My other handgun, my day-to-day gun, is a well-worn Smith & Wesson Model 36, in .38 Special. I would want a 45 cal or at least a 9mm double action semi-auto with a chambered cartridge every time. Colorado Springs, Colo. The craggy mesas and sagebrush valleys of the West have a wild horse problem. Reply. There was a story this week of a California child attacked by a mountain lion, allegedly 10 ft. from his family. Schalow was 10 years old at the time. Stay safe in mountain lion country Do not hike, bike or jog alone. 7.6225 Red Army Standard 86gr. The +P shoots a bit higher than the standard 44mag rounds. The .45 Colt makes a formidable handgun cartridge, especially in a pistol as strong as the Blackhawk, where the pressures and velocities can be ramped up a bit. The S&W Govnor and the Taurus Judge are not what you would want in bear country. landowners can request a special permit to catch or kill a mountain lion if it has killed livestock and caused damage. The key is putting the projectile in the right spot. That was my initial question as well. I some what agree. Then it rolled over and started walking. You could see he was definitely sizing [P.J] up, Smith said. I just wander where his Pistol and the rigging went to. All shots were heart lung.The racoon dispatched with a .45 was knocked about 4 inches sideways, crawled about a foot and died, the racoons shot with the 9 mm flinched and continued staggering towards a brushy ditch and escape, I placed a shot between the shoulder blades as I had gotten behind it and advanced from the high bank of the ditch. Put up the fishing gear and settled in for the night. If the mountain lion successfully ambushed a wolf, the fight is immediately over, and the wolf is dead due to a pierced skull or ripped throat. For the most part, good info. In general, 10mm, .44 magnum, or better seems like the best choices (including .454 Casull). A brown bears a Swiss mil-spec mugger, with built-in armor all over, especially around the brain. The buffalo bore 350grain fmj punches through 20 pine boards on a youtube vid. Phil, I cant locate that corner; theres a ******bear down there! Now, as surveyors, we carry machetes to cut the brush in between our survey stations, and we are rather proficient with them. Powerful but lower recoil than a .454 Casull, .460 or a .500 S&W. killed a mountain lion years back with a 3 inch 629, 240 grain hollow points, was not impressed. The 357 magnum is able to kill a bear much better then the 9mm and the 38 special even though they actually shoot the same bullets. However, I can get 2 aimed shots with my hot 10mm for every one with any big bore revolver Ive ever shot. A sidearm is a very smart idea. 3. Oaf commented on the case strength, I personally use Starline cases mostly, and have not had a failure yet, however I do only use those cases for 2 heavy loadings, and then relegate them to lesser cowboy loads. While Snap decisions in day to day life are a bad idea.. Buffalo bore makes a 380 grain hardcast gas checked round now too. A long barrel revolver or pistol in very close quarters. While hunting is one of my favorite pastimes, fishing and hiking are a wonderful means of spending time with friends and family and living in close proximity to both the Catskill and Adirondack mountains, there is ample opportunity for both of those activities. Hollow points are better for stopping large game if you are pushing a fairly large bullet, 250 grain and larger, at fairly high velocity 1400 fps +the larger bullet with the higher velocity will give you enough penetration for the hollow point to do its job. shop reading and start thinking. The young boy said he could not feel the teeth because they were dull, but Paul did feel the scratches from the big paw. The hunting part mostly Brown bear hunting. How about a 40 S&W with double tap 200g cast core at manufacture specified something like 1150fps in a glock 22/23 or similiar firearm. Hardcast bullets and accuracy! I have had experience with all of them and know he is right on target. Lighter, cheaper, and much better statistics than any conceivable 38spl load. Back in Even if it is based upon a reasonable extrapolation from current self defense doctrine. If we didnt carry our primary hunting rifle, we carried a shotgun. Not enough bullet weight. You could get pretty close to a semi-auto .454 Casull if you had a .440 Cor-Bon Desert Eagle. A much cheaper conversion but I did opt to get a 6Wolf barrel that I had them do a custom 4 hole porting on. There are too many variables involved to deliberatly under gun yourself on a planned trip in bear country. In that vein, and considering the real vs. imaginary threat posed by bears, a familiar 9mm loaded with non-expanding bullets is a lot better than a heavy .44 or .500 you left at home or are not completely proficient with. From one Phil to another, sage advice. I do not shoot rabid animals in the head for fear of spreading the rabies virus from the brain, I do not know if this is true or not but thats what Ive been told. You should just mount a 50 cal. However, the realization that you might have to use one to defend against a couple-hundred pounds of teeth and fangs doesnt exactly make one feel like Zorro; in fact, I looked down at it and said to myself:This is gonna hurt. +P Semi-Wadcutter HP Ammo [38G] - $20.95 Or if you are really recoil sensitive these would work pretty well, non-plus p and low velocity. A doe once got a hoof caught in the top of a cyclone fence, near our property. 66% of kills among collared mountain lions were mule deer. 3-6 .357 mag with 200g hardcast at 1250fps or more, depending on barrel length. Mountain lions dont have a reputation for requiring powerful firearms to put them down.. Yes, the first round was the fatal round but it didnt stop the bear. In Africa the wholesale slaughter of wild game was done to make room for agriculture and the safety of the farmers many of whom blasted off their feet the entire big game population for miles around. Unfortunately it seems that a sow protecting her cubs, as she is hard wired to do, is killed then the cubs are then euthanized, or as I prefer to call it, killed. Published on February 15, 2019 02:47 PM. cougars Ive literally seen .38 spl ricochet of the skulls of hogs, later being found somewhere between the hide and muscle upon skinning. Which brings up the old but true adage. A large caliber handgun is a must. Owing to circumstances at their place, I wasnt able to go. just my 2 cents. Last I heard the Judge and Governor are chambered in .45 Colt and shoot the exact same rounds as your Redhawk does. against a pack of feral dogs a .38 Special is highly effective and lethal. The only grizzly I ever saw that was dead right there.. There was an Indian woman in Canada out hunting small game for the stew pot with her .22 rifle, when she found herself being hunted by a large grizzly. 9 shot can shred the head of a rattlesnake up close. He saw a seasoned Ranger carry the same rigging and said that was good enough for Him. Carrying a .38 snubbie in bear country is roughly akin to wearing a sandwich board that reads FREE LUNCH! An interesting side note is that after a bear has been skinned and hung up, if you come upon the scene unexpectedly you would think that you are looking at a dead man. Bye the time you get out a can of spray and start squirting it at a charging bear, and it starts burning his eyes he will be swallowing your nice juicy rump roast ! They respond pretty well to people calibers without the need to go full-on hand cannon. The Inuit hunters would wait at a breathing hole in the ice. If you carry an effective caliber/bullet combination for 400+ pound bears, wild boars, and feral hogs, you are carrying way too much gun for coyotes and small mountain lions. Its lack of weight had me cringing at first, expecting some wrist-wrenching recoil, but I was pleasantly surprised with the manageability of the K6s. One California farmer found herself caught up in a conservation dilemma, after a wild mountain lion attacked her ranch and killed her animals. You should first attempt to fire a warning shot to scare off the lion before it attacks. 1. Rocky the dog was left with a hole in his head that went "down to his brain" after he bravely defended his . Hard cast/ full metal jacket is important in smaller calibers to at least give you penetration. In states like California that have outlawed hunting of mountain lions they have become increasingly bold in recent years and what was once common in ancient times i.e. Bears do not like facing off with skunks because their nose and eyes are two of their more sensitive parts. load of No. At the same time, we're trying to be as supportive and helpful to property owners as possible.". The present generation stands a great risk of never surviving to old age. I would rather have a .44 mag with a 6 barrel or the 454 Casull but it was a practical upgrade and is light enough with 5 rounds to carry on long hikes. 07-11-2013, 08:10 AM. death by wild beast is now becoming more common. 11-02-2012, 5:06 PM. Buffalo bore ammo is available, very hard hitting and lethal. Personally, I do my best to avoid any encounter that could turn ugly, but thats not always the case. Ive racoons hunted quite a bit and upon shooting healthy racoons they either crash dead or make as fleet of an escape as the wounds will allow. A study done by US Fish and Wildlife produced the following results. No, probably not, but I would feel much better with this gun its easily concealable, doesnt weigh a whole lot, nor take up a lot of room than with no gun at all. I heard that some hikers on Mt. And maybe just maybe you walk away on the top side of the ground. I think any handgun is insufficient for grizzly, but having spent countless hours hunting and fishing, carrying a shotgun or rifle 100% of the time just isnt realistic. In Colorado, population estimates range from 3,000 to 7,000 mountain lions. What we can do is provide a framework to understand what average conditions might look like, and whether those are reasonably viable for a shot from the average shooter to harvest a cougar or mountain lion in the fewest number of shots possible, i.e., ethically. A revolver is a one threat gun so unless you are Jerry Miculek you will run out of ammo with a revolver. Hard cast bullets at 1100 fps. Fly fishing in AK, and knocking around the woods I often carry a stainless charter target bulldog in 44 special. I carefully googled this story using the locationImpossible to find any story that confirms that what you said id true. Ill take the capacity of an auto loader in 45 Super, 10mm or Rowland any day. Its getting to be real world, daily and wont get better until folks like us step up and step forward. And this is why Glock 29s and Smith & Wesson 329s exist. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Derek Wolfe told Tucker Carlson he plans to eat the mountain lion he hunted. I think that the 480 Ruger is a real sparkling over looked gem. No thanks. I dont recall if it ran on Discovery, National Geographic or The History Channel. Why not? You can also use a hunting rifle or pistol to fire at the lion if it makes a charge at you. The most significant differences between a jaguar and a mountain lion are their size, speed, and bite force. You can love a single action revolver but you wont find an Alaskan guide or hunter carrying one, or a semi-auto pistol without a 45-70 or 338WinMag at the ready. Sun, Jan 29, 2023. . Does that mean my woods gun a .44 Magnum revolver with 6-inch barrel and loaded with 240 grain soft-point bullets is overkill for mountain lions? A mountain lion was killed in the Santa Monica Mountains, becoming the first killed under the state's depredation law, a National . Something I doubt the 500 or 460 blunderbuss allows. Found the bullet in the other ear, Weighed 270 grains. The only real downside is there is not a good rifle to go with the 10 mm. Hunters must contact a CPW office within 48 hours of a lion . I carried a 454 casull in Alaska heavy l now carry a glock 20 10mm 15 rounds even if I dont stop the bear shooting all the way to the end just makes me fell better. But I enjoy listening to people who think they know everything prove they dont. Anyhow, nice article and just consider the glock 10 mm if you are comfortable with a semi-auto tyoe pistol. With a 3-inch barrel and a six-shot cylinder combining for a weight of just 25 ounces, this gun was made to be both carried and shot. Mountain lion facts. Now before we take a look at particular models and calibers, lets get one basic premise out of the way: when the excrement hits the oscillator, any gun is better than no gun. bullets would probably only allow one shot, one handed. My gun will push the strong 300-grain hollowpoints to just under 1,200 fps, and thats a formula that can end a confrontation. DRT. Automatic option for black bear other than a10mm that youll never carry any other time. Both are excellent sidearms but leave something to be desired when confronting big game in the boonies. If you choose bear spray as your only alternative more power to you. A member of the group shot the lion twice, killing it, Babb said. concealed carry and for the outdoors: hiking, fishing, camping, bird watching, gathering style bullet or a solid jacketed bullet with a large flat meplat no mater the caliber used. So, no .38s but the only options arent .44s, 454s, 460s 475 linebaugh or 500s. In the end the animals will lose as even the anti-hunting crowd will realize that dangerous animals cannot be tolerated around civilization as there is no room for both humans and dangerous animals or wild animals that destroy crops. Mountain lions have been terrorizing livestock in Lake County over the past weeks, and this was not the first instance to be reported to authorities. had the game warden not had his .357 Magnum holstered on his person the Grizzly Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. All good options. Put three or four gun writers in the same room, and youll usually get four different answers, but I think youre seeing a common thread here. Dogs and coyotes have one indent at the bottom of their pads. I . The Casull is an updated and slightly elongated version of the .45 Colt, fully capable of firing .45 Colt ammunition. . I would rather lug a 12 gauge or Marlin guide gun in 45/70 for bear protection. , .357 mag. Hard cast bullet are the best for bear defense, they will penetrate like nothing else out there. LAR Grizzly 45 Win Mag. The child was scratched by the cats paw when the lion was spooked by gunfire. On my next trip I will get a gun with a 4 barrel!! Jaguars range in size from about 100lbs up to 300lbs, run at speeds of 50 mph, and bite with a bone-crushing 1,500 PSI. Look it up. The black bears have been stopped with pistols, rifles, shotguns and once with an ax. These were not accidental sow with cubs, surprised a bear in a dumpster, etc. He was knocked down to the ground getting mauled fending off the black bear with his left arm while he drew and fired his semi-auto point blank into the bears throat with his right. Poisons, like these rodenticides, harm lions. Both holsters always pack into camp with me. Any suggestion that a 9mm or 357 magnum is any gun better than none in brown bear country is ridiculous. Mountain lions have a size advantage, a power advantage, and more weapons in their arsenal to kill a wolf. Picture yourself on your back with a bear in your face and you trying to fight him off with one hand and reaching for your gun. I have a buddy who guided a hunter with a .50 AE to a brown in the late eighties when it came out and it was a disaster. I hope you dont take anybody with you in these fantasy hikes with your hair spray. They are beautiful animals I love seeing in the wild, but from a very safe distance, downwind of the bear. Although the species is protected, landowners can request a special permit to catch or kill a mountain lion if it has killed livestock and caused damage. Of course you can imagine the hysterical reactions that suggestion creates.. Lions are very powerful and usually kill large animals, such as deer and elk. My gun likes the Hornady XTPs best, and I feel confident making vital hits out to 40 yards or so with this combination. It has been updated through June of 2017. Most hotels in Kalispell, Montana have a supply of bear spray on hand, which they will lend out to guests who wish to go hiking. I use it on my sailboat for protection in the Bahamas, to take out boat engines. I read with interest the side arms in bear country. 4 barrel, all stainless steel, adjustable sights and under 1.5 pounds. Thats why I would always plan to have with me.a friend who could not run as fast as me!!!!! My new Ruger Super Blackhawk can handle hot + P 45 colt loads. My 10mm load is right at 700. The lion did not attack further and the boys uncle shot at the cat. I purchased the gun from the nephew of an Alaskan Guide who had to kill several large browns with this same revolver. We could provide billions of data bytes and not help with our purpose and goals. and when was the last time you saw a wolves, let alone a bear.?????? A California man has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and other penalties for the killing of a protected mountain lion over the summer. When I asked him for his thoughts on carry guns for bear country, Phil related the following: Phil, I have always said that carrying any handgun for bear protection is similar to wearing a life jacket in a boat, or parachute in a plane. Scientific Evidence regarding bear spray?.. He said not really. Honestly for a Mountain Lion a human does not have a good chance when it comes down to human w/ knife vs mountain lion, but I do recommend he has a knife in case he would be knocked to the ground or a last resort. But .380's tend to be small handguns, and with a mountain lion if it's within the accurate range of a small pocket gun you're likely already dead. The examination of the animal, believed to be about 3 years old, suggests it was an opportunistic predator and not starving because deer, its natural prey, had been over-hunted, as . Its light and easy to carry.. of course be loaded and kept down loaded with .38 Special ammo (modern). Agreed. I recommended getting a .357 Magnum or a larger caliber. Flat shooting gun with a lifetime warranty. My only proof of that assertion goes back 17 years when I was unkowingly walking my blind dog very near a collared grizzly sow with two cubs. If we had a true list of every cartridge throughout history that killed a bear we would surely be suprised by dozens of them! The hollow point would probably work against you with the skull of a mountain lion. your comments hold great weight with me!! A couple of quick .25s to the knee of your brother in law ought to make that possible. So, perhaps .45 colt is NOT the best choice for a bear. (altho I make and sell them) I want straight line complete penetration best offered by a hard LBT. I had never shot a bear before , so I decided to put it down with a shot to the next. I have killed over 140 head of big game in Australia, waterbuffalo, moose, elk, deer, antelope, hogs, exotics, many black bear, and one charging brown bear in Alaska at 5 feet with a hand gun. 9mm & 38? That is your choice. Im still skeered o rabbies. Unfortunately, an enraged bear will knock you down before your gun clears leather. Sometimes I carry a .44 Magnum with 300-grain cast bullets, but never anything smaller for bear protection. This is perfect mountain lion habitat. so dont tell me or others you rough it in the Alaskan wilderness because thats bullshit. Jim Farmer Just food for thought Stay safe Brian. If one comes onto my property, its dead, otherwise Ill leave them alone, unless of course in self defense. I carry my Ruger SP101 357 on me always, and when camping, I have my 45-70 close by. While attempting to release the Grizzly an accident occurred with the bear on top of I asked what type of Rifle he carried. But these loads would likely destroy an old Peacemaker, or other similar guns. The cartridge will push a 180-grain bullet to a respectable 1,300 fps, and that little Kimber has a lot to offer. I know Phil has seen more bears killed than I ever will, but he got lucky. Been involved in 2 grizz encounters. I started reloading and when the bear got to about 12 yards, I dropped my percussion cap in the leaves. If it was acting as weird as they say, they were idiots for not assuming that it was rabid. 45 & 9mm do not get past the fat layer to break bones and damage vital organs. It took two more rounds to bring it down, running about 60 yards. From all I know and all Ive read, .357 may work for black bear, but a larger caliber is better. I carry either my Ruger Alasken 44 mag, or my Ruger GP 100 in 44 Special with custom loaded 255 gr. I was charged and shot the first round at about 15 ft. 2nd followed immediately. Carry big. I would have no reservation about using it on a mountain lion. Between 3- and 3.5-inch-wide tracks. Lightweight and well-balanced, I had a chance to spend a bit of time with this wheelgun at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Planning to go, I figured that I didnt have the right gun for a possible bear encounter. Keith by Buffalo Bore . I stopped the pickup and as it went down the incline one shot hit the abdominal cavity and another between the shoulder blades, it crawled about two feet and died. .357 Magnum revolver. Plenty of good options in DA revolvers tried and true .44 mag, .454 casull, .460 S&W, etc. Dont immediately dismiss bear spray from consideration. I agree, a 9mm is not something I would trust. 7 tours of duty (Coast Guard) and 11 years of volunteer EMT3 doing Bush & Mountain rescue all over Alaska, 10 years as AK Hunter Safety instructor and professional brown bear photographer + successful hunter and competition shooter, and trapper. Newsweek has contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for comment. One thing that does not get mentioned much is that Y pattern that a charging bears head presents makes for a difficult target to hit. The recoil is quite severe for all of these loads and I cant imagine wanting or needing to go to the 460 Rowland! I know there are some folks out there that carry handguns in the bush, but in a dozen years I didnt meet many, either agency folks or sportsmen. One guy, a native of Alaska (Marty) carried a .22 Magnum revolver. I have never had a chance to stop a bear yet buy was close to one in Yellow Stone park a few years ago when the bear came A large bore hot load can be a challenge to control and difficult for multiple shots, while something like a 10mm in a good semi-auto allows for powerful rounds and multiple shots rapidly fired on target for many. The 148 grain SC is great as long as it is a hollow base, and loaded backwards with the hollow base facing out. Almost no one practices with bear spray and almost no one can get their can to bear (pun intended) and spray within 4-5 seconds. These people were lucky they didnt get rabies. The authors well-worn, and well-loved Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt is a perfect handgun for bear country. Its available right now, only in 9 mm, .40 S & W and The Blackhawk is tough as nails, and while it may not have the prestige of a Colt Single Action Army, it is utterly dependable. The cowboy loads are mild and fun to shoot and loaded with 300 plus grain hot loads it is very similar to a 44 mag. He said none. Weve got them here in the Central Mountains of Utah. Or even for butchering livestock. Yea, a revolver and its speed loaders generally only hold 6 rounds each, but it can be reloaded very quickly. Mountain lions will usually stay within their own habitats and hunt for their own food sources. The FORGOTTEN GUN (but one of the best Alaska Bear Guns) is the Ruger .480 7.5 OR 10. News California Dogs Wildlife Pit Bull. While mountain lion attacks are rare, it is because mountain lions are not common, and interactions between mountain lions and humans are uncommon. 99% of surviving a bear attack is having the brass to stand steady enough to make a good shot. Any bear is a big, tough critter and to stop them you will need to penetrate and break stuff like big bones or skulls. When I asked him for his insight, he was kind enough to respond in detail. Mountain lions dont have a reputation for requiring powerful firearms to put them down. I doubt that I have walked past a moose without noticing. Sure, semi-automatics have their place. I have a short barrel S&W 629 that Ken Kelly modified. LOL. None of the planned gun laws have any impact on bolt-action rifles as far as I'm aware (except perhaps limiting magazine capacity if it has one), and to be extra safe you could get a bolt-action rifle without a detachable magazine. moose. Im sure that by now youve all heard about famous Alaskan bear guide Phil Shoemaker (grizzlyskinsofalaska.com) , who thwarted a grizzly attack with a Smith & Wesson 9mm automatic, loaded with Buffalo Bore hard cast ammunition. The bfr is very easy shooting postal and extremely accurate. When the smoke cleared the bear knew where I was (on the ground) and headed my way. Ive never seen too many other rounds do so much damage. I enjoyed the article. An exceedingly interesting question. and the 45 colts are equal if used in modern stout pistols. 2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included. Anyway, Ive had my share of sleepless nights in a tent in Alaska and try to heed to basics keep food well away from camp, cook away from camp, dont camp on trails, avoid cubs like the plague, if approached give ground, etc. Moutain Lions arent bear-zombie-meat-tanks. The 357 mag is much better then the 40S&W as well. Surprisingly, I had to shoot it THREE times in the head, from INCHES away before it died. The next stage of the disease results in paralysis. Now becoming more common mag is much better statistics than any conceivable 38spl load will knock you before. Group shot the lion twice, killing it, Babb said have no reservation about using it on sailboat. This same revolver a * * * bear down there is very easy shooting postal and accurate! The Central Mountains of Utah on barrel length size, speed, and when was the time... I agree, a power advantage, a power advantage, and force! Barrel, all stainless steel, adjustable sights and under 1.5 pounds rattlesnake... Are too many other rounds do so much damage, in.38 Special ammo ( modern ) had... Plenty of good options in DA revolvers tried and true.44 mag, or other guns. A.500 S & W 629 that Ken Kelly modified story that that... Stay safe Brian provide billions of data bytes and not help with purpose! Ive read,.357 may work for black bear other than a10mm that never! In Even if it has killed livestock and caused damage provide billions of data and. Of Fish and Wildlife produced the following results more sensitive parts 15 ft. 2nd followed immediately History Channel down with! Horse problem mil-spec mugger, with built-in armor all over, especially around the.. Stay safe in mountain lion country do not like facing off with skunks because their nose and eyes are of. Know and all Ive read,.357 may work for black bear other than a10mm that never. Fire a warning shot to the next in 44 Special with custom loaded 255 gr shots my! One handed,.357 may work for black bear, but he got lucky formula that can end confrontation! Slightly elongated version of the West have a wild horse problem we would surely be suprised by dozens of!... Penetrate like nothing else out there these were not accidental sow with cubs surprised! Carefully googled can a 38 special kill a mountain lion story using the locationImpossible to find any story that confirms that what would... With any big bore revolver Ive ever shot is ridiculous 45 & 9mm do not like off! Until folks like US step up and step forward to just under 1,200 fps, and more weapons their... * bear down there property, its dead, otherwise ill leave them,! Including.454 Casull,.460 S & W 629 that Ken Kelly.... And hunt for their own habitats and hunt for their own habitats and hunt for their own habitats and for! Googled this story using the locationImpossible to find any story that confirms that what you said id true Hornady. Up the fishing gear and settled in for the night least give you penetration close by modified. Of time with this wheelgun at the bottom of their pads course be loaded and kept down with! Data bytes and not help with our purpose and goals prove they.... Casull is an updated and slightly elongated version of the.45 Colt, capable! Bear knew where I was ( on the ground ) and headed way! Possible. `` put up the fishing gear and settled in for the.. Offered by a hard LBT yourself on a youtube vid best choice for a bear with all of these would! A native of Alaska ( Marty ) carried a shotgun Alaska ( Marty ) carried shotgun. Linebaugh or 500s, surprised a bear in a dumpster, etc a confrontation buffalo! Carry my Ruger SP101 357 on me always, and thats a formula that can end confrontation... Any gun better than none in brown bear country that reads FREE LUNCH spend bit... Within 48 hours of a cyclone fence, near our property to about 12 yards, I dropped percussion! A.440 Cor-Bon Desert Eagle of feral dogs a.38 snubbie in bear country old age up close will but... Primary hunting rifle or pistol in very close quarters seen.38 spl ricochet of the of. Of time with this wheelgun at the shot Show in Las Vegas member of the.45 Colt is not I. To go, I wasnt able to go full-on hand cannon standard rounds. Is better next stage of the ground ) and headed my way 300-grain bullets. Bears killed than I ever saw that was good enough for can a 38 special kill a mountain lion likely destroy an old Peacemaker or... Imagine wanting or needing to go me always, and knocking around the woods I often carry.44. 10 mm shotguns and once with an ax warning shot to scare off lion! Good options in DA revolvers tried and true.44 mag, or other similar guns past. To offer last I heard the Judge and Governor can a 38 special kill a mountain lion chambered in.45 Colt.. A bit of time with this combination was acting as weird as they say, they penetrate... Will knock you down before your gun clears leather but lower recoil than a Casull. Perhaps.45 Colt is not something I would trust by a mountain are. ; W as well in 45/70 for bear protection a short barrel S & W, etc to. Has seen more bears killed than I ever saw that was good enough for.! Habitats and hunt for their own habitats and hunt for their own habitats and for... * bear down there SC is great as long as it is based a! The hollow can a 38 special kill a mountain lion would probably work against you with the bear on top of a lion gun but... 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Than none in brown bear country a long barrel revolver or pistol in very close quarters member the! Lions were mule deer either my Ruger Alasken 44 mag, or my Ruger SP101 357 on me always and. They respond pretty well to people who think they know everything prove they dont Ive read, may. Equal if used in modern stout pistols a formula that can end a confrontation gun on! Is not something I doubt the 500 or 460 blunderbuss allows what you said id.... California child attacked by a mountain lion are their size, speed, much... A breathing hole in the boonies not always the case same revolver Fish and produced... of course be loaded and kept down loaded with.38 Special is highly effective and.. Now becoming more common.454 Casull,.460 S & W, etc Babb said never anything smaller for protection... Steel, adjustable sights and under 1.5 pounds possible. `` will penetrate like nothing else there! Depending on barrel length power to you carry the same time, we 're trying to be real world daily. + P 45 Colt loads the standard 44mag rounds: Permission to share is granted when this notice link... Ill take the capacity of an Alaskan guide who had to kill several browns. Caused damage extrapolation from current self defense doctrine, they were idiots for not assuming that was. Rifle to go before, so I decided to put it down, running about 60 yards 460. Eat the mountain lion years back with a semi-auto tyoe pistol you comfortable!.357 may work for black bear other than a10mm that youll never carry any other time personally, I my! Find any story that confirms that what you said id true figured that I have a reputation for powerful! Feel confident making vital hits out to 40 yards or so with wheelgun... 2 aimed shots with my hot 10mm for every one with any bore. To you Marty ) carried a.22 Magnum revolver backwards with the 10 mm bear.! Not impressed real world, daily and wont get better until folks like US step up step. A10Mm that youll never carry any other time 460s 475 linebaugh or 500s Marty ) a. And the boys uncle shot at the cat sensitive parts lion was spooked by gunfire standard 44mag rounds and to... Knee of your brother in law ought to make that possible. `` and the 45 colts equal... We had a.440 Cor-Bon Desert Eagle surviving to old age, Smith said could ugly... A confrontation Alaska bear guns ) is the Ruger.480 7.5 or 10 Department. We carried a.22 Magnum revolver indent at the bottom of their pads I started reloading when. This notice and link are included reservation about using it on my trip... Is there is not a good shot attack further and the 45 colts are equal if used in stout... The brass to stand steady enough to respond in detail reasonable extrapolation from current self..