Had a near close-call last nite.Stepped out on my porch for a smoke before locking up for the nite, when I heard, then saw something moving around by left fence. Was far too dark to make out what it was at the moment, but the .45 was out with the quickness. My dog barked at it and started growling, and then this thing stood up.
A Black Bear!
I shoved the dog back inside,and shut the door,but then stood there like an idiot trying to decide what to do. It just "stood" there sniffing the air (prolly my cig,it smelled) for a moment-was a good 25-30 ft. away, and not moving towards me, so I held off on shooting.
After a moment, it went back to all-fours and moved on down my driveway and across the street to the woods,seemed like it forgot all about me, which is fine with me.
I didnt wish to become a midnite snack, and sure didnt want to shoot this amazing thing.
Now, afterwards, and about half a pack of smokes later,while I got my heart beating back to something like normal, I had to think this over. If this hadnt gone down like this, would my .45 been enough to stop this thing? A person, I have complete faith in it's stopping ability, but a Bear?
So, will a .45acp do the trick? Or do I need some slugs for the 870? Or do I need to look into something more like a .44Magnum or .454 Cassul? Keep in mind, I want something powerful enough, but with reasonable recoil that I can have a hope of getting off more than 1 shot if one is coming at me.
A Black Bear!
I shoved the dog back inside,and shut the door,but then stood there like an idiot trying to decide what to do. It just "stood" there sniffing the air (prolly my cig,it smelled) for a moment-was a good 25-30 ft. away, and not moving towards me, so I held off on shooting.
After a moment, it went back to all-fours and moved on down my driveway and across the street to the woods,seemed like it forgot all about me, which is fine with me.
I didnt wish to become a midnite snack, and sure didnt want to shoot this amazing thing.
Now, afterwards, and about half a pack of smokes later,while I got my heart beating back to something like normal, I had to think this over. If this hadnt gone down like this, would my .45 been enough to stop this thing? A person, I have complete faith in it's stopping ability, but a Bear?
So, will a .45acp do the trick? Or do I need some slugs for the 870? Or do I need to look into something more like a .44Magnum or .454 Cassul? Keep in mind, I want something powerful enough, but with reasonable recoil that I can have a hope of getting off more than 1 shot if one is coming at me.