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.

 

[TAROMAN]

No handgun would ever be my first choice for protection against large bears.
better than a sharp stick theBarnes Buster 300 would be a decent choice.
That said, a close friend who was a bush pilot in Alaska for 20+ years always kept either a Mosberg 500 loaded with slugs or a Model 70 .458 magnum close at hand.

 

[smith 629]

No handgun would ever be my first choice for protection against large bears.
better than a sharp stick theBarnes Buster 300 would be a decent choice.
That said, a close friend who was a bush pilot in Alaska for 20+ years always kept either a Mosberg 500 loaded with slugs or a Model 70 .458 magnum close at hand.

Thanks for the info. I have a Mosberg 500 but you can't always pack a rifle with you. Depends on what your doing.
I figure that if a bear is going to give me pain and make me mad I might as well try to do the same to him. At least I won't be to only one in pain.

 

[J-FRAME]

Garrett makes some good loads but expensive-also Federal 300 gr cast core, Maybe Hornady 300 gr XTP factory loads- a very good bullet- penetration and expansion- for reloads I have a couple of ideas PM me and I will tell you

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
A 400 gr hc 45-70 first choice.
Any hard cast 240 and heaver at full pressure.
Fmj [not plated ]
NO hp's.
Last hope do all you can to not need it.

 

[team sidewinder]

Garrett makes some good loads but expensive-also Federal 300 gr cast core, Maybe Hornady 300 gr XTP factory loads- a very good bullet- penetration and expansion- for reloads I have a couple of ideas PM me and I will tell you

I totally agree with J-FRAME on the Garrett 44 mag ammo in my 629-5 5inch. A solid cast bullet ( avoid any jacketed bullets ) will give you the deep bone busting penetration you need on a large animal like the Griz. The Garrett Defender 310gr Hammerhead ammo is the only thing I carry and would bet my life on while hunting shed antlers in bear country North of Yellowstone Park. Garrett does make a couple hotter loads but the Defender gives me results I need without beating up my gun. I do practice with Federal 300gr castcore. And as mentioned any handgun is a poor weapon for griz but you use what you got at the time. Garrett ammo is not cheap by any means but what is a few bucks when your life depends on it. I do see where Randy Garrett of Garrett Cartridge Inc. is not going to be running the company anymore but is turning it over to another person. Check out the Garrett website and look at some of the info there on 44mag and bears.

 

[arjay]

Heavy bullets,bear spray and stay out of the thick stuff.

 

[smith 629]

Thanks for the help everyone. I check all these out.

 

[c21yankee]

12 ga

I would always want to know where my 12 ga Ithaca Deerslayer was at.

 

[Rocket3]

Take your 44 back and get a 500. Load it with Hornady 500 gr XTP Flat Points

2254 ft/lbs. energy at the muzzle.

The 44 300 gr XTP has 881.

Don't get me wrong, I have 3 Smith 44's and love them but if I thought I might encounter large dangerous animals I would pack my 500 every time no contest.

 

[tom turner]

ACTUALLY . . . WHAT I'M ABOUT TO WRITE IS RELEVANT when discussing bear and heavy hardcast handgun hunting bullets . . .

I shot two whitetail yesterday with my favorite .44 Magnum bullet. Neither animal knew I was there, much less was it charging me, so I had the luxury of carefully placing my shot from the vantage of a 12' high ladder stand.

1. The first deer, a small whitetail for the freezer? 25 yards and about 115 lbs. . . . hardly a griz on the charge.

Result? I blew out the heart, and the deer "charged" off in another direction for 40 yards, then fell over dead.

The BULLET? The wonderful Federal Castcore 300gn. hardcast flatnose that I've taken soooo many deer with through the years. You'll always get an exit wound!

2. THE SECOND DEER? Much larger buck, barely moving cautiously at 45 yards. Same placement. It "charged" off too . . . and I never found it.

GRIZZLY WITH A .44 MAGNUM that's charging YOU from ambush? I don't think you're gonna win that one, even if you got lucky blowing out its heart before he charges YOU and dispatches you.

I'm still bummed about losing that buck yesterday . . . and the memory of a big buck a few years ago that fell with a perfect heart shot and zero blood loss . . . 185 yards from where I hit it. At least I harvested it!

BE CAREFUL in bear country . . . and understand that in the wild there are no 100% perfect shots that go exactly as planned . . . even when you execute your shot exactly right . . . and aim for the brain!

Yep, I'm with the Ithaca Deerslayer poster. My Ithaca, slinging rifled slugs, will blow a hole in the chest cavity of a large deer about the size of a good grapefruit, and it drops 'em like a light switch was flipped! I can testify to that!!! A MUCH better outcome on that griz too!!!

The 500 Mag MIGHT be another choice, if you are ok with toting that big boat anchor in the mountains . . . just don't miss!!!

Have fun and be careful!

 

[J-FRAME]

This post is not about 5 hundreds or bear attacks its about loads for big bears in a S&W .44 Stay on the topic grrrrrrrrr

 

[Engineer1911]

Consider that what ever you shoot at the grizzly, that will probaly be the last thing you hear. You will have permanent hearing loss. Avoidance is the best path.