Wounded Bear & the .41-cal; Jackets, velocity & Hard-Cast... the retrieval effort

[ranchman]

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[Hickory]

I guess you had the right tool for the job at hand.

[sawinredneck]

Interesting story, I’m guessing even if I were to ask you wouldn’t share the caliber of the rifle?
I’m also curious why no head shot was attempted? Mind you, I know nothing about bears, not a big problem in KS, I’m just curious.

[white eagle]

I pays to be prepared glad it all worked out for your hunter
sometime ol faithful just aint as faithful as you thought

[ranchman]

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[Smoke4320]

Looks like again Slow and heavy did a much better job than fast and light

[DougGuy]

Looks like again Slow and heavy did a much better job than fast and light

I'd almost agree with this but 1250 from a short barreled revolver AIN'T slow!

OP did you even recover one of the 41 boolits?

Great story btw! Lucky you two were able to get in and get him without surprising him and getting ambushed!

[vzerone]

Great story and the 41 magnum is a great caliber. Another great in the 41 magnum ball park bullet diameter wise is the 10mm auto. This would be my gun, not that the 41 Mag isn't good, it's because it has more firepower. Think about it you put a lot of shots in that bear. Razor Dobbs killed two Cape Buffalo with his 10mm Glock. Longslide I believe.

http://razordobbsalive.com/razor-dob...stol-interview

[ranchman]

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[swheeler]

Great story, you should write hunting short stories, you got my attention. I would like to know the rifle caliber and load, bullet if not too much to ask, thanks.

[ranchman]

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[Rattlesnake Charlie]

Glad this story had a happy ending.

While the .250 is a great deer - and even bear - rifle, it works reliably only when you get those broadside shots where it turns the lungs and heart to mush. But, they fail when hitting heavy bone. Unfortunately, that caliber is not factory loaded with the controlled expansion bullets available today. Handloading might change that. The new fangled controlled expansion bullets basically moved a lot of rifles up one notch, like from deer to elk. The .270 is one. With the proper bullets, it will smash shoulders.

Low and slow. Been getting things done for a long time. Not just the black powder era cartridges like .45-70, but like 6.55 Sweed and .303 British with their original soft point offerings of heavy for caliber and round nose design.

[4719dave]

wow,great story thanks for sharing ...god was watching ...

[sawinredneck]

I had planned for a head-shot when I initially realized that bear wasn't dead, "between the lookers" IS where I wanted to put one. Those next few seconds though all took place so fast that all I could do was shoot for the General-area. Once there was a few additional yards between us and the bear had given another opportunity for a shot (while I was around my 4th) I decided instead of chance a head shot and miss under all that rush & commotion that just happened that instead I'd shoot to break the bear down and cripple him long enough to concentrate on a proper finishing shot there-after.

The bear was one of those bears that became convinced & determined he wasn't going to quit easy, and was obviously hurting and jacked-up on adrenaline by this point, so I made the decision it was better to break him down rather than risk a poor shot at his head and have things turn for worse for the two of us in such tight quarters (favouring the bear.) That's really the bottom line why I decided on the shots I did.

I assumed it was something of that nature, but the way you wrote it, to me at least, it seemed you didn’t want to for other reasons.
Thank you very much for the explanation.

[merlin101]

I.m still trying to figure this part out! "When I caught up though and took a look myself, while it-was indeed a nice bear, the rifle was already being unloaded "
Why oh why would you the guy unload before actually checking the so called dead bear?

[sawinredneck]

I.m still trying to figure this part out! "When I caught up though and took a look myself, while it-was indeed a nice bear, the rifle was already being unloaded "
Why oh why would you the guy unload before actually checking the so called dead bear?

There’s that, as well as you are in known bear country, why unload the gun in the field at all?

[ranchman]

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[MT Gianni]

Do you mind posting your general location? I really enjoyed the write up.

[kungfustyle]

My question is did you have to change your shorts afterwards. WOW!

[Shopdog]

We have a 350# black bear in the woods behind the house.If he behaves himself he'll be around to babysit his Gyoungins,haha.

I've been bowhunting deep in the mnts. and been close enough to smell'm.Hunting from the ground with jacked up hot rod recurves.Take a 400#+ bear at tobacco spitting distance,things have a way of not adding up to those plans or notions previously held.....just sayin,take plenty of gun when hunting/tracking.

Good story,was right there with you....thanks for sharing.