Hey folks! I have recently acquired a 629-6 carry comp that I plan to take along on a trip to Montana. I have been looking for what to feed it for defense agains large dangerous critters (hopefully never have the need to use it for this purpose) with it’s relatively short barrel and fixed sights. I have narrowed it down to these two options:

Heavy .44 Magnum Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

DANGEROUS GAME HEAVY 44 MAGNUM - Mono-Metal Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

Which would you pick and why? Thanks!!

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Left the NRA. Joined the GOA.

I have a 2" 629-6 with similar grips, the left side of the grip peels skin off my lower thumb knuckle on every 240 factory load I've tried! I've gone to 11 gr Unique with a cast 240 gr True Keith Tip SWC in 44 mag brass. Hits with authority, very accurate, and blood free!

Ivan

I'm honestly a bit dubious towards the necessity of hardcast bullets to penetrate even the biggest of dangerous predators, bullet shape seems far more important, and I can't help but wonder whether there exists any practical, appreciable difference in overall effectiveness between hardcast lead semiwadcutter and a flatpoint TMJ.
I think that regardless, a proper .44 Magnum load is going to punch straight through.

That being said, I am not a Big Game Hunter, so I have no personal first hand experience on the matter, but then again, I would be surprised if anyone here actually has shot multiple Grizzlies with different .44 Magnum loads and can provide a detailed description of the performance of a Flatpoint TMJ, Hardcast SWC, and a MonoMetal whatever.
Although I'm sure you'll get at least a few folks who will insist that no .44 Magnum is sufficient for defense against bears, nor is anything short of a 20mm Vulcan API.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

I'm fine with lead hard cast flat nose w/gas check, but see no need to pay BB prices when Underwood is just as good.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

Longtime Alaskan guide Phil Shoemaker and his daughter have a startling amount of experience in dealing with hostile bears.
I would recommend reading some of his writings on the subject.
IIRC, they have been very impressed with the penetration of Norma 158 gr. flat point FMJ in .357 Magnum on bears at distances measured in just a few feet.

Industrial size pepper spray.

I prefer Underwood over Buffalo Bore but I'd opt for a traditional heavy for caliber hardcast.

Found some underwood 305 grainers in stock and ordered a couple boxes. Thanks everyone!

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Left the NRA. Joined the GOA.

Ivan - I have a similar problem, always getting blistered or losing skin in a particular place. I've started carving grips with a "thumb trough" to help with that. As we speak I'm gradually deepening a trough thru the rubber Pachmayrs on my 60. It's definitely helping.

A 3/4" or 1" dowel (however big your thumb is) with some sandpaper wrapped around it makes a nicely shaped relief.

If that is all you have, practice with it as much as you can before going to Alaska. Practice drawing and firing. So it until you don't think about what you are doing. Make it a reflex. It is hard to think when a giant meat grinder is charging you. I would prefer a 12 gauge with slugs myself.

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That's gonna leave a mark.

Part of the fun of planning a trip is gearing up.

That said, developing proficiency with your handgun is infinitely more important than the ammo in the gun.

Proficiency here includes speed presenting the gun and accurately hitting the target with two rounds. When you can accomplish this in less than 3 seconds, you’re on your way.

Any 240 gr 44mag ammo will suffice. You’ll find that the hyper boutique loads will significantly increase your time getting two shots off accurately in less than 3 seconds.

Remember that you’re not hunting: self defense against a grizzly occurs at very close ranges and requires you be quick!

I like Garrett’s super hard cast hammerhead loads for the .44 and .45-70 if we’re talking big dangerous game.
I don’t care to shoot many though.

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“Look life in its iron face”

I carry a 44mag loaded with 250 gr Keith and 19gr 2400 which gets me 1,240 fps. I spend much of my season in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness of MT and have encountered many griz out and about as well as near camp. Thank God no encounters of the nasty kind. My experience is they flee man. Been lucky but on the other hand I don't use elk calls either.

I've come to adding bear spray in my Arsenal, strap it to the pack strap where it is easy to get to when I'm curled up tight and hopefully old griz is biting my pack and me getting spray out and putting it work. Don't try to aim it, just hold on tight and make yourself a heavily peppered meatball he looses his taste for. Ya my eyes will be burning in ways I can only imagine but will have best chance to survive. I know I'll be jittery and aim not so good if the day comes and would at least have a backup.

Respectfully disagree. You’re never guaranteed a second shot with dangerous game. You may not even have time for a first shot.

If I only have one shot I want a 300 grain hard cast load. Adrenaline will help with follow up shots.

Shot a moose at 20 feet with a 300 grain and it went straight through his head. Bear are tougher. Saw a bear shot with a 10 gauge slug it went through the top of his head and exited out his back side. Dropped him immediately.

Heavy and hard is better.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I specifically chose it because it was the most practical option for me. Was originally looking at the m69 then just happened across this at a price too good to pass up on. I would love a 12 gauge, but it wouldn’t be practical or socially acceptable to be walking around with a long gun in most of my destinations.

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Left the NRA. Joined the GOA.

OP hasn’t been here since a week after this post 14 months ago. Thread closed.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220