|
[ Return to Contents
| Post a Reply
| Post a new message
]
Practice
Posted by BrownBear on Jun 24 2005
I agree with both Paul and av8nak, if that's possible. Most folks can't stand inside a barn and hit it with a handgun, especially a big boomer.
On the other hand, every single time I have had bears show up suddenly while fishing, my shotgun or rifle was laying on the ground out of reach. I've been false charged three times by brownies while deer hunting, but I naturally already had a rifle in hand.
With some reservations a handgun may be okay simply because you always have it with you. It isn't going to do you much good at all however, if you aren't good with it. Lots of practice on small moving targets is mandatory with your full-powered loads. You have to learn to shoot quickly, and repeatedly. I prefer double-action revolvers for that reason, and also because you can pack more power into a DA revolver than a semi-auto. A DA is probably worse than a less powerful semi-auto if you can't shoot it well in DA.
Why "small targets?" Because even the most powerful handguns barely measure up to a 30-30 rifle, and no one considers a 30-30 a "bear gun." You have to think of hitting the brain or spine if you want to settle the hash of a bear instantly.
I'm an experienced and skilled handgunner with over 40 years of serious use behind me. I've killed over 50 deer with handguns, and in the good old days I won my fair share of "action" pistol shoots. My choice of handguns for carry in bear country is a 4" S&W 44mag, simply because it is about as much as I can shoot fast and accurately in double-action.
Big boomer rifles and shotguns won't do you any good if they aren't in your hands (and not on the ground, in the plane, or tied to your backpack) when you need them. Big boomer handguns won't do squat for you if you can't hit quickly and accurately and often with them.
Get a powerful handgun in a model that is convenient to carry. Then don't carry it till you can shoot it well. If you spend about as much on ammo as you do for the gun and use it all in practice, you might be about ready to rely on it for carry. If you aren't putting at least a box of shells a week of your protection rounds through the handgun, I bet it isn't going to do you much good when you need it most.
Previous: Bear defense AkHunter45 Jun 27 2005
Next: handguns... av8nak Jun 24 2005
Message Thread:
|
