GunnSmokeer
Senior Member
http://www.erienewsnow.com/story/39...r-at-five-yards-with-handgun-in-warren-county
A black bear weighing nearly 700 lbs. was killed in western Pennsylvania on the first day of bear season, at a distance of 5 yards, by a hunter using a .357 (magnum?) handgun!
Now, I assume the gun in question is a revolver with a 6" to 8" barrel, so if the first shot didn't put the bear on the ground, 4 or 5 more fast double-action shots would be on tap to finish the job.
But what if the handgun in question were a single shot Thompson-Center Contender?
Sure, you can load a Contender really hot if you're a handloader. In fact, that gun might be chambered for a .357 Maximum (not Magnum).
The .357 Max can launch a 180 grain .357" diameter bullet at 1700 f.p.s. from a 10" handgun barrel.
Anyhow, with a nearly 700-lb bear only spitting distance from me, I don't think I'd take the shot if I had a single-shot handgun.
A black bear weighing nearly 700 lbs. was killed in western Pennsylvania on the first day of bear season, at a distance of 5 yards, by a hunter using a .357 (magnum?) handgun!
Now, I assume the gun in question is a revolver with a 6" to 8" barrel, so if the first shot didn't put the bear on the ground, 4 or 5 more fast double-action shots would be on tap to finish the job.
But what if the handgun in question were a single shot Thompson-Center Contender?
Sure, you can load a Contender really hot if you're a handloader. In fact, that gun might be chambered for a .357 Maximum (not Magnum).
The .357 Max can launch a 180 grain .357" diameter bullet at 1700 f.p.s. from a 10" handgun barrel.
Anyhow, with a nearly 700-lb bear only spitting distance from me, I don't think I'd take the shot if I had a single-shot handgun.