What makes for a good cow gun'

[DeathGrip]

Longhorns in Oklahoma. I've been chased up to the rocks. I just rounded the corner and got stood up.

The Army warned me that they were worse than the buffalo but I'm not sure if I'd want to mess with either.

Bramahs down here in Florida. I met a few and won't elaborate. One pissed me off seriously.

I'm no cow flipper but those two are on my list of not to be messed with, in my limited experience.

I'm sure there are other breeds that have bad attitudes but I'm not looking to go in their pasture to find out.

Damn the shrooms.

 

[tops]

My wifes uncle almost got killed by a Jersey bull. I bought a bull that had a bunch of Santa Gertrudis in him. He was probably 2 or 3 when I bought him and I kept him 2 or 3 years and he started to show signs of getting mean so I ate him. Larry

 

[Snapping Twig]

Obviously a phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range.

or

 

[Bamaeagle]

My Dad use to use his trusty ole Browning 12 Ga. to chase the cows out of our garden. He used #6 shot and it put them in high gear....LOL. These were not our cows as they came through the fence from the pasture next door.

 

[semperfi71]

If my memory is correct, there was an article in Guns and Ammo, about 1990 whereby they were hunting "wild cattle" (longhorns maybe) in the riverine "jungles" that run along the Rio Grande in Texas. It might have been Finn Aargard who wrote the story.

I too have read whereby the main reason for the "cowboys" to carry a handgun was to kill a horse that was dragging them. I have a retired game warden friend who disputes this saying that he was in on several "hunts" for missing hunters. They were found drug (dragged?) to death by their horse. He said that once you begin to get drug (dragged) by your horse you quickly lose consciousness and then get drug (dragged) to death. He said you will not have time to draw a gun and kill you horse.

I was drug (dragged) by my very own pet pony (16 hands) on a fairly smooth path one day. I was not carrying a gun. He drug (dragged) me about 20 yards. I had, out of pure luck, had read an internet article about a month prior to the incident. Only one responder had what appeared to be an intelligent response to being drug (you know what I mean by now) by a horse. He said you turn into the horse. This causes your foot to rotate in the stirrup and then slip out. As I was being drug by my running pony I remembered that and it worked. Also my spur leather broke and that might have also done the trick.

Although only being bounced for about 20 yards on a smooth trail, I almost passed out after breaking free. I will assume that if I had hit my head on one or more rocks or stumps I'd a been a goner and probably would not have had time to pull a "smoke-wagon". BUT, I still carry one in the real woods just in case I get lucky and have the chance.

What I learned was: 1) If being drug, turn into the horse, it might work. 2) Wear thin and weakend spur straps to allow them to break free. 3) Don't do stupid things with horses that cause you to fall and get hung up on the stirrup.

 

[rwsmith]

Cows........

....kill them before they kill you.

 

[Izzydog]

Three rounds of 30-06 to the head, seemed to be just enough.

 

[vonn]

Never shot a cow but when I was in Nam I saw water buffalo (VN tractor) that went a little nuts absorb a lot of M16 5.56 without even slowing down,usually took an M60 to bring them down. They were a little scary and didn't seem to like GI's.

 

[steelslaver]

Lot of good yuks in this thread, but humor aside I don't trust a bull of any breed and cows can become very aggressive around there calves or in circumstances that agitate them. Range cattle are often far worse than pen raised. There are cows in this area that avoid roundups and have turned "wild" Some are just flat mean. It doesn't take much effort for a 1000-1500# animal to seriously injure or kill you.

So, laugh and joke all you want, but, don't trust cows.

Reminds me of a rancher's joke. Sheriff shows up and wants to inspect a ranch for a suspected pot growing operation. Rancher says fine, just don't go in that pasture over there. Sheriff flashes his badge and says this gives me the power to go where I want in this county and proceeds to enter and walk across said pasture. Soon he is running back yelling help, help with a bull chasing him. Rancher screams show him your badge, show him your badge.

 

[okiegtrider]

Cow lives matter.

That is hilarious. I dare not say more.

 

[BB57]

A few thoughts from a "raised on a ranch in SD" perspective:

1) "Cow" is a fairly generic term for cattle. Within that you have several subsets:

- bulls - adult, uncut male cattle used for breeding purposes. (If you're going to be re-incarnated as a cow, you want to be the herd bull.)
- steers - adult, cut male cattle raised for beef.
- heifers - female cattle raised for beef or for breed stock
- bred heifers - pregnant heifers for sale as breed stock
- calves - baby cattle of both sexes
- yearlings - juvenile calves of both sexes

2) .22 Magnum is a fine cartridge for taking down cows. To do it reliably however you'll want to use an assistant with a halter and rope to keep the cow in position, then shoot it in the center of the forehead from a range of about 18". You get good penetration of the front of even the thickest skull, but not with enough remaining velocity to exit, so the bullet just rattles around inside the skull until it comes to rest.

You can do it with a .22LR as well, but you're limited to rifles and carbines as a .22LR revolver or pistol is a bit marginal, where a .22 Magnum revolver still does a wonderful job.

3) Over the years we had some prospective bulls who put on weight exceptionally fast, had great conformation, etc, but who just didn't work out, being a bit to aggressive in their yearling stage - creating just a bit more trouble than we were willing to mess with. We had one particular Charolais bull who butted my step dad over a feed bunk one too many times and we had an impromptu slaughter about 15 minutes later. We eventually decided to just stay with Herefords and Black Angus rather than crossing them with Charolais which in general were a little too high maintenance.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I have seen steers and pigs shot with 22 rifles. They were all standing still and shot in the head.
If a 1000 pound bovine is coming at me full speed, head down, I want something bigger than a 22.

 

[Harrison]

The answer to this question lies in Africa. Cape Buffalo are nothing more than an African cow. They are part of the bovine tribe. Hunting cape buffalo is quite popular in Africa, so look at what the hunters use. In most countries, by law, the 375 H&H magnum or it's equivalent is the minimum caliber for use on cape buffalo. Many use a .40, .45 or even 50 caliber nitro express type rifle. See, wasn't that simple? A good cow gun is any 375 magnum or larger.

 

[shell627]

Don't know a lot about cows other than roaming my uncles farm when I was younger.No major problems but I stayed away from the Bulls and cows with calves.Buffalo on the other hand.Are big dumb and dangerous.I was helping a man feed and give worm medicine to his buffalo herd when he started running to me yelling look out.I turned my back on a big cow and she started for me.My glock 19'felt as useful as a snowball. I think something crew served would be appropriate.sorry for thread drift cow
To buffalo but she was going to turn me into a buffalo patty

 

[Iggy]

I believe ever word ol Elmer said. I believe some of it was the truth and some of it wasn't but I believe him.

But I will say that somebody being dragged by a horse ain't gonna be able to find or reach his gun if it's still in it's holster while bouncing along on his back and ducking hooves, and IF he lives long enough to get his gun, he ain't gonna be able to hit the horse in the head. That's the only place that will stop the horse.

Imagine having your left foot in a loop about half way up the side of a pickup right by the left rear wheel. You're bein' dragged across the prairie and trying to get a gun which is probably hung up somewhere about your armpit or neck if you're lucky.

The only thing in contact with the ground as you bounce along is your head and shoulders. Now if you get your gun in your hand and and can hang onto it, try and aim it at the driver and hit him as you bounce along.

Elmer was good, but.........

 

[keith44spl]

Well Boys,

I've been drag'd on sume purty rocky ground a time er two...

I've shot a horse and a bovine er two.....never shot one that was putting a draggin on me.

Cowboyin is tough....

Cowboy, Cowhand, Cattleman, Mule Skinner/Packer.....is a verb, not a noun.

If'n ya don't fancy getting skint up, bung'd up and or mabee even kilt. Leave yur saddle and rope in the shed.

The last'n I shot was a 2000+ pound bull that run up under my saddle hoss and
was a fixin to take the whole deal to the ground and give yours-truly and that bay cow-pony an over-haul.

The first shot from a 44 Spl......back'd that ol bull off'n us.

Always use enough gun....


.

 

[kantuck]

I also read that article in the Washington Post today and was relieved that shark attacks only average one fatality a year. Guess you're fairly safe in your bath tub!

I just played around with deaths on google and sadly lots of kids drown in bathtubs and falling trees kill more folks than cows. lots of ways to die,huh?
Kind of like the breast cancer thing as more people die from lesser known cancers too. Some ways to die get the notoriety?
I used to hear all the time that die quietly in yer sleep was the "good way to go" until they invented sleep apnea and now it's yer fault if you go in yer sleep? FWIW, I even see that die in your sleep/bed peacefully thing in Obits these days yet.

 

[kantuck]

Sometimes When I'm out on BLM land I encounter cows.
They usually pay me no attention.
The only animal that I've a problem with is dogs.
Aggressive dogs are a problem here in NM and have killed people.

My cousin used to bring up cattle from Texas to put on grass that would chase you all over the place on his KS Flint Hills ranch! We had it figured at having been herded by helocopters made them bad tempered. I went way out in middle of a pond to get away!
I'll avoid the dog thing as too many dog people want to love them all-even the Chows and PB's...

 

[kantuck]

In North America, I'd be guessing whitetail...

My critter guess for deaths caused would have been wasp & bee stings.

Gatorman-Talk about more cows than humans in WY-funny when the guy from WY on AMGT show other night was shown that not one person from WY in the huge audience-If I was from WY I wouldn't be in NYC either!
He's gonna be back as he did a neat magic trick. Best part was his intro. when he talked about being an excon that had voluntered himself for Wyoming prison cause his sweetheart had him ready to come clean. Now he "tricks" folks honestly...

 

[kantuck]

Well Boys,

I've been drag'd on sume purty rocky ground a time er two...

I've shot a horse and a bovine er two.....never shot one that was putting a draggin on me.

Cowboyin is tough....

Cowboy, Cowhand, Cattleman, Mule Skinner/Packer.....is a verb, not a noun.

If'n ya don't fancy getting skint up, bung'd up and or mabee even kilt. Leave yur saddle and rope in the shed.

The last'n I shot was a 2000+ pound bull that run up under my saddle hoss and
was a fixin to take the whole deal to the ground and give yours-truly and that bay cow-pony an over-haul.

The first shot from a 44 Spl......back'd that ol bull off'n us.

Always use enough gun....


.

What we have here folks is a guy, Keith, that read waaaayy too many westerns?