New 44 mag 629 5" Questions

[rickytz7111]

Hello All,

This is my first post on here. I was researching diffrent types of ammo to use in my gun. I bought the gun stricly for big game protection mainly from black and brown bears. I currently live in Alaska. I was wondering what the heaviest load is I could run through this gun that would stop a black or brown bear. I have been looking at the 255 grain low recoil buffalo bore and the 270 grain buffalo bore. Would either of those be ok to run in my gun? Could I use the 300 grain buffalo bore or is that to heavy of a load? I don't want to damage my new gun. Thanks for any inputs.

[arjay]

I sighted in the same gun using the 300 gr load without any problems.Most of my shooting was done with standard loads,so I don't know if a steady diet of the heavier rounds would increase wear dramatically or not.

[jspick]

From what I have read I wouldn't use the 300 gr. buffalo bore load.
that is a pretty stought load. The 629 is a great gun but it does have its limitations.

I have a 629 5 " also and that is what I carry along with bear spray here in MT. We do not have the brown bears but we have grizzlies.

The following is MY OPINION because I do not want to start another bear gun thread. I believe that the 44 mag or any handgun cart. for that matter is not adequate to stop a "charging" bear. Defending yourself from a charging bear is different than hunting a bear where you are sneaking up on the bear and surprising it when you shoot it.
If you want to stop a charging bear a 375H&H or bigger or a 12 ga. with good slugs is the ticket.
That said; I carry my 629 and bear spray whenever I go out in the woods. Just because I "might" run into a bear or lion or wolves. But if I think I will "probably" run into a bear I carry my 870 with extended mag tube loaded with slugs. Like packing out meat during archery season or such. Now you may know all this, then disregard it and please don't take offense.

I love my 629 and shoot it a lot and enjoy it a lot.
John

[rickytz7111]

Would the 270 grain buffalo bore work or should I stick with the 255 low recoil buffalo bore? Thanks

[jspick]

The 270gr. is OK if you don't shoot it a lot.

John

[Clean Break]

I handloaded 300 gr. Nosler HPs and found them accurate in my Ruger Super Blackhawk ... And felt confidence in that load for potential big game (like elk or occasional cougar or black bear ). In my 629 the recoil with that same load is much more harsh, so I generally limit my loads to 240 gr.

Were I to spend a few nights in grizzly country fishing or hunting I would want my .338 win mag Remington mtn rifle or my 12 gauge & slugs/000 buck but on my hip I would wear my DA Smith and those same big Nosler loads, recoil be damned. CW

[CWH44300]

I think you and your gun would be just has well off using a standard hard cast bullet (240-250)driven at standard magnum velocity . A proven bullet in a proven load that has proven to penetrate into next week , just stay away from the +p stuff.

[rickytz7111]

Thanks for all the info. I think I'm going to go with the 255 grain buffalo bore low recoil for protection.

[Bobthegod]

Hasn't anyone here heard of Garrett's 44mags?
Make sure you read the BALLISITCS reports some of his won't work in a 29/629

Go here and check them out Garrett Cartridges Inc. 44 mag .45-70 .44 ammo ammunition bullets african hunting cartridges

[youngda9]

^^ $2 PER ROUND...no thanks.

LOL, the 45-70 STARTS at $4 per round and goes up from there.

[team sidewinder]

If I lived in Alaska ( only wish I did ) I might opt for a S&W .460 or .500 for bears but use what ya got and a .44 on the hip is better than lots of other guns you could carry. I agree the 629 5" is just about perfect for carry with a barrel not too long or too short and has great balance for me anyway.

As far as Garrett Defender ammo being expensive $$$ it is, but I am not going to be using it for target practice so a box will last me a long long time. The Defender ammo is the lighter loaded of the .44mag ammo offerings from Garrett but great for bears. It is my ammo of choice for bear defense and is not so hot it will harm your new gun.

Of course if you reload the options are endless and can work up a good bear defense reloaded round. I would use heavy lead hard cast bullets for any bear defense loads.

[kennyb]

Originally Posted by youngda9

^^ $2 PER ROUND...no thanks.

LOL, the 45-70 STARTS at $4 per round and goes up from there.

reload 44 mag and 45-70 yourself and develop a custom tailored round...save mega bucks

[shooter1911]

I carry a 629-5 MG for black bear defense while fly fishing in Colorado in the back woods. I used to load up with 300gr Speer soft point bonded over a max load of 296, but I have standardized on the Keith HC 250gr over 296 or 2400.

I made this change because I could shoot the 300 gr OK, but OK will not be good enough shooting double action while a mama black bear is attempting to kick my butt. With the 250gr I can place multiple shots with confidence, and shoot much faster. If I can place my shots with a 250gr moving at about 1200 fps, I will be much better off than trying to fight through a 300gr. It's all dependent on your limitations. I personally would not shoot the Buffalo Bore 300gr full load in my 629-5. If for no other reason, I know I would not be able to control it with the efficiency needed to defend myself.

[TDC]

Theories be damned. I'm with kennyb, shooter1911 and cwh44100. A 5" 629 is almost a perfect handgun, IMO. My other 44's have quite a few notches like the 497 pounder below to prove the 240/250 grain point...

[CWH44300]

Originally Posted by TDC

Theories be damned. I'm with kennyb, shooter1911 and cwh44100. A 5" 629 is almost a perfect handgun, IMO. My other 44's have quite a few notches like the 497 pounder below to prove the 240/250 grain point...

Beautiful rug!!!

[shooter1911]

TDC-that's a great looking trophy you have there. can't argue with success.

If anyone has any doubts as to what to use on black bear, check out Wayne Boscowicz site. I had the pleasure of talking to Wayne about hand gun hunting with him, and his advice can be found on the following link at "choosing a handgun for hunting bear". By the way I think Wayne has shot more black bear than anyone on the planet.

Handgun Hunting Heaven - Handgunning Bear Hunts in Maine

[TDC]

Originally Posted by shooter1911

TDC-that's a great looking trophy you have there. can't argue with success.

If anyone has any doubts as to what to use on black bear, check out Wayne Boscowicz site. I had the pleasure of talking to Wayne about hand gun hunting with him, and his advice can be found on the following link at "choosing a handgun for hunting bear". By the way I think Wayne has shot more black bear than anyone on the planet.

Handgun Hunting Heaven - Handgunning Bear Hunts in Maine

Thanks for the compliments, Shooter1911 and CWH44300,

You've provided a great reference to one of the top Black Bear experts/guides in America! The website even shows a picture of one of our own, S&W Historian Roy Jinks, utilizing the knowledge and guide services of Wayne Boscowicz.

People who have often seen the skull structure, body structure and muscle mass of a skinned mature Black Bear can have a whole different impression of the animals toughness than those who haven't.

Like Wayne Boscowicz, I've used both .41 Mags (My favorite caliber) and 44 Mags over a 35 year span of hunting these critters. Like him I switched to a 500 three years ago to evaluate the difference. No definitive conclusions yet except to say I've extended my effective accuracy range by about 100 yards.

We're seeing more bear than ever before that have been wounded and have survived bad bullet placement. Let me say there is nothing more dangerous than a larger boar black bear that was wounded and the wound destroyed the use of a front leg, healed, but can no longer climb a tree for protection. Their natural defense is gone and there is no animal more paranoid or potentially dangerous. They feel confronted and threatened by almost any casual human contact..... even more so than a sow with cubs...

My advice is to listen to the guides, outfitters and even taxidermists who get a first hand look at the harvested animals and advise what caliber and bullets were most commonly effective. They tend to really know so much more than the marketing/advertizing departments of the various bullet manufacturers do about reliable hunting bullet and load performance...

JMHO..

[team sidewinder]

Originally Posted by jspick

From what I have read I wouldn't use the 300 gr. buffalo bore load.
that is a pretty stought load. The 629 is a great gun but it does have its limitations.

I have a 629 5 " also and that is what I carry along with bear spray here in MT. We do not have the brown bears but we have grizzlies.

The following is MY OPINION because I do not want to start another bear gun thread. I believe that the 44 mag or any handgun cart. for that matter is not adequate to stop a "charging" bear. Defending yourself from a charging bear is different than hunting a bear where you are sneaking up on the bear and surprising it when you shoot it.
If you want to stop a charging bear a 375H&H or bigger or a 12 ga. with good slugs is the ticket.
That said; I carry my 629 and bear spray whenever I go out in the woods. Just because I "might" run into a bear or lion or wolves. But if I think I will "probably" run into a bear I carry my 870 with extended mag tube loaded with slugs. Like packing out meat during archery season or such. Now you may know all this, then disregard it and please don't take offense.

I love my 629 and shoot it a lot and enjoy it a lot.
John

Before I had my 629 5" I only carried bear spray and after the 629 I only carried the gun. But now this study and as per John's recommendations I will be carring both now.

Guns not safer than bear spray in grizzly country, study finds

[jspick]

Quote:
""If you act foolish, the bluff charge won't be a bluff charge, it'll be a real charge," Neal said. "The behavior is a key more than any single thing. It's what's kept me safe up until now."

The study found that using a firearm during a bear encounter requires split-second deployment and deadly accuracy. Nonlethal deterrents, like bear spray, are easier to deploy and have a wider effect.

In a 2008 study, Smith also found that bear spray effectively halted aggressive bear encounters in 92 percent of the cases. The hissing sound and sight of the expanding cloud of spray — not to mention the burning pepper juice — are often enough to frighten bears away.""

This quote is very true. However, he infers that having a gun is more dangerous. I have to disagree to a point. Having a gun is only more dangerous when those who don't know how to use it and use it as first line of defense. It is really nice to have a gun for the 8% of the other times a bear charges you!

Good article find team sidewinder!
John