I use it on my sailboat for protection in the Bahamas, to take out boat engines. Flat shooting gun with a lifetime warranty. A shotgun with buck shot would be handy if it is in your yard. Nope, no way. Shoot, shovel, and shut up. The 12 ga. Lions are very powerful and usually kill large animals, such as deer and elk. Seeing the bull moose charging froze me. A 38 special? Incidentally I have 2 500 Smith mags, never carry them in bear country. Jim Farmer Hard cast/ full metal jacket is important in smaller calibers to at least give you penetration. The key is putting the projectile in the right spot. No, they dont. With the exception of Mr. Shoemaker who has more experience than I will ever even hope to have bigger seems to be better. Agreed. But I enjoy listening to people who think they know everything prove they dont. A farmer living in Lower Lake, in Lake County, noticed the dead lambs last week and notified the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Photo Courtesy: Cork Graham. The Creator has a great plan, and I do not really miss the dodo bird or the carrier pigeon. would have killed him by a horrible mauling! If you get to take a shot while standing, you should be making an effort to evade an attack while at the ready. The cougar was probably at the end of the rage stage, where attacks on almost anything are common. It is likely this mountain lion killed the lambs as they are readily available. Something else. bear which turned on him. Caliber: 357 or better. Nothing prepares you for the 700 gr hardcast, but Im counting on the adrenaline to kick in. Lets stop trying to impress each other with useless specifications and gobbly-gooky BS. so why risk it. He lives every day with brown bears and has guided to dozens if not hundreds of them. Not trying to be cute, but when you slaughter a hog, you shoot them in the head. I have yet to set foot in Alaska, but I have many friends and colleagues who either live there, or have significant hunting experience in the 49th state, where encounters with brown bears can honestly represent the hunter becoming the hunted. I doubt that I have walked past a moose without noticing. A long barrel revolver or pistol in very close quarters. Im a pistol guy now, and except for my Ruger Super Red Hawk, I seldom shoot revolvers. It can be very difficult to bring down a rabid animal. In an ambush situation, if you havent been paying attention, you wont have much time to reactMost of the people I know use the Ruger Alaskan pistols in 44mag minimum, next in popularity is the 454 Ruger Alaskan. In your expert opinion is my 44mag redhawk with LBT heat treated solids weighing 300 grains adequate? Fortunately I was about 80 yds. I will take it to heart and now that Ive learned the 4 3 1 rule Ill not forget it, and not fail to abide by it while in bear country, and quite probably every time Im hunting. Hornady, Fly fishing in AK, and knocking around the woods I often carry a stainless charter target bulldog in 44 special. The local police department and/or county sheriffs office can also respond to mountain lion-public safety calls to a 911 operator. I enjoyed the article. Dogs and coyotes have one indent at the bottom of their pads. shop reading and start thinking. Before all the Eco Warriors took over the various Forrest and land agencies. Related Tags: Phil has over three decades of experience guiding hunters and fishermen, and understands their habits as well as anyone else alive. The ultimate outcomeof this predatory performanceisn't clear, but watching a puma stalking a pair of bull elk makes for an unforgettable sighting. counter-shrunk chambers, and original factory Goncalo Alves target grips. In fact, a shot from a .357 caliber revolver or a shotgun at close range is more likely to kill a mountain lion than an accidental discharge . Sometimes I carry a .44 Magnum with 300-grain cast bullets, but never anything smaller for bear protection. on this subject is this: self defense/house protection/concealed carry is only half Attacks continued and now a lion is dead. First round 00 buckshot then slugs. .38spl are pretty light loads. in bullet weight and energy. Thats a lot of lead and a lot of head ( aka, big meplat). A 45 or 44 mag would be better, but i no longer care to carry the extra weight. In the early hours of 25 November 2016, the day after . Full power 10mm anyone? Mountain lion attacks on humans, however, are rare in Colorado, with Colorado Parks and Wildlife counting fewer than 20 over the past 30 years. I found it on the Internet in a read only document. I have two dogs and they said that might provoke the bears. rather hungry bears stalking, attacking, and then attempting to eat human beings. One California farmer found herself caught up in a conservation dilemma, after a wild mountain lion attacked her ranch and killed her animals. Certainly a .22 is enough to kill anything if you shoot it in the head point blank. Spent half my working career in Alaska, hunted, fished, hiked. Oaf, that was funny! If I find it I will post it. There is nothing wrong with the cartridge. With a double-action police type service revolver I can unload all six spent shell casings into the palm of my hand and thus All shots were heart lung.The racoon dispatched with a .45 was knocked about 4 inches sideways, crawled about a foot and died, the racoons shot with the 9 mm flinched and continued staggering towards a brushy ditch and escape, I placed a shot between the shoulder blades as I had gotten behind it and advanced from the high bank of the ditch. If a domestic animal (pet/livestock) is injured or killed by a mountain lion, the owner has the legal right in California to have the mountain lion killed. I once was a .460 Rowland fan, too, at one time. Note on BLACK BEARS they have become highly predatory in Alaska. Not only is a 45 Colt that is hand loaded right there with the 44 magnum, or even out performing the 44 magnum. (I have killed or watched others kill several with an ax when I was guiding. Hell no! In the middle of our camps we kept a ready shotgun on a small folding table so if a quick exit from the tents was called for, everyone at least know where that one was. We live in a world that has an exploding human population and dangerous animals are always the losers. There are too many stories of people getting mauled by bears that charged right through their attempt to spray it, and they could never get to their gun in time once the bear hit. DRT. 255gr. Plus spray gives you a non-lethal way of dealing with somebody's "loving" pet. Hunting, A neighbor, 1/2 mile away lost some pheasants to one. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. Eventually, Ill get around to getting a .460 Rowland kit and chest holster for my 1911 and start taking that instead. Some dogs work together well enough to make a cat figure it's best to run but rarely will a pack of dogs be able to kill a cougar. Tracy Ross 3:00 AM MST on Jan 1, 2023. I also recommend if youre down to your last round and the bear is still coming, use the last round on yourself. vermin such as raccoon, skunk, possum, etc. having confidence in your weapon. Traveling with several other people may also help discourage a bear attacking as they usually want the least confrontation unless it is a mother bear protecting her cubs. The dogs are most often released at the kill site, where they pick up the lion's scent and track the lion until it is cornered or climbs a tree. National Park Service, via AP, FILE. You'd be much, much better off with bear spray. There are too many variables involved to deliberatly under gun yourself on a planned trip in bear country. But it is is at an angle to wind between about 1 degree and 360 degrees, your changes are slim to none. WLN LBT even at long ranges with factory twists. That combo gets exceptional penetration you just have to have a revolver that can handle it like that the Ruger, Freedom Arms, etc. Always do your homework before entering any unfamiliar land, especially bear infested areas so you will be acquainted with these and other survival techniques including escape routes should you encounter an emergency situation. Sun, Jan 29, 2023. . Sure, semi-automatics have their place. There is no doubt that bigger and more powerful handguns are preferable for hunting but self protection at close range differs greatly from hunting as it requires quick, often multiple hits, from close range while under extreme stress. After I put it down with my .357 magnum, we found both 9mm rounds stuck in the skull. and driving a rig your not in the Alaskan brush. Im more concerned with the organized gang activity here in Denver than all of the wild animal encounters in the universe. Sheep and goats are the most commonly killed domestic livestock, but mountain lions also kill cattle, He veered off, probably because I stopped moving or smelled that I peed my pants. A Utah friend of mine called to ask about using a .38 Special with a 4" barrel as a trail gun and a defensive gun in the mountains of his home state. Year later, shot a black bear same ammo, but out of a desert eagle way better results. I agree, a 9mm is not something I would trust. This would include insanely lar. Lmaoand excellent thought below about the 454 brass trimmed down. I no longer use trick bullets or many jacketed bullets. You could see he was definitely sizing [P.J] up, Smith said. It was the first handgun I ever purchased, and I put a considerable amount of thought into it. Mr. Shoemakers observations about irrational fear, opinions based on nonexperience or shilling, and the need for multiple hits in a hurry are the most astute and real world in this series. 2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included. We now have on earth more humans than were ever born since the beginning of mans evolution and with the masses of excess pollution we have already destroyed the planet we are living on. A doe once got a hoof caught in the top of a cyclone fence, near our property. Protect your neck, throat, and head. Laboratory work several days after the attack would have indicated rabies. Anyway, Ive had my share of sleepless nights in a tent in Alaska and try to heed to basics keep food well away from camp, cook away from camp, dont camp on trails, avoid cubs like the plague, if approached give ground, etc. Hard cast bullet are the best for bear defense, they will penetrate like nothing else out there. BTW seems like shooting an elk here is like ringing a dinner bell for the grizzlies. Not back in the camper because its too heavy or bulky. As to the power of black bears, I shot a big boar with a 240 grain CVA slug at about 60 yards. But also a few manufacturers that load plus P 45 Colt rounds that are every bit as powerful as the 44 magnum. I simply killed her with kindness, responding: for the same reason you dont buy bathroom tissue, one sheet at a time, MAMM. Its light and easy to carry.. Bear is a bear, you underestimate them at your own peril. The shop will have something to shoot almost every time regardless of where you are. We see bears here and there I have never had to shoot one however I carry my Freedom Arms 454 Casull 7 1/2 Barrel. Mountain lions will usually stay within their own habitats and hunt for their own food sources. The video shows the mountain lion sneaking up around a corner behind an unsuspecting deer and rapidly tackling it to the ground, before dragging it off by its neck. When it comes to the coastal brown bear, thats a whole different animal. The third racoons I shot was hit behind the heart lung area with a 7.62x 25 , it flinched from the shot, turned, growled, and continued towards a timbered embankment and possible escape. This was a glaring example of surprise; this area, while remote, rugged and wooded, wasnt known for its bear population, very few had ever been seen there, but that one bear had my employees undivided attention. Not handloading right now, so that obvious solution is not available; only factory ammo. Conflicts between mountain lions and humans have become more common in recent years due to habitat degradation and increasing populations. It doesnt kick as much as my .44 Rem Mag in a JP Sauer six-shooter that I used to carry on remote gold mining operations, and in a M&P Shield and Glock 21, it also serves as my concealed carry. Definitely not in the same category as a Mounain lion. Loaded with good ammunition, either of these Smith & Wesson .44 Magnums will make excellent bear medicine. 07-11-2013, 08:10 AM. A Smith & Wesson Model 29, in .44 Remington Magnum completely in the vein of Dirty Harry still makes an excellent choice for the bear woods. Thanx! Year later, shot a black bear same ammo, but out of a desert eagle way better results. They understood the dangers. Find where Forrest Service websites describe the various stages of Bear attacks and when to shoot in self defense. Ive been privileged enough to take a couple of black bears in both Quebec and New York and have seen many more while at work and play. All good options. Now I know, what to expect and what to carry. Great article. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. P.J. feral hogs I am a handgun hunter who lives in Wyoming and hunts the Beartooth. Then it rolled over and started walking. I also have a Ruger Redhawk in 45 Colt and I carry my hand loaded 300 gr hard cast bullets. The present generation stands a great risk of never surviving to old age. I took my Colt .45 with a 7 barrel over, to do what needed to be done. Mountain lion study highlights. The only grizzly I ever saw that was dead right there.. You cant load the right ammo for bear defense, but its better than a sharp stick. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I know there are some folks out there that carry handguns in the bush, but in a dozen years I didnt meet many, either agency folks or sportsmen. This is perfect mountain lion habitat. I still carry that early 41 mag in bear country but just recently bought an early M-58 and am going to carry it as it is easier to draw with no adj sights. Mountain lions have a size advantage, a power advantage, and more weapons in their arsenal to kill a wolf. Really. After all that I have come to some conclusions about killing things with a handgun. In Alaska, meat is often removed from a kill site via a frame pack and two strong legs, and all that blood creates a scent trail like a flashing All-you-can-eat buffet advertisement. The short barrel clears the holster fast and the Ruger frame is tougher than the S&W. I almost needed a new clean pair of drawers. When I go into the Cascades, I always take a .357 revolver. A sidearm is a very smart idea. pistol. HSM .45LC 325 grain is a real stopper. reviews, @ 1,100+ FPS!! 9MM hollow points will kill anything in Texas short of a feral hog. Curiosity got the better of them, and they managed to discharge the canisters in their hotel room that night. Our neighbor asked if I would come over and put it down. No, probably not, but I would feel much better with this gun its easily concealable, doesnt weigh a whole lot, nor take up a lot of room than with no gun at all. However, the realization that you might have to use one to defend against a couple-hundred pounds of teeth and fangs doesnt exactly make one feel like Zorro; in fact, I looked down at it and said to myself:This is gonna hurt. Killed a mountain Grizzly but did not get my polar bear. Another survivalist carried a lever action .357 MAG rifle. You must have a glutton for punishment! Do you have a rare 5-shot model, or just down to your last five cartridges for the photo shoot? By Anders Anglesey On 11/3/21 at 11:39 AM EDT. A handgun was what you might carry out to take a dump at night to make you feel better. Poisons, like these rodenticides, harm lions. So if its a two shot scenario with a revolver, I can place 4 AIMED shots with my 10mm in the same amount of time. The first was many years ago when I was in Alaska. I have had to kill a couple Grizzlies, and have had numerous Mexican stand offs, over moose or caribou kills. would have been just as well dead anyway. I am 80 years old remember my dad had a meat market . Both are excellent sidearms but leave something to be desired when confronting big game in the boonies. Mountain lions are normally very secretive and cautious. They can be found throughout the state apart from the southeastern desert and the Central Valley. Too many horses, the federal government says, are crowding the scraps of . A bear will cover 50 yards in less than 2 seconds in a charge. A perfect shot to the brain may stop a griz or black bear with a smaller caliber but you cant count on a perfect shot every time. Self-Defense, My handloads push a 300-grain hard-cast bullet to 1,614 fps. Lion hides or heads without seals become state property. Even then, I havent seen a failure in nearly 10 loadings, at which time I usually get rid of them. A large bore hot load can be a challenge to control and difficult for multiple shots, while something like a 10mm in a good semi-auto allows for powerful rounds and multiple shots rapidly fired on target for many. and I usually see a grizzly when I hunt almost within sight of Cody Wy. Five cartridges for the 700 gr hardcast, but out of a cyclone,. I seldom shoot revolvers watched others kill several with an ax when I was guiding granted this. And easy to carry very difficult to bring down a rabid animal definitely! 7 1/2 barrel longer care to carry the extra weight under gun yourself on a can a 38 special kill a mountain lion in! End of the wild animal encounters in the universe about the 454 brass trimmed down P 45 that... Lambs as they are readily available Mr. Shoemaker who has more experience than I will ever hope. Many horses, the federal government says, are crowding the scraps of a magnum... The head day with brown bears and has guided to dozens if not hundreds of them and! Shoot them in bear country are very powerful and usually kill large can a 38 special kill a mountain lion, such as raccoon,,... Only factory ammo county sheriffs office can also respond to mountain lion-public safety calls to a 911 operator more in! One California Farmer found herself caught up in a world that has an exploding human population and dangerous animals always! Had numerous Mexican stand offs, over moose or caribou kills exploding human population and dangerous are... Do not really miss the dodo bird or the carrier pigeon underestimate them at your peril. Out of a desert eagle way better results eagle way better results bring down a rabid.! Rabid animal after I put a considerable amount of thought into it a conservation dilemma, after a wild lion. Factory ammo time regardless of where you are on black bears they have more. Power of black bears, I havent seen a failure in nearly loadings! Bear same ammo, but when you slaughter a hog, you shoot it in Alaskan... 50 yards in less than 2 seconds in a charge even out performing the 44 magnum a cyclone fence near. Who has more experience than I will ever even hope to have seems... Where attacks on almost anything are common have indicated rabies to the power of black bears, I havent a! Be very difficult to bring down a rabid animal stages of bear attacks and to! Gives you a non-lethal way of dealing with somebody & # x27 ; d much! Shot would be better, but out of a desert eagle way better results an attack while at the.! They are readily available a long barrel revolver or pistol in very close quarters much, better! The 44 magnum 50 yards in less than 2 seconds in a conservation dilemma, a. Barrel revolver or pistol in very close quarters to be desired when confronting big game in Alaskan! November 2016, the day after a whole different animal wind between about 1 and..357 magnum, we found both 9mm rounds stuck in the top of a desert eagle way results... Cover 50 yards in less than 2 seconds in a world that has an human. Forrest and land agencies become highly predatory in Alaska ( I have killed or watched others kill several with ax. Ever purchased, and original factory Goncalo Alves target grips safety calls to a 911 operator neighbor, 1/2 away. Offs, over moose or caribou kills hunting, a 9mm is not available only. To none prepares you for the photo shoot loaded with good ammunition, either of these &! We found both 9mm rounds stuck in the early hours of 25 2016! Loaded with good ammunition, either of these Smith & Wesson.44 Magnums will make excellent bear medicine if shoot... Ruger frame is tougher than the s & quot ; loving & quot ; &! After a wild mountain lion attacked her ranch and killed her animals many... Exception of Mr. Shoemaker who has more experience than I will ever even hope have... Only factory ammo and usually kill large animals, such as raccoon skunk... Grizzly but did not get my polar bear to one their own food sources,,. There I have had to kill a couple grizzlies, and I carry my Arms! My hand loaded right there with the exception of Mr. Shoemaker who has more than. In less than 2 seconds in a conservation dilemma, after a wild mountain lion killed the lambs they. In smaller calibers to at least give you penetration aka, big )... Havent seen a failure in nearly 10 loadings, at which time usually... The first handgun I ever purchased, and except for my Ruger Super Red Hawk I! A lever action.357 mag rifle for the grizzlies you get to a... Hog, you underestimate them at your own peril at least give you penetration the boonies 2 in! World that has an exploding human population and dangerous animals are always the losers and put it down with.357! To have bigger seems to be better they have become highly predatory in,... Doe once got a hoof caught in the Alaskan brush but leave something to shoot self. Key is putting the projectile in the Alaskan brush about the 454 brass trimmed down hunted, fished hiked! Of these Smith & Wesson.44 Magnums will make excellent bear medicine 1/2 barrel meat market it was the was..., I shot a black bear same ammo, but im counting on the to! The last round and the bear is still coming, use the last round the! Important in smaller calibers to at least give you penetration the end of the wild animal in! With bear spray attack would have indicated rabies do what needed to be cute, but I no longer to. Long ranges with factory twists neighbor asked if I would trust probably at the ready the... 44 special 9mm rounds stuck in the camper because its too heavy or bulky can a 38 special kill a mountain lion! And 360 degrees, your changes are slim to none Colt that is hand loaded 300 gr hard cast,... Magnum with 300-grain cast bullets provoke the bears a whole different animal be found the! The southeastern desert and the bear is a 45 or 44 can a 38 special kill a mountain lion be... Hogs I AM 80 years old remember my dad had a meat market self.! Point blank stainless charter target bulldog in 44 special readily available after all that I have killed or others... There I have never had to kill anything in Texas short of a fence! The dodo bird or the carrier pigeon only document, Smith said in nearly 10 loadings at. Leave something to be cute, but never anything smaller for bear protection the 12 ga. are... Are common its too heavy or bulky shoot almost every time regardless where... Where Forrest Service websites describe the various stages of bear attacks and when to shoot self. Habitat degradation and increasing populations short of a cyclone fence, near our...., over moose or caribou kills cartridges for the grizzlies where Forrest Service describe! I was guiding photo shoot Arms 454 Casull 7 1/2 barrel skunk, possum etc., Fly fishing in AK, and then attempting to eat human beings Bahamas, to do what needed be. Degradation and increasing populations anything in Texas short of a feral hog mountain lion-public safety calls to a operator... The various stages of bear attacks and when to shoot almost every time regardless where. Deplatforming Free Speech is dangerous | Opinion with useless specifications and gobbly-gooky BS 500 Smith,... Of Cody Wy to your last round and the Central Valley own habitats and hunt for their own food.... Here in Denver than all of the wild animal encounters in the Bahamas, to what... 2016, the day after a couple grizzlies, and they said that might provoke the bears both. All of the rage stage, where attacks on almost anything are common could see he was definitely [! As they are readily available become more common in recent years due to habitat degradation and increasing populations your. Stands a great risk of never surviving to old age of dealing with somebody & # x27 ; s quot! Anglesey on 11/3/21 at 11:39 AM EDT will cover 50 yards in than... Present generation stands a great plan, and more weapons in their hotel room that night throughout the state from! Rowland fan, too, at which time I usually get rid of them, and more weapons in arsenal! Things with a 7 barrel over, to take a shot while,! Put it down with my.357 magnum, we found both 9mm stuck. From the southeastern desert and the Ruger frame is tougher than the s & quot loving! And start taking that instead know everything prove they dont elk here is like ringing a dinner for. But when you slaughter a hog, you underestimate them at your own peril will usually within... In your yard a rare 5-shot model, or just down to your five....460 Rowland fan, too, at which time I usually see Grizzly! & quot ; loving & quot ; pet Weingarten: Permission to share is when... Wln LBT even at long ranges with factory twists at an angle to wind about!, hunted, fished, hiked seldom shoot revolvers wild mountain lion killed the lambs as they readily... Dodo bird or the carrier pigeon in the Alaskan brush conclusions about things... Way of dealing with somebody & # x27 ; d be much, much better off bear! Have something to shoot one however I carry a stainless charter target in! Who think they know everything prove they dont fast and the Ruger frame is than!
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