Protection in the woods

If you are considering a 22 mag, consider this one:

https://www.keltecweapons.com/pistols/pmr-30

Saw this image long time ago and it always stuck with me.

I feel a handgun would be inadequate unless you had time to aim, and place your shot.
Buckshot would give you a much better chance of stopping an attack.
I tried a drill once where I had to present my handgun from a cover garment, and shoot a basketball sized target coming directly at me at about 20 miles an hour. I did not hit it very often. Yeah, I can present my pistol, fire a controlled pair in under two seconds and hit a stationary target. That is not the case with a target moving toward me. Two seconds at 20 miles per hours translates to 44 feet or about 15 yards, so they need to start their attack at 30 yards or more for me to stand even a remote chance with a handgun.

imaudigger, post: 450314, member: 7286 wrote: I have a big pile of 158 grain lead bullets with gas checks but they will not chamber properly (apparently due to the case crimp).
It was suggested that I try a tapered crimp die because there is no groove in the casting. It's either that or they need swaged.

Per the hardness aspect, these bulk lead bullets are pretty hard. They have somewhat of a beveled base. I definitely think they are not expanding.
I think I took them up to 1000 FPS, which I think exceeded the manufacturer's recommendation. I may also have a tight cylinder bore.

Well, theres always the lead pot, a clean start.

I've been casting or the 44 mag since I was 20. That's been 98% of my activity since I don't cast to save money. For rifles I shoot the best jacketed bullets I can buy.
Linotype: My best friend has been getting this from newspapers for decades. This alloy consists of 84% Lead, 4% Tin, and 12% Antimony. Most people won't shoot it because it cost more or they can't/won't get it and so tend to "add" BS to the alloy.

There's a lot of chatter and mythology about lead alloys, but this link is about the best one I've seen:

www.sixguns.com/crew/castbullet.htm

" So, for routine sixgunning applications what do we want from our cast bullet alloy? In the 800-1000 fps range we should probably keep the alloy at a BHN of 12 or below. From 1000-1400 fps, 12 to 16 is a very useful range of hardness. For velocities of 1400 to 1700 fps, this window slides up to 14 to 20. Above 1700, linotype at a BHN of 22 is an excellent choice." I got to this point by experience, by the way.

You will find comments about linotype bullets being so hard they tend to shatter. This may be true at higher velocities, but at lower ones like the 1680 I get, they just don't. I've dug a lot of them out of the backstop, and even the ones that hit rocks are only slightly deformed. They will shatter on armor plate, but that is an "absolute" scenario; bullet meets unyielding object.

I run hundreds of these through the Redhawk and leading is virtually non-existent. There's a lot to be said for having a load that works. Fun is sure to follow.

I feel that any advantage gas checks can offer can be "alloyed around" by using proper alloys. They're a lot of bother.

Hope this helps.

Thank you. I think casting would be a rewarding hobby to get into, however I only have so much time at the moment.

"There's a lot to be said for having a load that works." Exactly. That was my main objective in wanting to use lead bullets....inexpensive load that works so I can fill up some empty cans. You can only buy so many Hornady XTP hollow points before you realize there has to be a better way.

I do have to confess that cast bullets just show up at my door periodically, all lubed and ready to load. He is my best friend... I am grateful, but I don't think it's miserable to cast them.

A long time ago, when powder was $3 a pound, primers were 50 cent a hundred and lead was free, we could shoot for 2 cents a shot. Those cast bullets were every bit as good for hunting though, to get back to this thread. They have excellent penetration even in bear. Softer and slower ones, not as much.

The place where the avatar was taken, I cut a fresh wolf track the next week alone late afternoon. Wisconsin River bottoms below Portage. I was carrying the 44.

The bottom line though for dangerous game is that a 44 mag is pretty light even when handled well. Anything over black bear or cougar takes a .338 mag or even more. Slung over your shoulder, it's not heavy or a real bother when working considering the safety it provides. Shotguns are virtually useless at over 10 yards.

wfwenzel, post: 450981, member: 7180 wrote: Shotguns are virtually useless at over 10 yards.

I have a slug gun that actually spent a lot of time behind the seat of an Alaskan bush pilot.

I can hit a milk jug pretty reliably at 90 feet.

3" mag. slug has some impressive energy, but I have not shot a bear with it.

wfwenzel, post: 450981, member: 7180 wrote: Anything over black bear or cougar takes a .338 mag or even more

My go-to hunting in bear country is the Kimber 8400 Montana chambered .338 win mag..

Tell you all the truth, I worry way more about getting hit by some texting teenage driver than I do wildlife. Some of my fondest memories are of watching a big sow and cubs grazing away on blueberries from a safe distance. My nephew came up this fall from LA to go hunting with me. He was packing a .50 Smith & Wesson and thought there was a bear behind every bush. Have to say I got a good chuckle out of that. I always consider it a blessing to just see one, preferably at a safe distance, but once had a sow and two near full grown cubs try and join me for dinner while backpacking in Denali National Park with only a 15' wide stream separating us. No firearms were allowed at the time and I had to throw my dinner is the stream and beat the pot and dance around doing my best to convince them I was a complete psycho and not to be messed with. Momma was apparently convinced and led her cubs away, but not before one started across that stream before turning back. Did not sleep much that night.

Williwaw, post: 451229, member: 7066 wrote: My go-to hunting in bear country is the Kimber 8400 Montana chambered .338 win mag..

Tell you all the truth, I worry way more about getting hit by some texting teenage driver than I do wildlife. Some of my fondest memories are of watching a big sow and cubs grazing away on blueberries from a safe distance. My nephew came up this fall from LA to go hunting with me. He was packing a .50 Smith & Wesson and thought there was a bear behind every bush. Have to say I got a good chuckle out of that. I always consider it a blessing to just see one, preferably at a safe distance, but once had a sow and two near full grown cubs try and join me for dinner while backpacking in Denali National Park with only a 15' wide stream separating us. No firearms were allowed at the time and I had to throw my dinner is the stream and beat the pot and dance around doing my best to convince them I was a complete psycho and not to be messed with. Momma was apparently convinced and led her cubs away, but not before one started across that stream before turning back. Did not sleep much that night.

Agreed. It is a treat to see wildlife and nothing to be scared of. Respected - yes.

There have probably been more bears shot due to getting into trash cans and breaking down fruit trees than any aggressive encounters.

So I had some .357 Mag. loads that were probably loaded a little too hot. They shoot great, but the cases stick in the cylinder a little.
I only loaded about 25 of them, and decided they were safe to shoot and I would keep them for carrying in the woods. Next time I will just drop the load a grain or so.

Check out this picture. It was taken with a smart phone and is a snap shot from a video.
This is a 4 1/2" barrel I believe. I have never seen an ordinary camera capture the burning gas traveling behind the bullet.

I don't carry. But I don't put myself in situations where I should. Once the transit police recommended that I carry but very soon afterward a resident of the neighborhood and Marine forward observer, befriended us and had our back every day we were on that project.

I have had an elk stick it nose in my tent. Shooting at it probably would have sealed my fate by being trampled by its mates. The most terrifying experience I've had was a bald eagle who wouldn't leave me alone until I packed up my gear and ran away. Think dinner plate sized talons inches from your head going what seems to be 30mph. Again, shooting it was not an option, nor recommended.

That all said, I appreciate this thread.