Gryphon, regarding:
"wouldnt matter would it really as anyone worth his salt should be capable of getting two good shots away..shots that count i mean."

So you other members dispute that, do any of you? Obviously!

I dispute it. I thank God that I have never been in that situation because I do not think (IMHO) that anyone can 1) realize the direction from which the cat is coming 2)position yourself accordingly for a shot 3) shoulder your rifle 4) take aim at what must seem like a bouncing pin head and get off TWO good shots in under 2 seconds (keeping in mind that at the 2 second mark he already has you in his jaws).

I've enjoyed reading this post but I hope that 500 nitro does not have sufficiently deep pockets to fund the ultimate experiment.