Jcs271
Well-known member
As a hunter, and more specifically a predator hunter in grizzly country, I always recognize the potential for a bear attack when calling. I try to follow all of the rules for calling safety but realize that sometimes "stuff" happens! This was brought home to me about 4 yrs ago when an adult female black bear in perfect condition came after me in a full predatory attack with my scent blowing directly into her face. Miraculously, I saw her in time to shove the barrel towards her face and shoot her through the mouth killing her instantly. Shooting an animal in self defense is not fun, nor is the subsequent investigation by state game wardens and bear management specialists. Since then I am even more careful with site selection when calling, particularly in heavy timber.
To that end I practice a lot of close range shooting with my rifles and my 10mm pistol. Equally important I mentally practice what I will do in response to an attack.
This weekend I setup a motorized target in the backyard and outfitted it with one of the Alaska State Parks charging bear training targets.
I invited several of my friends over but did not tell them why. They were just told to bring their rifle and sidearm because we were going to do something different.
Everybody got a chance to shoot both their rifle and handgun from a variety of positions.
Click "img" on left side below for video......
I was very happy not to embarrass myself to badly.
Click "img" on left side below for video........
At the end of the day one of my friends said "You know, this may have saved my life". He carries a .357 revolver and after multiple runs he only had one hit (near the top of the back), the rest were clean misses. He was very honest when he said that he had never given much thought to shooting moving targets and will be spending a lot more time practicing.
While I realize most talk of bear guns and stopping power is just recreational mental gymnastics because few of us will ever be faced with the situation, it is a confidence booster to have some experience with shooting at moving targets.
P.S. The motor is a commercial unit from Action Targets in Utah. Variable speed that can probably push 20mph with a light target. We were running it at 10mph due to the uneven terrain. The cart is a homemade device that I use at my Safari Rifle shoot every year. It is also REALLY, REALLY fun! Good Hunting, be safe. JCS
To that end I practice a lot of close range shooting with my rifles and my 10mm pistol. Equally important I mentally practice what I will do in response to an attack.
This weekend I setup a motorized target in the backyard and outfitted it with one of the Alaska State Parks charging bear training targets.
I invited several of my friends over but did not tell them why. They were just told to bring their rifle and sidearm because we were going to do something different.
Everybody got a chance to shoot both their rifle and handgun from a variety of positions.
Click "img" on left side below for video......
I was very happy not to embarrass myself to badly.
Click "img" on left side below for video........
At the end of the day one of my friends said "You know, this may have saved my life". He carries a .357 revolver and after multiple runs he only had one hit (near the top of the back), the rest were clean misses. He was very honest when he said that he had never given much thought to shooting moving targets and will be spending a lot more time practicing.
While I realize most talk of bear guns and stopping power is just recreational mental gymnastics because few of us will ever be faced with the situation, it is a confidence booster to have some experience with shooting at moving targets.
P.S. The motor is a commercial unit from Action Targets in Utah. Variable speed that can probably push 20mph with a light target. We were running it at 10mph due to the uneven terrain. The cart is a homemade device that I use at my Safari Rifle shoot every year. It is also REALLY, REALLY fun! Good Hunting, be safe. JCS
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