Black Bear hunt in NC.......

[mod34]

So I'm sure that there are scads (yep, I'm sure that "scads" is a word) related to bears, loads for bears, bear meat, etc..... So I'll do my ever luvin' best to make this question compelling enough to get said readers to bite:
I have had a fleeting on again, off again romance with the .41 magnum. I had a wonderful 657 that I bought many years ago that included about 500 rounds of factory ammo. For whatever reason, I sold the SW, but kept all the ammo leaving me at the time with tons of ammo but nothing to shoot it in (I promise this gets around to an NC Black Bear hunt). Anyway, I always sort of keep my eyes peeled for stuff chambered in .41 and so it was a few weeks ago that I stumbled onto a really nice, Davidsons exclusive - 4" .41mag Ruger Redhawk. So without blinking, I bought it. About a week or so ago, I stumbled onto an unadvertised Henry lever action carbine in, yep, you guessed it, chambered in .41 mag - I also bought that without blinking. Which takes us around to my question: I have been really craving a rifle - either fine single-shot rifle (preferably exposed hammer) or a Marlin (or Henry) all weather in 45-70. I'm sure I'll scratch this itch eventually, but do I necessarily need more than the .41 Henry carbine to take a nice NC Black Bear (appropriate load not withstanding)? My collection just isn't flush with lever action rifles though I'm happy to change that!

 

[ColbyBruce]

No worries, black bears don't get too big around northeast GA/western NC.

 

[Mule Packer]

Do I necessarily need more than the .41 Henry carbine to take a nice NC Black Bear?

Heavens no!! I carried a .45 Colt revolver loaded with 240-grain semi-jacketed hollow points traveling at around 1200 fps for almost 30 years in heavily populated black bear country while leading a pack string into wilderness areas and never...let me repeat...never felt under gunned.

Occasionally, I'd even pack a 16-inch barrel lever-action also in .45 Colt.

A lever-action loaded with .41 magnum cartridges will definitely get the job done. Go for it.

 

[bearman49709]

Heavens no!! I carried a .45 Colt revolver loaded with 240-grain semi-jacketed hollow points traveling at around 1200 fps for almost 30 years in heavily populated black bear country while leading a pack string into wilderness areas and never...let me repeat...never felt under gunned.

Occasionally, I'd even pack a 16-inch barrel lever-action also in .45 Colt.

A lever-action loaded with .41 magnum cartridges will definitely get the job done. Go for it.

You must have missed the last line where he said his collection isn't flush with lever actions but he'd be happy to change that.

Why do you have two .45 Colt's you only need one!

 

[Mule Packer]

Deleted. (duplicate post)

 

[Mule Packer]

You must have missed the last line where he said his collection isn't flush with lever actions but he'd be happy to change that.

Why do you have two .45 Colt's you only need one!

Nope. I didn't miss the last line at all. Just thought I'd show him one of my lever actions that has been perfectly adequate for bear.

Two .45 Colts? Trust me. I have even more than two. The .45 Colt cartridge, in my opinion, is one of the best all around cartridges for doing what I do in the area in which I live. Why do I carry a handgun and a rifle in .45 Colt? Hmmm. Good question. Sentimental reasons, I guess. Besides, you can't have too much of a good thing. Right?

 

[Nevada Ed]

Oh no..............

BoBo is going to have Yogi taken away and hung on the wall or made into a floor rug ? !

The shame of it all.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

So I'm sure that there are scads (yep, I'm sure that "scads" is a word) related to bears, loads for bears, bear meat, etc..... So I'll do my ever luvin' best to make this question compelling enough to get said readers to bite:
I have had a fleeting on again, off again romance with the .41 magnum. I had a wonderful 657 that I bought many years ago that included about 500 rounds of factory ammo. For whatever reason, I sold the SW, but kept all the ammo leaving me at the time with tons of ammo but nothing to shoot it in (I promise this gets around to an NC Black Bear hunt). Anyway, I always sort of keep my eyes peeled for stuff chambered in .41 and so it was a few weeks ago that I stumbled onto a really nice, Davidsons exclusive - 4" .41mag Ruger Redhawk. So without blinking, I bought it. About a week or so ago, I stumbled onto an unadvertised Henry lever action carbine in, yep, you guessed it, chambered in .41 mag - I also bought that without blinking. Which takes us around to my question: I have been really craving a rifle - either fine single-shot rifle (preferably exposed hammer) or a Marlin (or Henry) all weather in 45-70. I'm sure I'll scratch this itch eventually, but do I necessarily need more than the .41 Henry carbine to take a nice NC Black Bear (appropriate load not withstanding)? My collection just isn't flush with lever action rifles though I'm happy to change that!

Will a .41 mag work? Has a cat got a climbing gear?? Of course it will work.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[bearman49709]

Nope. I didn't miss the last line at all. Just thought I'd show him one of my lever actions that has been perfectly adequate for bear.

Two .45 Colts? Trust me. I have even more than two. The .45 Colt cartridge, in my opinion, is one of the best all around cartridges for doing what I do in the area in which I live. Why do I carry a handgun and a rifle in .45 Colt? Hmmm. Good question. Sentimental reasons, I guess. Besides, you can't have too much of a good thing. Right?

Your still missing the point, he's asking for someone to tell him he NEEDS another gun.
If you came on here and said I have fifty .45 Colt's but not this one do I need it, you're not asking if you NEED it you're asking for someone to tell you yes you need it.

 

[KalamazooKid]

You don't ever come on this forum and ask if you "need another gun" unless you're fully able to buy one.

 

[mod34]

Your still missing the point, he's asking for someone to tell him he NEEDS another gun.
If you came on here and said I have fifty .45 Colt's but not this one do I need it, you're not asking if you NEED it you're asking for someone to tell you yes you need it.

I was actually not asking that at all. Reason for my post was two-fold:
1) Stimulate some healthy discussion.
2) Genuinely ask the question: Is the .41mag plenty for NC Black Bear?

-The points about my itch for a .45-70 were really just for colorful back ground. Aka - Filler. Aka reference #1 above

 

[Chukar60]

Opinions vary.
In my little pea brain there ain't a handgun big enough for bears.
I live in a bear state and have been around plenty of them. Hunted black bears over bait for several years and have had them within 15 yards a couple of times.
At no time did I think boy a 44 mag would sure be handy right now.
The one time we shot a bear at close range (15 yards) I was thinking dang I am glad we brought that 12 gauge with those big ol slugs in it instead of my 44 mag.
Shoot one and have to track it into the brush and then tell me all about how glad you are to be carrying a handgun.

 

[carpriver]

From what I know about the 41 mag it would be a good bear rifle. A 45-70 would be a good bear gun as would a 45 colt carbine or a 44spl.

I have a fondness for level actions all my current level gun are Henry 22lr, 38/357, 44spl/44mag and a 45colt. I have wheel guns in the same caliber.

I all ways say shot what you can afford, and shot what you brung.

 

[mod34]

Having just acquired my 4th pre-Remington Marlin lever action .45-70 each a different variation, I think I'm good! How's that for, "stimulating some healthy conversation"? Now, lets return to more important stuff like, "On-line dating".

 

[bearman49709]

I was actually not asking that at all. Reason for my post was two-fold:
1) Stimulate some healthy discussion.
2) Genuinely ask the question: Is the .41mag plenty for NC Black Bear?

-The points about my itch for a .45-70 were really just for colorful back ground. Aka - Filler. Aka reference #1 above

Well then I apologize to you and Mule Packer.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

You don't ever come on this forum and ask if you "need another gun" unless you're fully able to buy one.
__________________
Pass it on.

Consider it done.

 

[longhair]

Record black bear in NC is over 700 lbs. Eastern NC has more black bear than the mts.

 

[leswad]

No worries, black bears don't get too big around northeast GA/western NC.

Spent 16 hours yesterday getting to our vacation house in western N.C., and this is the first thread I read... Great!

 

[Muley Gil]

I live in the Blue Ridge mountains of Southwest Virginia and have seen a number of black bears. The closest one was about 3/4 of a mile from the house.

The biggest black bear killed in NC was 880 pounds and was killed in November 1998. I believe that was in the eastern part of North Carolina.

 

[Kurusu]

Your still missing the point, he's asking for someone to tell him he NEEDS another gun.
If you came on here and said I have fifty .45 Colt's but not this one do I need it, you're not asking if you NEED it you're asking for someone to tell you yes you need it.

Ok. I can do that.

@ Mod34.

You need another lever action. Make it a .45-70.
My preference go towards the Winchester 1886.

There. It's done.

Edit. The .41 Magnum might be enough(I don't really know, there are no bears in my Country since the early 1700s). But the .45-70 is enough for sure. And purty.