Back in my misspent younger days, I had a 29-2 with a 4 ' barrel. Thought about taking a bear with it. Then life got in the way........... I used a couple of pretty warm loads one was 23.9 grains of 2400 with a 200 grain JHP the other was 20.6 grains of 2400 with a 255 grain cast lead slug. Both were pretty stout. I could keep all in a 9 inch paper plate at 100 yards, off hand.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.