Shot my one and only bear (black) with a S&W 686. I was reloading, but loaded with 140 JHP's. No longer use HP's for hunting. Took 5 shots to kill him - a just why of 6' boar.
I was out deer hunting and blew the fawn beat/distress call. This was late Oct. Something was coming in hard thru the brush - of course I was thinking buck. Didn't see him till he was less than 10 yds away. Opened fire and hit him. He starting heading away bawling. I had to track him down and finish him off. Went to Fred Meyers and bought a S&W 629 a few week later.
I've been known to pack both rifle and pistol while out hunting solo. When you're boning out a deer, you have your loaded rifle in close proximity, but if you got jumped my El Bruno, you may not be able to reach your rifle. Your pistol is on your hip.
