629 bullet recomendation

[smith 629]

I'm wondering if any one could give me advice on a bullet that would work best for protection for Grizzly bears. Both in a reloadable bullet and manufactured ammunition for the guns below.

My wife's is a 629 model 629-3 44 mag. with 4" barrel.

And mine is a new 629 44 mag. with 4" barrel that I will be picking up tomorrow.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[VAdoublegunner]

The Federal Castcore 300gr 44 Mag is a pretty good cartridge but I don't know if they sell the bullets as a component.

The Barnes Buster 300gr bullet looks pretty good for a heavy penetrator if you are OK with driving them fast enough that you can still shoot them without a terminal flinch.

[Plstu]

You looking to reload with Jacketed or lead bullets?

[smith 629]

Originally Posted by Plstu

You looking to reload with Jacketed or lead bullets?

I would reload with which ever one would be the best for Grizzly.
Which would you use for Griz?

Thanks for the help everyone.

[Culina]

LBT 300 or 320 grain Gas Checked Lead Flat Points, that should do the trick, with a gizzly I think you would want penetration and not expansion.

If you don't reload, then Buffalo Bore sells them already loaded.

[BruceM]

Just a word of advice here. Do NOT feed your 629 a steady diet of magnum ammo using bullets heavier than 250 grains.

Bruce

[cochise]

Garrett Cartridges Inc. 44 mag .45-70 .44 ammo ammunition bullets african hunting cartridges


UDAP Bear Deterrent Pepper Spray

If you reload, a good hard cast 250 to 300 grn bullet should work if you have time to aim.

[venomballistics]

shooting cast seems to give about 100 FPS extra. the over all effect of that little extra is hotly debated in these parts.
we already have a vote for the Fed Cast core 300G factory load. yup I second this. another good one might be a similar buffalo bore offering.
its not of stringent importance to find exactly this bullet for reloading, and thus duplicating the load. they are not really designed to expand as much as they cut deep holes with energy deposit being left to the wide flat nose of these nastygrams. when searching for a replacement just look at the metplat size as this is the primary controlling factor in the terminal performance of non expanding bullet types.

[smith 629]

Originally Posted by BruceM

Just a word of advice here. Do NOT feed your 629 a steady diet of magnum ammo using bullets heavier than 250 grains.

Bruce

I agree with you. I plan on only shooting a few to sight in and then just to carry for protection.
Other than that I'll practice with lighter loads.
Thanks

[amazingflapjack]

suggest you do some research on dangerous bear encounters, and consider "bear spray" as well.

[smith 629]

Thanks everyone for the help. There seems to be a variety of choices. I'll check into all of them.

[Bugs Bunny]

22gr +/- of 2400 & a 250gr Keith SWC hard cast will kill anything alive on the planet, same bullet i been casting / using since the 80's & I currently use with 6.5gr 231 for IDPA ESR class. Cast hard it will be near FMJ type penetration..
Don't beat those 629's to death with constant magnum loads as stated above, get a Ruger for that in 454 Cas if you must have a beast to beat.

[Arthury]

Any of the popular commercially available hard-cast bullets should work.

You did not say which type of Grizzly: inland or coastal?
If it is coastal, you might wanna increase your caliber size. Those bears are significantly larger.

[Neumann]

Practice with reloads, but Carry Buffalo Bore or the equivalent. You can't load to those ballistics safely, without the standards and test facilities of a commercial producer.

300 gr hard cast bullets seem to be the standard.

By all reports, nothing less than .50 BMG with incendiary AP bullets will actually stop a charging grizzly. Has anyone considered explosive vests? They won't save you, except from a painful mauling, but the bear won't attack anyone else either

[Plstu]

Penn .431" diameter over 2400 powder! My 629 loves them!

[4barrel]

Hello--You may not get more than one shot. In a bear charging I hope I would have a 500 S&W with a 375+ jhp. If you hit it on the first shot your ears will ring for a year but you can tell the story. Bears are fast for a short distance. A 500 will go through a 3/4 steel plate at 25 yards with a 375 gr. lead bullet.

[smith 629]

Originally Posted by Arthury

Any of the popular commercially available hard-cast bullets should work.

You did not say which type of Grizzly: inland or coastal?
If it is coastal, you might wanna increase your caliber size. Those bears are significantly larger.

It's not the grizzly in Alaska. I live in north Idaho and we have grizzly in our area. There not as big as Alaska's but they are still pretty good sized bears.

[smith 629]

Originally Posted by amazingflapjack

suggest you do some research on dangerous bear encounters, and consider "bear spray" as well.

We have bear spray and a shot gun. But, we can't always carry the shot gun with us.
Thanks

[tappedandtagged]

I would think any 300+ grain cast pill would do fine.

I've always ordered from Missouri Bullet Co, but Penn Bullets are just as highly regarded from what I've read on the forums.

https://www.pennbullets.com/44/44-caliber.html

[Forrest r]

+1 on what bugs said

You'll be giving up a lot of ground (speed) using a 300g bullet in a 4" bbl.

I'd go with a 245/250g cast bullet, you can get these to run in the 1200fps range out of your 4" bbl's along with being able to load them mild for play/practice.

A 250g bullet going 1200fps will penetrate a lot deeper & create a larger wound channel than a 1000fps 300g bullet. Both bullets have enough mass to get the job done. I'd rather have 20% more penetration on a bear myself.

If I was using a longer bbl (7 1/2, 8 3/8, 10, 14, ect), the 300g bullets would be an option.

Some thing else to think about: JD Jones came out with the heavy 300g bullet for the 44mag years ago to aid in his line of contender/hunting bbl's & setups. They were ment to be used in 14" contender bbl's on medium sized game.

[The Tourist]

Originally Posted by Kurac

LBT 300 or 320 grain Gas Checked Lead Flat Points.

I agree. Start by researching things like LBTs, hard cast DIY profiles, or Buffalo Brand.

You might have to face down something wounded, and I'm not convinced that anything that expands punctures a sagittal crest.

BTW, slug your barrel for the correct sizing die.

[smith 629]

Originally Posted by Bugs Bunny

22gr +/- of 2400 & a 250gr Keith SWC hard cast will kill anything alive on the planet, same bullet i been casting / using since the 80's & I currently use with 6.5gr 231 for IDPA ESR class. Cast hard it will be near FMJ type penetration..
Don't beat those 629's to death with constant magnum loads as stated above, get a Ruger for that in 454 Cas if you must have a beast to beat.

Thanks for the help Bugs. Where would I get the Keith SWC bullets your talking about? Do they have a web site?

[tappedandtagged]

Originally Posted by smith 629

Thanks for the help Bugs. Where would I get the Keith SWC bullets your talking about? Do they have a web site?

The Keith SWC was a bullet that Elmer Keith, the "father" of the 44 mag, envisioned as the "best" bullet there was. It is (for all intensive purposes) a 250 grain SWC. A 240 grain one will do just fine I think. Its what I carry in my 3" barreled 629. They like 18.5 grains of AA 9 for around 1,100 fps out of that short barrel.

I got mine from Missouri Bullet Co. They actually call it the 240 grain Keith bullet (although a true Keith style bullet is 10 grains heavier.)

[smith 629]

Originally Posted by Forrest r

+1 on what bugs said

You'll be giving up a lot of ground (speed) using a 300g bullet in a 4" bbl.

I'd go with a 245/250g cast bullet, you can get these to run in the 1200fps range out of your 4" bbl's along with being able to load them mild for play/practice.

A 250g bullet going 1200fps will penetrate a lot deeper & create a larger wound channel than a 1000fps 300g bullet. Both bullets have enough mass to get the job done. I'd rather have 20% more penetration on a bear myself.

If I was using a longer bbl (7 1/2, 8 3/8, 10, 14, ect), the 300g bullets would be an option.

Some thing else to think about: JD Jones came out with the heavy 300g bullet for the 44mag years ago to aid in his line of contender/hunting bbl's & setups. They were ment to be used in 14" contender bbl's on medium sized game.

Thanks for the help Forrest r.
I've been wondering about the penetration with the larger bullets. I have a cousin in Alaska that has been there for 30+ years and used to be an outfitter and did a lot of hunting himself, including Grizzly. He told me that he actually has heard of more bear being killed with a 357 than a 44 because the 357 would penetrate further because of the smaller bullet.
So I've been kind of thinking in the order of the smaller 240 -250 gr for more speed and penetration.

[smith 629]

Thanks Everyone for all the help. I've got a lot to think about and research on. But I'm sure I will find what I'm looking for with all the help.
Your all GREAT!

[grumpy7159]

Stats suggest bear spray is your best option.

[marmax]

Generally hard cast lead or Barnes solids will give the best penetration on large animals. I agree with all that warned of using bullets heavier than 250 in your 629. Most info I have read on the subject suggests using Ruger or Freedom Arms. They have a stronger top strap and frame. I like the idea of keeping your distance and stocking up on bear spray. Good luck and keep safe.

[six250]

Two recommendations: First, get some Bear spray. Much easier on you and the bear. Can avoid a lot of trouble (legal or physical) that way. And second, a 250gr hard cast Keith bullet (#429421) over 18.5 to 21.0 grains of #2400. And it is actually pretty controllable for REPEAT shots out of a 4" N frame S&W if you are used to it. Heavier or bigger loads than this are not. And this load will penetrate as far as you need since you are at arms length with the threat since you already used the spray......you did use the spray first, right?? If this load won't do it you're gonna need a belt fed gun. As far as factory loads go, the Federal Cast Core was/is my choice. Quite stout in a four incher but still not too bad IF you are really proficient with your 629.

[elpac3]

Go with a 12 ga. loaded with slugs. Use your 44 as you back-up gun. I have loaded 260 grain Keith SWC over 17.5 grains of 2400. Nice load, good accuracy, good penetration. Have bullets that have gone through 14 wet phone books and looked as though you could reload them again.

[Neumann]

For backup in bear country, I suggest using factory loaded Buffalo Bore 300 gr hard cast bullets (or equivalent) for maximum penetration. For extended practice, use hard cast 300 gr to whatever load you find safe to use. You don't have the QA or test gear needed to reach Buffalo Bore ballistics.

Hard cast bullets are not just hard, but with controlled metallurgy, usually with 2% or less tin, plus antimony and/or silver. Tin is hard, but over 6% lowers the melting point too much, causing leading at velocities as low as 800 fps. Pure lead causes leading above 800 fps because it is too soft.

[buck460XVR]

This......

Buster

[SoCal629]

For my griz bear gun I went with doubletap ammo..Great reviews on gas checked hard casts and accurate hand made cartridges,no leading.They have the 320 wfn hardcast that would be about 1200 fps and 1200/lbs with a 4 in or the 240 swc keith style for about 1300 fps and 1100/lbs with standard pressures..They sell direct out of Utah but I found a place in Montana that is cheaper and free shipping..I bought the 320s for my stealth hunter 629pc but it is heavier than yours,7.5 brl and magnaported that specs for 1325 fps and 1248/lbs...They were about 44.00 delivered..the 240 may be better for your pistol and think they were 43.00 for 50 rounds delivered..Doubletaps direct would be about 60 per box with shipping..Try Shedhorn sports in ennis,mt..43 dollars delivered for the 240 grain,44 for the 320 grain delivered..Just a heads up for those with 629 is everything i found is tht the buffalo bore 340 +p+ rounds are too hot for them and found several reports that they jam the cylinder in a couple of shots and/or the cases have to be forced out of the chambers afterwards..those are better in the stronger ruger,wesson 44's..just my research

[GCF]

Check out Beartooth Bullets, located in your neck of the woods. Delivery time is a bit slow, but Marshal builds a great bullet - & is a great source of info.

[Larry from Bend]

I went thru this very same inquiry in the 80s. At the time (no internet) I had to read articles, make phone calls and cull out all of the BS. You have to do the same today. Here's what I decided on:

You want an hard/tempered bullet weighing at least 275 grains and loaded to max with (probably) H110 or 296. Don't buy a Brinnell 12-14 that may deform --- It'll hurt penetration, which you must have. What you're (hopefully) going to be able to do is to shoot clear thru a Griz from any angle and hit something important during the bullet's trip.

Beartooth Bullets makes a great Brinnell 21-22, 280 grain, gas Checked bullet that I use in .431. A max H110 load gets 1235 fps and great accuracy out of my 5" Classic. It's very controllable out of my gun. I seems easier on the gun than 240 grain JHPs. With Beartooth, you KNOW what you're getting.

Practice a lot. Believe strongly that you can affect a positive outcome.


25 yards ---- 280 grain BearTooth

[fredj338]

I've shot the 310gr LFP from Lee in my 4" guns @ 1100fps. It is quite a lot to hang onto but I doubt anything stops that big bullet. I chrono the Federal load in my 7 1/2" & it only makes 1200fps, so matching the vel in a 4" w/ handloads is feaseable. I doubt a 250gr LSWC cast medium hard running 1200fps is going to stop inside a 400# inland grizz either. IN wetpack tests, the 310gr LFP @ 1100fps pentrates further tna my 400gr 404 jeffery loads @ 2200fps. I would trust either to get the job done if you can deliver.

[smith 629]

Thanks everyone. Everyone has been so helpful. I'm still checking into them.
I've been talking to Penn bullets about their 320 SST. From reviews I've read and talking to Penn it sounds like a pretty good bullet for what I want.
But, I'm still looking into others to be sure that's what I want.

[smith 629]

Thanks alot for all the help every one. I think I'm going to go with Beartooth Bullets. They seem to have good reviews from what I've seen.
And, they are only 20 miles from me. So that makes it good on shipping and easy to talk to and get information.
I appreciate all of you helping me.

[Larry from Bend]

Originally Posted by smith 629

Thanks alot for all the help every one. I think I'm going to go with Beartooth Bullets. They seem to have good reviews from what I've seen.
And, they are only 20 miles from me. So that makes it good on shipping and easy to talk to and get information.
I appreciate all of you helping me.

Good Decision --- Good bullets. Marshall, who owns Beartooth, was a big help to me when I went thru this.