Bear Attack in Wexford County (MI)

9 and 10 news ^ | 8-16-2014

[stevem]

So what do you want to do, shoot target practice or hunt and kill a bear?

I've canoed in bear country many times. This is the first (or second time, first unknowingly) time I have been somewhere that bear cabined in people country. It works for me if a bear goes his or her way and I go mine.

[stevem]

You don’t want to shoot bears with hollow point.

This is interesting. Thanks for the info. Since I'm not Clint Eastwood in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly I don't think I could reload fast enough in an emergency to get the job done, let's pray Ursa Major lets me finish playing in the future before he or she comes to explore our territory.

[stevem]

I forgot to mention; don’t shoot souped up loads in your .45 unless it is a Ruger Blackhawk.

Mine is a Blackhawk. I reload my own rounds for it. I once used three extra grains of powder for one of mine for an experiment. I shot a 265 grain target projectile through a 2 X 4 and about an inch into the next one before the round was spent.

I always wanted a single action .45. It's the finest toy I ever owned. I call it my Peacemaker.

[stevem]

And of course, anyone defending against a bear attack must be capable of the required calmness and accuracy.

I used to be better than not bad at trap shooting. I was never worth a darn at skeet. In my early thirties I lost depth perception that I first noticed hurt my ability to play any permutation of baseball. Shooting my Dad's twelve gauge with any meaning was beyond the pale. Trying to use it during an adrenaline rush would be fatal...for me.

Reports from louder firearms (louder than .22 LR) fired in the direction of bears tend to scare bears into running away most of the time but not always.

Loud noises do scare off the black bear. I think a .22 long rifle is loud enough. I'd rather never test that where I can actually see the bear on the same general turf where I am.

[old curmudgeon]

I carry this in a 5-3/4 Blackhawk when in the woods.

If you don’t stop a bear with 6 shots, reloading is not going to happen.

I believe in the theory that a big enough caliber, heavy enough bullet put in the right place is the way to end a problem.

I carry the hollow points when in town.

Depending on how I am dressed, usually in either the Blackhawk or a Redhawk but sometimes dress and destination require a Ruger P101 .357, also loaded with Cor-Bon hollow points. Only 5 shots but small enough to conceal from the most prying eyes.

For instance, I would not carry a portable cannon to the doctor’s office.

I don’t reload. I have too many time consuming hobbies to add that to the list.

If you study their info, you can duplicate their loads.