My next bear rifle

[olympia]

you guys are arguing too much, just ask the damn bear what he prefers

 

[hawk-i]

Unfortunately, he's 100% correct. "Knock down" is movie stuff, reality is even my .375 H&H (far, far more powerful than the .500 S&W) doesn't make a small bear or small deer act any differently on the hit than a .243 placed properly.

Might not make a difference on "that" small bear or small dear but I'm pretty sure it would make a difference on the next 4 or 5 standing beside the first one.

 

[Dorian Gray]

you guys are arguing too much, just ask the damn bear what he prefers

This is what i did. They told me .454 Casull. I was but then i thought so i bought one and was and then i did .

 

[xeon]

Shot placement is key, not caliber. I'd personally go wiht a more practical gun that doesn't cost $3-4/round to shoot and only gets used once.

 

[Boomer]

The choice of the .500 cartridge would suggest that shots will be made at relatively close range. The problem that I envision is the amount of time it would take to reload for a follow up shot. A wounded bear can disappear into heavy cover in little more than a blink. A single shot rifle of the falling block variety can be reloaded quickly if you have a couple of cartridges held between the finger of your support hand, but a break action gun presents a bit more difficulty. On the Thunder Ranch Shotgun video, Clint Smith demonstrates a technique with an H&R 12 bore that he can shoot reload and shoot again surprisingly quickly while the rounds in his sidesaddle hold out. After the first shot, keeping the gun at the shoulder, he cocks the hammer, presses the barrel release, dropping the barrel, which is under control of his support hand, ejecting the empty, he draws a fresh round from the sidesaddle with his shooting hand, chambers it, reacquires his firing grip while closing the gun, and immediately fires again. Not as fast as a repeater, but not bad. I tried it with an old Cooey single 12 I have kicking around, but the lockwork is different enough that the order of reloading must change a bit, as cocking the hammer blocks the action release. It might be worth working out then practicing a technique that works for you.

 

[caboverbobby]

i have never had to do a second shot even grizzly bear hunting in B.C.

All i want to do is place my shot with a nice big caliber and drop it right there.

I will get my 500 S&W and enjoy it.


If you need any follow shots.... well i think you should place your shots better.

Thanks for any advice, i appreciate it.

 

[Ardent]

Happy hunting and let us know how you like it, cheers.