Bears in the woods... (Soldotna: live, to eat, trailer)

[starlite9]

Got a question asked of me if a .44 mag pistol could stop a charging bear, it has for me, but this email I got this morning from a friend where a .454 was used...

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!

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!

Talk to ya soon, -Greg

Soldotna, AK

[Crossfire600]

Saw an article in the local paper down there. Had a pick of the bear and it looked like a winter bear. Old boar, scruffy looking etc.. Looked like it wouldn't have made it through the winter. As far as 44 mag loads go I carry a 44 with 300 grain back packers. I don't go anywhere out and about with out it.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Yup, ole friend Adrenalin, coming down off of the stuff gets me vibrating at about 60 cycles per sec, I get wide eyed and talk a mile a minute on a purely random, stream of consciousness rant. I probably wouldn't sleep for two days. I believe it to be my primary addiction.

[RayinAK]

I too have a .454 Casull, but made by Freedom Arms. I load it with 335-grain Corborn hard-cast ammo. That's the kind of bullet I would recommend if the handgun was a .44 Magnum. Hard-cast is the way to go.

[BudinAk]

I also have a 454 Casull. I handload my rounds with 360gr hard-cast bullets. I still have a 44 Magnum, but ever since I got the Casull that is the one I pack in the woods. There are bigger guns nowadays, but the Casull will do the job...

Bud

[starlite9]

Pictures didn't come though, so here is another shot at them to go with the story.

[Moose Whisperer]

I still carry my S&W scandium/titanium 44 mag with Buffalo Bore hard-casts. I like it because it's light, but man it kicks like a son of a...

Not an everyday plinking gun for sure!

[Crossfire600]

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

I still carry my S&W scandium/titanium 44 mag with Buffalo Bore hard-casts. I like it because it's light, but man it kicks like a son of a...

Not an everyday plinking gun for sure!

Same here, I carry a titanium and it kicks like a mule with the backpacker hard casts in it.. I somehow doubt I would feel it in the middle of an attack through.

[Moose Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Crossfire600

I somehow doubt I would feel it in the middle of an attack through.

Maybe hand it to the bear and let him fire it!

[akvarmit]

Originally Posted by Moose Whisperer

Maybe hand it to the bear and let him fire it!

I figure I can send the first rounds down through the trees and use the last one on myself. With that said, I can shoot the bulls eye out of a standard pistol target at 7 meters. Now, add a charging bear that wants to eat me to that equation and well.. ding ding dinners on

Oopss using the wifes laptop... Crossfire600