Bear attack + semiauto handgun = bad idea?

[LouAvul]

The title is a teaser. But this particular semiauto handgun was apparantly a bad choice.

This was a story about a guy who was attacked by a bear. The bear had already been wounded and this guy is carrying a 45 auto (??!!) as backup. He fires three shots into the bear and then accidentally pops the mag. (Left handed shooter/right handed gun and all.)

Anyway, from here:

Bear attack

.............it says,

[QUOTE]A lefty, Wyckoff had accidentally hit the release that sent the clip for the gun, made for a right-handed grip, flying as he struggled with the bear on May 31. [/QUOTE]

I tried to call the guy but his number has been disconnected. My guess is that the anti hunting fools (of which there are plenty in Oregon) harrassed him.

I'm a southpaw shooter and carry a semiauto. I'd sure like to know exactly what gun he was carrying and if the gun had any mods done to it. (Like maybe an aftermarket mag release.)

Plus, different handguns have different types of springs on their mag release button, right? Leaf vs. coil?

Anybody know anymore about this story?

[Woebama]

7 shots to kill a bear.

Rough beast to hunt.

[JoeDetweiler]

Your link has a picture of the handgun in question. It’s a Llama........

[Jeff Head]

I take a dog, and carry a rifle and a .44 mag handgun into the field around here in Idaho. The .44 is the backup. The dog is the most effective at avoiding a confrontation...and then if there is one, most often it will be the dog and the bear, freeing me up to shoot.

[G Larry]

The difference here is that he intended to encounter a wounded bear with only a .45.

In that circumstance I would only consider a .357 or .44 revolver.

When I’m fishing in bear country I carry a .45 just in case, and because it conceals better.

[LouAvul]

thanx.

I didn’t know what brand. I wonder if they’ve had issues w/the mag release spring?

[smokingfrog]

Wow. That guy is lucky to be alive. Maybe he should trade in his .45 auto for a high caliber magnum revolver.

[Orange1998]

"After the attack, Wyckoff sat still,"

Bear tracker gets cornered by wounded bear and now he is the victim??

[Vinnie]

A lefty, Wyckoff had accidentally hit the release that sent the clip for the gun, made for a right-handed grip, flying as he struggled with the bear on May 31

One of the primary reasons I think a revolver is THE handgun to have in potential extreme stress situations.
Including bedside. No, especially bedside.

[Cold Heart]

A local guide in Glide insists his clients use magnum rifles only. This bear was initially hit with a .338.

Very rough beast indeed.

[Lockbar]

"One of the primary reasons I think a revolver is THE handgun to have in potential extreme stress situations. Including bedside. No, especially bedside."

You are absolutely correct. I own a large selection of semi-auto .45's and 9mm's, but I have a S&W Model 10 .38 spl. as my "at home" emergency gun.

[Shooter 2.5]

Llama Mini-Max and as a standard feature, they included a copy of ParaOrdances’s stupid extended magazine release.

The 1911 is a perfect firearm for a left handed person as long as a ambidextrious safety is added and the right handed people leave the rest alone.

[A. Patriot]

If I was tracking a wounded bear, I would have a semi-auto rifle, with a revolver as backup. 45’s are a great man-stopper, but 44 mags are better for large animals.

[Pontiac]

This Desert Eagle 6" pistol can be purchased through your favorite local dealer in either a .50AE, .44 or .357 caliber.

Photo shown is of the Desert Eagle .50AE pistol, the .44 Magnum Desert Eagle Mark XIX pistols will have a fluted barrel (one flute on each side of barrel) and the .357 Magnum Desert Eagle Mark XIX pistols will have a fluted barrel (one flute on each side of barrel and one flute on top).

[Shooter 2.5]

A revolver is a choice among new shooters until they find out they can’t hit anything using double action under stress.

[Squantos]

Nope but my hunting “backup” / “CHL” rig when in the lower 48 is a Glock 10mm using a staggered load of JHP an jacketed heavy ball.

I hunt with a ruger number 1 in 45-70 so the glock is more CHL than official backup for any dangerous game.

My other fishing / hunting or camping handgun I carry sometimes is a SW 329PD in 44 mag with 240gr JHPs from Buffalo Bore. Low recoil an safe for that lightweight rig.

[wardaddy]

ok for blacks

big wheelgun for browns

[wagglebee]

This Desert Eagle 6" pistol can be purchased through your favorite local dealer in either a .50AE, .44 or .357 caliber.

And weighs almost as much as a rifle.

[Pontiac]

And weighs almost as much as a rifle.

. If you are going bear hunting these days you probably have wheeled transportation.

My opinion; if it saves me from getting my groin chewed on by a annoyed bear its worth its weight in gold (and on my hip).

[LeGrande]

Never bring a handgun to a bear fight. A man has to know his guns limitations : )

I have a sad story, I was told to put down a diseased and dying cow. I led it to where I wanted it to die and then put a 44 mag slug right between the eyes. The Cow jerked its head but otherwise was unaffected. I repeated the shot with the same effect. Then I walked around to its side and put a bullet in its heart, it probably took the cow 5 minutes to die after that shot.

Since then I have done a little research and lets just say that I am very unimpressed with any handguns ability to kill anything. If a handgun is used the most important thing is bullet placement. Period.