Bear Guns

[Cyrano]

For all of you who are interested in the proper handgun for hunting bears, the current (April) issue of Handloader has a good article by Brian Pearce on handloading the 45 Colt for bear. He used a Ruger New Model Blackhawk, built on the 357 frame, with pressures of 23K PSI, instead of the 32K PSI of the larger Rugers. This pressure should be OK for the S&W Model 25, 625.

 

[Texas Star]

Pearce is one of our best gun writers, and loads in that range need more coverage.

I think I'd wear a M-629 and rely on .44 Magnum power. But I wouldn't shoot a bear unless I had to. Not with a handgun. I want a .30/06 or heavier rifle for that work.

Still, a .45 with the right bullet in the right spot will kill a bear. I know we have some men here who'll make jokes about it, but I recall that event in Keith's, "Sixguns" where Frank Waterman dropped a standing grizzly that was popping its jaws at him with a .45 Colt factory load. Keith had a lot of respect for the .45, even in factory form.

 

[Alnamvet68]

I thought the Ruger 454 Casull Alaskan was the handgun of choice for taking down those big Kodiak's?

 

[BigBill]

I hunt bear and i put down my handgun as a side arm and started using a 338win mag. with its 4,000 ft.lbs @ muzzle and 2,700 ft.lbs @ 200 yds its plenty of gun for me afterall i'm not built for tree stands, running or speed.

But i have been thinking of going handgun hunting lately too.

 

[kwselke]

For all of you who are interested in the proper handgun for hunting bears, the current (April) issue of Handloader has a good article by Brian Pearce on handloading the 45 Colt for bear. He used a Ruger New Model Blackhawk, built on the 357 frame, with pressures of 23K PSI, instead of the 32K PSI of the larger Rugers. This pressure should be OK for the S&W Model 25, 625.

Black Bear loads or Grizzly Bear loads?

 

[R. G. Amos]

I would use a 6" barrel Freedom Arms in 454 Casul. The short barrel Alaskan would be a little too much for me. I would not use handloaded ammo for this purpose either.

 

[kwselke]

I would use a 6" barrel Freedom Arms in 454 Casul. The short barrel Alaskan would be a little too much for me. I would not use handloaded ammo for this purpose either.

I assure you my 7 1/2" Freedom Arms .454 Casual is a handful. For grizzly you really need a .338 Mag. Black bear are a differnt issue.

 

[Mule Packer]

I certainly wouldn't use this on grizzlies, but when I took the pack string into the Northern California wilderness areas, I always carried my old Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt. I had it loaded with 240-grain semi-jacketed hollow cavities going about 950 feet per second.

That area has one of the highest black bear populations in the lower 48 and I never felt under gunned. But, like I said, I wouldn't want to try it on grizzlies.

 

[billwill]

very nice looking rig. How many years did it take you to get that authentic lookin patina on it??

Just kidding nice set up!

 

[30-30remchester]

MULEPACKER, it is nice to see a rig that has seen actual field use. I admire guns and gear with honest wear. A question though, what knife do you have in the sheath. From the little I can see it appears to be an old Kaber pattern.

 

[ChuckS1]

I always thought guys who went grizzly bear hunting took a pistol along to use on themselves if the bear got ahold of them.

 

[lylefk]

I'll be carrying a 4" nickel 29 with 305gr Buffalo Bore in a diamond d chest holster frequently this summer, while fishing and exploring in Alaska

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I certainly wouldn't use this on grizzlies, but when I took the pack string into the Northern California wilderness areas, I always carried my old Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt. I had it loaded with 240-grain semi-jacketed hollow cavities going about 950 feet per second.

That area has one of the highest black bear populations in the lower 48 and I never felt under gunned. But, like I said, I wouldn't want to try it on grizzlies.

Nice rig .

 

[Texas Star]

I agree about the nice leather rig and want to know the knife.

As for the man wanting to wear the four-inch M-29, I think you'd be okay if you can shoot well and know bear anatomy.

A Norwegian scientist had to use a M-29 on a polar bear a few years back and it worked. Alas, some naive bunny huggers wrote nasty letters to National Geographic about that. Maybe if the human life on the line had been theirs, they might approve the act...

Personally, I applaud his coolness and marksmanship.

 

[Mule Packer]

MULEPACKER, it is nice to see a rig that has seen actual field use. I admire guns and gear with honest wear. A question though, what knife do you have in the sheath. From the little I can see it appears to be an old Kaber pattern.

Thanks. The knife is an old Case slabside hunter with bone handle and a 3½-inch blade.

It's not a real long blade, but it's razor sharp. When I'm leading a packstring, I prefer carrying a fixed blade knife on my belt in case something goes wrong. If a pack slips or a mule goes over the edge in a tangle of ropes, believe me, you can't cut rope fast enough in order to get everyone free. Trying to dig a pocket knife out of your chaps pocket is next to impossible when the proverbial "ship hits the sand."

 

[Sprefix]

I'm glad to see this post as I've known this for some time. I'm usually told my 625-6 Mountain Gun will not handle upper end Colt loads. Instead of arguing, I smile and express thanks for the offered opinion. On the other hand, as the "secret" gets out, the 625-6 becomes even harder to find for sale..........A 340 grain at 1100fps is a handful. And BTW, If I'm gonna use a .44 Mag, I'm a fan of the 320 grain HC Corbon. JMO Blessings all and shoot safely........

 

[kennyb]

i frequently hunt with my 500mag.so far several large boars,a merino ram,mouflon ram,and 4-horn ram have fallen .....i would tackle a bear with it...or the 460 mag.and yep....shot placement is of course key

 

[jkc]

Of course there are various handguns and handgun rounds that are theoretically capable, and some proven, if anomalously, to be capable of killing bears and other large animals, but none are any adequate substitute for a suitable rifle. I am comforted by the .44 Mag 629 on my hip, when luring lions and bears with a predator call, but my first line of aggression and "defense", if it may so be called, is my Winchester M70 Featherweight .30-06. Shooting bears with a handgun, on purpose, is a marginally ethical stunt, except, I suppose, if you are merely assassinating a baited bear from the safety of a tree stand, or dispatching a bayed or treed animal on its last legs, at its last resort. But generally speaking, handguns are not up to the task of sport hunting for bears, and should be relegated to defensive use, when circumstances have deteriorated, by your inattention, to the point where gnawing is involved...

 

[Sprefix]

where gnawing is involved...HAHAHAAHAAHAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chud333]

I am firmly in the camp of (wear a handgun for back-up
on Bruins). Nothing wrong with handgun hunting and i've
done lots of it myself, Deer, Boar. But if i'm going after a
Bear it will be with plenty "enough" gun and contained in
a rifle stock. Sure i would like to be carrying a large caliber
handgun as well but it will be used only for coup-de-gras
or in last resort situations. But to those who wish to hunt
Big Bear, ie Grizzly, Coastal Browns, etc. with handguns i
say more power to ya'. Folks hunt them monsters with
sticks and strings too.

Chuck

 

[Texas Star]

Did anyone else read the article by the doctor who had to shoot a grizzly that attacked him as he and his hunting companion (another doctor) were loading moose meat into a canoe, I think it was? This was in, "Sporting Classics" a couple or three years ago. He used his partner's Ruger Super Blackhawk because it was nearby and his own gun was some distance away. Both men should have had those guns on their persons.

They got casual and figured that no bears were around, but one was. Their rifles were even further away from them.

Bob Petersen, the late publisher, shot a polar bear and (I think) a coastal grizzly with his nickled M-29. He got away with it, and others have, too. But deliberately hunting a bear with a handgun just seems unwise.

The late Jack O'Connor was, of course, known for his love of the .270. But when he went to Alaska after bear, Jack took a .338. That tells me something. He wrote that he felt pretty safe taking on an inland grizzly at a distance with a .270, although he felt the .30/06 was perhaps a little better in that role. Those were his two favorite rifle cartridges.

But when he went after coastal grizzly in thicker cover, he took the .338. I think he made the right choice.

I do not really want to have to shoot anything with a handgun that I think I should be using a .338 or .375 H&H Magnum rifle to hunt!

I do not own, or plan to own, anything like a .460 or .500 handgun. My handgun recoil tolerance is reached by the .44 Magnum and I think continued use of heavier handguns may eventually result in damage to the wrists and perhaps cause arthritis if done long enough.

Nor do I feel a need for 300 grain- plus .44 or .45 bullets. If the Keith .44 Magnum load with his 250 grain bullet isn't enough, I think I probably need to pack a compact rifle. The Ruger International M-77 in .308 might be a good solution, or a 12 gauge slug gun.

I'd sure want a .44 Magnum on my belt. But it'd be there for emergencies when I couldn't reach a rifle.

I am also not too keen on people hunting elk or moose or larger African antelope with handguns. I think deer to maybe 200 pounds or maybe Lesser Kudu are about the limit for a sidearm. I know they'll take pigs well under the right circumstances. And I'd sure carry a handgun when hiking where there are wild pigs.

A very experienced Alaskan guide who writes for Rifle and Handloader said that he and his daughter chose Ruger Security-Six .357's for their bear defense handguns. I guess he feels the power level is adequate if the aim is good.

 

[BigBill]

Lets not forget the godfather of handgun hunting Elmer Keith he has taken every north american game with a 357mag, a 41mag and a 44mag. I would think he had someone behind him as back up with a rifle.

Shot placement is the key.

 

[Sprefix]

By nature, I'm a "more than enough" person. What could be done and what should be done are, or at least can be, two different things. Whatever it is you are doing, just make sure you have the means to do it properly. When hunting, I believe in a very quick dispatch. It is more harmonious for all involved.

 

[BubbaBlades]

This is the result of me shooting this charging bear with three rounds of 300 grain .454 Casull out of my S&W 460 magnum. As the below youtube video shows, I didn't get a head shot but both me and my cameraman were scared.

S&W 460 Magnum vs Charging Bear - YouTube

Mark

 

[Jyezahn]

Surprised nobody said anything about the S&W 500 mag. I love that gun.

 

[dewey]

Mule Packer

Didn't I buy a .45 from you 12 years ago because it was too light when you took a string out? I'm pretty sure about this. it was a Birdshead of some sort.....

Welcome !

Dan
in S.C.

 

[dewey]

NOT to hijack this Thread..... A Polar bear guide

Bought a 329PD from me a while back and I committed that was a little light...He responded that he was a BOW GUIDE and wanted a PD on each hip. He figured that he could get a shot off with each one and that was all the time he had.

Must have been a seasoned revolver man as there's no way I could hit a charging bear with 2 shots on target from two guns standing/frezzeing on the ice with blowing winds.

I have to admire the guy,though, for even beaing a bow guide for Polar bears.

 

[Mule Packer]

Mule Packer

Didn't I buy a .45 from you 12 years ago because it was too light when you took a string out? I'm pretty sure about this. it was a Birdshead of some sort.....

Welcome !

Dan
in S.C.

Dan:

Don't think so. I've carried a .45 with the string for close to 30 years. I do have a Ruger old style Vaquero Shopkeeper's Model (Birdshead grips) with a 3½-inch barrel in .45 Colt. I carry it in a shoulder rig that was made by Rudy at Black Hills Leather in Laredo, Texas. But, when push comes to shove, my old Blackhawk usually gets the nod.

 

[BigBill]

I think i would like to try the 41mag for hunting first because it has a tad more penetration than the 44mag. I'm just not into these cannon sized new calibers.

 

[DR505]

I'll carry my 673 Guide Rifle in .350 Remington Magnum (250 grain Nosler @2550 fps), and have a 629 (270-300 grain bullet) or 657 (250-265 grain bullet) on my hip.