Not ANOTHER which gun for bears?????

[Bear Paw Jack]

I think I've mentioned several times that during my 30+ years in Alaska I mostly carried a Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Mag with hard casts. I can't remember how many know it all gun shop people explained that a double action gun was CRITICAL for bear protection and would begin clicking away with an empty gun. Well this video is PROOF positive a single action is just fine, and for proof they use a full 454 Freedom Arms, loaded with hot loads. 6 people shoot including Bryce Townsley and our own Max P. Since I don't know how to imbed I'll let you click on it. This is done by American Hunter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F71SPRFr_Y#t=178

 

[Salmoneye]

Nicely done...

 

[Madcapper]

Damn, that is some impressive shooting.

 

[AJGUNNER]

Think I will start practicing with a single six and work my way up. :lol:

 

[OldePhart]

Impressive shooting...but if I have to face a charging brown I'd really like to have an M-60 handy...

 

[GunnyGene]

I thought all you needed was little bells and pepper spray! :wink:

Seriously tho, I think I'd be pulling the trigger at a lot more than 5 yds. At that distance you likely wouldn't get a chance to draw and fire at all before Mr. Brown took your head off.

 

[CraigC]

This was posted on American Rifleman a few months ago. Great shooting and Bryce Towsley gained a fan after that display.

 

[OldePhart]

I thought all you needed was little bells and pepper spray! :wink:

Or, as a Griz calls them, "chamber music and seasoning..." LOL

 

[Kanook]

So if I walk around with my 454 "cocked" and the bears only attack from the front of me, I should live.

Your video is

PROOF positive

that under controlled situations, the mighty 454 can be tamed.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

On the out door channel I watched a show a couple of years ago, a guide running a boat up a river, for a guy who was bow hunting a big brown bear. Hunter's bow and arrows were put away. They came around a corner and a brown bear standing at the edge of the river came right at them. Guide drew his 44 Super Blackhawk and fired a shot pretty darn quick. Turned that bear right around.

I believe they were making a point. Either you can do it or you can't. Gun doesn't matter so much as people think. The bullet is pretty important as well.

 

[maxima2]

Impressive shooting any way you look at it. Very fast and on target.

 

[Rumrunner]

Good shooting! Going to try that with my 480 SRH.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Rumrunner, don't forget to video it. Inquiring minds. Got a stop clock?

 

[Rumrunner]

I'm usually alone at the range. Will try and get someone to video it. It will be a little bit down the road before I can try.

 

[CLAYPOOL]

Rumrunner if get down south of Mt. Vernon, Il. about 35 miles or so, we will help here at my range. We can give all my big bores a work out also.

 

[CLAYPOOL]

Rumrunner if get down south of Mt. Vernon, Il. about 35 miles or so, we will help here at my range. We can give all my big bores a work out also.

 

[OldePhart]

Rumrunner, don't forget to video it. Inquiring minds. Got a stop clock?

There are shot clock apps for smart phones...

 

[trouble]

Cool video, I'd love to see the same test with a double action.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Maybe Max P. will give us some insight on that.

 

[Rumrunner]

Rumrunner if get down south of Mt. Vernon, Il. about 35 miles or so, we will help here at my range. We can give all my big bores a work out also.

Too bad I'm not still driving back and forth to New Orleans. We could of made it happen.

 

[MaxP]

So if I walk around with my 454 "cocked" and the bears only attack from the front of me, I should live.

Your video is

PROOF positive

that under controlled situations, the mighty 454 can be tamed.

Didn't take long for cynicism to rear its head. This was an exercise in how fast one can rattle off a cylinder full of full-tilt .454 with reasonable shot placement. Controlling the sizable recoil, and still hitting your mark. Nothing more, nothing less. It's great practice as far as I'm concerned. I don't think anyone involved is under the impression (illusion?) that they would be able to get more than maybe one shot off in a charge situation.

You should try it. It's not only fun, but as I said before, great practice.

 

[MaxP]

Maybe Max P. will give us some insight on that.

I've done some speed drills with my .480 Alaskan and while I have yet to formally draw a conclusion, I have found that in my case at least, I am able to rattle off five shots faster from the FA83 single-action, despite the greater recoil.

Oh, and Semper Fi, Jack!

 

[Kanook]

Max P

This was an exercise in how fast one can rattle off a cylinder full of full-tilt .454 with reasonable shot placement. Controlling the sizable recoil, and still hitting your mark. Nothing more, nothing less.

We agreed on this.

I don't think anyone involved is under the impression (illusion?) that they would be able to get more than maybe one shot off in a charge situation.

I can't comment on this as the others in the video haven't posted.

Lets look back at the original post

I think I've mentioned several times that during my 30+ years in Alaska I mostly carried a Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Mag with hard casts. I can't remember how many know it all gun shop people explained that a double action gun was CRITICAL for bear protection and would begin clicking away with an empty gun. Well this video is PROOF positive a single action is just fine, and for proof they use a full 454 Freedom Arms, loaded with hot loads. 6 people shoot including Bryce Townsley and our own Max P. Since I don't know how to imbed I'll let you click on it. This is done by American Hunter.

It appears, to me, that the OP is stating that the "Single Action revolver" is just as good as a "Double Action revolver" for "Bear defense" because of the aimed "hits" and "speed" in the video. The OP makes the comment "Know it all gun shop people" pushing a double action revolver for bear defense but doesn't mention the ability or firearms knowledge of the person who is buying the revolver. My brother in-law asked me what I thought about his new (to him) single action for for his trip to Alaska in two months, my reply was "have you ever shot a single action before?" "Nope" was his reply. I told him his choices are to get a double action or carry somebody who knows how to use the single.

The debate on what is better will always go on. Their is no final answer, I hunt with a Ruger Blackhawk and carry a Redhawk for defense mainly because if for some reason I lose use of one hand, I have not lost use of my revolver for rapid fire.

Chances are the OP has forget more about bears than I will ever know. A few of things I do know is they are Large, Fast, Unpredictable, and taste great if the meat is treated and cooked properly (I will be having "Bear meatloaf" for dinner, thanks to my wife" .

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

My point was no more than double action revolvers are not necessarily the be all and end all for bear protection as some people (who don't know about guns) imply. I have pulled my gun on a LOT of bears over the years, yet have never been attacked. Not all bear incidents (in fact most are not) instantaneous events. Far too many bears are shot in Alaska for that to be the case. If it were no one would get a shot off. Preparation and awareness is an important part of a dangerous situation. I also assumed and the video demonstrates, being able to handle your chosen gun is also a critical part of the equation. Apparently that part was not as obvious as I had assumed.

Semper Fi, Max.

 

[Joe S.]

Oh man great video!
I would not feel disadvantaged in the least with a single action 44 in the bear woods. My only disadvantage would be slipping on my stool. :shock:

 

[gramps]

Thanks BPJ, the video sure did open my eyes. I believe it was Rancher Will that recommended SA when riding horse back. Being aware of one's surroundings is paramount, whether in town or country. What gun/ caliber is used depends on you, your skill level/availability.
gramps

 

[coach]

Of course no timed revolver discussion would be complete without Jerry Miculek weighing in on the subject.
http://youtu.be/nOzyqiT1FFA
.500 S&W would be fairly potent for bears too. :wink:

 

[OldePhart]

Of course no timed revolver discussion would be complete without Jerry Miculek weighing in on the subject.
http://youtu.be/nOzyqiT1FFA
.500 S&W would be fairly potent for bears too. :wink:

That's no fair...Jerry is not even human... :wink:

 

[Rumrunner]

That's no fair...Jerry is not even human... :wink:[/quote]

Now that's funny

 

[gramps]

Hmmm Miculek-is that Russian? (Bear) :mrgreen: . Even he called the recoil brutal, but look how well he controlled that gun!
gramps