New Buf Stomper: The 505 Burns!

Hate to jump in the middle of a cat fight ;) I know I'll get clawed!

No question there have been a heaped basket of Brownies killed with a 30/30 let along a 30/06. I know of several BIG bears that have been shot off at darn near contact distance with 30/06 and 338/06 from stories and a 45/70 and a 12 guage from personal accounts. Almost in these cases will make your hair white or a patient for major plastic surgery. Or both.

Harold Johnson thought highly of the 45/70 but thought more of the 458 Alaskan or the the 45/90 if he could have gotten brass for it. But his favorite was the 50. His 50, the 348 Win case blown out to take 500 grain, .510, home made bullets. He thought the big .50 was an effective bear gun. His use is similar to mine. I found the 45/90 a kid brother to the 458 Win and the 458 Win not much of a performer even then. The 458 Lott is getting there so I just thought lets just go one better and make a "Johnson" version of a bolt gun for bear.

Heck, I have carried a 44 mag for bear during some long stays in the bush. Doesn't mean it was the best thing to take.

Of course there are better tools for hunting, but what would you rather have in your hands at 10 feet at the *wrong* time?
The lever guns are fast but I want a little more punch on the first shot and the next four ;)
 
Frontsight!,

I have insinuated nothing.
I am STATING that the .505 Burns is a weapon platform and caliber designed from the ground up to do this particular job without compromise.

Certainly bears have been killed with other weapons, but their genuine suitability (in most cases) for the task is openly questionable.
During my callow and wasted youth, filled with hubris as I was, I have personally made the mistake of hunting bears with unsuitable calibers, simply because I thought that what some of the other guys were using would be "enough gun". I should have listened then to guys that actually had REAL experience with the subject matter, as opposed to information from guys that knew everything second or third hand. God only knows where their ideas actually came from...
I nearly paid for this knowledge with my life. You have been granted the marvelous opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others. My advice is: Don't waste it.
You are of course, welcome to make the same mistakes, and Darwin will ultimately be paid his due. :D

Obviously, I do agree that you and others have been very foolish in your perceptions and habits so far as selecting appropriate weapons for Brown Bear and other dangerous game.

[This message has been edited by MAD DOG (edited November 05, 2000).]
 
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