Shooting my new Pistol

[angellr]

Mossies make a nice jacking sound also.

However, most bad guys know the sound of a Remington 870, just sayin'.

[OU812]

Mossies make a nice jacking sound also.

However, most bad guys know the sound of a Remington 870, just sayin'.

My Benelli and Remington makes the same sound. Just saying....

[jas]

The only sound a home intruder needs to hear is BOOM.

[Boxer]

"Two guys were taking a leak in a river one day and..."

[CycleRob]

I went shooting today with Steve (OU812) who is spending 2 nights at my house on his way to Palm Coast, Florida. He had his Glock 21, a 45 caliber semi automatic pistol, that to me, was a much too powerful hand held cannon compared to my P-22. I cannot imagine firing that thing without serious hearing protection and a good grip on the gun. We also shot my new Mossberg 500 .410 pump shotgun. It was my 2nd day session firing it with the replacement rear pistol-grip stock. Being their "Home Defense Model" it's 18 inch barrel is highly maneuverable inside the house, without having too harsh a recoil. It doesn't level the playing field, it tips it up on it's end, totally in my favor. Any violent forced intrusion ends quickly, decisively and here in Georgia, 100% legally.

Steve's Glock 21 shot 100 rounds and mine shot off 144, with each of us shooting the other's gun for just a few shots. 4 rounds using the 45 cal pistol with target loads was enough for me, while Steve squeezed off 20 rounds on the P-22. What fun that was, even though 2 of the 144 Remington brand .22 cal rounds were duds (firing pin hit, but failed to fire). On the way home we picked up his new Net ordered tire on the front wheel we dropped off earlier today at Gainesville Motorsports. We torque wrench installed it after the rain stopped, in the driveway turn around. Tomorrow he's off on his trip to FL, to be stopping by and staying over again Friday on the way back to his home and anxiously waiting wife in the chilly weather of the Chicago suburbs. We may even schedule another shooting session -and- a ride in the N. GA mountains to fully scuff in that greasy new tire.

[GypsyRR]

Beyond home intruders - - - will any of those shotguns stop a bear? I had a bear in my camp at Slumgullion Pass in Colorado a couple of years ago, and have been kind of scared about camping in some areas ever since. He ate all my food, drank my Coke and coffee creamer, and made a general mess of everything. But fortunately it was while I was out riding and fishing. (interesting side note: he left the Pepsi alone)

[angellr]

Beyond home intruders - - - will any of those shotguns stop a bear? I had a bear in my camp at Slumgullion Pass in Colorado a couple of years ago, and have been kind of scared about camping in some areas ever since. He ate all my food, drank my Coke and coffee creamer, and made a general mess of everything. But fortunately it was while I was out riding and fishing. (interesting side note: he left the Pepsi alone)

Best way to camp in the back country is by using a "bear pole" [high tree limb with your food hoisted up out of the way] and NEVER, EVER eating in/around your tent [big NO NO in the back country]. The only rounds that will stop a bear are perhaps a 357 Magnum or 454 Casull http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.454_Casull (I travel/use a 357/38 Ruger 6 shooter for such occasions, as my 9/40/45 just would not be sufficient in these matters ... also, I can load the revolver with snake shot every other round for those pesky rattlers. I also *know* that the .454 will take down the bear http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2009 ... 54-casull/ as an example. The Ruger Alaskan Redhawk .454 Casull is the one I want for my trips http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-SRHAlaskan454.htm - smaller, lighter and can basically take care of the situation without the original 7.5" barrel) the rest of the guns just piss them off. Don't have much experience with bear spray.

Spent some time in the back country on Shoeshone Lake in Yellowstone a few years ago ... no problems with bears (you could hear them occasionally) by following the recommendations above. Not sure why he left the Pepsi - maybe just a preference for coke?

[CycleRob]

Well . . . . . IF a bear broke down my front door, I bet it would only take 2 shots in the face from the .410 to bring him down. A big plus would be the discouraging factor that LOUD shotgun BLAST makes on the intruder's brain, besides the organ (brain) damaging penetration, pain and bleeding from those dozens of pellets.

About the Pepsi being passed over while the Coke was sloppily consumed . . . . . duh! Obviously the bear can't read the labels!! Also, with my decades of watching the Discovery channel, any bear that came upon GypsyRR asleep in her tent while sniffing around for food would also notice her, how can I say this . . . . complete lack of testosterone and would deem the human within to NOT be a threat.

FYI, Steve (OU812) left my house 2 hours ago for FL and the weather radar scan shows he will totally miss the huge rainstorms sweeping across the South. Imagine over 14" (35.5 cm) of rain in Arkansas!

OK. Now it's time to clean-n-lube the guns.

[GypsyRR]

Good luck Steve!

Um....... The bear tasted both Pepsi and Coke. He drank all the Coke and left the Pepsi. Just sayin! Not that there's anything wrong with that!

And I'm not worried about a bear at my house, just my tent. I don't think he would care if I'm female or male if he's/she's hungry! I'd be an easy and quick meal regardless of my reaction!

Have you posted a picture of your Mossberg with the pistol grip? I looked and haven't seen it. Perhaps I overlooked.

[NoRRmad]

Two rounds from a .410 would just irritate a bear.

[angellr]

Good luck Steve!

Um....... The bear tasted both Pepsi and Coke. He drank all the Coke and left the Pepsi. Just sayin! Not that there's anything wrong with that!

And I'm not worried about a bear at my house, just my tent. I don't think he would care if I'm female or male if he's/she's hungry! I'd be an easy and quick meal regardless of my reaction!

Have you posted a picture of your Mossberg with the pistol grip? I looked and haven't seen it. Perhaps I overlooked.

GypsyRR,

You did not mention (or I missed it) that he tasted the Pepsi and went with the Coke! There is a commercial and potential sponsor in that thar story!

Also, that Mossberg like Keith said would only piss it off.

I too would like to see a pic of the new addition (after you oil and clean it).

[CycleRob]

Post deleted. Besides dead Apr 26, 2011 links I decided showing my weapons is TMI.

[angellr]

Me likey!! Sure would hate to be the bear trying to invade your refrigerator late at night!!

[jas]

It’s not uncommon to have a “shooter” assigned to fire crews when working in Alaska, and I have also seen it in Canada. Our helicopter pilots also carry a firearm in the ship in the event of an accident, Shotguns usually fit that need, not only can you travel through Canada with them, but they are great for survival. Bear, deer, moose, forest grouse….. Point is, the shotgun really is the weapon of choice. Alternating buckshot (or BBB) and slugs. The shot will blind the bear, slugs drive it home.

When hiking or hunting on my own, My choice is a ported 4” Ruger Redhawk 44 mag. The porting helps manage muzzle rise. Although it carries one heck of a buck, we all know that when shooting with intent (as opposed to target plinking), felt recoil does not exist.

Do not depend on a .357 (or smaller), 410 bore, 28 , 16 or 20 gauge to “stop” a bear.

The best rule is to avoid shooting the bears. What have they done to us? Hang your food and tie off above the reach of the bear, they know what to look for (rope) or use a bear box. Trash should be buried, burned or removed. Place it next to your obnoxious neighbors camp. Avoid the river or natural food sources at morning or late evening. Attach a bell to your pack. Also, studies have shown that camo tents see the least amount of bear intrusions!

[GypsyRR]

Thanks for the bear deterrent advise. Recently, I looked at the S&W 329 Night Guard, .44 Mag for carrying with me while hiking and fishing. Considering it still.
But I don't want to hijack Rob's pistol/mossberg thread though, so if I have any further questions about it - I'll start another thread.

Thanks for allowing a slight hijack, Rob. Apologies, as well.

[wncbmw]

Having lived in Griz country for a while, I will offer some advice:

- avoid them if possible. The advice about the food was right on. The reason for avoidance is:

1. shooting at a bear with a shotgun with anything other than 12 ga slugs and buckshot is suicide. And requires some serious skills.
2. shooting a bear with a 44 magnum requires extreme levels of skill and cool, calm steadiness most of us will not have. Which means, it is also suicide.

That said, either in your tent or campsite beats a sharp stick!

When I camped in bear country, the park bears were fearless because they never got shot at by humans. In the wilderness areas, where you could travel armed, enough people took 'warning' shots at bears that got too close, they were much more reluctant to come into contact with humans.

I always heard the 'shooter' on crews in Alaska was the highest paid guy and no one complained!

[OU812]

44 Magnum would stop the bear, even kill it.

[bimmerboy72]

I am with Lifer, the 22 is a recreational pistol, not meant for self defense.
Anybody that would kick your door in has already displayed aggressive behavior and will do you harm if you get in the way.
I am a concealed handgun instructor and past competitive shooter for 25 yrs. Ck out armedamericanchl.com for ideas on which is right gun to use for self defense.
My 22 is only for turtles and snakes and cans and to train muscle memory.
45auto is my carry weapon and home defense weapon.
Everybody has an opinion and that's mine.

[OU812]

If we only had CC here in IL........
The 45 auto would be my carry also.

[angellr]

If we only had CC here in IL........
The 45 auto would be my carry also.

We have CC here, and mine is the Beretta .45 Cougar - love the twisting recoil.