Posted on 05/10/2010 4:39:18 AM PDT by Second Amendment First
CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- The grizzly took Jerry Ruth by surprise, bursting from thick brush and biting his jaw almost completely off.
On the ground and barely able to see, Ruth grabbed his .41 Magnum-caliber revolver and started shooting. The third bullet pierced the bear's heart and spinal cord, killing it from 25 feet.
"I'm glad I was armed with a firearm and I'm glad I was able to shoot straight," said Ruth, attacked last July 19 a couple miles from his home not far from Yellowstone National Park.
Ruth's gun quite possibly saved his life. It also provided fodder for a long-standing debate about whether a gun or bear spray is better in fending off a grizzly attack.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I had not previously heard of a .41 Magnum, learned something new. I doubt I will carry my .44 magnum while hiking, since it has a 9.5" barrel, probably my single action .45 colt.
Whether it is a bear or a criminal, there will always be complications if you shoot one. Better that than dead.
“I had not previously heard of a .41 Magnum, learned something new.”
It’s not new. Smith and Wesson came out with a handgun in this caliber (Model 57) sometime in the 1950s. It’s about like a weaker .44 Magnum.
I was in Cody, WY 3 days after this incident last July.
Fished the N. Fork of the Shoshone River with my Model 686 S&W .357, in a shoulder holster. (4” barrel & 200 grain rounds)
My brother has pics of 2 separate Griz from inside 100 yards.
I figured it had been around for a while, I just had not heard of it before. Must not be common.
We all know the joke about identifying bear scat —
It has small bells in it and smells like bear repellent spray.
LOTS of smart people have written numerous good articles about carrying a “dangerous game” pistol while out in bear territory. (search GUNSandAMMO or HANDGUNS .com for articles)
We don’t have grizzlies in the Smokies, but we do have coyote and bear. I carry a P220/ .45ACP just in case, (especially in the Spring) while hiking in the Nantahala. The bear we have also are a little too comfortable with humans — being trash raiders.
It’s nice to see the correct issues being discussed regarding guns, for a change. I get sick of having to hear about wild-west shootouts popping up everywhere (especially because they only very rarely ever popped up in the “Wild West”).
As to this subject: Sorry, but humans were not put on this planet to cower to some animal with an attitude. If a bear wants take us on, he has to take on our weapons - like any other predator. But, in the end, the bears will likely get the message, much as deer have - and they’ll leave us alone.
it was suppose to be a hotter cartridge for the Cop whose .357 magnum was not enough firepower...
it never was taken to heart by cops...and in fact cops now use much less powerfull guns than the .357 magnum...they need those 20 round 9mm so they can spray and pray as opposed to taking aimed shots....
the .41 magnum has a minor following amongst hunters..but I doubt if any manufacturers are still chambering new guns in this caliber....
Used to have a Taurus Tracker in 41 Mag. I had to sell it a couple years ago. I still have some Corbon 250 GR hard cast ammo for it, perfect load for big nasty critters. I suppose I’ll just have to buy another one sometime. Darn.
I’ll have to check Wyoming reciprocals for CC. My previous expired and was not from my resident state. Colorado changed their law last year; the permit must be from your state of residence. Not sure about Wyoming.
How do keep safe when in bear country? Its best to make noise, carry pepper spray and carry little bells to help with the constant noise.
You need to act a little different when confronted by a black bear vs a grizzly so be prepared. One way to be prepared is to watch for bear scat.
Black bear scat usually has lots of undigested berries.
Grizzly scat usually smells like pepper spray and has little bells in it.
Thanks for the info. Elmer Keith, now there’s a real legend.
From the article “For one thing, shooting a gun in a national park is still against the law.” ... even though carrying it is now legal.
WTF? I go plinking in the national forest next to our cabin all the time.
hmmmm.
I didn’t realize I was an unintentional law breaker. Gotta look this up.
The difference is “park” vs “forest”.
I carry my 5.5” single action ruger ‘old model’ bisley vaquero in bear country....
it is hotrodded to much hotter velocities than a colt or colt clone can handle...the energy is much greater than my 7.5” Ruger Redhawk .44 mag can muster....
it WILL blow up a colt or clone...but the data is out there....and is safe in Ruger Blackhawks or old model Vaqueros..
LOL, see my post #5 ;-p
FWIW, the cans of bear spray I’ve seen for sale in Bass Pro Shop (with sufficient oil to REALLY deter a bear) are too big to conveniently carry for the duration of a hike. Didn’t see a holster for it either ;-)
Too easy to just carry the .45 and an extra mag. (In NC you can open carry in the woods if you are permitted for CCW)
I’ve seen a grizzly in Yellowstone as well. He was a couple hundred yards away. We watched him for about ten minutes as he ambled along the edge of a clearing. I don’t care to ever get any closer than that to one, ever.
Wyoming = AK*, AL, AZ, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NH, NM, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT*
Scroll down to “CCW Reciprocity Guide”
I hope you are right. I’ll see if I can find the text of the law or look it up on georgiacarry.org.
The land next to us is the Nantahala National FOREST.
So, let’s see if we have this right. WE are now permitted to CARRY (with CCW) in PARKS, but absolutely are a law breaker IF we discharge the weapon, even with justification?!? THAT’s what I wanna confirm.
S&W model 57, 58, 657, and 357 Night Guard are still listed as available in 41 mag.
good choice by S&W
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