Posted on 12/05/2020 2:17:22 AM PST by marktwain
While researching pistol uses in self-defense from bears, I noticed the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) bear mortality database listed a self-defense killing on 8 August of 2009. The database did not indicate what kind of firearm might have been used.
Years later, Bridger Petrini gave me a lead to the person who had been attacked and had defended himself with a .41 magnum single-action revolver.
Tanner Allen, who lives in Wyoming, is an accomplished hunting dog trainer and dog breeder. His hounds are sought after by big game hunters to improve their packs. They are noted for their ability to trail and hold mountain lions and bears.
In August of 2009, Tanner was not seeking bears or mountain lions. He had drawn a coveted permit to hunt mountain sheep. It was a lifelong dream to harvest a trophy ram.
He took one dog with him, a bitch named Ovada, who was a great mountain lion dog, and a favored pet. Tanner took his mules and gear to the Shoshone National Forest, to Ishawooa Mesa, on 7 August, 2009, to scout the mountains for the trophy ram he sought.
Early the next morning, Tanner woke, and before breakfast, accompanied by his dog, Ovada, he prepared to glass for sheep. He had seen signs of bears digging for roots on the mesa. Almost as an afterthought, he strapped on his Ruger Blackhawk .41 mag in its holster and pistol belt. The pistol was loaded with five rounds of factory ammunition. Loops on the belt held six more rounds. To Tanner, the pistol and rounds were another piece of gear. He wasn't known for babying himself or his gear. His friends had kidded him about his old and abused
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
The 41mag is a good cartridge I like mine and have shot several bears with it.
The 44mag has a much better selection of handguns, factory ammo and reloading component’s theses days.
There are many handguns that well work for defense against bears.
My preference is a good double action stainless revolver in 357mag, 41mag or 44mag. With a bullet that has the best penetration for the caliber.
But I wouldn’t feel to bad about carrying a high quality auto loader in a appropriate caliber.
More so in black bear country.
A 10mm seems to work very well for a lot of people.
As been shown any good handgun is better then no handgun.
Personnel preference has far more to do with the selection. Then actual performance.
And by far a good handgun is far more relievable then bear spray. Is easily reloaded works in a lot of weather conditions and at farther distances.
relievable should be reliable
I thought this was about Ditka’s Monsters of the Midway.
Back when the NFL was about playing football.
Is .45 ACP marginally successful against black bears or would that just make an attacking bear angrier?
S&W seems to have made a fair amount of revolvers in .41 caliber, IIRC.
CC
Muzzle energy is a function of velocity squared. The 10mm has an edge over the .45 in velocity and it packs the punch of a .41 magnum. It also comes in double stack autos which can carry more rounds than a .41 mag or usually a .45 auto.
If I had to use a .45, I would use the light loads which pack more velocity.
I think if the gun is rated for .45 Super I would go that route. Some of the H&K stuff is rated from the factory.
I had a Ruger Blackhawk 41 Mag in the 60’s. Loved that gun. Still have the RCBS dies for reloading. Also have 218 Bee and several other rare calibers.
The latest count is eight cases where the .45 was used. All were successful.
Four black bear, four grizzly bear.
http://kitsunesden.xyz/Firearms/Auto-Pistols/Coonan_41.htm
41magnum on a 1911 frame
A fire breathing sight to behold!
...if you can find one
Local guy shot a blackie in the head with a .40 S&W to good effect. It was close....had his thigh in it’s mouth.
The S&W Model 29 and Ruger Blackhawk in .44 magnum are both nice guns. However, if suddenly charged from 30 yards or less, there won't be time for more than 2 aimed, ultra-high stress shots from a .44 mag.
By the time I get the second shot off, the bear might be close enough to be in physical contact.
The .44 mag in this situation is not a stopping round. Yes, a lucky hit to a leg/paw joint, nose, mouth, or eye will stop the charge and allow the animal to be finished off with followup shots but hits in the same places by smaller calibers can have the same stopping effect.
Something even as small as the FN Five-n-Seven. 20+1 capacity, non-expanding bullets and low recoil gives you a swarm of loud hornets in your hand.
The combination of noise and multiple stinging hits will cause the bear to realize you aren't the easy target you were mistaken for, reassess the situation and break off the attack... or at least that's how I see it from my comfortable armchair far away from grizzly/brown/kodiak/polar bear country.
The only good bear is a dead bear.
Use full metal jacketed bullets for penetration, and it could perform well as a bear defense gun.
Light, low recoil, reasonably accurate, good penetration. Plenty of penetration to reach the brain through the skull. It would probably stop the bear if it hit the spine.
The .223 cartridge has worked well in the AR15 platform as a bear stopper, but it has much more velocity and power than the FiveSeven from a pistol.
Old timer one told me that if you are packing for bear, the caliber better start with a 4
That can't be good...
Yep.
Use full metal jacketed bullets for penetration, and it could perform well as a bear defense gun.
I don't see how bone is different from body armor the Five-n-Seven was designed to penetrate.
Light, low recoil, reasonably accurate, good penetration. Plenty of penetration to reach the brain through the skull. It would probably stop the bear if it hit the spine.
Also shoulder joint, knee joint, ankle joint, nose, eye and mouth/jaw. A hit to any of these places will stop a charge even though they may not be immediately fatal.
The low recoil-high capacity 5-n-7 greatly increases the probability of a disabling hit to one of these areas when rapidly point shooting.
When in bear country I used to carry a S&W M629 in 44Mag. I did not carry a Glock 23 in 40S&W which is my daily carry weapon. That old timer needs an update on cartridges and calibers. (I'm over 67. Does that make me an "old timer" 😆)
Today I would carry a Rem870 Police Magnum loaded with slug forward mounted in a Giles Wilderness Tactical Sling. Yes, two long guns are a heavier load. But I want to prolong the few years I have left. And the added effort keeps me fit.
“Back when the NFL was about playing football.”
Those were the days. We should be thankful that we were around during that time period, because I don’t think we will ever see them again.
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