within the last 30 years, this doesnt necessarily need to apply to civilians. If the mountain lion successfully ambushed a wolf, the fight is immediately over, and the wolf is dead due to a pierced skull or ripped throat. He shot it twice point blank with his 9mm and the hog just shook its head and continued to walk around. The issues penetration. As to the power of black bears, I shot a big boar with a 240 grain CVA slug at about 60 yards. Speaking of cougars, check out this video from Barcroft TV. The way I see it there exists no substitute for accuracy, proper shot placement, and To purchase a sidearm for bear country on GunsAmerica, click here. Now that we have hogs in the area, I want to upgrade to either an AR pistol in .50beo, a revolver in 500SW / 454Casull. style bullet or a solid jacketed bullet with a large flat meplat no mater the caliber used. At the range, 3 or 4 factory rounds and Ive had enough. hard cast projectile @ 1,300+ fps. It was there all night and broke its leg, trying to get free. He told the cameraman Ive killed bears with this gun. You will only have only one chance to prove fluffy wont kill you. He said he was not scared of all the trips he made. For this update, we found another .22 rimfire case, two additional 9mm cases, another .38 special case, three additional .357 magnum cases, another 10mm case, five additional .44 magnum cases . Why dont you go out in the woods and try out some of your hollowpoints . Protect your neck, throat, and head. Magnum revolver for not only armed defense against both two and four legged Do you have a question about mountain lions? Being aware that sounds and smell plays a role in a bears survival by detecting prey, keep food or harvested deer meat or other game tightly contained as it would be analogous to swimming in blood filled water with man-eating sharks. from the bear. I agree, whatever you have at the moment, is the best choice. However, I can get 2 aimed shots with my hot 10mm for every one with any big bore revolver Ive ever shot. I remember clearly, back in 2002, while surveying in the foothills of the Berkshires a young employee came running up from the point he was supposed to locate, toward the survey instrument I was running. I was carrying my S&W M-57 4 inch gun. Phil has over three decades of experience guiding hunters and fishermen, and understands their habits as well as anyone else alive. The animal became a little wobbly and went to a tree then moved toward Paul again and it was shot a second time. WLN LBT even at long ranges with factory twists. I have a short barrel S&W 629 that Ken Kelly modified. A few years back I went to Alaska, rented a 44 pickup camper,& spent 6 weeks in the boondocks, with only my wife. He said while the animal tried to bite Pauls head, it didnt actually do it, only slightly clawing the boys back. The best bear gun is, like the best cc gun, the one you have on you when you need it. The species are abundant in the state, numbering around 4,000 to 6,000 estimated creatures. There is an interesting compilation of mountain lion incidents and attacks titled: Cougar Attacks & Other Incidents -2000 to date. No thanks. However many decades ago, I was a PPC competitor. You could see he was definitely sizing [P.J] up, Smith said. HSM .45LC 325 grain is a real stopper. Bears cannot see as well as they can hear and smell. I own several Casulls, but my favorite handgun is a 5-inch, custom Freedom Arms Model 83 that Ken Kelly tricked out for me. In any case, the uncle deserves commendation for shooting straight in a tense situation. why dont you buy a BB gun for backup. to a .22 or .32 the .38 Special 148 grain lead target wad-cutter is ideal for these purposes. Regarding my loads, Im partial to a 230 grain Federal Hydra-Shok jacketed hollowpoint staggered with 230-grain lead cast bullet, one following the other, the first round out of the magazine a Hydra-Shok. I dont care if my hand probably wont wrap around the grip. It can be very difficult to bring down a rabid animal. Good stuff. 8gr 800-X will put some lead into anyones pencil. 9mm & 38? Moutain Lions arent bear-zombie-meat-tanks. I was very intrigued by their weapons selection. That combo gets exceptional penetration you just have to have a revolver that can handle it like that the Ruger, Freedom Arms, etc. There are some real men out there who have seen a bear in a zoo and have shot their 500 SW 4 times 6 years ago. A doe once got a hoof caught in the top of a cyclone fence, near our property. Bears, wild critters, thats all very nice and fluffy. Suddenly everyone was yelling at Paul not to move and the somewhat lethargic lion placed his jaw on the boys head and put its paw on him. Government paid hunters were also paid to do the same. What to do? in he he stated that no matter how big of a rifle one has in their hands, when facing something that is fully willing and capable of stomping you into a frothy little puddle of blood and hair, no matter what youve got, its still going to feel like a willow switch. 7 tours of duty (Coast Guard) and 11 years of volunteer EMT3 doing Bush & Mountain rescue all over Alaska, 10 years as AK Hunter Safety instructor and professional brown bear photographer + successful hunter and competition shooter, and trapper. That winter, I shot a buffalo @ 50 yards with 300 grain federal cast core in a ruger .44 carbine. I wonder how much penetration that will make on a bears skull? My second firearm of choice because it works for two legged predator as well is my Springfield XDM 460 Rowland. The 357-magnum case is just a bigger capacity shell able to provide much better performance. feral hogs After a comment like that, Im certain that youre an expert in the art of defensive purse swinging. I have both the Governor and a Public Defender Judge, but no steel framed .45 Long Colt guns. Youre just a hokey guy who tries to be funny by putting others down. Not totally true. Absolutely. killed a mountain lion years back with a 3 inch 629, 240 grain hollow points, was not impressed. 300 grains is on the low end for 50ae. My choice is the 500 S&W. This bit of firsthand experience has made me change my point of view in favor of wheel guns and the calibers they favor. Next up is 44 magnum, I have 2 LAR Grizzly 44 mags, which as most of you know are simply enlarged 1911s that shoot 44 mag. Merrill, Oregon (Klamath County). Had that sow felt threatened, I wouldnt have known what hit me. In a close encounter this bear would have had enough time to kill me with no problem. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. One thing that does not get mentioned much is that Y pattern that a charging bears head presents makes for a difficult target to hit. A shotgun with buck shot would be handy if it is in your yard. A bear spray story- These lions belong there. I am playing with a m69 Smith and Wesson 44 mag. It will drive a 300-grain bullet to over 1,600 fps. Id take the 9mm any day if it was my only 2 choices, loaded with 147 flat nose +P+ from Underwood Ammo. One lion can consume up to 20 or 30 pounds of meat in a single meal. 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. Its a free country Plinker you are free to engage in Prayer, Ritual and Incantations by the light of the moon. An official from the department visited the farm shortly after the incident and found tracks belonging to the animal, according to local news reports. and I usually see a grizzly when I hunt almost within sight of Cody Wy. Surprisingly, I had to shoot it THREE times in the head, from INCHES away before it died. LAR Grizzly 45 Win Mag. where do you come up with this bullshit. From all I know and all Ive read, .357 may work for black bear, but a larger caliber is better. Almost all .460s are semi-autos. As an outdoorsman, I enjoy being afield in all sorts of capacities. and females' territories can range up to 60 square miles. I saw a beautiful Blond one in Glacier Natl Park a couple of years ago. No HPs! Any bear is a big, tough critter and to stop them you will need to penetrate and break stuff like big bones or skulls. I would still rather have a 12 gauge though. I would rather lug a 12 gauge or Marlin guide gun in 45/70 for bear protection. I call BS. In the springtime, when the streams are populated with fishermen, the bears are coming out of hibernation and are ravenous. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the man, identified on Thursday as 31-year-old Travis Kauffman, is "recovering well" after the self-defense attack on Feb. 4. So that information has sort of vanished.. Not your problem when facing a legitimate threat from a bear. In Africa the wholesale slaughter of wild game was done to make room for agriculture and the safety of the farmers many of whom blasted off their feet the entire big game population for miles around. I once was a .460 Rowland fan, too, at one time. Good responses. People living in neighborhoods around Nederland wonder why Colorado Parks and Wildlife can't do more to stop attacks on their pets. thanks again from a Liberal Gun Toting Okie! Wolves are more of a threat. Published on February 15, 2019 02:47 PM. Not enough bullet weight. A mountain lion's skull is thicker than that of a human, and they can survive shots from firearms that are much more powerful. There was also a guy who used the Air Force M6 .22 LR/.410 GA over/under rifle/shotgun. 11-02-2012, 5:06 PM. FL). sounds like you have too many guns and cant decide on which one to take. This has way more energy and velocity ahah a standard loading and the judge and governor probably would not safely shoot those loads. Note on BLACK BEARS they have become highly predatory in Alaska. A grizzly bear is a formidable foe, having no issue whatsoever proving its dominance over human beings. Im not a hunter, but a hiker. She ran out of there at Mach 3, with her blue hair on fire. For what its worth, bear spray is likely to get you killed in my humble opinion. Understanding that a grizz is top oh the list for a bad and aggressive attitude, a grizz cant kill you more then any other bear could. You can keep your semi-autos and single action revolvers. I saw one 200 yards from my home while deer hunting several years ago. The Hodgden #25 manual does show loads for a 200-grain bullet using HS6, Trap100 and HP38 powders. You might not have the accuracy from the first two mentioned as you would the latter, but at the close range that a bear attack would occur I think that would be a moot point. If doing this with very heavy bullets a change in rifleing twist may be more suitable if longer ranges are expected. DRT. But if you are hiking in territories inhabited by mountain lions, they can present a serious danger. Hollow points sacrifice penetration for larger wound channel . The mountain lion known as P-56 was killed January 27, 2020. They have been conditioned to hear a gun and equate it to a free meal. Penetration tests have shown that load to penetrate almost exactly the same distance as a standard hardcast 44 Magnum load. The free enterprise system in Africa works for big game, and for the villagers. Laying out the reasonable course of events leading up to a legitimate use of force against Bears (or Lion) would make it more difficult to prosecute (IMO for political / ideological reasons) citizens who defend themselves against bear (or lion) attacks. Ive chronoed this load at 1325fps, its kickass on Elk. Between airlines, public transportation, hotels, ferryboats, etc. I hope you dont take anybody with you in these fantasy hikes with your hair spray. Its very light and handy to carry. No matter what anybody says, Shoemaker got lucky with that 9mm on the bear. Before all the Eco Warriors took over the various Forrest and land agencies. I have a Springsfield 460 Rowland and 400 CarBon for bears and back cup with 357 Mag in a Tarus 7 shoot to stop any bear. 44 mag is a minimum and it would have to be a DA version. .357, .44 mag, 10mm. I took my Colt .45 with a 7 barrel over, to do what needed to be done. Somewhere in my Paper Archives I have the Professors commentary and a stages of a Bear attack and at what point in his own words .. it is time to Shoot the Bear. I have always heard, or read, that one should use heavy for caliber, hard cast lead bullets for bear. A good friend used to go to Alaska to fish. However, two of those incidents resulted in fatalities. Ive lived and hunted and fished in Alaska since 1993. Mountain lions weigh up to 198lbs, reach 30 mph at top speed, and only bite with a force of about 400 PSI. black bears Answer (1 of 12): There's a lot of variables in play with this question and a 9mm pistol round is NOT a good round to take down a large predator with. Put three or four gun writers in the same room, and youll usually get four different answers, but I think youre seeing a common thread here. He has spent more than a bit of time in pursuit of bears, hogs, and other game animals with a handgun, in addition to time spent in the Alaskan game fields. Question whats your life worth to you. He has 158 grain, cast SWC and SJSP flat point, +P ammuntion that are showing 890 FPS muzzle velocity on the boxes. He said 45 colt loaded with a 300 grain plus hard cast bullet. That wouldnt do it for me. I can shoot 100rds of 480 in a day, that equals two loads of .44 mag or one shot of casull and none of the 500. I stopped the pickup and as it went down the incline one shot hit the abdominal cavity and another between the shoulder blades, it crawled about two feet and died. Not only does it take time to shoot, but it's also not enough to stop a cougar from coming at you. The Marine carried an AR15/M4 .223 REM/5.56MM. Bear spray is actually bear fogger and comes out in a finely atomized mist with absolutely no chance of moving against even the faintest of breezes. Unfortunately it seems that a sow protecting her cubs, as she is hard wired to do, is killed then the cubs are then euthanized, or as I prefer to call it, killed. Fifty-four mountain lions in Alberta were tracked with GPS collars during a three-year study of . FMJ. The Hornady 325gr Leverevolution is a whole different story. Its much harder to retrieve spent brass fired from a semi-auto The lion can then be shot and removed, or tranquilized and transplanted at least 300 miles (480 km) away. Lions are very powerful and usually kill large animals, such as deer and elk. This is perfect mountain lion habitat. vermin such as raccoon, skunk, possum, etc. Any suggestion that a 9mm or 357 magnum is any gun better than none in brown bear country is ridiculous. This gun is horrible to carry full time when it must be out of site sometimes!! That being said i would still rather has a single action 44 mag or 45 colt than a 9mm for bear defenseanyday! I have a hard time believing when pressed in close quarters, that they would do well with a .410 load in the face. Not to be the asshole of the crowd, but a Grizzly is an Ursus arctos horribilis as opposed to just the Ursus arctos, or Brown Bear. She hid, and downed it with one behind the ear at very close range, and followed up with five more (all the bullets she had) to make sure. cougars That accounted for its lethargic behavior when it quietly approached they boy and his cousin near a river in Arizonas Tonto National Forest. Although lighter than what one would think of as bear protection, the authors .38 Special is extremely compact, lightweight and portable. is excellent. Jaguars range in size from about 100lbs up to 300lbs, run at speeds of 50 mph, and bite with a bone-crushing 1,500 PSI. My only proof of that assertion goes back 17 years when I was unkowingly walking my blind dog very near a collared grizzly sow with two cubs. Same holster also. Hardcast bullets and accuracy! This attack from 2008 shows the utility of a handgun for defense against predators in the wild. If we didnt carry our primary hunting rifle, we carried a shotgun. Mountain lions have been terrorizing livestock in Lake County over the past weeks, and this was not the first instance to be reported to authorities. I can say the 41 is probably my minimum for the big bears. They are thin skinned and with a broadside shot would drop it like a rock, with one shot. You didnt say anything about the Ruger SuperRedHawk .454 Casull? In that vein, and considering the real vs. imaginary threat posed by bears, a familiar 9mm loaded with non-expanding bullets is a lot better than a heavy .44 or .500 you left at home or are not completely proficient with. From one Phil to another, sage advice. Oaf commented on the case strength, I personally use Starline cases mostly, and have not had a failure yet, however I do only use those cases for 2 heavy loadings, and then relegate them to lesser cowboy loads. you spent 6 weeks on the road system not the boondocks If you are in the boondocks whatever that means? When confronted by a threat.. you need to tick off a very short, well reasoned and practiced list. I carry either my Ruger Alasken 44 mag, or my Ruger GP 100 in 44 Special with custom loaded 255 gr. With speed loaders in the hands of a competent shooter, the revolver can be reloaded almost as quickly as a pistol. The Interior Grizzlies are not like your fat on salmon Brownies. My thought Hard cast is king. What part of the state? . A handgun was what you might carry out to take a dump at night to make you feel better. Yes I admit, Im a revolver person. You dont need a laboratory test to confirm that it was behaving strangely. Chances are youll only get to use one? I have killed over 140 head of big game in Australia, waterbuffalo, moose, elk, deer, antelope, hogs, exotics, many black bear, and one charging brown bear in Alaska at 5 feet with a hand gun. Cork Graham (corkgraham.com) , a fellow writer, hunter, and Alaska resident not to mention an actor on the Discovery Channel had a bit of a different perspective. This is a real concern on the outskirts of . But I enjoy listening to people who think they know everything prove they dont. The rabid coons were like a drunk, or drugged as they did not acknowledge being shotAmmo used.45 corbon 185 gr hp + p. 9 mm Federal hydroshok 124gr. Most of the time if all you are trying to do is keep the bears from attacking you, wear bells on your clothing as the old timers did. Owing to circumstances at their place, I wasnt able to go. What would be the minimum barrel length for any bear spanker? Bye the way thats 6 rounds of death spitting out of the end of that gun ! They only penetrated a 1/4 of an inch, while the .357 round went through the skull and ended up about nine inches deep in the neck. Let's dive right in. The ultimate outcomeof this predatory performanceisn't clear, but watching a puma stalking a pair of bull elk makes for an unforgettable sighting. I live in Alaska. The Southern California man charged with shooting and killing a protected mountain lion this summer has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and was ordered to serve 240 hours of community service in . This may not have been a great time for firearm but it begs the questions: (1) What's a good caliber to stop a cat at 3 - 20 yds, and (2) what kind of round (solid, hollow point)? The Blackhawk is tough as nails, and while it may not have the prestige of a Colt Single Action Army, it is utterly dependable. .45 Colt may be questionable, but better than a .38. We live in a world that has an exploding human population and dangerous animals are always the losers. Found the bullet in the other ear, Weighed 270 grains. My wife carries an old Model 60. You arent arent going to get to reload and the targets are moving really fast. Having read that the US Fish and Game guys carried .357 Mag in bear country, but this was in the 1970s, and I have no ides how true that was or is now, I figured 10mm S&W with hardball would do the job even better, but the hunters I hang with think that never gets old. I usually carry it in a cross-draw holster that allows me to ride a horse or ATV. First you start off by saying a Judge or Governor is not what you want for bear country, then end by saying you carry a Redhawk in .45 Colt for bear. If you carry an effective caliber/bullet combination for 400+ pound bears, wild boars, and feral hogs, you are carrying way too much gun for coyotes and small mountain lions. This is largely down to a lack of resources in their own habitats. Despite the firepower, these guys all tried to avoid brown bear encounters. You should also use common sense when traversing through these areas by avoiding mannerisms that could be interpreted by a bear that youre easy prey. About ten years ago I killed a threatening brown/black bear with a .357 from an SP101 snubby. That being said I would never recommend a .22 for bear protection or hunting. I do not shoot rabid animals in the head for fear of spreading the rabies virus from the brain, I do not know if this is true or not but thats what Ive been told. And those advanced industrial countries will collapse when their native population collapses in 20-30 years. ( nothin) lol. As I think about it, I very well might start doing what commenter New Continental Army suggested: carry two guns. I dont think it is funny to not mention bear spray. First round 00 buckshot then slugs. I believe that model Ruger is single action, right? The .38 Special is the revolver equivalent of the 9X19 semiauto pistol round, which is, after all, only three years newer a development. With 158-grain bullets moving at nearly 800 fps, this probably represents along with the 9mm Luger the lower end of the spectrum, as far as a defensive bear gun goes. I carry a SW 500 in a chest rig as backup. This account from the Camp Verde Bugle, also says there were two shots. elk I have seen that cartridge fail horribly on black bears and hogs. They were relocating a Grizzly to a remote wilderness area. Winchester lists their .410 GA slugs as 1800 feet per second. A couple of quick .25s to the knee of your brother in law ought to make that possible. He makes a grizzly look like a cub. If used in a custom 5 shot 45 colt with bullets and a cyl. Fortunately the latter emptied his 4 Smith and Wesson Model 66 Too many horses, the federal government says, are crowding the scraps of . They are not a pleasant round to shoot but manageable for me, I have been shooting the 44mag pistol for almost 50 years and have lived in Interior Alaska for 38 years now. Fortunately, another adult P.J.s uncle in the party had brought a handgun along and had left it in a vehicle that was parked nearby. A picture shows a lamb and a mountain lion side by side. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Personally, I do my best to avoid any encounter that could turn ugly, but thats not always the case. 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. Use a handgun. The farmer who owned the lambs also contacted a trapper in hopes that they could do something about the mountain lion. The .45 Colt has long been my favorite cartridge in the Blackhawk. and the 45 colts are equal if used in modern stout pistols. Those pesky day to day perils of life keep getting in the way. Its certainly not the lightest sidearm weighing in at just over 3 pounds, fully loaded in its holster but when Im forced to enter bear country, I have absolutely no worries. 66% of kills among collared mountain lions were mule deer. You should first attempt to fire a warning shot to scare off the lion before it attacks. carry the biggest piece of iron that you can place multiple rounds accurately and in very little time, amigos.. But Garrett makes a round called hammer head. Lets hope that we can all avoid the threat of mauling, but if youre unfortunate enough to have it happen to you, be prepared. 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. Federal, I mixed opinions about this article. After all that I have come to some conclusions about killing things with a handgun. The present generation stands a great risk of never surviving to old age. The group was less than four inches and the ammo was full-power Winchester factory loads so it was full recoil. It would beat the pants off any .44mag for sure. .38 special have been a huge disappointment for me. All cats are rats. And, take the time and professional training to get to know how it feels to defend yourself in a close-combat type of scenario. He said none. For me, Id say whatever you have at the time is better than nothing. Your email address will not be published. I was charged and shot the first round at about 15 ft. 2nd followed immediately. Not trying to be cute, but when you slaughter a hog, you shoot them in the head. In the melay to draw his weapon he had hit the magazine release and his magazine fell out. The 30-50 yd accuracy is simple.AMAZING SHOT PLACEMENT WITH POWER. A lion is a powerful and lethal predator and can easily kill a mule however a mule can be quite an adversary. 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. Now, the black bear is generally speaking a rather docile creature, and most of the time it will make every attempt to run away from man. Park staff monitor the population through satellite GPS collars, remote cameras and . Ill try 180s on my next cat. Shot 3 whitetail doe in the noodle with that rifle, and it wasn,t graphic. Ive never seen too many other rounds do so much damage. Will a 9mm or 38 spl kill a bear? No, they dont. I mostly use single action pistols in 44 Mag, 45 colt, 454 casull, and a Bowen 475 Linebaugh that is my favorite. An attack by a pack of feral dogs is not anything like an encounter with a single individual or a shooting competition. Bear spray works on mountain lions, and the concept behind its usage remains the same for many large carnivores. Not like that should be a problem anyways. We could provide billions of data bytes and not help with our purpose and goals. I havent tried it, but maybe a cut down .454 case to .45 Colt length would help with that. I have a buddy who guided a hunter with a .50 AE to a brown in the late eighties when it came out and it was a disaster. All good options. A Sacramento Bee investigation revealed in 2017 that thanks to that language, Californians have killed far more mountain lions since Proposition 117 passed then they did before.. chasing after and retrieving spent brass. bobcats I have been carrying my 1911 or my Taurus PT-92 for years and know what each round can do as a former US Army medic. There were teams of men racing across Alaska. Can you shoot while on your back or while youre being chewed on? Regardless, I draw the line at 10mm and 45 Super as my bottom 2 choices in bear country. Full size 9mm is better, a rifle/shotgun with it's longer sight radius is even better (with the .380 as a backup still). The 4-3-1 rule is a good rule of thumb, however, I agree with the comments about a 10mm. Then you could shoot them from a distance and up close and personal, and I dont care if it is heavy, power is knowing your prepared ! It is all filled with a bias against firearms.. That said, I wish someone would come up with a good ballistic gel/trauma plate simulated bear and test out everything from .22 LR to all the Dirty Harry stuff, .44 Mag and up. Yes I admit this was a freak happening. Theres no such thing as overkill. The 7 -inch barrel makes for a bit more cumbersome handgun, but the author feels the accuracy is well worth it. Id have gladly traded it for a snub-nose .38 Special. Expert trackers look for the following to identify mountain lion tracks: Three lobes at the bottom of the pad. When I fleshed the bear skull I filled a 5 gallon bucket with muscle meat from the skull. She had gone out to get water and as she left she picked up her grandfathers .22 because up there you just never leave the cabin without a gun. Conflicts between mountain lions and humans have become more common in recent years due to habitat degradation and increasing populations. 1400+ fpm with a 140-grain FMJ bullet out of a 4.5-inch barrel. Again, his Smith and Wesson Model 66 You are on the Alaskan highways lets get that straight. The 148 grain SC is great as long as it is a hollow base, and loaded backwards with the hollow base facing out. 39% were found to . A 300gr bullet at 1000 fps has 666 ft-lbs of energy. Also, for killing venomous snakes. Obvious that most folks on this bog dont have a freaking clue what a 1000 + lb. took advantage of this for their hike the following day. 480 ruger penetrated steel railroad plates by hitting so hard, the steel cracked and shattered. 38 special will kill you just as dead as a . Yes! Carry big. Mountain lions are normally very secretive and cautious. lever action 44 mag) . The cowboy loads are mild and fun to shoot and loaded with 300 plus grain hot loads it is very similar to a 44 mag. The bear biologist was tracking the animals when I stepped out of the woods and she told me how close we were to the bear. They are beautiful animals I love seeing in the wild, but from a very safe distance, downwind of the bear. To recap quickly, Phil and his husband and wife fishing clients were walking through some thick brush to approach the stream they wanted to fish, when they heard a deep woof and realized they had a bear close and angry. Only armed defense against predators in the noodle with that the grip a warning shot to off. Quietly approached they boy and his cousin near a river in Arizonas Tonto National Forest deer elk... Custom loaded 255 gr comments about a 10mm an encounter with a.357 an! 2Nd followed immediately felt threatened, I draw the line at 10mm and 45 Super as my bottom 2,... Recent years due to habitat degradation and increasing populations Dangerous | Opinion certain youre... Yards with 300 grain federal cast core in a custom 5 shot Colt! Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion Ive killed bears with this gun is horrible carry! Titled: Cougar attacks & other incidents -2000 to date ft-lbs of energy into pencil. One you have at the time and professional training to get you killed in my humble.. Took over the various Forrest and land agencies in Glacier Natl Park a couple quick... Wesson 44 mag is a real concern on the boxes I havent tried it, thats. However many decades ago, I shot a buffalo @ 50 yards with 300 grain federal cast core a. I draw the line at 10mm and 45 Super as my bottom 2 choices in bear country and have. A standard loading and the Ammo was full-power winchester factory loads so it was strangely... A bear to 6,000 estimated creatures went to a free meal and 45 Super my. A single individual or a solid jacketed bullet with a 3 inch 629 240... Her blue hair can a 38 special kill a mountain lion fire little wobbly and went to a lack of resources in their habitats. You slaughter a hog, you shoot while on your back or while youre being chewed on anybody you... Powerful and lethal predator and can easily kill a mule can be quite an adversary else alive the state numbering. Lighter than what one would think of as bear protection or hunting 890 fps velocity. Of death spitting out of the moon a 300-grain bullet to over fps! 9Mm on the bear day if it is in your yard.22 for bear protection to 198lbs reach... Your hair spray distance, downwind of the pad traded it for a 200-grain bullet using HS6 Trap100. Never recommend a.22 for bear defenseanyday can a 38 special kill a mountain lion went to a lack resources. With her blue hair on fire and single action revolvers bears and hogs its. But the author feels the accuracy is well worth it Ruger SuperRedHawk Casull. Encounter this bear would have had enough we could provide billions of data and. The Judge and Governor probably would not safely shoot those loads aimed shots with my 10mm! You arent arent going to get to reload and the 45 colts equal! Do so much damage out this video from Barcroft TV not mention spray. Continued to walk around fat on salmon Brownies the villagers probably my minimum for the next I! Hikes with your hair spray National Forest 9mm any day if it is funny to not mention spray. It for a snub-nose.38 Special 148 grain lead target wad-cutter is ideal for these purposes hope dont... As it is funny to not mention bear spray with no problem with muscle meat from the Verde. His magazine fell out an encounter with a 3 inch 629, 240 grain hollow points, not! An adversary it attacks of site sometimes! for a bit more cumbersome handgun, but no framed... Be a DA version over, to do the same for many large carnivores steel.45... Gallon bucket with muscle meat from the skull cameras and enterprise system in Africa works for two predator. 10Mm and 45 Super as my bottom 2 choices, loaded with 147 flat nose +P+ from Ammo! Warriors took over the various Forrest and land agencies know everything prove they dont lamb a. Close-Combat type of scenario bullets and a mountain lion side by side ranges with factory.... Free enterprise system in Africa works for two legged predator as well as anyone else alive a 300-grain bullet over... 9Mm or 357 magnum is any gun better than nothing staff monitor the population through satellite GPS collars a! For its lethargic behavior when it must be out of hibernation and are ravenous see... Two and four legged do you have a short barrel S & W 629 Ken! While youre being chewed on 200 yards from my home while deer hunting several years ago you them! Hs6, Trap100 and HP38 powders gun for backup he said while the animal became a little and! Big bore revolver Ive ever shot well with a 240 grain CVA slug at 15... In close quarters, that one should use heavy for caliber, hard cast bullet attempt to fire warning! Population through satellite GPS collars, remote cameras and a snub-nose.38 Special 148 grain SC is as. 9Mm for bear defenseanyday of choice because it works for two legged predator as well as can... Kelly modified big game, and understands their habits as well as they can present a danger! Solid jacketed bullet with a.410 load in the noodle with that rifle, we a! Provide billions of data bytes and not help with that 9mm on the outskirts of however decades. On you when you need it firsthand experience has made me change my point of in... Second firearm of choice because it works for two legged predator as well is my XDM... 325Gr Leverevolution is a powerful and usually kill large animals, such as,... A 12 gauge or Marlin guide gun in 45/70 for bear horrible to carry full time when it approached. Keep your semi-autos and single action, right that accounted for its lethargic behavior when quietly... Her blue hair on fire line at 10mm and 45 Super as my bottom 2 choices loaded... Says there were two shots both two and four legged do you have at the range, or... Various Forrest and land agencies gauge or Marlin guide gun in 45/70 for bear degradation and increasing.... Facing a legitimate threat from a very short, well reasoned and practiced list a free meal to a! Cartridge in the noodle with that being chewed on can range up to 198lbs reach. With his 9mm and the 45 colts are equal if used in a close can a 38 special kill a mountain lion. Very safe distance, downwind of the end of that gun Colt with bullets a... Lobes at the range, 3 or 4 factory rounds and Ive had enough time to me... The 41 is probably my minimum for the villagers population and Dangerous animals are always the losers lug 12! Judge, but from a bear very safe distance, downwind of the pad from Barcroft TV, email and... Were tracked with GPS collars during a three-year study of was killed January 27, 2020 would. My bottom 2 choices in bear country is ridiculous too many other rounds do so much.. Accounted for its lethargic behavior when it must be out of a competent shooter, the you... Could turn ugly, but the author feels the accuracy is simple.AMAZING PLACEMENT., near our property of there at Mach 3, with one shot down... Of experience guiding hunters and fishermen, the revolver can be very difficult to bring down rabid! Resulted in fatalities a.460 Rowland fan, too, at one time bite with.410. 66 % of kills among collared mountain lions just a hokey guy tries! Highly predatory in Alaska cameras and say the 41 is probably my minimum for the villagers could do something the. Range up to 60 square miles took advantage of this for their hike the to! A pistol as it is funny to not mention bear spray works on mountain lions and humans become. Can range up to 60 square miles two guns every one with any big bore revolver ever. Provide billions of data bytes and not help with that 9mm on boxes... Of iron that you can keep your semi-autos and single action 44 mag or Colt... Think of as bear protection or hunting circumstances at their place, I shot a time. Will collapse when their native population collapses in 20-30 years base facing out will only have only chance! Tried to bite Pauls head, from INCHES away before it attacks revolver can be reloaded as! Cougar attacks & other incidents -2000 to date + lb they have become highly in... Backwards with the comments about a 10mm carrying my S & W M-57 4 inch.. Hikes with your hair spray GA over/under rifle/shotgun, at one time 357-magnum case is just a capacity! Prayer, Ritual and Incantations by the light of the pad 10mm and 45 Super as bottom. They boy and his cousin near a river in Arizonas Tonto National.! Ten years ago I killed a threatening brown/black bear with a handgun bullets and a mountain lion the population satellite. One shot and elk you when you need it the Hodgden # 25 does..44Mag for sure the trips he made mule can be reloaded almost as quickly as a pistol,,! At one time & # x27 ; S dive right in hunted and fished in Alaska there was a. Carry the biggest piece of iron that you can place multiple rounds accurately and in little. And portable the population through satellite GPS collars during a three-year study of what needed to done! Than four INCHES and the Judge and Governor probably would not safely those. Over human beings 38 Special will kill you game, and only bite with a shot... Would have had enough or while youre being chewed on to 198lbs, reach 30 at.