Re: Handguns if your life was on the line

23 March 2004, 12:07

Dark Paladin

my 10mm glock

sure its not as powerful as the 500, but I can fire 15 rounds with one hand, and HIT what ever I'm shooting very fast

23 March 2004, 16:27

AlanC

You say you are moving to Alaska? Well I have been here for 20 years and while I carry a handgun when I am in the bushes, it is not necessarilly my preferred weapon of choice...my brain is. You just can't do stupid stuff in bear country...up here it can be for keeps. A ton of teeth and fur coming at you is a significant emotional event sure to soil the most battle tested underwear. Every year somebody, normally a newbie or tourist, will get eaten up because they broke the rules. Keep food sealed and away from the camp, cook away from camp, don't sleep in clothes you cook in, and most of all don't get between mama and that cub...that type of stuff, there is more these are just the basics. I normally carry a .44 Mag or a Casull with when nature calls, but that's only because you can't lean your ass up over a long and be in shooting position with a rifle. Buy a copy of the book Bear Tales and read about all the wrong ideas of what to do when confronted by Mr. Brown Bear. I think after a couple of chapters, you will get the idea.

23 March 2004, 18:44

Russell E. Taylor

Quote:

Once I've stopped something intent on eating me or doing me harm; I can kill it at me leisure.

You have the perfect mindset.

As to the original question, I'll state for the record that there isn't a jacketed bullet on the planet that I would willingly trust with my life. For things that see me as a potential meal and/or plaything, I'm only interested in using a cast lead bullet or a bronze solid. In the case of my .500 Linebaugh, it would be cast lead. I am, tomorrow, going to be working up loads with Cast Performance's 525-grain slug. I'm not interested in driving it at Mach 10, just moving it along to get all that weight into motion.

Lastly, before choosing a lead bullet (hard cast, of course) upon which you trust with your life, I suggest a real simple test. Get a BFH (that's "Big *expletive deleted* Hammer)... in this case, a sledge... and smack the bullet as hard as you can (on a concrete floor or whatever). What you want is a bullet that doesn't disintegrate; you want one that stays together. If it'll stand up to a heavy BFH, it'll certainly stand up to bone. Now, I'm sure someone will toss out "expansion" -- to which I'll give my standard reply, now. "Caliber" makes up for an awful lot; you don't need "expansion" when you're already starting out with a .50-caliber slug.

When MY life is on the line, I'll take "big caliber" and "hard lead" (with a good Brinell number) any day -- over any jacketed bullet.

And yes, I'm putting my money where my mouth is. My .500 Linebaugh and these bullets will be going with me to Alaska for brown bear this May. My .416 Remington Magnum is my "primary," but the Linebaugh will be for emergencies if I can't get my rifle into action for some reason. Also, if I get to stalk close enough, I'll use the Linebaugh instead of the rifle.

Russ

23 March 2004, 19:26

Dave James

Well right now the only one I have that I would use, for 4 leggers,is a Dan Wesson chambered for the 45 win mag, by every thing I read its basicly a 454 near.In a pinch I would use my model 27 with 180 hard cast or Buffaloe loads.