Man uses chainsaw to fight mountain lion. Now that is what I call an awesome headline. It also reminds me why National and State park carry are important issues. If you watch Animal Planet at all, they have this show called Bitten, where animal attack survivors talk about the horrid wounds inflicted on them by bears, lions, etc. Invariably, none of the people attacked were carry FIREARMS at the time they were attacked, so they’re reduced to trying to fight a grizzly bear mano y mano, which usually doesn’t end well. One of the S&W 327s (the titanium N-framed 8 shot .357) would probably make a decent gun for humping around the wilderness.
AWESOME
RE: 327 – I’ve got a 5″ barreled 327 and I don’t think it would be my first choice for bear/mountain lion country. Excellent gun, especially after a really good revolver guy does an action job on it, but I dare you to get the second 8 rounds of 357 in it quickly. Long cartridges and moon clips do not play well together, especially when you have 8 long, skinny pins held not-quite-so-tightly in a moon clip to put into a corresponding number of same-diameter holes and damn little time in which to do it. Try one in a match some time; there’s got to be someone who can do it quickly, and here’s your chance to be the first. I’ve shot my 327 and my 627 a lot, used different bullets and different moon clips, and if I carry a revolver it’s either a 3″ 66 or a 3″ 629. If I wanted to carry a 5″ barreled revolver it’d be my 625, not the 327.
I’ll stick with my 4″ 329 out in the woods, thanks, and a couple of HKS speed loaders. About the same weight with bigger, deeper holes and faster reloads.
A lot of people use the 627 in competition, and they seem to be able to reload it alright.
A lot of people use the 627 in competition, and they seem to be able to reload it alright.
Check and see what ammo they’re using; with 38 Shorts and tight moon clips I can do speed of light reloads with my 627. With 357 brass, even Remington which has a tight groove, not so much.
I would say the bare minimum for bear (ha!) is .44 Magnum, and even that, I think, fits into the “Well, it beats throwing rocks” category. Best to carry a rifle, but having carried a rifle in bear country once, I’ll take my chances with a 629. A 10 pound rifle starts to feel like a 50 pound rifle by the end of the day.
Most of them are using either .38 Super or .38 Short Colt.
However, for a last ditch defensive revolver, reloading isn’t as big a concern. Also unrelated, I will never cease to be amazed at the sheer volume of people who chime in about the 627 every time I mention it. Every single time, some guy shows up and talks about what a bitch it is to reload like he’s sharing some kind of secret knowledge with me.
I’m not picking squares with you, Homer – don’t take it personally. It just happens EVERY TIME, like clockwork.
Ummm,
I have a 686+ (7-shot) cut for moon clips, the grooves arn’t that tight if you use remington, federal or similiar brass. Winchester is too tight to work and if you manage to get them in the clips it is hard to get the rounds into the gun. I also have a 6-shot 686 cut for moons. Reloads are fast and simple, easier than a speedloader. Sorry if I’m covering tiered ground.
He used a chainsaw?
I guessed he hadn’t picked up the plasma gun or the BFG-900 yet.
“I would say the bare minimum for bear (ha!) is .44 Magnum, and even that, I think, fits into the “Well, it beats throwing rocks” category. Best to carry a rifle,”
+1 to that. a .357 Mag loaded hot with heavy bullets (I might even say flat-nose FMJ might be best) might be enugh gun for lion, and MIGHT do the trick on a bear, but I agree for bear I’d prefer something in .44 Mag, or bigger. I’d personally lean to a 6-shot .454 Casull Ruger Alaskan Super Redhawk.
And even then I’d be better off with a shotgun, or a carbine (A .500 S&W Magnum guide gun might be the ticket…or maybe an AR in .450 bushmaster or similar).