New law pits guns vs. grizzlies in national parks

Washington Post ^ | May 10, 2010 | MEAD GRUVER

[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.

[Second Amendment First]

I may have to go shopping for a .44 mag in a shorter barrel. My .45 lc is a Beretta Stampede.

[Bean Counter]

[PapaBear3625]

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.

In most cities, it is thoroughly against the law to fire a gun on the public streets UNLESS needed to protect your life. I believe it's the same deal in parks -- shooting without a damn good reason will get you in trouble.

[ltc8k6]

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu58.htm

[Wpin]

“I’ve been to Yellowstone numerous times and have seen several grizzlies, always a few hundred yards away while wading in rivers. Not sure how I will carry while fishing since my gun would be concealed under waders and vest. Probably use spray then.”

Invite a democrat, bear comes attacking just trip the democrat and leave the area...works better than spray.

[driftdiver]

Yeah I saw that I wasn’t the first.

I have a larger style one that comes in a holster. It does get a little heavy but no more than the backpack.

[Jonah Hex]

I usually carry a .357 snubby (S&W 340M&P)when I'm off in the backwoods of Virginia "in case". Yes, .357 Magnum in a revolver that size hurts like a sunnuvagun, but who cares about recoil pain in the middle of a close encounter?

[Vaquero]

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.

follow the 3 S's

Shoot

Shovel(or if the animal is too big cover with brush)

and
Shutup.

[meyer]

And - take your brass with you. Nothing says “we know who did it” like a fingerprint-laden empty brass laying on the ground near the place from which the shots were taken.

[mountainlion]

Ruger Super Redhawk with 320 grain hollow point loaded to the max is my bear load. Warning do not fire in house as you may never hear again.

[Graybeard58]

I don’t care to ever get any closer than that to one, ever.

You can safely go bear watching, just be sure to take someone along with you that you can out run.

[EternalVigilance]

Heh.

[Vaquero]

And - take your brass with you. Nothing says “we know who did it” like a fingerprint-laden empty brass laying on the ground near the place from which the shots were taken.

that is why I carry a revolver....unless you shoot all 6 rounds and have to reload, you carry your brass out with you.

[snoringbear]

“shooting without a damn good reason will get you in trouble.”

Hmmm, about to be eaten by a Grizzly would not qualify as a “damn good reason”? Just curious...

[Vaquero]

Ruger Super Redhawk with 320 grain hollow point loaded to the max is my bear load. Warning do not fire in house as you may never hear again.

.460 ruger???

or .44 magnum loaded with ‘Hammers of hell’ loads???...

myself???I carry my bisley vaquero in .45 colt hotrodded with .300grain hornady xtps to around 1400fps....

[OneWingedShark]

The thing that comes to mind when hearing “Bear Spray” is:
“Is it Honey & Deer-meat flavored/scented?”

[mountainlion]

.460 ruger???

I forgot to say 44 mag with 320 XTP to the max with the crimp on the last groove. I never notice the kick when game is involved. 330 Gr cast bullets are good practice. The 44 sepcial with 240 grain cast is a good round at the range but they do not like my smoke form the lube.

[PapaBear3625]

Did you read my first sentence? The part about “UNLESS needed to protect your life” ?

[Hillbillary]

Pfeifer-Zeliska .600 Nitro Express Magnum
$16,501 Each.
These .600 Nitro Express rounds sell from about $40 each! Of course the size of cartridge based ammunition can go up to an 88mm anti-tank round and beyond but as small arms go, these bullets/cartridges are colossal. Nitro Express in firearms terms applies to a cartridges charge or powder that in this instance is made by mixing nitroglycerine with the already explosive gunpowder to make a nitrocellulose compound which is then dried and becomes many times more explosive than the original gunpowder. With a Bullet Weight of 900 grains and a Muzzle Velocity 1950 fps, it produces Muzzle Energy of 7591 ft/lbs or 3 tons! The Pfeifer- Zeliska .600 Nitro Express Magnum is 8 times more powerful than a Smith and Wesson.44 magnum and 3 times more powerful than the Smith and Wesson .50 Magnum.

[FreedomPoster]

To Green extremists? No, not good enough.