Not speaking for Jeffeosso, but I believe the phrase "trailgun" is used in this case for non-hunting situations like riding four wheelers, off roading and hiking.
Even for myself I usually carry an S&W 617 around the place as a utility device, but with more and more hogs showing up I've gone back to a .357 or .45 in the event an opportunity presents itself .
Rodney.

onefunzr2

I never said ONLY a 500 would have saved him, I mearly reported what he had in his pocket.

The main point was he had powerful rifle, but after he was knocked down, it was useless to him.

You can carry what ever you want, but I am sure you are aware black bears kill a whole lot more people that the brown variety.

It is reported deer kill more hunters than bears.

I imagine you have seen some videos [check you tube], where a deer has knocked somebody down and working them over.


My initial post and intended point is that if everything is taken into consideration, size weight, power, shotshells, avialibility of the different factory loads, @a 4" 44 Mag is the best allround choice.

It can handle most any requirement.

Smaller, less powerful guns may not, a bigger more powerful gun, is too much of a burden to carry 100% of the time.

Jeffe I like the statement about pigs not being able to eat bears. If they could they would. I am thinking about a medium sized large bore for carry in the woods and part time concealed carry. I am torn between the 44 and 45 but the 45 is winning out I believe. A 45LC Mountain gun might be the thing with a 300+gr mild load. I am thinking around 350 gr cast at home would be great for a medium weight I would be apt to carry and not leave home. The 1911 has been my go to piece in the past but eats my hip. Packy

Had a friend in school years ago who could shoot pennies out of the air with his 22LR pistol, head shot grouse at up to 20 yds, really quite remarkable. He grew up on a big ranch in Northern California, around Willits(sp?) Anyway, he told me he hunted pigs with his 22 very successfully for years. That is until...yep, had a really nice looking scar on his leg too.

I went pig hunting with him a few years later, took my 357 I had at the time, he brought his beloved 22 and his 44. After a week of whacking porkers (some of which were not all that impressed by my 357) I sold the 357 and bought a 44. No regrets. Would better bullets made a difference, probably.

For walking around in non-bear territory I prefer a 22, Ruger Mark 2 or a Bear Cat suits me. When I hunt grouse in the early fall I bring a 22 AND my 44 since my favorite grouse areas are prime grizz country. When hunting with a rifle in grizz country the 44 is attached to me ALL the time. A few years ago a hunter was killed by a grizz whist he gutted his elk, his rifle was found leaning up against a nearby tree, even 3 inches too far is still too far.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:



It is reported deer kill more hunters than bears.

I imagine you have seen some videos [check you tube], where a deer has knocked somebody down and working them over.

I have seen the results in person , one dead hunter(buck also died), one dead non-hunter - a lady just out walking, buck killed later .

Three other people in serious shape from encounters with antlerless deer.

+1 for the 45LC.

Ruger 7.5" NMBH in 45colt is quite capable of taking anything I might come across. With the addition of Hogue rubber grips it is simply a joy to shoot, even with the heaviest loads.

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
A 200# pig has NO, zip, zero nadda, natural enemies in texas that doesn't have tires or just 2 feet - other than another ppig.

Well that's not entirely true. Texas does have one dangerous game animal that is higher on the food chain than the feral pig. You know, them big cats. The ones with the 5ft long tail, called mountain lion.

quote:

Well that's not entirely true. Texas does have one dangerous game animal that is higher on the food chain than the feral pig. You know, them big cats. The ones with the 5ft long tail, called mountain lion.

Been tracking one lately without much luck.
neighbors see "it" , guests see "it", but I never see it. Leaves nice pugs though.

Neighbor saw it with two tagalongs ,probably still last years from the description.
Never shows on any of the game cams & never seems to show up when anyone has a rifle.

Another neighbor swears it killed a new calf, I didn't get to see the kill, unfortunately I was gone, no pics taken.

ALL report it is black, TPWF study states "No such thing" ( cubs are not from two reports.)

And no I can't tell you where it is; Do not want the anti's prowling around. (Was not me the contacted TPWF)
Maybe I'll swith back to the old .44 or start carrying the .500 here in Tejas too.

ive got a good friend that has a game farm that has pig hunts. Hes got a leg with a scar from 76 stitches. He shot the pig after it cut him with his 500 linebaugh. hes got kids that work for him guiding and he owns one 475 linebaugh and 3 500s and they all look like theyve been drug behind a truck. ALL OF HIS GUIDES carry a 500 he doesnt want to risk any of his customers getting hurt from a pig. Now ive hunted them enough to know that for the most part there not agressive but ive also hunted them enough to know what (for the most part) means. to me pig guns begin with 44 mags.

quote:

Originally posted by Whitworth:

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
If he had not had a big handgun he would no doubt been seriously injured, maybe killed.

Why do you think that's BS? Lots of people get charged and cut by wild hogs that are wounded. Granted, the chances are remote (chances are remote that you will get charged by a cape buffalo as well), but it certainly does happen.

quote:

I don't doubt the story. What I doubt is your reasoning that ONLY a 500 magnum saved his ass. If he had a smaller handgun at hand instead of that big lump of steel it wouldn't have gotten caught up in his pant's pocket, and he could have dispatched the wounded hog before it mauled him.

If he'd had it in a holster instead of his pants pocket the revolver would not have gotten hung up. I have had my 38 J-Frame S&W hang up in my posket, so a small gun does not solve that problem

quote:

Pigs can't turn their heads and bite, which is about the only reason they don't eat bears

I was a kid when I learned of pigs' fondness for snacking on other critters. My first Arkansas duck club was at a rice farm where they also kept pigs. After the hunt we took the dux to a special bldg for cleaning. They had a machine that picked the feathers and blew them into a bin (the farmer's wife used them for quilting and such). The heads, necks, legs, feet, wings, rear ends, insides and much blood went into large buckets. When done I got the job of emptying everthing. I ask where and they say just dump it over that fence..it's a pig pen. I didn't see any pigs, but did as told. You can't believe how fast a gang of them appeared from no telling where and in a few minutes, literally nothing was left period that I could see.

That may be hard to believe, but I sure wouldn't want any part of me in there while all that was going on.

As far as threats to bears is concerned, no doubt in my mind they would if they thought they could pull it off...

I swore by my 357 in the 3 1/2" 27 for close to home roaming and the big ole Colt 357 with the 6" barrel, but after going mano to mamma with a very pissed off she bear of the black type at muzzle contact distance, I have gone to an early model mountain gun in 44mag

quote:

Originally posted by Dave James:
I swore by my 357 in the 3 1/2" 27 for close to home roaming and the big ole Colt 357 with the 6" barrel, but after going mano to mamma with a very pissed off she bear of the black type at muzzle contact distance, I have gone to an early model mountain gun in 44mag

And if that doesn't motivate you to carry something bigger, you're probably already dead! What's the load you carry, Dave? If you don't mind me asking.

And again I say the 44 Mag is the best ALL ROUND... Everything considered.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
And again I say the 44 Mag is the best ALL ROUND... Everything considered.

not a bad second place finisher, behind MY 45 colt!

Whit at the time I was carrying 180 grain jsp load, done up by a small company back then, we { NYPD} and myself where chasing a wanted person thru the edges of the Dismal Swamp down here,stepped up out of the swamp onto a cypres boil and right into an early den on top of momma. Disproved that a 300lb man and bear could occupie the same hole,shot her thru the top of the head all six times and she still mangaed to push me over. Never did find the NYPD guy he took off and was found by my Lt. later that day.

In the 44 now when in the woods I like the old fashion Keith load 240-250 weight or a factory load from Grizzly or Cor-Bon, haven't seen a bear since then in the swamp but several signs. Mostly find humans now that shoudln't be growing things out there

The .44 is great and I can't throught any rocks at them I guess thats why I have 4 of them.
I really like the mountain gun it really bridges alot of gaps between the big heavy hunting only big bores and the revolvers we carry everyday.
I prefer just a little more barrel than the mt. guns 4" because my testing has shown that 4" is at the bottem end of the performance envelope.

I carry a 5&1/2 inch super blackhawk when I'm carrying a .44 I have a 3" S&W but I don't like the harsh barrel jump. My two 7&1/2 .44's for me are just hunting guns.
When I'm in bear country ( which I am a lot) I carry a 5&1/2" redhawk .45 with really hot loads or my 6" freedom arms .454. I've taken game with them all and and on deer and pigs the .44 seems to work just as well as any. In the winter when the bears are hold I carry one of my .357's in case I see some fur to shoot at.

AKshooter

How is everything going?

Used your fine 338 double for anything lately?

Hello Mr T
No I haven't done anything with the .338 lately. I'm thinking I have about three weppons that need some blood this year and thats one of them. Also I want to do some killing with my Lyman .54 cal deer stalker and my AR m37 bow.
Maybe you should come up this spring and we can take about a half dozen black bears. One each with double rifle and one each bow then I'll take one with muzzel loader and you can take one more with your mt. gun and report back here.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave James:
Whit at the time I was carrying 180 grain jsp load, done up by a small company back then, we { NYPD} and myself where chasing a wanted person thru the edges of the Dismal Swamp down here,stepped up out of the swamp onto a cypres boil and right into an early den on top of momma. Disproved that a 300lb man and bear could occupie the same hole,shot her thru the top of the head all six times and she still mangaed to push me over. Never did find the NYPD guy he took off and was found by my Lt. later that day.

In the 44 now when in the woods I like the old fashion Keith load 240-250 weight or a factory load from Grizzly or Cor-Bon, haven't seen a bear since then in the swamp but several signs. Mostly find humans now that shoudln't be growing things out there

Dave, thanks for answering my question!

[quote]Disproved that a 300lb man and bear could occupie the same hole,shot her thru the top of the head all six times and she still mangaed to push me over."

This is typical and why you need more consistancy with a larger caliber. Sure, it is accompished (357), but you will have problems.
From extensive experience as guide and control hunter.