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Post by flyingzebra on Nov 17, 2020 18:07:49 GMT -5
...This is a hunting handgun. Not some compact backup piece for hiking or something. Here's a compact 5-shot 500 I've shot full-ass Buffalo Bore ammunition through it one handed. It'll do in a tight spot.   |
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Post by Thunderjet on Nov 17, 2020 18:14:56 GMT -5
These type of threads are entertaining, and occasionally informative. But the basic flaw to almost all similar threads is 99% of the time people offering opinions have no actual live hands on experience shooting large bears in life threatening situations with a handgun. And the ones that do are usually a one time situation.
Once you reach a particular power level it would make sense that bullet construction and shot placement are the most important issues.
For the record, I also have zero experience shooting large bears in emergency situations with a handgun.
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Post by flyingzebra on Nov 17, 2020 20:08:12 GMT -5
Phil Shoemaker of Kodiak Alaska ended up in a lethal encounter with a big bear, while armed with a 9mm pistol.
He lived, the bear did not live.
Here's some comments from him, as posted in a different forum that I frequent:
"A little back story
Tim Sundles, the owner of Buffalo Bore ammo, had contacted me and said he was making 147 gr hard cast 9mm ammo that was getting 1100 fps for people who wanted something to carry for protection from bears but didn't wish to buy some sort of heavy, expensive hand cannon.
He asked if I would test some ammo and give him feedback. So I tested his ammo against known deep penetrating calibers ( 30 Tokarev, 357 & 44 magnums and a 475 Linebaugh and came to the conclusion that it possessed enough penetration to get the job done.
One week later I was guiding a family who had fished with us before and all day the weather had been rotten so we couldn't get out. By mid afternoon it got better and I offered to take them fishing on a creek close to our home.
We had lived there 30 years, had experienced literally hundreds of close bear encounters and never been forced to shoot a bear, and since we were only going to be out a couple of hours, I elected to carry my little S&W 3954 semi automatic 9mm rather than the heavier and bulkier S&W 44 magnum I normally carry.
When the bear charged from a close patch of thick brush I was regretting my decision but realized it was my only chance . the bear chose to attack the two clients, who grabbed each other and fell back in the tall grass. The bear was standing over them and I was cognizant that I did not want a bullet to pass through and endanger them so was "glad" I had the 9mm.
After six quick hits Everything eventually worked out.
I have received a lot of flack for carrying the 9mm but ANY handgun for bear protection is similar to wearing a life jacket in a boat or keeping a fire extinguisher in the home. It may not be perfect but it can save the day."
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Post by bushog on Nov 17, 2020 20:18:36 GMT -5
...This is a hunting handgun. Not some compact backup piece for hiking or something. Here's a compact 5-shot 500 I've shot full-ass Buffalo Bore ammunition through it one handed. It'll do in a tight spot. That cylinder makes mah heart pitter-patter! |
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Post by flyingzebra on Nov 17, 2020 20:24:23 GMT -5
That cylinder makes mah heart pitter-patter! I have four of those blanked out right now. I was fitting extractors this afternoon. One of those assemblies is for my 500 The Ruger-based double action big bores are handy and tough. |
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Post by bushog on Nov 17, 2020 20:53:48 GMT -5
Any blue cylinders?
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Post by flyingzebra on Nov 17, 2020 21:37:53 GMT -5
They're all 17-4 stainless, and will end up being heat treated. |
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Post by bushog on Nov 17, 2020 23:31:44 GMT -5
They're all 17-4 stainless, and will end up being heat treated. I need a blue 5 shot for a Redhawk |
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Post by flyingzebra on Nov 18, 2020 5:03:48 GMT -5
There's always nitride, but these are all spoken for. There are steel alloys for blued guns.
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Post by bigbore5 on Nov 18, 2020 6:00:35 GMT -5
That is a very nice da bigbore. JRH or Linebaugh?
Nothing wrong with double action. My social edc is a double action. That would make a fine hiking gun if I lived in an area where there were grizzly or even moose. Sometimes I carry the same 357 snubby for a walk since I wear it all day away from the house anyway, but my normal around the farm and woods walking gun is a 5.5" super blackhawk with the same 325 wfn load I hunt with. Keeps it real familiar and can handle from a coyote to a rogue bull if needed. As soon as I get the #5, if the bfr is as good as claimed, I may switch up.
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Post by flyingzebra on Nov 18, 2020 8:37:11 GMT -5
That's 500JRH
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Post by leftysixgun on Nov 18, 2020 11:14:13 GMT -5
FZ.... how difficult is it to remove/install a barrel on the Alaskan platforms?
Thats a good looking 500 Alaskan by the way
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Post by bula on Nov 18, 2020 12:19:50 GMT -5
There is a flaw and no sane person wants to come by lots of experience stopping inbound angry bears. So we share experiences towards a group knowledge base. Of course accuracy is of 1st importance, a given by now. Awareness is truly the 1st issue. The thing I learned there, that I share, is about warning shots. In the hills, sounds travel goofy. The first time we were backpacking and saw a black bear prowling around, in undecided mode, a shot was fired straight up from my 44 SBH. The bear re-acted by running in our direction only about 30 degrees off from us ! Took a heart beat or two to realize, not a charge. My take from this, tested only once, better a shot into the ground just off center to the bear. Do not risk a skip hit. Muzzle nearly on to the bear, bullet into ground near, but left or right.
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Post by flyingzebra on Nov 18, 2020 15:07:54 GMT -5
FZ.... how difficult is it to remove/install a barrel on the Alaskan platforms? Thats a good looking 500 Alaskan by the way In that revolver I had to line bore the barrel out of the frame. With a boring bar. Those barrels can be amazingly difficult - to damn near impossible to unscrew out of the frame. Sometimes you win, most times not. That's one reason why no one wants to do that particular style of conversion, but we do it. It just takes a very rigid and very precise setup and a good bit of time. Those frames don't typically have very flat and/or square/parallel surfaces. The setup itself can be a little tricky and time consuming. The results are great though, and these little Alaskan conversions are great packing guns that shoot very accurately. |
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