I recently had to discharge my .44 Rem Special to defend myself. However this was a little different. I was walking my attack trained (Ha Ha) Chichuahua "Sgt. Rambo" at 2330 hrs a few weeks ago in my quiet neighborhood.
This is a affluent area habitated by seniors in Las Vegas away up the hill to the West called Sun City Summerlin. At that hour the sidewalks are rolled up to speak and there is no vehicle traffic and less pedestrians. All the good citizens are asleep or dozing whilst watching Fallon or the other idiot on the boob tube.
When out of the shadows appeared a coyote. He was a healthy and sleek furred example of his breed and was standing and staring at Sgt. Rambo like he was to be his evening snack. However he was almost 25 yds away. By this time Rambo had also seen and probably smelt this other canine and he quickly peed on the ground and put himself behind me.
Okay I thought a coyote....big deal. I'll yell and he will retreat. I did. He did not. Instead he advanced from 25 yds away forwards to within 50 feet and he was not stopping. Although focused on this threat, I drew my Charter Arms Bulldog Pug .44 Rem Spcl. from my hip holster and while doing so I noted two other coyotes to my right. They were also within 50 feet and advancing.
Okay now this is getting serious....I yelled and kept on yelling, Rambo kept on whining and doing the normal breed shake and bake behind me whilst the canines kept advancing. I then really began to fear for myself and my companion and I drew my front sights on the nearest foe, coyote #1. I noted that behind him was my neighbors house and Mercedes Benz and recognizing that this background was not appropriate for a round which would probably totally penetrate Wiley T. Coyote and cause property damage at least and at worst penetrate into his home and possibly injure or kill somebody....so this canine was not to be shot from this angle. I quickly assessed the situation to my right with coyotes #2 & #3 and I determined that this was not any better.
I could not retreat, they were advancing, I could not in good conscience shoot anywhere near the threats. The police were a phone call away but I had a gun in hand now and action had to be taken.
So I carefully aimed up into the air at about a 80 degree angle toward a large golf course nearby which I hope would receive the 185 Gr Hornady Critical Defense HP round and let one go. I always use factory ammo for carry as I do not want to give any slack to a Plaintiff if I am taken to court....so please do not take me to task over this. I had never fired that snub nosed weapon without ear protection and that sucker was loud. Very loud.
The coyotes suddenly remembered an overdue appointment in another area code and beat a hasty retreat for about 50 feet.
At that point still holding my trusty .44 in my paw I scooped up my courageous and precious Sgt. Rambo and rambled on home while keeping an eye on the canines. As I retreated up into my driveway the coyotes were again advancing on my position but only at walking speed not charging. If they had charged me again I probably would have aimed at them and fired for effect but it was not necessary as we got into the house just when the coyotes got to my driveway about 40 feet from my front door.
We got safely inside and the dog promptly did his business on the kitchen floor while I gathered myself together and called to the local police to report my actions. To neglect this would be stupid. Somebody probably heard my yelling and then the report of a large calibre round being fired and would certainly be calling the authorities soonest. I had to get my call in first.
This is important. Any time you are forced to brandish or discharge your firearm for any reason you are required to notify the police immediately. Calling the next morning is not OK. So I called and the police arrived in two cars in about 6 mins.
Of course by the time they arrived the canines were long gone. One officer had me take him to the point where I fired from and had me point out to him which direction the sights were pointed etc. Then he began to search around on the ground. I asked him "What are you looking for?" "An empty cartridge case." he replied. Then he said "Duh, you used a revolver?".
"Come into the house and I will show you the gun and I will give you the casing you want." I replied.
They did and we ended up brewing up a pot of coffee and discussed reloading and such for about 30 minutes.
They were quite impressed with some of the guns I showed them especially my M 1 Garand. Neither of them had ever even seen one less handled one. One of the officers has since contacted me off duty and asked if I could show him how to reload and cast boolits. He wanted to learn so he could teach his sons how and get them trained in the use and care etc for firearms. The beat goes on.
Ya gotta keep on spreading breadcrumbs on the waters to keep the casting and reloading sports alive and thriving.