Posted on 12/22/2024 5:14:36 AM PST by marktwain
During a crisp early Wednesday morning on October 15, 2003, near Fortine, Montana, James Beeman used a .410 shotgun to shoot and drop a charging grizzly bear at three feet.
James Beeman had been having problems with raccoons in the large chicken coop he had built, about 50 yards from his 3600 square foot home. At about 3:30 a.m., he heard an unusual noise, sort of a mew-mew, but he did not sense anything amiss. At 4:30 a.m., chaos erupted in the chicken coop.
The coop was 36×22 feet, with a floor 4 feet above ground level to allow the chicken droppings to fall to the ground for easy cleaning. It housed 250 chickens. A ramp ran up into the coop to allow access.
James was dressed in longjohn underwear. He got up and started to grab a 12 gauge shotgun. Thinking the disturbance was caused by raccoons, and not wanting to damage his chickens or coop more than necessary, he grabbed a .410 bolt action shotgun instead. The shotgun held three rounds of #7.5 bird shot. James put on footgear and a earflap hat. He had a headlamp on as he walked to the door of the chicken coop.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
‘spect the green to red transition was due to blood.
The eyes were not glowing red...they were glowing with lead.
My first round “up” in a 38Spl revolver is a “multiplex” 5 (or 3) lead pellet cartridge.
Fired first, it gives a moment to align one’s [second]
sight picture—while incapacitating the assailant’s aim and/or weapon.
Got my first gun when I was 10 or 12.
It was a 410 pump.
My dad told me it would be good for rabbits and squirrels.
Still got it.
That makes sense.
I had a favorite .410 but James has a good one! I loved mine. Never taken anything larger than a pheasant. If mine downed a huge bear it would set in a place of prominence in my home.
Awesome story.
James Beeman. Surprised he wasn’t carrying a pellet rifle.
This happened in 2003.
Yah, most ammo will kill. especially if you hit a vital spot.
Mind, the little ole 22long has killed more folk than any other.
When they had him in cuffs, the cops asked me if the rifle was loaded and I said, "No - but it will be of he comes back".
James said he was no relation to the owner of the famous Beeman pellet rifle line, at least that he knew of...
Taken out by .410 with birdshot. If there’s a Grizzly Hall of Shame that bear is in it.
When I lived in Alaska I would sportfish for halibut. When these flatfish get up around 50 pounds they can wreak havoc on the deck of a small boat so it is common practice to shoot them in the head, I used a ,410 “snakecharmer” that was a cheap stainless single shot which made it inherently safe in the tight confines of a boat. Of course they were still in the water when I dispatched them. One day I got the shells mixed up and used a slug instead of #7.5 shot. I probably would not have noticed except just after I gaffed the fish it flipped and I pulled the trigger as the muzzle was on the nose instead of between the eyes and the whole head peeled back like a banana. That was amusing and it taught me to leave the slugs on shore 🤪
Father-in-Law had a really nice 10ga. he would try to trick his friends with by putting a mag shell in as opposed to a standard 10ga. shell. That thing kicked like a damn mule and that’s NO exaggeration. Shot slugs out of it once; spent the better part of an hour looking for my shoulder back in the parking lot.
Stories of our youth :-).
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