For what it's worth!

[armed and humorous]

I heard a twig snap . . .
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Subject: I heard a twig snap....
 
Just Outside Soldotna , Alaska .


King season is over, and since I had a day off before silvers start, I thought I would go for a walk! This occurred at 11:16 am this morning (Sunday), just 2/10 of a mile from my house.

ON OUR ROAD while walking my dogs (ironically trying to get in shape for hunting season!) for the record. This is in a residential area-not back in the woods. No bow hunting. No stealth occurring.

 

I heard a twig snap. And looked back. Full on charge-a huge Brownie, ears back, head low and motorin' full speed! Came with zero warning; no Woof, no popping of the teeth, no standing up, nothing like what you think or see on TV! It charged from less than 20 yards and was on me in about one-second! Totally surreal. I just started shooting in the general direction. And praise God that my second shot (or was it my third?) rolled him at 5 feet and he skidded to a stop 10 feet BEYOND where I was shooting from. I actually sidestepped him and fell over backwards on the last shot. And his momentum carried him to a stop past where I fired my first shot!

 

It was a prehistoric old boar. No teeth. No fat. Weighed between 900-1000 Lbs and took five men to DRAG it onto a tilt-bed trailer! Big bear. Its paw measured out at about a 9-1/2 inches!

Never-ever-thought 'it' would happen to me! It's always some other Shmuck..... Right?

 

Well, no bull. I am still high on adrenaline. With my gut in a knot (felt like I did 10000 crunches without stopping)! Almost puked for an hour after. Had the burps and couldn't even stand up as the troopers conducted their investigation! Totally wiped me out. Can't even put that feeling into words.

By far the most emotion I have ever felt at once!

 

No doubt that God was with me, as I brought my Ruger .454 Casull (and some "hot" 350 grain solids) just for the heck of it. And managed to draw and snap shoot (pointed, never even aimed!) from the hip! Total luck shot!

All I can say is Praise God for my safety and for choosing to leave the wife and kids at home on this walk!

 
Now if anyone starts making noises about taking away your right to protect yourself with a gun, we need to let them know where we stand.
 
The accompanying pictures didn't paste in like I had hoped.   If anyone wants to "see" the rest of the story, I can forward you the email I got from my brother.  By the way, I'm not sure why they have a 2" barrel S&W 500 pictured at the beginning of the article when that was not the weapon used to down the bear, but it caught my eye (I have the 4" and the 8-3/8" versions, and I took the shorter of the two on my summer trip through most of the western U.S. for just this type of possibility).


 



 

[bk09]

I will pm you my email. One good thing about living in eastern Nebraska... Btw how do you like your 8 3/8ths 500? Plan on getting one in March after my birthday with compensator/hi viz sight. Already gathering supplies for reloading some "mouse fart" loads with trail boss so I make sure I don't develop a flinch lol.

[armed and humorous]

bradkoll:

I'll be sending you the email I got from my brother.  (Ignore my first response to your PM...I'm going senile.  )

To answer your question, I really like the S&W 500s, and the 8-3/8" shoots much "nicer" than one might have expected.  The 4" version would be something you'd only use when necessary, not for practice, unless you have a robotic arm and hand.  For their intended purpose the shorter ones (they make the 2" version, too) are great.  Small enough to not be in the way when you carry, but all the knockdown power of a cannon.  Obviously, close range weapons, for when that dead bear you're posing with for your trophy photos is suddenly no longer dead.  I tried deer hunting with my longer barrel gun, and I got a couple of shots at a deer the year before last, but I missed.  If you have the strength and steadiness for that kind of weight, you'd probably do well.  They can be mounted on a tri-pod or such, but what's the point?  You may as well be carrying a rifle.  The bad thing about the 500s is the cost of ammo.  If you're going to reload, that may not be an issue.  I'll save you my brass if I ever get out on the range again with mine.

[bk09]

Already have 50 pieces of brass bought for it, and I would forever love you if you saved brass for me. I find reloading to be as fun, if not MORE fun than shooting. I could make some 500 for you if you get me supplies, I already have the dies and shell holders to use so you don't have to pay that. Eh on second thought you can keep that brass and I will reload it for you, pm me some time if you are interested and I will tell you what I would need to make them or how much it would cost me to buy the components. Powdervalleyinc.com has some plated bullets by Berry's that would be good for making some mid-range to light loads. Otherwise scheels here in lincoln has some Sierra HP bullets I believe for about $22 or $23 for 50.

[armed and humorous]

bradkoll:

Easy on that "love" talk.  Someone's liable to get the wrong idea! 

Perhaps somewhere down the road (like if I renew my IWLA membership), I may take you up on the reloads.  I've got a habit (or I used to) of buying the most expensive stuff I can find, just because I can.  That's not so much the case since I was laid off.  When I saw the S&W 500, and it was advertised as the world's most powerful handgun, I had to have it (and not one, but two!).  Now, I don't even have a place to shoot it, other than public hunting land.  I suggested otherwise on another thread, but if they were to allow cougar hunting in Nebraska, I'd die for the chance to shoot one with my pistol! 

I'll pm you if I get to the point where I need more ammo (or just have some brass I don't need).

Thanks