[SilentSoul]

That is why I bought the .40 but I will not lie, it took a lot of self control not to buy the .500 bear attack kit, that thing is a monster i would love to shoot one once.

[samuel]

They are big.I dont own one but have fired a long barreled one a few times.They are quite accurate.I dont know anything about the short barrel except what I have read.They advised not trying a double tap target practicing but I would try a triple tap if dangerous game were after me. sam.

[SilentSoul]

After filling my pants, I would probably empty the cylinder.

[edaleuwg]

Thanks everyone for the help. I was just curious what others thought. I spent a lot of my spare time in camping and hiking in the N. GA mountains and in NC. I've personally seen some pretty large bears, plenty of wild hogs, coyote, and bobcats. I know that the bear population in GA is on the rise and just recently there was a 581 pounder killed. I just want to rest asure that when I'm lying in my tent one night and a bear that sizes walks up I can take care of him if need be.

[Triggerjerk]

Well, the question remains for you to answer. How big a gun can you handle? I'm a weenie and would not feel comfortable with a .44 magnum. I'd settle for a .44 or .45 in a standard loads. What are you leaning toward?

[samuel]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Triggerjerk

It would be interesting to have acurate data on whether more people get seriously injured or killed by big dogs or bears every year. I'd bet on big dogs. Most of us probably need something for a Rotty, not a bear.

A .500 or .454 will kill a rotweiller too.All you have to do is get in close and drop it on their head.Be sure it is loaded for more weight. sam.

[Triggerjerk]

Quote:       Originally Posted by samuel

A .500 or .454 will kill a rotweiller too.All you have to do is get in close and drop it on their head.Be sure it is loaded for more weight. sam.

LOL TJ

[ezearln]

As I've said more than once any animal on the attack is going to exponentially harder to kill that one shot from ambush who is unaware of your presence. This is true from africa to Siberia and everywhere in between, when discussing stopping a bear or hog that is on the attack you are dealing with heavy muscle, thick bone and a ton of adrenelin you need a handgun that you are completely competant with firing the most powerful cartridge you can handle under stress. Even a small blackie is many times more powerful than the largest of men and takes a bit more killing than many believe. A base minimum I would consider would be a .41 Magnum with heavy cast bullets sitting atop the hottest most accurate load I could work up. I'd prefer a .44 or .454 better but the .41 Mag is the barest minimum I'd consider.

[SilverRun]

Quote:       Originally Posted by ezearln

As I've said more than once any animal on the attack is going to exponentially harder to kill that one shot from ambush who is unaware of your presence. This is true from africa to Siberia and everywhere in between, when discussing stopping a bear or hog that is on the attack you are dealing with heavy muscle, thick bone and a ton of adrenelin you need a handgun that you are completely competant with firing the most powerful cartridge you can handle under stress. Even a small blackie is many times more powerful than the largest of men and takes a bit more killing than many believe. A base minimum I would consider would be a .41 Magnum with heavy cast bullets sitting atop the hottest most accurate load I could work up. I'd prefer a .44 or .454 better but the .41 Mag is the barest minimum I'd consider.

This is true. Once the adrenaline gets pumping it is hard to stop charging critters. My only experince (outside of dogs) with a charging animal was a hog (boar with big tusk!). I shot him straight down the middle at 15 yards with a 7 mag. It changed his mind but he didn't die for another 75 yards!

I recommended the redhawk .454 because it was still small enough to carry, but has a little more punch than a .44 mag. You could always use .45 colts if you couldn't stand the .454. The S&W X frames are just too dang big. Although, I have never shoot a 500 S&W, my buddy who is a gun dealer (FFL) and a large guy fired only 4 rounds through one he took in on trade and decided he didn't want any more. That is enough to give me pause. By the way it was the full size .500 not one of the snubbies.

[billy]

It should be noted that black bear biologists consider black bear attacks as very rare. Fewer people are killed by black bears than slip and fall accidents, traffic accidents and lightning

There were about 52 recorded deaths due to black bears between 1900 and 2003 and about 50 deaths due to brown bears and about 5 due to polar bears in the same period

from 2004 to 2007there were 86 fatal dog attacks in the u.s.
i went googlin

[billy]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Triggerjerk

Well, the question remains for you to answer. How big a gun can you handle? I'm a weenie and would not feel comfortable with a .44 magnum. I'd settle for a .44 or .45 in a standard loads. What are you leaning toward?

a true blue dyed in the wool weenie would NEVER fess up like that!

[ezearln]

True Black Bear attacks are rare, BUT they are occuring with greater frequency each year. If you look at recent statistics you can see the upwards trend, part of this is of course due to human activities ever deeper into bear habitat, part of it however is because of increases in bear populations and their learning to associate humans with an easy meal (camp and cabin raiding). The same is happening in the western states with the cougar reentering areas it once was common in. Bears, hogs, cougar, dogs (especially feral) are all potentially dangerous to humans. While we could spend a lifetime in the outdoors tromping through and never experience an attack, prudence demands we prepare for the worst rather than the best. Many years ago I was confronted by 2 feral dogs on BLM land in California while hiking along a fire road, fortunately I was dove hunting and in possession of a 12 ga shotgun which ended the argument fairly quick. That lesson taught me never to go far afield unarmed. I've only had that one serious incident in my outdoor life. I do not care for another yet I am as prepared as I can be if it does.

[Idaho Dave]

Interesting thoughtss. I live where we see bears/bear sign frequently. we never go into the woods unarmed. I have hunted and killed bears and seen them hunted and killed with everything from a .300 to a bow and arrow. I have seen them drop like a sack of potatoes or act like they got bit by a misquito. In general a bear isnt something easy to kill and when pissed off is very unpredictable and extreamly dangerous. So regardless of what caliber you choose make sure you can shoot several rounds quickly and accuratly. If you are shooting for defensive reasons that means the bear has seen you, he knows where you are and is coming for you. don't assume that one shot is gonna put him down regardless of the size of your pistol. that said I have seen lots of bears, had a couple 20 yard or so staring matches in berry patches that ended in the bears just turning and looping off into the woods (and me nearly needing to change my shorts) but I have never had one charge (usually a bluff) or stalk or hunt me (really bad if that is happening). Bears avoid people for the most part if you watch where you are and stay alert dont worry too much. Wild dogs on the other hand scare me. The recent reintroduction of wolves into idaho has been scarry and thier balloning population has lead to many sightings some where the wolves have shown somewhat aggressive behavior. They come in packs and it is their nature to hunt, chase, and kill (where a bears nature is more to eat whatever, avoid confrontation and take a nap). Funny thing to note taking your dog in bear country is a good defense. from what I have seen lots of bears have a fear of dogs just like us and will run if not cornered. I have seen a bear run from a wildly barking poodle.

[Triggerjerk]

Thanks gor googlin' the bear and dog facts, billy. Truth be told, I am a lot more worried about human predators. I wish I could get my wife to understand this. Several times she has walked up to strange men (two each time) and asked them to leave our property. I asked, "And did you take your gun?" "No" was the answer that I got both times, even though we talked about this. Sheeessshhh!