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44 mag black bear |
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ckk1106
Optics Master Joined: December/14/2007 Location: Arizona Status: Offline Points: 1439 |
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Posted: June/02/2011 at 20:40 |
Just curious as to what would be a good bullet for short barreled revolver on black bear. Heavy soft point or heavy hard cast? Also would this bullet choice change if bow hunting black bear and using the pistol in case of emergency.
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billyburl2
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/08/2009 Location: Cottonwood, AZ Status: Offline Points: 4015 |
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My decision is biased on where you are hunting... If in AZ, any well constructed bullet in the 200+gr. range, in that chambering will do. If you are headed back to Alaska, I will differ to someone with more knowledge.
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If it is tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
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anomad
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/23/2011 Location: Salt Lake City Status: Offline Points: 148 |
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I have some experience loading .44 magnum, having lived in Alaska for a number of years. For large animal protection you want a jacketed soft point bullet and a heavy dose of slow burning powder. Short or long barrel, that will give you the highest velocity. Unfortunately, it will also give a deafening muzzle blast. A heavy cast bullet will be effective too, but probably have leading issues at true magnum velocities. According to the Speer manual the JSP is designed for penetration and controlled expansion at maximum velocities, without the nag of barrel leading.
Personally, I think magnum caliber handguns should have a 6 inch barrel, minimum. But, hypocritically, I do have a 4 inch that is a little more handy to carry on the belt, especially while seated. For the lower 48 I am perfectly happy with a 10mm Glock. I use Speer 240 grain JSP bullets over a heavy charge of H110 worked up for my guns. I'd also like to give their DeepCurl bullets a try when my stockpile runs out. |
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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I load both the 240 and 300 gr Sierra bullets for my .44. Mine is 7 1/2" and the .300 soft point out penetrates the lighter hollow point. I haven't used them on bear yet. But my walk around stump shooting and deer have given the nod to the 300 gr.
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Doug
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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Quite frankly any of the hollowpoints or soft points over a heavy charge of powder should be fine. Heavy bullets would be preferable either 300 gr or 240 gr. If you dont load look at the ones made by Bullalo Bore. Remember though that any handgun bullet is no match for a heavy rifle caliber energy wise or for a 12 ga slug.
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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ckk1106
Optics Master Joined: December/14/2007 Location: Arizona Status: Offline Points: 1439 |
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I've got both 240 grain Speer Deep Curl soft points and 300 grain Cast Performance WFNGC bullets loaded that shoot well with lots of Win 296. I've heard good things about the hard cast bullets penetrating well, but maybe I wouldn't have a problem with the soft points penetrating well and also expanding. Also, if it were brown bear instead of black bear would the choice be different, or would the same bullet apply?
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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If Dale does not see this, shoot him a PM Coby. I dare bet he has hunted bear with a pistol before.
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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anomad
Optics Apprentice Joined: May/23/2011 Location: Salt Lake City Status: Offline Points: 148 |
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That 240 grain deep curl would suit me just fine.
I was always more paranoid about a moose trampling my tent than a bear attack when I camped in Alaska. When I would go bird hunting I would keep a few slugs in my pocket in case of trouble. |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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I would probably stay with the jacketed bullet loaded hot as you can generally load them much hotter than a lead bullet unless it has a gas check copper base and I dont fool with that. The bottom line is that if you are really concerned about bears keep your rifle handy nothing smaller than 30-06 and preferably a 338 Win Mag or 375 H&H. Just go down the energy column on pistol cartridges and on rifle cartridges and you will have your answer take a rifle.
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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magshooter1
Optics Professional Joined: August/27/2008 Location: El Dorado, AR Status: Offline Points: 827 |
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270g Speer Gold Dot would be a good choice. I would think that any of the 300g would be a good choice also.
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Some people are educated BEYOND their intelligence.
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jjrgr21
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/10/2011 Status: Offline Points: 368 |
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270gr buffalo bore, dropped a 430# hog, like a bag of crap. those are loaded with speer. i'd say it would do the job on a BB
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martin3175
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: January/19/2005 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 3773 |
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I am also a fan of the 270 gr buffalo Bore load .. It hits about as hard as you can crank up a 44mag
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ckk1106
Optics Master Joined: December/14/2007 Location: Arizona Status: Offline Points: 1439 |
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What bullet is used in that buffalo bore load? Someone mentioned Speer. If that's the case I imagine it would be the deep curl. I don't know if that is different than the gold dot bullet or not. |
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Midwest_Hunter
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/07/2011 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 102 |
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Jacketed hollow points
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jjrgr21
Optics Journeyman Joined: January/10/2011 Status: Offline Points: 368 |
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its a JSP in the 270 BB
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