Author Topic: "Very Lucky To Be Alive" (Read 7526 times)

macbullet · « **on:** August 10, 2009, 05:06:12 AM »

Below is a copy of an e-mail a friend sent me this morning, said this happened yesterday. One hell of a testimonal for a Ruger Alaskan .454 Casull.
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Subject: Fw: very, very lucky to be alive!

Have I got a story for you guys!

King season is over, and since i had a day off before silvers start, i thought i would go for a walk! this occurred at 11:16 am this morning (Sunday), just 2/10 of a mile from my house, ON OUR ROAD while walking my dogs (trying to get in shape for hunting season, ironically!) for the record, this is in a residential area-not back in the woods, no bowhunting, no stealth occurring...

I heard a twig snap, and looked back...full on charge-a huge brownie, ears back, head low and motorin' full speed! Came with zero warning; no woof, no popping of the teeth, no standing up, nothing like what you think or see on TV! It charged from less than 20 yards and was on me in about one-second! Totally surreal-I just started shooting in the general direction, and praise God that my second shot (or was it my third?) Rolled him at 5 feet and he skidded to a stop 10 feet BEYOND where I was shooting from-I actually sidestepped him and fell over backwards on the last shot, and his momentum carried him to a stop past where I fired my first shot!

It was a prehistoric old boar-no teeth, no fat-weighed between 900-1000 lbs and took five men to DRAG it onto a tilt-bed trailer! Big bear-its paw measured out at about a 9 1/2 footer!

never-ever-thought "it" would happen to me! its always some other smuck, right? well, no bull- i am still high on adrenaline, with my gut in a knot. feels like i did 10000 crunches without stopping! almost puked for an hour after, had the burps and couldn't even stand up as the troopers conducted their investigation! totally wiped me out-cant even put that feeling into words, by far the most emotion i have ever felt at once!

No doubt that God was with me, as I brought my Ruger .454 Casull (and some "hot" 350 grain solids) just for the heck of it, and managed to draw and snap shoot (pointed, never even aimed!) from the hip! Total luck shot!

All I can say is Praise God for my safety and for choosing to leave the wife and kids at home on this walk! Got a charter tomorrow, so gonna TRY to get some sleep now!

talk to ya soon, -greg

Greg & Sherri Brush
EZ Limit Guide Service
PO Box 4278
Soldotna, AK 99669
907-262-6169

teddy12b · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2009, 05:38:46 AM »

Incredible.

Skunk · « **Reply #2 on:** August 10, 2009, 05:49:16 AM »

Geez Louise, that would be a rush.

streak · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2009, 07:00:26 AM »

Heck of a story!!
I bet you did have knots in your stomach.
If it would have been me I probably would have had something in my pants!!

Hodr · « **Reply #4 on:** August 10, 2009, 08:40:03 AM »

One bear, three lessons. Lesson one,Any weapon carried for self defense should be practised with until muscle memory has been drilled into the body. Lesson two, if it has never happened in the past or to anyone else, it can still happen to you. Lesson three, IF YOU AIN'T CARRYING IT, YOU CAN'T USE IT. Boy scouts say it every day, be prepared.

Nice bear.

blindhari

Ak.Hiker · « **Reply #5 on:** August 10, 2009, 09:13:22 PM »

Now that is quite a story. Were you using factory or handloads? Not to many men can handle a 454 like you did. That is some shooting. I have a 454 and with a reduced load using a 300 grain Sierra JSP at 1400 it is pretty controlable. But the full power heavy weight loads for me are a little hard to handle under recoil. I have run across brown bears several times when hiking over the years and boy they can sure move fast that is for sure.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 11, 2009, 01:13:52 AM »

That will be a testament to the effectiveness of carrying a handgun in Grizzly country. Glad there was a good outcome to this story.

macbullet · « **Reply #7 on:** August 11, 2009, 01:30:10 AM »

"I bet you did have knots in your stomach."
"Were you using factory or handloads? "

I am not the shooter, the email was sent to me by a friend who knows him. The e-mail was copied word for word and he says he was using "some "hot" 350 grain solids". I have no idea if they were handloads or factory ammo.

Here's more about this:

http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/080709/out_478669517.shtml

PeterCartwright · « **Reply #8 on:** August 12, 2009, 05:23:44 AM »

That's a lot of bear, old or not. I'd love to know more about the postmortem on the bear. Anybody know where the bear was hit?

PC

Oldshooter · « **Reply #9 on:** August 12, 2009, 05:34:10 AM »

IF THE GUY WAS SHOOTING FROM THE HIP HE IS DEFINTELY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE !

Hodr · « **Reply #10 on:** August 12, 2009, 07:27:07 AM »

Luck may be a part of it, but without having the weapon and practice in its use the bear would have won. Some people "would rather be lucky" Myself I would rather take luck out of the equation if at all possible. Being alert and ready saved this guy when he was unlucky enough to have this bear start the dance.

blindhari

Oldshooter · « **Reply #11 on:** August 12, 2009, 09:30:06 AM »

maybe maybe not! how many train to fast draw a 454 or shoot it from the hip! I say he's lucky he killed it!!

I've been carrying most of my adult life and I have never shot or hit anything from the hip....it just never came up! ...................i take that back the day i got my model 29 back from a trigger job I cocked it and raised it to fire, it went off at my hip and did not hit me in the foot(ptl) so I have shot one from the hip but I still have not hit anything that way!

Skunk · « **Reply #12 on:** August 12, 2009, 09:34:24 AM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on August 12, 2009, 09:30:06 AM

I take that back the day i got my model 29 back from a trigger job I cocked it and raised it to fire, it went off at my hip and did not hit me in the foot(ptl) so I have shot one from the hip but I still have not hit anything that way!

Ok OldShooter, now we need to start a new thread: Very Lucky Not To Be An Amputee.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #13 on:** August 12, 2009, 09:37:14 AM »

Well had it hit me right i coudda been a kicker for the NFL like Dempsey!

teddy12b · « **Reply #14 on:** August 12, 2009, 10:35:22 AM »

Sounds to be that the guy passed the test of a suprise grizzley attack with flying colors. He's still unharmed and alive to tell the story which is an A+ score for that test. I don't think it's fair to say this guy just got lucky to be alive. Luck didn't react, pull the gun, and put rounds on target. He was prepared, and his family should be thankful that he was. Who really knows what shooting from the hip means in this case. I'd be willing to bet that the guy just remembers pointing &pulling the trigger more than anything. He'd be an intersting man to talk to. This guy passed a test that most guys on this forum will never know about and I'd buy him a beer and listen to that story any chance I got.

fivegunner · « **Reply #15 on:** August 12, 2009, 01:59:42 PM »

Hi, Great story, glad it came out in your favor. could you tell me what was your load in that 454 Alaskan and what type of holster you were using. thank`s Frank from Michigan

burntmuch · « **Reply #16 on:** August 13, 2009, 01:42:50 AM »

Luck only gets you so far. Id imagine that guy had lots& lots of practice. Great story. If it was me the bear wouldnt have eaten me. I would have crapped my pants so bad. the bear woulda just let me lay there.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #17 on:** August 13, 2009, 10:20:28 AM »

Quote

I don't think it's fair to say this guy just got lucky to be alive.

DIDN'T SAY THAT ! I said hes lucky to be alive per his own words, he was just shootin not aiming and hit him with the second or third.

I think it is a good story and I'm glad he killed the bear, but shooting from the hip is risky unless You practice it a lot! and as I said before, who in hell practices shooting a 454 from the hip? That ain't a gunslingers kinda gun! There definitely ain't time to think about it, so you have to do the first thing that comes to mind and I'm glad it worked for him!

teddy12b · « **Reply #18 on:** August 13, 2009, 10:54:44 AM »

Quote from: Oldshooter on August 13, 2009, 10:20:28 AM

Quote
I don't think it's fair to say this guy just got lucky to be alive.

DIDN'T SAY THAT ! I said hes lucky to be alive per his own words, he was just shootin not aiming and hit him with the second or third.

I think it is a good story and I'm glad he killed the bear, but shooting from the hip is risky unless You practice it a lot! and as I said before, who in hell practices shooting a 454 from the hip? That ain't a gunslingers kinda gun! There definitely ain't time to think about it, so you have to do the first thing that comes to mind and I'm glad it worked for him!

+1. I'm not saying anyone's picking on him and saying "ahh he just made a lucky shot". I don't think this guy is giving himself enough credit for the practice he put in before hand or enough of a atta boy for making any kind of a shot on a grizzley coming at you from out of nowhere without hardly any warning. This guy was proficient with his weapon and used it to save his own life in one of the worst possible conditions imaginable. I think once he catches his breath he should take some credit for getting himself through that.

rex6666 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 14, 2009, 04:09:33 AM »

Not trying to be a wet blanket "BUT"
I have always heard these huge bears are "VERY-VERY" fast for short distances
this bear was in all out charge from "20yards" that is not very far.
Fast draw a 454 and fire 4-5 shots in maybe 2-3 seconds from the hip
and not a fast draw artist. Sounds like lots of LUCK to me.

I would have saved one shot for the dog, for going past the bear and not tipping me of. That dog needs a new home in the city.

theoldarcher · « **Reply #20 on:** August 14, 2009, 04:58:38 AM »

Excuse me! I gotta go to the restroom....

Wow! Now I feel better. $:-\$

What a scary event that turned out well in the end. That's someone who is living right!

Arch

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #21 on:** August 14, 2009, 06:54:26 AM »

The guy was pumped up , the bear was at 5 yards when he started shooting and 10 yards past when it stopped . Hitting a bear that squares 9 1/2 foot at any where from 15 feet to point blank ain't that hard . If your life depended on it you would have got it done . Hitting it in a place that would stop much less kill the bear that quick might be considered lucky . Guess the shooter could be the new poster shooter for POINT SHOOTING this season . Hey he guides in Alaska his skill level is most likely higher than average .

All I got to say is NICE SHOT !

Hodr · « **Reply #22 on:** August 14, 2009, 11:22:20 AM »

I know two brothers that gude in northern Canada for large costal brown bear. To keep thier clients alive one carries an alaskan copilot Marlin in 45-70 with a 20" barrel. The other has a 375 H&H double rifle with a shortened barrel. They have a set range at which the client is no longer in the equation. They never would tell me what that range was but I believe it was right around 25-30 yds. These are not lucky men, they are professionals who stay in practice year round, and do everything they can to plan ahead. Yes they engage in high risk hunting, but it is thier job to eliminate all unecessary risk, thier weapons are a part of thier nervous system and they are dead on target from hip, prone, shooting stick, bench, walking alomg. or rolling up and out of a sound sleep. The only better person I have ever seen was in Korea for a year and a half facing Chinese and North Koreans. I shot in a lot of Army rifle competition and this man was okay from a bench, but once he started moving he was the finest rifleman I have ever seen. When he was moving he told me he never remembered seeing the sights. I guess you would have to call that snapshooting from prone, but he did the same thing from the hip with a shotgun out to 100yds.

blindhari

Skunk · « **Reply #23 on:** August 14, 2009, 11:57:51 AM »

Quote from: theoldarcher on August 14, 2009, 04:58:38 AM

Excuse me! I gotta go to the restroom....

Wow! Now I feel better. $:-\$

LOL, good one Old Archer.

rex6666 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 15, 2009, 09:24:26 AM »

Quote from: Skunk on August 14, 2009, 11:57:51 AM

Quote from: theoldarcher on August 14, 2009, 04:58:38 AM
Excuse me! I gotta go to the restroom....

Wow! Now I feel better. $:-\$

LOL, good one Old Archer.

Hope every thing came out ok

texagun · « **Reply #25 on:** August 18, 2009, 05:40:41 AM »

Good advice in bear country:

Oldshooter · « **Reply #26 on:** August 18, 2009, 06:04:54 AM »

Now thats funny , I dont care who ya are!

rex6666 · « **Reply #27 on:** August 21, 2009, 05:10:53 AM »

Quote from: blindhari on August 14, 2009, 11:22:20 AM

I know two brothers that gude in northern Canada for large costal brown bear. To keep thier clients alive one carries an alaskan copilot Marlin in 45-70 with a 20" barrel. The other has a 375 H&H double rifle with a shortened barrel. They have a set range at which the client is no longer in the equation. They never would tell me what that range was but I believe it was right around 25-30 yds. These are not lucky men, they are professionals who stay in practice year round, and do everything they can to plan ahead. Yes they engage in high risk hunting, but it is thier job to eliminate all unecessary risk, thier weapons are a part of thier nervous system and they are dead on target from hip, prone, shooting stick, bench, walking alomg. or rolling up and out of a sound sleep. The only better person I have ever seen was in Korea for a year and a half facing Chinese and North Koreans. I shot in a lot of Army rifle competition and this man was okay from a bench, but once he started moving he was the finest rifleman I have ever seen. When he was moving he told me he never remembered seeing the sights. I guess you would have to call that snapshooting from prone, but he did the same thing from the hip with a shotgun out to 100yds.

blindhari

I understand and believe every word(except for the shotgun at "100" yards)
but we were talking about a FISHING giude and a no good dog that wouldn't even bark at a bear 20-30 yards away. I don't think most fishing guides practice
much of this kind of shooting to protect the fishermen. That is why i said i felt
their was some luck involved.

teddy12b · « **Reply #28 on:** August 21, 2009, 08:00:46 AM »

Per Field & Streams website covering this topic.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/survival/animal-attacks/2009/08/charging-grizzly-killed-alaska

Ak.Hiker · « **Reply #29 on:** August 21, 2009, 06:42:20 PM »

Quote from: rex6666 on August 21, 2009, 05:10:53 AM

Quote from: blindhari on August 14, 2009, 11:22:20 AM
I know two brothers that gude in northern Canada for large costal brown bear. To keep thier clients alive one carries an alaskan copilot Marlin in 45-70 with a 20" barrel. The other has a 375 H&H double rifle with a shortened barrel. They have a set range at which the client is no longer in the equation. They never would tell me what that range was but I believe it was right around 25-30 yds. These are not lucky men, they are professionals who stay in practice year round, and do everything they can to plan ahead. Yes they engage in high risk hunting, but it is thier job to eliminate all unecessary risk, thier weapons are a part of thier nervous system and they are dead on target from hip, prone, shooting stick, bench, walking alomg. or rolling up and out of a sound sleep. The only better person I have ever seen was in Korea for a year and a half facing Chinese and North Koreans. I shot in a lot of Army rifle competition and this man was okay from a bench, but once he started moving he was the finest rifleman I have ever seen. When he was moving he told me he never remembered seeing the sights. I guess you would have to call that snapshooting from prone, but he did the same thing from the hip with a shotgun out to 100yds.

blindhari

I understand and believe every word(except for the shotgun at "100" yards)
but we were talking about a FISHING giude and a no good dog that wouldn't even bark at a bear 20-30 yards away. I don't think most fishing guides practice
much of this kind of shooting to protect the fishermen. That is why i said i felt
their was some luck involved.

I do not know the fishing guide involved in this but in Alaska it would not be uncommon for a guide to guide for both fishing and hunting. The fishing guides I know are pretty rugged outdoorsman types. That being said I agree he was a lucky guy. He must have had a little help from up above on this one.