Need a bit of advice on the 45 Colt

[Skeet 028]

Wow..Thanks for all the replies. Got a lot of info. I was pretty certain 900-1100 FPS with a 250 gr bullet would be ok. For grizz I would want a good bit of penetration. Understand..I don't want to shoot a grizz. If I do it will be up close and personal. When you pack out an elk or whatever you really can't carry a rifle or my preference a shotgun with slugs. The grizz in the area I hunt are notorious for thinking a gun shot anywhere close is a dinner bell. Shooting a grizz here is worse'n shooting a person. A friend was calling elk for his father(bowhunting) and a grizz jumped him..he got away and the grizz caught him again. Father killed it with a one in a million bowshot and saved his son.. They accused the father of using his son for grizz bait...seriously. I digress but up close and personal means a single action may not be fast 'nuff in a very tense situation..

BTW M657. I agree the 41 mag is a very good and accurate round and I do have a couple..but both are kinda collectible..one a 6 inchpimp...er nickel and the other is a 4 inch 1st year gun. Looking for another 4 incher either blue nickel or stainless that is a shooter.. I have a couple hundred 250 gr WFNGC bullets that shoot really well out of a 4 5/8" Ruger BH. I push 'em to 1350 and could go another 100 ft faster..but that load is enough for me.

 

[serger]

I know when I was in area 94 and saw a grizzly and went into Big Piney and told the Fish and Game folks they said not to say anything about it and to call this guy from Idaho Falls who was doing a study on them. Supposedly the forest service was (is) darting them up by Jackson Hole and hauling them down there. And officially there were no brown bears down that far. This was just outside Snider Basin.

So we went back home to Green River and I got a 629. I still left it in camp the next year because it was too heavy to pack around.

Now I'm in North Dakota and just have to worry about moose getting on the highway.

If you do have to pop one, practice the 3 S's.

 

[fredj338]

BTW M657. I agree the 41 mag is a very good and accurate round and I do have a couple..but both are kinda collectible..one a 6 inchpimp...er nickel and the other is a 4 inch 1st year gun. Looking for another 4 incher either blue nickel or stainless that is a shooter.. I have a couple hundred 250 gr WFNGC bullets that shoot really well out of a 4 5/8" Ruger BH. I push 'em to 1350 and could go another 100 ft faster..but that load is enough for me.

Nothing wrong with a shorter bbl SA. First shot hits will be what is important. If the gun is in your hand, semi, da, sa, first shot will be within 10th of a second if you are practing. If you are holstered, the type of holster will dictate first shot hit time.

 

[Skeet 028]

I know when I was in area 94 and saw a grizzly and went into Big Piney and told the Fish and Game folks they said not to say anything about it and to call this guy from Idaho Falls who was doing a study on them. Supposedly the forest service was (is) darting them up by Jackson Hole and hauling them down there. And officially there were no brown bears down that far. This was just outside Snider Basin.

So we went back home to Green River and I got a 629. I still left it in camp the next year because it was too heavy to pack around.

Now I'm in North Dakota and just have to worry about moose getting on the highway.

If you do have to pop one, practice the 3 S's.

The 3 S rule is a good one..but up here near the Park and Cody area..too many people know what is going on. Here at home it is a different story. But I own the land near me around me coming and going. We do have wolves. I see 'em regularly..even in the yard a few times. They are not afraid of people. one of two grizz was caught a couple weeks ago not too far from here.. I see the grizzlies almost every time I hunt..luckily at longer yardages. The Feds and the state G&F dart problem bears in snf saround the park and transport them to the end of the Southfork Rd S of Cody and turn 'em loose..or take 'em down around Jackson or the Green River area

 

[Skeet 028]

Nothing wrong with a shorter bbl SA. First shot hits will be what is important. If the gun is in your hand, semi, da, sa, first shot will be within 10th of a second if you are practing. If you are holstered, the type of holster will citrate first t hit time.

It is truly hard to believe that something as large as a grizzly can get as close as they do without being seen smelled or heard. Heck I had a cow moose sneak up on me probably trying to figure out what the heck I was.. I mean at about 10 ft. Not much time when an animal is that close. Every grizzly that attacked a person and was subsequently killed attacked before the person got their guns out. At least in the last few years. One fellow that was irrigating his hay field had his face literally ripped off by a grizz. He was unarmed except for a shovel. Not nuff firepower there for certain. He did live but is permanently uglified. Bad word but really true. Not many know a grizzly can outrun a horse over a short distance.. the average 4 wheeler too. I want a DA gun just because. SAs may be reliable..but having been in a gun fight or two..I think a bear attack would be right up there kinda ruining our ability to keep our wits about us. LOL Options may sometimes become VERY limited!

 

[fredj338]

It is truly hard to believe that something as large as a grizzly can get as close as they do without being seen smelled or heard. Heck I had a cow moose sneak up on me probably trying to figure out what the heck I was.. I mean at about 10 ft. Not much time when an animal is that close. Every grizzly that attacked a person and was subsequently killed attacked before the person got their guns out. At least in the last few years. One fellow that was irrigating his hay field had his face literally ripped off by a grizz. He was unarmed except for a shovel. Not nuff firepower there for certain. He did live but is permanently uglified. Bad word but really true. Not many know a grizzly can outrun a horse over a short distance.. the average 4 wheeler too. I want a DA gun just because. SAs may be reliable..but having been in a gun fight or two..I think a bear attack would be right up there kinda ruining our ability to keep our wits about us. LOL Options may sometimes become VERY limited!

I agree, it will happen faster than most of us can think. The only down side of a SA is slow to reload, which is not going to be an issue.
When I have backpacked meat in bear country, I carry a hvy caliber handgun, 44mag or 45colt. I really have never liked my holster choices, & think that is a limiting factor for most. A shoulder holster is the norm for me but looking into a chest rig.

 

[amazingflapjack]

Bear Spray!!!

 

[Skeet 028]

UMMM

Bear Spray!!!

bear spray IS a large caliber handgun or preferably a 12 ga with slugs. Actually sometimes bear spray does work. if you have time to get it out and use it. on a side note..had a friend who hikes in the mountains locally asK if a 9mm would be ok to carry while he and his wife were up there. He thought it may be a good idea to at least have one in his backpack. DUH! If you have time it would be better than throwing rocks.

 

[fredj338]

bear spray IS a large caliber handgun or preferably a 12 ga with slugs. Actually sometimes bear spray does work. if you have time to get it out and use it. on a side note..had a friend who hikes in the mountains locally asK if a 9mm would be ok to carry while he and his wife were up there. He thought it may be a good idea to at least have one in his backpack. DUH! If you have time it would be better than throwing rocks.

SAme applies to a gun. I see bear spray as an early warning device, when the bear is seen & @ some distance & the spray can be put into the air as you retreat slowly. Once the animal comes, it's time for a gun. As you noted, you aren't going to survive the legal event of shooting a bear much beyond arms reach, but bear spray can be used as far as you can hit with it. Both is a good idea in serious bear country.

 

[David R]

I went for a walk this morning. This is the first time I have heard of this.

This is truly my back yard.

I ride a bicycle or walk every day. I carry an LCP or 637 and pepper spray. Do I need my model 25-7 now?

David

 

[arjay]

Probably not.Some of my favorite,close in hiking and kayaking spots have bear and mountain lion warning signs posted at various times and those are the places I never see em [emoji4]

 

[roundgunner]

I ride a bicycle or walk every day. I carry an LCP or 637 and pepper spray. Do I need my model 25-7 now?

David

Probably never need it. If you do need it you will REALLY need it and either be glad you have it or...

 

[serger]

"The 3 S rule is a good one..but up here near the Park and Cody area..too many people know what is going on. Here at home it is a different story. But I own the land near me around me coming and going. We do have wolves. I see 'em regularly..even in the yard a few times. They are not afraid of people. one of two grizz was caught a couple weeks ago not too far from here.. I see the grizzlies almost every time I hunt..luckily at longer yardages. The Feds and the state G&F dart problem bears in snf saround the park and transport them to the end of the Southfork Rd S of Cody and turn 'em loose..or take 'em down around Jackson or the Green River area"

You talk about folks knowing and not telling. For the longest time over by Lyman one of my friends had land. For about 6 months he kept saying he was seeing wolf tracks and scat but no one believed him.

Finally someone sighted some wolves by Park City Utah and it got published in the Salt Lake Tribune. After that the Forrest Svc and both Ut and Wy fish and game had to fess up they had been watching a pack with telemetry tracking collars for about 2 years. Lying B*****ds, they had been up to that point saying nothing was south of La Barge. But then again, we're not important.

I'm sure if BLM could get away with it they would make Sweetwater county wild horse habitat and lock the gates and take Campbell County outta circulation because it is "Greater Sage Grouse" habitat.(Then they could work on the other 21 counties).

 

[Skeet 028]

To be honest if hiking in bear country bear spray my be all that is necessary. It is sold to lots of touristas here in this area..for 50 bucks a can. Scare the touristas first then fleece 'em. Most bear spray is bought by people who will neve even get within a mile of a bear. Now for y'all that live in black bear country..you'll have about no use for bear spray. Black bears are usually never aggressive. But I wil say. If a wild black bear does attack..he means to kill you..and probably eat ya too. When I lived in Alaska we had black bears around almost all the time. One day..one attacked a fellow. Darn near killed him before someone with a 41 mag killed it. Grizzlies in Alaska really do have a fear of man. Brown bears...not so much. The grizzlies in the area near the Park(Yellowstone) have no fear of man.. The problem bears around the park are captured and turned loose in other areas. Usually not too far from people. They surely don't helicopter 'em out to the middle of the mountains. Drive 'em to the end of a road and turn 'em loose. Darn things have lived on roads all their life. They have turned many loose down towards Jackson and farther south. And wolves..I know for a fact that some have been transported to Colorado. So y'all get ready to welcome them down there..There used to be 25000 elk in YNP..now..maybe 5000. And the antis will be screaming if you happen to mow one down. I happen to live in what Wyoming called predator area for wolves..but now thanks to a nutsy judge in Md..I can't even shoot one in my yard. My cows know wolves are not their friends..

 

[SmithNut]

You might want to consider.......

CorBon makes (or at least used to make) this 335 Grain HC load, rated at 1050 fps/820 ftlbs energy. These loads are marked +P, but the factory (on many occasions here and elsewhere) has indicated that these were developed for and will not harm the Model 25-5 revolver.
I was fortunate to buy a handful of boxes and have shot them through my M25-9 with no issues. Recoil is stout, close to 44Mag levels in an N frame, but so far I can say quite safe.
If you do not want to reload, this would be a good round to consider.
CorBon part number is HT45C335HC/20, and it is still shown in their online catalog.

I've purchased HC 335 grain bullets to reload my own, but have not had the time to try to replicate the load, I'm sure there are plenty of options in that area.

 

[Skeet 028]

Wow..looks like that would be more'n enough for my needs. Thanks for the link.

 

[SmithNut]

Just to be sure....

Just to be safe.....

I've looked and can't find the name of the person who worked for Cor Bon who has posted here about the use of the above round in the M25-5... will keep trying to find it, but you might want to call Cor Bon directly to confirm.

I think it was Terry Murbach, might want to reach out to Cor Bon to confirm.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

The hottest load I put in my mountain gun is 9.1 Unique with a 255 rnfp lee. Comes out about 950 and I doubt it is putting extra wear on gun.

A 255gr hard cast SWC, at an honest 950/1000, will definitely do the job.

You should work your way up to it, and test how it works for you, but 9.0gn Unique will put you right there.

I like it when folks say what I'd say; saves me thought processes and typing.

When the time comes to carry my 25-5 into the woods it will be stoked with a commercial round more or less meeting the specifications quoted above, namely, between 200 and 250 grain bullet at between 900 to 1000 fps.

Since I won't care about the brass these will work:

Hornady LEVERevolution Ammo 45 Colt (Long Colt) 225 Grain Flex Tip

These next were designed for bear country but I'm not inclined towards them, I think in a lighter gun like a Mountain Gun you'll truly not like them much:

HSM Bear Ammo 45 Colt (Long Colt) +P 325 Grain Lead Wide Flat Nose Gas

I like these:

Buffalo Bore Ammo 45 Colt (Long Colt) 255 Grain Lead Keith-Type

There are others, obviously.

***GRJ***

 

[wyo-man]

A medium dose of Unique or 2400 with a 255 lead would, (in my opinion, I live in Park County) be OK for grizz. And a can of bear spray to start the encounter, and hope it does not escalate from there to needing to use your S&W.

wyo-man

 

[Skeet 028]

I am not far from you wyo-man. I also live in Park. Well part of the ranch is in Park... and I just got 2 lbs of 2400...and have plenty of Unique.
ISCS Yoda..I have some of those bear loads in 41 mag. They do shoot well