dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Ha. You ain't lying my friend.

Dennis

Bonnie Halsell Loc: Ocala, Florida USA

skylinefirepest Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.

I was already getting my ladder out!

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Tell us then how IF your wife or children were being mauled to death by a lion or bear you would just sit back contentedly while telling yourself these animals were here first, that it is humans encroaching on their turf and thank God the animals are fed for today.

I will be right here waiting on your reply of how you would do just that.

Dennis

Bonnie Halsell Loc: Ocala, Florida USA

We have chosen to live where predators roam and/or reside. It was our choice; just as it was my choice to move from a violent city to a more amiable town.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

At one time I did the very same thing on 180 acres of mountain land in Colorado. I have found the carcass of a mountain lion killed by another lion about 300 yards from my front door. I have also had bears inside my mud porch. I have killed coyotes from my front door. I am well familiar with animals near my house. I do realize that I had moved into the living room of dangerous animals and rattlesnakes. But that does not mean I am offering myself and my family as bait/dinner or a snack for these animals. I am perfectly willing to live in harmony with all of them but you seem to forget they have not read the same book we have read about living in harmony. If I was attacked I would certainly do my best to survive the encounter. Would you not do the very same thing?

Dennis

Larelain Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

This is the last place I would ask advice on wildlife and firearms. These guys are photographers and most of them do not have the expertise. My advice if you want to carry a firearm for protection is to get a revolver (because they are simply and will not jam) get the largest caliber that you feel you can comfortably handle. Get professional training and practice. Next thing to keep in mind is the last thing you want to do is shoot something. Always be observant and never let yourself be surprised by a bear encounter or a cougar. The gun is last resort. By the way when I am in an area that has dangerous game I carry a Freedom Arms 454 Casul with a 4 inch barrel. I would not recommend that

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

And I'm sure you had a much greater chance to be attacked in the city as opposed to by wild animals in the country!

bwa

Bonnie Halsell Loc: Ocala, Florida USA

Yes, I would defend myself to the best of my ability if it came down to flight or fight. I would do the same if confronted by two legged varmints.

Bonnie Halsell Loc: Ocala, Florida USA

Yes, I had an encounter where I had to pull my weapon (me against 4 punks), one home robbery and two break-ins.

Najataagihe

That is not necessarily true.

I am far better with wildlife (no matter how many feet or the fin configuration) and firearms than I am with a camera.


I AM limited in my experience with firearms, though.

.177 caliber Air Rifle to 8-inch Howitzer, I'm your guy - especially rifles.


But those Naval guns, the A-10s and the bombers need specialized operators.

I am trained to designate targets and correct fire for those, but I don't actually shoot them.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Cougars are not normally aggressive animals towards humans and in fact are pretty cowardly. They should run from a dog if it tries to approach. But, that said, last year a guy near here was jogging and attacked. He managed to hit it with a rock and them choked it to death. He was injured but not too badly. The cat was probably old or diseased and thought he was fleeing prey.

Your choice of pistols are all good but most importantly get one that you know how to use well and quickly AND know how to hit something with it. Size is not as important as how to use it.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

With due respect to you this is a great place for advice on photography AND firearms. Most people into either hobby are into the outdoors in some way, fishing, hiking, hunting and so on.

As for revolvers not jamming, in my LEO duties I have seen revolvers jam. Your Freedoms Arms revolver is a good example of a very fine made revolver, parts are fitted precisely to fit with other parts. In fact it is most likely pretty close to my own 454 custom made for me with a 6 1/2 inch octagon barrel. But give it ammunition it doesn’t like and you may not be able to insert the cartridge. It happened only twice but the gun was inoperable with those two rounds.

When I was a gun dealer I pulled a brand new a Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt out of the box to show a customer. The cylinder would not turn. It was higher on one side at the front than the other. When the customer pulled the hammer back the cylinder turned about 1/4 turn and stopped. The frame got in the way. I have spent years as a LEO and corrections firearms instructor. Revolvers can and do jam. Usually with a semi auto you can drop the magazine, clear the jam, reinsert the same magazine and be right back in business. But with a revolver jam the cylinder may not open at all. I have seen another firearms instructor hit the cylinder of a S&W revolver hard with a rubber mallet to straighten out a bent extractor rod that had been dropped. The cylinder would not turn nor open.

Yes, if it is an ammunition failure you can fire again for the next cartridge in the cylinder. If a semi auto you can generally pull the hammer back and try again. If a double action auto then pulling the trigger again may fire a faulty cartridge. This is not meant to put you down but only to be informative that revolvers do jam.

Never be surprised by bears or mountain lions is great advice but generally an impossible task in my experience.

Dennis

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Oh!
I grew up in a family where everyone hunted and/or fished. Target shooting was a family event.
Then an enlistment in the Regular Army 66-69, expert badge and two years in Vietnam.
Hunting in the Sierras with an Army buddy and target shooting while finishing college.
Then as a second job (weekends and summers) while a fairly new teacher I was armed alarm response security in an area that included part of Watts. Again I qualified far above the requirement (575 out of 600 on my qual scores with a 45 Auto and 581 with a .357 revolver).
And more target shooting.
Then for 10 years my weekend and summer job was working for a friend who owned a small chain of 3 Gun/Police Equipment Stores. I got rated as a Glock Armorer and helped train cops when their departments went over to Glocks.
And yet more target shooting and add on gun collecting.

So, I guess you are right, I don't know much about guns etc.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

One thing often forgotten is that with a misfire, a wait period should be done.
If a hang-fire happens on a revolver and the operator keeps shooting, that cylinder turns. There will then be a chance that the round goes off while partially or wholly obstructed by the frame. That would be a very bad day.
On an DA auto, repeating trigger pull would mean another pin strike and all will be well. In a SA auto, racking the slide may eject the round out. It may go off in the middle of the action while partially unsupported or outside the gun. Both instance is less hazardous as it would be the case bursting and not the bullet ejecting at full force..