Hat trick
As many of you know, I live in a very rural area that is full of various types of wildlife. ...both grazing and top tier predators, ie, mountain lions and black bears.
Following are three self defense encounters that have occurred since February of this year, involving 3 different 1911s in 3 different calibers. None of the calibers (.38 Super, 45auto, 10mm) were maxed out ....far from it. All three situations involved one or both of my dogs, all three were hectic and sights weren't used in any of them.
.1 I've lost count of the rattlesnake encounters that have happened on the property, typically focusing behind the rattler's head, taking the shot while closing the distance. February, walking a very young terrier mix and trained German Shepherd on a horse lead line.
We encounter a young, coiled rattler. ...the terrier went around in back of the rattler, aggressively barking as I draw while shortening the lead line. The GSD and I have have gone through thousands and thousands of rounds together, so as I draw he knows it's game on. The rattler strikes towards me several times, finally getting the terrier to back off a bit....I walk in front of the sitting GSD to take the shot, but the GSD wants to see the action which tugs on the lead line a bit....causing the shot to hit slightly to the left. Still a decent shot at close range, Colt Government, 38-Super, Double Tap 115gr Barnes TAC-XP bullet.
.2 Terrier is outside and his barking is at a frenetic pace, experience tells me to have 1911 in hand....as I go around the corner of the house I notice the terrier is in the midst of 3 pit bulls. ...oh . The largest one sees me, bares its teeth, snarls, growls and charges. As I'm bringing up the 1911, the second pit bull makes contact in the groin area, shot on the first was about a half second later. Contact pit bull disengaged and I double tapped it.
Reconstructing, it was closer than I first thought, #1 was impacted at its left eye socket/bone and exited right behind lower left jaw. Scary part was its bared snarled teeth were frozen in time. The first shot was taken at about four feet distance, even with Colt in hand, this encounter went down extremely fast and I was using peripheral vision on the first shot. ...needed to be sure that the terrier was not in the line of fire. Colt Government, Lew Horton version of the combat/target, 45auto, Federal 230gr HST+.
There is a feral dog problem here, in fact, professional hunters were contracted to eradicate two feral dog packs between February and April. Of the four feral dog attacks that I've been in during the last 9 years or so, all six dogs have been pit bulls. This attack was the quickest and closest.
.3 I engaged Bob Serva at Fusion to use his experience to craft a purpose built 10mm Commander to be used in night time encounters. It's simply a numbers game here, go out the front door thousands of times knowing there will be an encounter someplace on the property. Crazy things can happen during the monsoon season, one night it was a neighbor (over a mile away) who lost a pair of large Rottweilers to a roving mountain lion. For the last little while I've carried the railed Fusion in hand while taking the dogs out at night.
Last night it was instant rattle as the GSD and I went out the front door, fortunately he understands the "INSIDE" command and I was able to deal with the very close problem on the porch. This rattler was only about 3 feet from the doorway, TLR-1 on, porch light on along with Streamlight HL-3 all illuminated the small viper very well. Coiled on concrete between large planters and the house, I was somewhat reluctant to take the shot, but with a racing heart I took the shot and the Diamondback seemed to jump a couple of feet into the night air. What a mess on the concrete and side of the house. I went back inside, wife had heard the rattle and the 10mm seemed a little loud....but it took several minutes for me to collect myself and for my heart rate get back to normal.
Fusion Commander 10mm, Double Tap 125gr TAC-XP. Bullet expanded while traversing the coil, left a large exit hole mid body, large entrance hole and it took out about 4" of internals before exiting near its tail.
I like 1911s for carry, the platform is a natural pointer, meaning 1911s are very quick on target and split times of ~.15 are doable with self defense ammunition and practice. The ammunition used in these three calibers felt very soft on the hands.
Hat trick unplanned, three calibers used in five months, one platform kept me safe.
NRA Life Member since '67
"Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake."
Napoleon
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