instant, you've just become a statistic... on which odds are determined.
That said, I wouldn't worry about whether or not you have a S.A. or D.A. Either will do the job, if you do your job. Bad guys?? I have had a bit of experience with bad guys, and so far, haven't run into one who was concerned about what type of gun I had. They just did not want to get shot. I submit that if you run into a bad guy or two out in the boonies, and have to pull a Super Blackhawk .44 mag on them, they WILL NOT be saying, "Ahhh hell, all that dude has is one of those ol' fashioned .44 Magnums. Sheeeeeit! He can't hurt us!! Let's brace him!" Huh uh.
I love both types, and carry both out in the boonies... in heavy calibers. I've never felt at a disadvantage with either type in my holster. (I've hunted, camped, and hiked in Grizzly, Mountina Lion, Black Bear, Wolves, and Bad Guy country.)
If you like that R.S.B.H. .44, buy it. It'll do you in good stead. FWIW. J.B.
That said, I wouldn't worry about whether or not you have a S.A. or D.A. Either will do the job, if you do your job. Bad guys?? I have had a bit of experience with bad guys, and so far, haven't run into one who was concerned about what type of gun I had. They just did not want to get shot. I submit that if you run into a bad guy or two out in the boonies, and have to pull a Super Blackhawk .44 mag on them, they WILL NOT be saying, "Ahhh hell, all that dude has is one of those ol' fashioned .44 Magnums. Sheeeeeit! He can't hurt us!! Let's brace him!" Huh uh.
I love both types, and carry both out in the boonies... in heavy calibers. I've never felt at a disadvantage with either type in my holster. (I've hunted, camped, and hiked in Grizzly, Mountina Lion, Black Bear, Wolves, and Bad Guy country.)
If you like that R.S.B.H. .44, buy it. It'll do you in good stead. FWIW. J.B.
With sufficient practice I feel the DA/SA pistols are equal. I've carried, at different times, a model 66 , model 29 and Ruger Blackhawk in .357 cal. over the past 35 years and have never felt uncomfortable with my choice. I'm looking forward to picking up my new toy next Monday, a stainless Super Blackhawk in .44 mag. with a 4.625" barrel. Can't wait for the next hunting trip.
MrMisanthrope
New member
I have a buddy who went for the "ultimate" extreme in anti bear guns... he carried a single shot .410/.45LC "derringer" (looked more like a flare gun).
His reasoning - bears don't need to be shot unless they are getting presonal.
If they are getting personal, you are going to get hurt.
Feed a bear a hot .45LC at 2" or less and it's not going to appriciate it.
Of course, this is from a guy who got suckered into the ring with a "wrestling-bear" (400lb Black Bear)... and won.
All that aside though, when I lived in AK and fished the Kenai and other Bear Intensve areas, people with real bear experience considered "bear spray" (even pure cap) to be nothing more than self inflicted pain and a decent people seasoning.
On the non-lethal side, most folks liked a 12 guage loaded with "Dragon's Breath" magnesium powder flash rounds. Singe a charging bear's nose, and temporarily blind it and it WILL run away. (Of course, the DB is followed by a BIG slug if necessary.)
As to whether folks can get off a shot with ANY sort of weapon when caught by supprise by a bear, I'll still take my Gerber Mark II and 6" Casull. Spray won't help if the bear is already on you (peppered, blind human...mighty tasty), and ditto for the long gun. If you can't feed it .44s/.45s, that's where the BigAzzKnife comes into play... to hopefully give you the room to get one or two PB booms through that thick hide..
Regardless, you are going to get hurt.
OTH, most AK bears are easy enough to get along with as long as you remember the golden rule... fish UPSTREAM of the bear. They want (and get) first pick.
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| HONOR PRAE OMNIBUS | Above all, Honor |
| INIURIA MINIMA OMNIBUS | Do least harm always |
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His reasoning - bears don't need to be shot unless they are getting presonal.
If they are getting personal, you are going to get hurt.
Feed a bear a hot .45LC at 2" or less and it's not going to appriciate it.
Of course, this is from a guy who got suckered into the ring with a "wrestling-bear" (400lb Black Bear)... and won.
All that aside though, when I lived in AK and fished the Kenai and other Bear Intensve areas, people with real bear experience considered "bear spray" (even pure cap) to be nothing more than self inflicted pain and a decent people seasoning.
On the non-lethal side, most folks liked a 12 guage loaded with "Dragon's Breath" magnesium powder flash rounds. Singe a charging bear's nose, and temporarily blind it and it WILL run away. (Of course, the DB is followed by a BIG slug if necessary.)
As to whether folks can get off a shot with ANY sort of weapon when caught by supprise by a bear, I'll still take my Gerber Mark II and 6" Casull. Spray won't help if the bear is already on you (peppered, blind human...mighty tasty), and ditto for the long gun. If you can't feed it .44s/.45s, that's where the BigAzzKnife comes into play... to hopefully give you the room to get one or two PB booms through that thick hide..
Regardless, you are going to get hurt.
OTH, most AK bears are easy enough to get along with as long as you remember the golden rule... fish UPSTREAM of the bear. They want (and get) first pick.
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/----------------------------------------------------------\
| HONOR PRAE OMNIBUS | Above all, Honor |
| INIURIA MINIMA OMNIBUS | Do least harm always |
\----------------------------------------------------------/