My bear encounter as of 10-30-05
Here's the long of it. I went to my property on lake Oroville
for the last weekend of deer season and took along my win. 44 mag.
trapper and my model 66 4" (.357). I got up nice and early to scout and
realized I had forgotten my 44 ammo. I did have some .357 for the
model 66 and so I headed off. I got about 25 yds from my trailer
and ran into a very plump black bear. I stopped and watched as
he sauntered towards me when he stopped, I put a round in the ground
under his head and nothing happened. I then put one under his butt and
still nothing. I then questioned my wisdom as now I only had 4 rounds
left if he charged. I raised my arms and aimed at the area between
his shoulder blades as he had now turned directly at me. I decided
not to shoot it because if it attacked I would be malued rather handlely
due to the short distance (12 steps measured after the encounter)
and I wasn't going to provoke a defensive attack at close range.
I cocked the pistol and lifted my elbows and the animal ran away.
His body jiggled like a bowl of jelly as he disappeared into the oak trees.
The bottom line for me is that I have a 4" mountain revolver; a 6" 29-3;
a 6.5" 629 classic pp and as of today a new 629 5" classic;
The classic
5" will be my carry gun on the property from now on. I always felt adequate
with my.357 for mountain lions;rattlers but at close range I want the .44 mag
The .357 may have worked but at close range like I was faced with
I didn't think I could stop the animal before being mauled. The mountain revolver would work just as well but I find the recoil with factory 240grn
loads excessive. The
5" inch delivers balance and weight at an acceptable
level for me.
