Smith 329PD... nope.

[strawhat]

Jul 12, 2024 13:17:02 GMT -5 markwell said:

I gave up on full house .44 Mag loads (300gr LBTs over a stiff charge of W296) long ago. Even in all steel guns, the old wrists and elbows couldn't take it anymore and putting multiple shots on target quickly became nigh on impossible. Switched to a 1911 in 10mm for carry in griz country and never looked back. 200gr RNFP/GC hard cast bullets at about 1250fps can be kept on target and don't hurt too much. Son has taken a few black bears with this combo with very good results; not griz, i know, but they do a great job and fully penetrate.

I stopped shooting magnums maybe 4 decades ago when I was in my late 20s. Ohio white tailed deer were dropping faster when hit with blackpowder 45 long Colt rounds. At first I thought maybe my buddy was hitting better than I, but three white tails using his revolver showed me it was just not his better aim. So, I switched to a Model 25-5. Then, I found that a 235 grain full wadcutter over a hardball dose of powder in the 45 ACP case was also a great load.  

So, all the magnums went away and I enjoy shooting the ACP revolvers.

Kevin

[markwell]

Here's a "bear drill" from my bud Ken Hackathorn. the simulation is for a charging bear.

Place 10" paper plates about thigh high on stakes driven into the ground at 20, 15, 10, 7 and 5 yards. (or go 15 to 3 yards)

Use a timer and shoot your full power bear load.

On the start signal engage the targets, farthest to nearest, with one shot each from your bear blaster. If using a DA revolver shoot it DA. If shooting a 6-shot revolver, you have one extra round to make up for a miss.

To establish a par time, have somebody's kid sprint the 20 yards (when NO ON IS SHOOTING, obviously) to see how fast a bear might run.
This is a pretty good reality check, IOHO

[rhino]

I consider the S&W 329 PD .44 Magnum as a .44 Special with magnum capabilities. I’ll stick with my steel Rugers, I’m not a fan of getting hit in the hand with a ball peen hammer. 😂

[bigbrowndog]

Jul 29, 2024 11:11:54 GMT -5 markwell said:

Here's a "bear drill" from my bud Ken Hackathorn. the simulation is for a charging bear.

Place 10" paper plates about thigh high on stakes driven into the ground at 20, 15, 10, 7 and 5 yards. (or go 15 to 3 yards)

Use a timer and shoot your full power bear load.

On the start signal engage the targets, farthest to nearest, with one shot each from your bear blaster. If using a DA revolver shoot it DA. If shooting a 6-shot revolver, you have one extra round to make up for a miss.

To establish a par time, have somebody's kid sprint the 20 yards (when NO ON IS SHOOTING, obviously) to see how fast a bear might run.
This is a pretty good reality check, IOHO

Actually just figure 35-45mph and extrapolate the distance and time. From 20 yards you’re dealing with about 2 seconds, and that includes your draw time. So essentially 1-2 shots is all you get.

[bigbore5]

Dad demonstrated a charge to me by tossing an old dodge ball up a hill and telling me to hit it before it gets to the bottom. He had a point. It bounced around and rolled really quick. Then he said that's pretty much what to expect from a bear or pig head. They're about the same size. I never did hit that ball back then.

He taught me to get low and put the shot as straight in as possible so it doesn't charge under it, putting the impact too far back or missing. He showed me to aim under the chin and let them run into the bullet path. To keep shooting, then pay the insurance even if it looks down and out. Then he took me as a strapping 14yr old to Africa, where I first saw a leopard flash through a line of trackers and two ph's leaving everyone bloody before disappearing into the bush again. All dad could say was, "Wow! That was fast!"

[shorty500]

Mine’s a rare use gun I’ll admit. When I packed around the creek on backside of place it carried a snake load or two followed by a sedate 320g run @1100.
With the old Ahrends grips I can handle firing more enough to solve most any heavy duty emergency in the midsouth. After getting a Governor for snake duty
it rides in the drivers side door pocket of the Ford and hasn’t been fired since summer of ‘22 when I let a young friend try it out- with a few snake loads.

[James]

Jul 29, 2024 11:11:54 GMT -5 markwell said:

Here's a "bear drill" from my bud Ken Hackathorn. the simulation is for a charging bear.

Place 10" paper plates about thigh high on stakes driven into the ground at 20, 15, 10, 7 and 5 yards. (or go 15 to 3 yards)

Use a timer and shoot your full power bear load.

On the start signal engage the targets, farthest to nearest, with one shot each from your bear blaster. If using a DA revolver shoot it DA. If shooting a 6-shot revolver, you have one extra round to make up for a miss.

To establish a par time, have somebody's kid sprint the 20 yards (when NO ON IS SHOOTING, obviously) to see how fast a bear might run.
This is a pretty good reality check, IOHO

Very similar to what my guide had my go through before Cape buffalo hunt.............