Antique Bear Handgun
- Thread starter David_K
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BrotherRockeye
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rural Saskatchewan
lol-I seen that before...shame to do that to a nice ol iron.
back to bears-my everyday 44Russian load makes holes in a 45 gallon drum.I've killed many black bears with arrows and I'm pretty sure that any one of my 44's would do the job.
back to bears-my everyday 44Russian load makes holes in a 45 gallon drum.I've killed many black bears with arrows and I'm pretty sure that any one of my 44's would do the job.
Just so ya know i never did that to that Rogers and spencer i bought it this way.
if it wasnt Customized it woulda been worth 5 to 7 thousand US.
But i of course wouldnt of been able to buy it either.
The R&S gun is just fine for bear defence being as the Cartridge 45 Schofield Adaptor cylinder is modern arsenal grade steel.
Ya still have to watch the loads tho as the frames are Antique but stronger than a Remington 1858 or just about any other percussion solid framed gun made back then.
But the R&S shoots a percussion .454 Rd ball 190 grs with 35 grs BP just under 900 FPS.
And the R&S shoots 45 Schofields at well over 800 FPS no trobles with the other cartridge cylinder.
Would not be my Frist choice to pack tho i prefer my Remington 1875
I have another one just like this one in the picture below but with a shorter 6 inch barrel.
BrotherRockeye
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rural Saskatchewan
I knew you wouldn't hack that pretty iron.
that Remy I got off you shoots factory Remington 44spl rounds no problem,be plenty for a bear.I built an ejector for it and it works like a charm.That R&S has to be a tough ol iron to be stronger than a Remington...
gonna have an 1875 one day.I found a coupla nice nickle ones but they're mucho loot,and I'm not ready to part with anything to top up my gun fund right now.
Finally finished my S&W first model DA and fired it yesterday.The double action is smooth and would be a good choice for bear defense.Easy to keep the sights on target.
that Remy I got off you shoots factory Remington 44spl rounds no problem,be plenty for a bear.I built an ejector for it and it works like a charm.That R&S has to be a tough ol iron to be stronger than a Remington...
gonna have an 1875 one day.I found a coupla nice nickle ones but they're mucho loot,and I'm not ready to part with anything to top up my gun fund right now.
Finally finished my S&W first model DA and fired it yesterday.The double action is smooth and would be a good choice for bear defense.Easy to keep the sights on target.
A couple of months ago I was going to start a post on this subject, but praising the 38 S&W as a bear defence weapon....just to stir the pot. If you don't believe me check with Billy the Kid. I intended to say that if a bear is on top of you and chewing on your face one shot to the brain might do the trick.
Well, here's something to chew on: I've shot a few blacks, never a griz. The first was a largish boar at 25 yds.+-, the rifle a 300 H&H with a 180 gr. Speer bullet. He was standing still on four legs, facing me directly. I hit him dead centre in the brisket, and he dropped literally spead-eagled in his tracks. Trouble was he got up just as fast as he went down and boogied off up the hill about 50 yds before giving up. The bullet penetrated right through to his fundamental orifice, destroying most everything on route.
Since that day many years ago I've shot a couple more, all hit well with powerful rifles, and only one with a broken back went down to stay without moving. Even a heart shot will not always and positively put a black down in his tracks.
Bear hunting and bear defence are NOT the same thing. Once the sucker is heading for you with serious intent you're only going to get one shot with a handgun unless he's 50 yds or more away to start. In that case he's not really a threat yet, and a tale of defensive shooting might not wash. If he's 20 yds. away and on the run you won't have a hope in hell of getting off more than one shot, and please don't argue unless you've been there seen that. Can anyone get off two aimed shots in 1.3 seconds?
Bear hunting with a handgun (where legal) is a different kettle of fish. Lots of experienced handgunners do it successfully, but many if not most like to have a rifle or shotgun shooter around for backup, even for blacks. Remember, if he's not charging, he'll probably run in about the same direction he was facing when hit...not look around for the source. No problem.
Dingus is dead right...no pun intended. If any make of bear is on top of you a handgun is a very good thing to have. Stick the muzzle under his throat, in his ear, or in his gaping jaws and pull the trigger. Before we arrive at that most unpleasant situation the odds are he or she will stop the charge anyway before beginning to dine on your carcass. Unless you've further pissed him or her off by inflicting a painful wound.
While we're shooting bears: Buckshot is utterly useless at anything over point blank range, and the fabled b.s about "blinding him" is just that, fable or conjecture. The chance of one of those few pellets actually hitting even one eye is slim indeed. If you wanna blind a bear to see what happens go with 7 1/2 trap load. If you wanna kill it, go with a slug.
If you don't believe me check with Billy the Kid. I intended to say that if a bear is on top of you and chewing on your face one shot to the brain might do the trick. Well, here's something to chew on: I've shot a few blacks, never a griz. The first was a largish boar at 25 yds.+-, the rifle a 300 H&H with a 180 gr. Speer bullet. He was standing still on four legs, facing me directly. I hit him dead centre in the brisket, and he dropped literally spead-eagled in his tracks. Trouble was he got up just as fast as he went down and boogied off up the hill about 50 yds before giving up. The bullet penetrated right through to his fundamental orifice, destroying most everything on route.
Since that day many years ago I've shot a couple more, all hit well with powerful rifles, and only one with a broken back went down to stay without moving. Even a heart shot will not always and positively put a black down in his tracks.
Bear hunting and bear defence are NOT the same thing. Once the sucker is heading for you with serious intent you're only going to get one shot with a handgun unless he's 50 yds or more away to start. In that case he's not really a threat yet, and a tale of defensive shooting might not wash. If he's 20 yds. away and on the run you won't have a hope in hell of getting off more than one shot, and please don't argue unless you've been there seen that. Can anyone get off two aimed shots in 1.3 seconds?
Bear hunting with a handgun (where legal) is a different kettle of fish.
Lots of experienced handgunners do it successfully, but many if not most like to have a rifle or shotgun shooter around for backup, even for blacks. Remember, if he's not charging, he'll probably run in about the same direction he was facing when hit...not look around for the source. No problem.Dingus is dead right...no pun intended. If any make of bear is on top of you a handgun is a very good thing to have. Stick the muzzle under his throat, in his ear, or in his gaping jaws and pull the trigger. Before we arrive at that most unpleasant situation the odds are he or she will stop the charge anyway before beginning to dine on your carcass. Unless you've further pissed him or her off by inflicting a painful wound.
While we're shooting bears: Buckshot is utterly useless at anything over point blank range, and the fabled b.s about "blinding him" is just that, fable or conjecture. The chance of one of those few pellets actually hitting even one eye is slim indeed. If you wanna blind a bear to see what happens go with 7 1/2 trap load. If you wanna kill it, go with a slug.
I think for my personal defence against a bear a backpacker shot gun with slugs would be my choice we are talking bear defence not hunting in a tree stand its either put him down or end up chow if its leagal to carry an antique hand gun then its leagal to carry this sold by Canada ammo . this thing unleashed at point blank range even into the chest may save you from death you may not escape un injured but I like my odds better with this than any antique pistol short of a 577 cartridge howda.2 three inch slugs should do the trick barrels are 12 inches
BrotherRockeye
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rural Saskatchewan
rodagra is right about how much time you'd have.I've been charged by a black bear and it is a good thing for both of us it was a mock charge.He went from 30yds to 10 in the blink of an eye.if you run yer done!
I bowhunted them for years with just a belt knife for backup and they don't scare me much.There are some boars out there that would rag doll a fella in seconds though...the kind that rips the chains through a 45 gallon drum of meat and makes off with it...
I bowhunted them for years with just a belt knife for backup and they don't scare me much.There are some boars out there that would rag doll a fella in seconds though...the kind that rips the chains through a 45 gallon drum of meat and makes off with it...
Well i carry a big Knife to but my other back up is my two Australian cattle dogs, there sisters and never bark in the bush and never go more than 25 yds ahead ,and dont chase deer.
They listen and will tag team a bear, mink ,otter, anything they work in tandem.
I had a pair male and female 20 years ago used to torment the black bears at the dump something terible and never got a scratch
Theses arnt the kind of dogs that run and bring the bear back to you all pissed off.
There scrapers and dont have much fear in em.
there so dam fast and smart!
They listen and will tag team a bear, mink ,otter, anything they work in tandem.
I had a pair male and female 20 years ago used to torment the black bears at the dump something terible and never got a scratch
Theses arnt the kind of dogs that run and bring the bear back to you all pissed off.
There scrapers and dont have much fear in em.
there so dam fast and smart!
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Well took the Howda to the farm 45grs ffg .620 Round ball weight 447grs Velocity 560fps
Now I could have probably pushed it to 600fps with fffg well here is a pic of the 2x6 nailed with twisted nails together with another 2x6 It went through one and pushed the the boards apart distance was 15 Feet I included a pic of the farm where I do most of my shooting I'll let you guys deside if it would do the job on a bear as last resort
Now I could have probably pushed it to 600fps with fffg well here is a pic of the 2x6 nailed with twisted nails together with another 2x6 It went through one and pushed the the boards apart distance was 15 Feet I included a pic of the farm where I do most of my shooting I'll let you guys deside if it would do the job on a bear as last resort
Your very lucky, the farm looks like a pretty nice place to hang out.
The ball looks to be intact still. would a softer lead compound spead out and do more damage in flesh? or is this better for smashing through heavy bone? Either way it beats the hell out of a pointy stick! LOL
The ball looks to be intact still. would a softer lead compound spead out and do more damage in flesh? or is this better for smashing through heavy bone? Either way it beats the hell out of a pointy stick! LOL
Who would shoot a perfectly good antique bear?
(I'm surprised this thread made it this far without someone using this smarta$$ coment) - sorry, I couldn't resist any longer.
Seriously though, what was available in a handgun for bear defence in 1897?
There are also many cases of people using a stick and at least one, a cheap knife, to fend off a bear attack. Any reliable antique handgun with a .44 or .45 bore is better than screaming.
Sometimes bears will respond to a warning shot, too. Any antique handgun could be used like that to possibly end an attack before the screaming and crunching of bone and flesh begins. No one gets hurt, no report to the CO.
(I'm surprised this thread made it this far without someone using this smarta$$ coment) - sorry, I couldn't resist any longer.
Seriously though, what was available in a handgun for bear defence in 1897?
There are also many cases of people using a stick and at least one, a cheap knife, to fend off a bear attack. Any reliable antique handgun with a .44 or .45 bore is better than screaming.
Sometimes bears will respond to a warning shot, too. Any antique handgun could be used like that to possibly end an attack before the screaming and crunching of bone and flesh begins. No one gets hurt, no report to the CO.
Who would shoot a perfectly good antique bear?
(I'm surprised this thread made it this far without someone using this smarta$$ coment) - sorry, I couldn't resist any longer.
It only made it this far 'cause I have more restraint than you.
Key word here is 'sometimes'. I have tried to drive 2 or 3 bears off with warning shots from a .45-70. None of them gave any sign that they cared, and these were completely wild bears, unlikely to have seen a human being before. They seemed to be more affected by yelling and shouting and waving of arms. As has been pointed out earlier, if a bear is closing in on you intent on harm, you will most likely have time for only one shot. I had a black bear charge me once in an open hayfield on our farm in Manitoba and then break off at the last second. At the speed he was closing in, I'd say the one-shot school of thought is a good one. Think of it as baseball. You are the batter and the bear's brain is the ball and he's closing in at almost the speed of a fast softball and you only get one strike. I decided a couple decades ago that since I only get one strike, if it ever happens to completion, I will take only one shot, and it will be at the last instant when his brain is good and close.
BrotherRockeye
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rural Saskatchewan
+1 to that.
I parted the ears of a blackie with a blast from a 12ga an he didn't even blink.for all he knew it was thunder...an that's nothin to be afeared of
I parted the ears of a blackie with a blast from a 12ga an he didn't even blink.for all he knew it was thunder...an that's nothin to be afeared of
I've found from years of bear encounters, the best bear defence is to be aware enough to spot the bear before trouble begins, then be sure the bear knows you are a human.
Two ways I accomplish this is to stand tall and spread your arms wide to show a human-like profile. The second thing I do is jingle a large key ring of keys. Most bears have turned inside-out to get away from the evil metalic keys... lol. Several were approaching inside my safety zone, unaware that I was a 'two legged one'. No other animal makes metalic noises. I would judge any bear that dosn't respond with flight, as a definate risk.
Of course, if the bear is already in an aggressive charge, neither of these is a good plan.
Two ways I accomplish this is to stand tall and spread your arms wide to show a human-like profile. The second thing I do is jingle a large key ring of keys. Most bears have turned inside-out to get away from the evil metalic keys... lol. Several were approaching inside my safety zone, unaware that I was a 'two legged one'. No other animal makes metalic noises. I would judge any bear that dosn't respond with flight, as a definate risk.
Of course, if the bear is already in an aggressive charge, neither of these is a good plan.
That key jingling idea sounds like an interesting one. I know that a lot of dogs don't like the sound of rocks rattling in a can, so the key jingling idea does sound like a good candidate. I'll have to try that next time there's a black around that needs to move on. Of course, it's always wise to have a gun as a 'Plan B' back up plan.
