Good reason to carry a POWERFUL handgun

Mello2u · November 6, 2009, 11:29 AM

Got this as an e-mail.

Quote:

This guy lives just outside of Soldotna.

Friends,

Have I got a story for you guys!
King season is over, and since I had a day off before silvers start, I
Thought I would go for a walk! This occurred at 11:16 am this morning
(Sunday), just 2/10 of a mile from my house, ON OUR ROAD while walking
My dogs (trying to get in shape for hunting season, ironically!) for the
Record, this is in a residential area-not back in the woods, no
Bow hunting, no stealth occurring...

I heard a twig snap, and looked back...full on charge-a huge brownie,
Ears back, head low and motorin' full speed! Came with zero warning; no
Woof, no popping of the teeth, no standing up, nothing like what you
Think or see on TV! It charged from less than 20 yards and was on me in
About one-second! Totally surreal-I just started shooting in the general
Direction, and praise God that my second shot (or was it my third?)
Rolled him at 5 feet and he skidded to a stop 10 feet BEYOND where I was
Shooting from-I actually sidestepped him and fell over backwards on the
Last shot, and his momentum carried him to a stop past where I fired my
First shot!

It was a prehistoric old boar-no teeth, no fat-weighed between 900-1000
Lbs and took five men to DRAG it onto a tilt-bed trailer! Big bear-its
Paw measured out at about a 9 1/2 footer!

Never-ever-thought "it" would happen to me! It's always some other smuck, Right?
Well, no bull- I am still high on adrenaline, with my gut in a Knot.
Feels like I did 10000 crunches without stopping! Almost puked for
An hour after, had the burps and couldn't even stand up as the troopers
Conducted their investigation! Totally wiped me out-cant even put that
Feeling into words, by far the most emotion I have ever felt at once!

No doubt that God was with me, as I brought my Ruger .454 Casull (and
Some "hot" 350 grain solids) just for the heck of it, and managed to
Draw and snap shoot (pointed, never even aimed!) from the hip! Total
Luck shot!

All I can say is Praise God for my safety and for choosing to leave the
Wife and kids at home on this walk! Got a charter tomorrow, so gonna TRY
To get some sleep now!

Talk to ya soon, -Greg

This story seems believable to me. http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stor...78669517.shtml
It was reported Aug. 7, 2009 in the Peninsula Clarion.

It shows that a person can choose to carry a significantly powerful handgun and use it at a moments notice and save ones life from an unprovoked attack.

He admits that he was lucky. But he choose to carry a handgun; that was "enough gun" (.454 Casull). He intelligently choose an appropriate cartridge ("hot" 350 grain solid) for the possibility that he just might need it. Was he paranoid?

It goes to show that in a defensive action you are playing catch-up. You are out of time. You need to do the right thing "RIGHT NOW"!

MikeGoob · November 6, 2009, 12:29 PM

I believe this is the guy who relayed his story on Guntalk podcast last month. Intense story--especially considering his revolver jammed on the last of his handloads (bad crimp).

azredhawk44 · November 6, 2009, 12:35 PM

Jeez!

I'm amazed his dogs didn't give him more warning or try to intercept the bear. They wouldn't be effective in stopping a bear, but I would expect them to actually draw more ire and attention from a territorial griz than a person just ambling along. Maybe give a fellow enough time to unholster and get a more precise SA shot off rather than a hip-shot DA round.

Jim March · November 6, 2009, 01:36 PM

This case has been extensively discussed a month or two ago, and confirmed true in all details.

Hairy situation.

Yellowfin · November 6, 2009, 01:52 PM

I hope he got it iced down real fast so it didn't go to waste.

win-lose · November 6, 2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

I'm amazed his dogs didn't give him more warning or try to intercept the bear.

I'd be pretty darn ****** at my dogs if they ran away, leaving me alone with the bear.

lomaxanderson · November 6, 2009, 02:05 PM

hey if my dogs ran away they better not come back...I'd be real ****** they didn't do what they are trained for...but I'd be more upset if I accidently shot one of them instead...but some barking or something would be nice...

doc540 · November 6, 2009, 02:53 PM

where'd that 2nd shot hit him?

shortwave · November 6, 2009, 06:24 PM

So much for bear spray, eeeh!

olyinaz · November 6, 2009, 09:36 PM

A story like this really makes me think that a Redhawk or some other kind of double action is a must for this kind of duty. As much as I like my single actions I don't practice fast draw with 'em so I'd almost certainly screw it up.

Great story, great pix!

Thanks,
Oly

357MagFan · November 7, 2009, 04:15 AM

Holy crap. Now thats a tale. Lucky SOB.

KD5NRH · November 7, 2009, 06:02 AM

Quote:

I believe this is the guy who relayed his story on Guntalk podcast last month. Intense story--especially considering his revolver jammed on the last of his handloads (bad crimp).

Is there a good enough crimp to handle .454 recoil in a little gun like that? I'd be half tempted to use roll pins to hold the bullets in.

Tommy Vercetti · November 7, 2009, 06:40 AM

I've never heard of any dog running from a bear, that's why every native village has dogs, early warning system and they'll distract the bear until they can get clean shots

Parapliers · November 7, 2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

I've never heard of any dog running from a bear, that's why every native village has dogs, early warning system and they'll distract the bear until they can get clean shots

I hear you, Tommy.

RETG · November 7, 2009, 11:37 AM

I guess there would be some merit to carrying a S&W 500 or a Casull .454 if I lived in bear country. But here in the desert, just need something capable of stopping a Coyote, rattler, or occasional mountain lion or bad person.

troy_mclure · November 7, 2009, 11:52 AM

had a 90 lb blue tick/brittany spaniel mix that would literally run from a squirrel.

theres "cowardly" dogs out there, just like people.

if i lived up in bear country id carry a big gun, but down here the bears are smaller than a pig. lol

Parapliers · November 7, 2009, 12:08 PM

Probably a good idea when living in bear country to have a good story ready when a problem bear needs to be taken care of too.

David the Gnome · November 7, 2009, 02:56 PM

That bear looks all skin and bones, you can clearly see its ribs. The only thing I can think is the bear saw the two dogs and thought, "Yay! An easy meal!" and went for them. I think it was just really old, hungry, and desperate for something to eat. I have some difficulty imagining a young healthy brown bear charging like that.

Regardless, if I lived in bear country I would carry a hand canon with me at all times in the woods. After all, there are probably a good number of hungry old brown bears still out there.

November 6, 2009, 12:35 PM	#3
azredhawk44 Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 5,146	Jeez! I'm amazed his dogs didn't give him more warning or try to intercept the bear. They wouldn't be effective in stopping a bear, but I would expect them to actually draw more ire and attention from a territorial griz than a person just ambling along. Maybe give a fellow enough time to unholster and get a more precise SA shot off rather than a hip-shot DA round. __________________ Blog: http://azredhawk44.blogspot.com Updated... whenever I feel like it. Are you a Rifleman? Appleseed Information: http://www.appleseedinfo.org Smarmy loquatious signature lines ® WildAlaska, Ken at Wild West Guns. Used with permission.

November 6, 2009, 01:36 PM	#4
Jim March Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 1999 Location: Pittsburg, CA, USA Posts: 4,695	This case has been extensively discussed a month or two ago, and confirmed true in all details. Hairy situation. __________________ Jim March

November 6, 2009, 01:52 PM	#5
Yellowfin Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2007 Location: West Upstate NY Posts: 2,232	I hope he got it iced down real fast so it didn't go to waste. __________________ Students for Concealed Carry on Campus http://www.concealedcampus.org New York gun owners unite! Join now! http://www.nyshooters.net May Issue is the new Separate but Equal.

November 6, 2009, 02:05 PM	#7
lomaxanderson Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 259	hey if my dogs ran away they better not come back...I'd be real ****** they didn't do what they are trained for...but I'd be more upset if I accidently shot one of them instead...but some barking or something would be nice... __________________ All I want to do is live in peace...for that I'm willing to die Mason Rhea Gsd Abby Gale Gsd

November 7, 2009, 06:40 AM	#13
Tommy Vercetti Senior Member Join Date: June 26, 2004 Location: somewhere between Mobile and Pensacola Posts: 947	I've never heard of any dog running from a bear, that's why every native village has dogs, early warning system and they'll distract the bear until they can get clean shots __________________ "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." Sinclair Lewis, (It Can't Happen Here, 1935)

November 6, 2009, 12:29 PM	#2
MikeGoob Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2006 Posts: 584	I believe this is the guy who relayed his story on Guntalk podcast last month. Intense story--especially considering his revolver jammed on the last of his handloads (bad crimp).

November 6, 2009, 02:53 PM	#8
doc540 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 674	where'd that 2nd shot hit him?

November 6, 2009, 06:24 PM	#9
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 1,745	So much for bear spray, eeeh!

November 6, 2009, 09:36 PM	#10
olyinaz Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 455	A story like this really makes me think that a Redhawk or some other kind of double action is a must for this kind of duty. As much as I like my single actions I don't practice fast draw with 'em so I'd almost certainly screw it up. Great story, great pix! Thanks, Oly

November 7, 2009, 04:15 AM	#11
357MagFan Junior member Join Date: December 28, 2004 Posts: 205	Holy crap. Now thats a tale. Lucky SOB.

November 7, 2009, 11:37 AM	#15
RETG Member Join Date: September 22, 2009 Location: Moab, Utah Posts: 36	I guess there would be some merit to carrying a S&W 500 or a Casull .454 if I lived in bear country. But here in the desert, just need something capable of stopping a Coyote, rattler, or occasional mountain lion or bad person.

November 7, 2009, 11:52 AM	#16
troy_mclure Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: gulf of mexico Posts: 1,447	had a 90 lb blue tick/brittany spaniel mix that would literally run from a squirrel. theres "cowardly" dogs out there, just like people. if i lived up in bear country id carry a big gun, but down here the bears are smaller than a pig. lol __________________ There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."

November 7, 2009, 12:08 PM	#17
Parapliers Member Join Date: June 10, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 91	Two Dogs Probably a good idea when living in bear country to have a good story ready when a problem bear needs to be taken care of too. __________________ Liberatas sed non fortuno

November 7, 2009, 02:56 PM	#18
David the Gnome Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2007 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 2,126	That bear looks all skin and bones, you can clearly see its ribs. The only thing I can think is the bear saw the two dogs and thought, "Yay! An easy meal!" and went for them. I think it was just really old, hungry, and desperate for something to eat. I have some difficulty imagining a young healthy brown bear charging like that. Regardless, if I lived in bear country I would carry a hand canon with me at all times in the woods. After all, there are probably a good number of hungry old brown bears still out there. __________________ David the Gnome's Collection