07 Aug 09 10:38, Roger Nelson wrote to Roy Witt:

 RW>> Depending on the size of the bear. One would do it on the small
 RW>> bears you have in LA.

 RN> That Trapdoor rifle you have is worth a bunch of money, in case you
 RN> didn't know it.  I saw a reproduction of one at my favorite site for
 RN> $1600.  It's a 45/70 with a 26" barrel.

That's the one. I picked it up at a gun show in San Diego for $400. It
needed to be cleaned up, but was in good shape. The stock had a lot of
scratches and dings in it, but I steamed them out and refinished it with
linseed oil. The hammer and trigger worked just fine, but the firing pin
was broken. Being a crack machinist, I made one that works very well, on
the second try. The only thing that might be a problem is that the barrel
has no rifling left in it.  The stock still has the rack number where it
was kept in the barracks and some proof marks from the factory.

I intended to shoot it at one time, even bought and reloaded some cases
with ball and powder. Never did get up the nerve to shoot it though. The
trap door isn't loose by any means and I would trust it with black powder,
but I don't have any desire to know if it will shoot.

 RW>> Sometimes, there is no choice. When a bear is charging you on all
 RW>> fours, the only target you have is his head. If you aim at his nose,
 RW>> you should hit him in the chest too.

 RN> If the bear stands up, it is advantageous to you.  Bigger target than
 RN> the head, but I know what you mean.

Yes, it's much better if he stands...that way you can still make a rug out
of him and his head won't be damaged or missing. :o)

 RW>> Best shot would be a broadside just behind the front arm. If the
 RW>> shot doesn't kill him, he won't be able to run very fast because of
 RW>> the wound, although some have.

 RN> If there is time to think about that.  (-:  Most would panic and I
 RN> have a feeling I'd be close to doing that myself.

I remember the time I shot my first deer. I was more elated that I
actually hit him from the 400yds where I was. I didn't panic until after I
saw him go down. He was down the side of a brush filled slope leading to a
50 ft drop off into the Delores river in Colorado. If he fell that far,
how and where the hell would I find him? Fortunately he couldn't get up
because I broke his back behind the shoulder and blew out a lung. The only
way I got him out of there was piece by piece. I was exhausted when that
ordeal was over.

                R\%/itt

Joy lives in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in
the victory itself.

--- Twit(t) Filter v2.1 (C) 2000