Need of advice on a good anti-dog round

[BlueMax_VMF114]

Hey all just wanted to put my two cents in the bucket,i think its all about shot placement,if you cant kill a dog with say a 9mm,than why would you think it would kill a human?,if it was me,and i have been charged by Coyotes,id try for a body shot if i could,

ive seen farmers around here shoot cows that have been stuck in the mud,and broken there legs,same as bear,head shots dont work,i understand its tuff if the critter is head first into you,but id go for body leg anykind of flesh shot,than after animal is down go for the kill shot .

of course when im in my woods im carrying a ruger alaskan 454 ,with some nasty handloads that i made.lots of bear and bad packs of coyotes around me.at one time i was looking out front yard and seen 20 coyotes out front having a ball with some feral cats the had chased.anywho just my thoughts

 

[jimmyj]

ANTI DOG ROUND

Hi:
My last encounter with vicious dogs was an "On Duty" incident.
On a complaint call I was attacked by three (3) pit bulls.
Service Pistol was a Sig-Sauer P-229 .40 loaded with issue Speer 180gr JHPs.
Double taps to center chest had negative effects. The sounds of the shots made the dogs turn and cease their attack. Later investigation revealed the bullets entered the chests and exited the rear portions of the animals.
If I was in your situation I would carry a short barreled 12gauge pump/auto loaded with buckshot/slugs.
Jimmy

 

[Faulkner]

I was wondering - Which type of extinguisher?
OTOH... I don't have a problem with dogs when I'm in my car and would have a hard time getting to an extinguisher when riding either a bike or motorcycle or walking. Getting to a snubby is easy though
I was bit by a German Shepard type dog 50 years ago and am still having problems with one of the bites. I love dogs but will not be bit again, nor will I allow an aggressive dog to harm someone else......... A dog bite can last forever!
One can only carry so much personal protection stuff. I prefer a .38.

A regular 'ABC' extinguisher. They make some of them pretty small these days, easy enough to go on a bike or motorcycle, but probably not small enough to carry while walking the dog unless you were on a mission.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I prefer #1 Buck or #2 from a 16 gauge myself...
But found in a pinch, #6 from a 28 gauge works well too.

I guess now, I can try some 3-inch #4 buck from my new 12 gauge now.

I hate all species of feral canines.

 

[borntoraisehogs]

In my experience spraying dogs , without follow up to be sure they are controlled is a escalating step to the ultimate confrontation . Like a dog that gets a mouthful of porqupine quills , many are sure they will get the best of the sprayer if they are quicker and more aggressive the next time . Good luck , I hope the owner gets some control before you are placed in that situation . Any chance of a mutual accquaintance talking sense to the owner ?

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

First thing that occurred to me is that the 19-4 isn't made to handle +P ammunition.

??? I believe that Saxon Pig is the one who usually responds to this sort of thing.

User, if you are more careful, you may get folks to mind the rest of your post, but you can't do it this way.

 

[borntoraisehogs]

USER wrote : My approach to dealing with dogs has (since I delivered the Washington Post as a kid) always been to walk firmly directly toward the dog, staring the dog in the eyes visualizing exactly how I would rip the dog's legs off and beat him over the head with his own bloody legs, and absolutely confident that this is exactly what I was going to do. Never had a problem with dogs.[/QUOTE]

Please bring a copy of the Wash Post with you when you come to the Pacific Northwest . It will be suitable wrapping material for the parts of you processed through the Pitbulls , Rotts and Timber Sherpards folks around here are so fond of .

 

[500 Magnum Nut]

My grandfather once slit the throat of a dog that locked into his leg and wouldn't back off. I like his style because he didn't have a gun at the time and of course no cell phones to call the police. After he opened it's jaws from his leg he picked up the dog and threw it over the bridge, into the pond below, then limped the rest of the way home.

I would shoot that dog with at most a 45, cause that's the caliber I sometimes carry. If I did have to shoot, I won't be busted for discharging a weapon in city limits around my place anyway. I know for fact because I asked a LEO that exact question.

I don't look much like dog food and won't let no darn dog chew me in half either!

 

[whelenshooter]

When I lived in Idaho a good friend of mine had to deal with a pack of dogs one time that had been chasing and killing deer. While driving to work he came across them when they had a deer down. He used .357 magnum 158 grain JHPs out of his 2 1/2 inch Model 19 to good effect. (He dropped two on the spot shooting quick double action, then hit a third on the run when they took off, which died after a short run hit through the lungs.) The other two or three dogs got away unscathed. He said he felt .357 Magnum 125 JHPs would probably have been a better choice if he knew it was dogs he was going to encounter. He preferred 158 grain bullets with the .357 Magnum for general purpose use when he didn't know what he might need to deal with, but wanted to be armed and didn't want to carry anything larger than a .357.

I just retired after 31 years with the U.S. Forest Service. Here in Alaska our employees carry .375 H&H rifles for protection against brown bears, but many employees also carry pepper spray to use in the event of a bear encounter. Pepper spray is another good tool to have in your armory, but it is NOT a replacement for a firearm and is never carried in lieu of a firearm. What researchers, and our employees, have discovered is that pepper spray WILL NOT stop a bear intent on doing you harm, but it will cause it to change its mind and deter it if it has not yet decided what it is it wants to do. The Forest Service often hires a pepper spray and firearms instructor out of the Seattle area for training its employees. As part of the training employees could volunteer to be sprayed with pepper spray. After being sprayed, you were required to complete a simple task (run after and touch the person who sprayed you) to show you that you are NOT totally incapacitated after being sprayed, and that any determined person or animal is capable of doing you harm after being sprayed. This is also good training because if the wind is wrong you are likely to take part of the dose of spray yourself in a close range encounter. You learn not to touch or rub your eyes if you are sprayed, but find some water to wash them out as soon as you can.

Bears aren't dogs, but this training does show that any critter (or person)that is really determined to do you harm will NOT be deterred by pepper spray. Spray may gain you some time, however, and it may gain you enough time that you won't have to use your gun.

 

[4330Inroute]

I'd like to throw my two cents into the pot.
On a search warrant I've seen two rotts take two rounds of 9mm 115gr. HP's each to the chest and walk away. The HP's opened up but failed to enter the chest cavity. I think the noise of the 9mm scared them more than the hits to the chest. The dogs were later taken to a vet and treated. He removed the bullets and sewed the dogs up with minimal blood loss.

Years ago I walked into my parents unfenced backyard looking for them when two pit bulls from a neighbor's yard broke their chains and came after me. I tried scaring them off by throwing a shovel and a rake at them and yelling but they continued charging. I put two rounds of .45 ACP +p 200gr HP's into the first ones chest and three into the second dog. Both died almost instantly. Distance was about 10 feet on the first and about 5 feet on the second. I called the local PD and they found the shooting justified and cited the owner of the dogs and had him remove them from my parents property. The next week my Dad had a 6 ft. chain link fence installed around the perimeter.

In my opinion use the heaviest bullet in what ever caliber you choose but with sufficient power behind it if you feel you are going to go against an aggressive dog. Bring extra ammo. Practice shooting down at a target because a dog will not be at the same height as a person and at a moving target (one traveling at you and not to the side) instead of a stationary one. If you have nothing else to defend yourself with take off your belt and swing it buckle end and aim for the eyes and don't stop until it decides to quit the fight.

Remember that a dog cannot be reasoned with, it will not ask your business, check ID nor will it take any prisoners, it will continue the attack until the threat (you) is defeated or it feels it must escape to survive. Don't run you will become moving prey in it's eyes.

 

[srgvaz]

I see allot of good points from several on this post.
I've tried several rounds the smaller = little or no damage. The 17, 22, 223, 9, 38, 40 will not do much on most dogs but the 10mm, 357, 44, 45acp work great however the 308 ballistic, 45-70 works best and makes a show out of those wild CUJO dogs. If you've ever seen a pack of wild dogs or coyotes like in South Texas you will know what I mean. Texas is also know for the chupa cabra I'll be looking for one this season. -happy shooting-

 

[The Last Standing Knight]

As noted above, dogs are not the problem--it's the irresponsible, moronic, insufferably gawdawful stupid owners.

So use the pepper spray on the dog and save the ammo for the owner.

In my neighborhood, we have lots of pit bulls. Most are chained up by their owners until they take them for walks...others are deliberate and systematically let loose by their owners...usually at night. The result is lots of dead cats and the occassional family pet.

About a year back, we had a problem with two of them. Mean and aggressive as all get out. My mom is in her 70's and likes to work in her yard and luckily, I was nearby, although several close calls were had. These two WOULD NOT BACK DOWN. They jumped fences with ease and attacked ANYTHING. All capsicum did was make them angrier.

Both law enforcement and animal control were called. Animal Control threatened to file charges ON US. if we defended ourselves from attack. LE (I won't say which agency) said off the record pretty much what everone has been saying on this forum that involves hollow points.

Someone else attended to the dogs one night with a shotgun.

To me, the dogs in these cases are just as much a weapon (they are all trained for dog fighting in my area) as a loaded gun. If they run loose, then criminal charges SHOULD be filed against the owners of the animals for failing to keep them secure.

I love dogs, but if attacked by a dog of this kind, I will not hesitate to "do whatever it takes."

 

[SuperMan]

BIG fan of OC on dogs... One of my partners when I was working Probation/Parole nuked two pit bulls that were "accidentally" released by their owner who lived with a parolee while a home visit was being done... OC was already in hand and after the "incident" whenever a home visit was done the dogs would hide and quiver whenever that PO showed up.

Ammo..my suggestion would be CorBon Glaser Silver with the #6 compressed shot. You will probably be in a neighborhood and pass through with standard ammo needs to be considered. As to does it work...I can tell you that a .44 Magnum Glaser Blue will stop a 180# great Dane and the .357 Magnum Blue will stop a 85# nasty mongrel... Don't know your experience with dogs but they have a very low pain tolerance. That may not be true of attack trained dogs but in all the shootings I have done on my farm and my friends have done in the woods or on duty the dog involved stopped what it was doing at the hit... Those dogs that were missed turned and ran...

Bob

 

[gboling]

I realize that my method is less than ideal when a quick draw is necessary but it worked well for me every time. When serving search warrants, if the presence of a dog was known or suspected, someone went in with a lit road flare and we never got bitten.

 

[sw282]

siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

 

[TEB]

My wife, I and a 8 month old little girl walk after work and there are some BIG dogs including pit bulls. I usually carry my 3 inch sp-101 with me as a CCW. I am also giving real serious though to my model 19-4 with a 4 inch barrel. What self defense ammo would you recommend? I currently have 158 grain Remington LSWCHP-+P. It is good in my model 19 that I keep on my night stand,(wife keeps same load in the SP on here side of the bed).
Thanks

Not to be rude but can you walk somewhere else with less chance of a dog encounter? An 8 month old is too young to be around any dog not your own. Dogs are hard to hit and who wants bullets flying around their kids and wife.

I've been around too many dog encounters / shootings to know hardly any dog shooting goes as planned.

But in the end you have to protect your family the best way you can.

 

[Dogguy]

I shoot dogs often. My medicine is a 130gr sp @ 3200fps. My favorite deer stand is 287yds from some county dumpsters across a soybean field. Great for practice. People drop their ex pets off and I send them to Neverneverland. My best day has been 3. Also I sometimes get a chance at a couple trailing a deer. Where I come from Fido chasing a deer is death.

I don't think I'll comment on this after all.

 

[Smith Pistol]

I don't think I'll comment on this after all.

Ditto! Restraint is a tough thing to bear at times.

 

[wbraswell]

A lot of good info and personal experiences in this thread. Some, maybe not so good. As usual, in every case, the particular animal responds differently to the various loads/calibers. I don't think there are too many communities in this country that are going to allow you to carry a scattergun, while you're walking, to dispatch aggresive dogs. I do believe in the "get extreme" mode. Never turn your back on any predator, no matter how many legs it has. I would carry the OC-10 and back it up with a .22 auto, that you trust, with solid ammo. I wouldn't want to carry full house .357 loads in a neighborhood, too much liability. Personally, I think the best weapon is one we haven't mentioned. The samari sword. Whoosh, end of story. Watch the head still trying to bite, with no body attached.

 

[flop-shank]

I wouldn't want to carry full house .357 loads in a neighborhood, too much liability.

What makes you say that?

Personally, I think the best weapon is one we haven't mentioned. The samari sword. Whoosh, end of story. Watch the head still trying to bite, with no body attached.

Couldn't agree more. I own an Arms and Armor danish war axe and it's the most fearsome weapon I own. Sad, but I think that would go over about as well as the shotgun.