What cal. ???????

I'm not arguing what calibre...I think the post was about Black Bear. All I'm saying is 99% of the time Black Bear won't bother humankind, and will run away. Grizz, or Polar are allot larger than a blackie, so if your not going hunting, and your not in Grizz or Polar country, you won't need a cannon...That's it...I'm gone... :)

All right, Who said, GOOD? :eek:
 
Bars (bears)

Cowboys and Cowgirls there aren't any bars in the Cross Timbers of the great American Desert (Texas) but if they appear I am going to get a Barret .50 semi auto! I'm kinda skeered of varmints that like long pig (humans).
 
What can I say, Texans, gotta luv 'em. OOPs I are one. Nevermind.

CC, I believe the story is entirely credible and I though you were recalling the exploits of the late President of S&W, who did intentionally shoot PB with a fairly powerful .357. I believe that shooting one intentionally like an assasin and shooting one that bolts onto your path is a very different phenomenon excasebated by adrenalin in both parties involved. Personally, I would be carrying a .41 Magnum, because experience through handloading and confidence with shot placement are my criteria for selection. I am not going to recommend this to anyone else. If one chooses to risk being eaten by a hungry Griz, he is entitled to hold his choice of handgun while he may be feasted upon by the Bear!

Black Bear, is a little less risky, especially when in a static hunting situation, so I don't have an oppinion about the .357 for that use. I'm still using a .41! I don't have a problem with the .357 for Whitetail Deer if the Hunter is capable. Attacks are rare, but they do happen and I always carry when I hunt, Rifle or not. We do have rattlers and in warm enough winter weather, which is more often than the freezing kind, They venture out from time to time also.
If you want to use logic and sound reasoning in limiting the size of game to either caliber as you should, I'll stick by my guns. There is no game animal you should hunt with a .44 Magnum, that you can't take just as effectively with the .41, provided you know what you're doing to start with! ;)

There is one more worth mentioning for the trail gun protection scenario and it is a 4" DA revolver. I have not fired one yet, but ballistics are tailored to the use of a 4" revolver and power is as good or better than the .41, or .44 purely from the standpoint of using shorter barreled revolvers and that would be the Dan Wesson in .460 Rowland. It will also fire .45 ACP and Super so you can work up your recoil tolerance level and have a gun that is very practical for a number of uses! ;)
 
Just ran onto this thread - - -

CarbineCaleb, I well recall the illustrations with that National Geographic article. With respect, sir - - The story (or a photo caption) states the bear was killed with a .44 magnum revolver. From the images, I'd call it a model 629 four-inch. I suppose it could have been a nickel finish M29, though. I wished at the time, and now, for additional information - - What load, how many shots fired, where the bear was hit, and so forth. I understand that this particular magazine was NOT the proper venue for such detail. I was surprised at the time that the editors at NG were willing to include the information that (1) the team went armed, (2) that they actually SLEW the great beast, and (3) they used a HANDGUN to defend themselves. :D

In any case, my hat's off to those guys. First, because they undertook the adventure to begin with. Then, that they exercised such restraint in waiting so long to shoot, and the cool marksmanship demonstrated when it was needed.

Best,
Johnny
 
Save yourself a lot of explaining

First, try pepper spray. It will save you a lot of time explaining to the "authorities" why it was necessary to kill a cute little teddy bear.

Second, for Black Bear defense choose a bullet of high sectional density and designed for deep penetration that has a velocity that generates at least 700ftlbs of muzzle energy. Caliber is relevant only in that to have the above it will problably have to be over .40 in a revolver or semiauto. Don't use a rifle caliber single shot. If attacked, odds are you will be in contact range, getting mauled, and need to administer multiple injections of lead. Stopping charges with handguns a very low percentage occurance.

Personally I would carry a much heavier pistol in a heavier caliber than a lighter pistol in a smaller caliber. The recoil may be more managable in the bigger gun. My 12oz S&W 340Sc .357 is much more unpleasant than the S&W .500 X-frame. However, that being said I don't think you will notice any recoil at the moment of truth.

"In a world devoid of semiautomatics, a properly set-up Webley is the ultimate full-size self-defense handgun."
 
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