Short gun ...big bear?

Redfrog

Redfrog

Moderator
Alright all you bad bear hunters, what would you recommend for a sidearm as a backup. I'm thinking about a revolver, as I'm not interested in gunsmithing, when I really should be shooting.
I have a ruger single six, but even with the 22 mag clylinder, it may be a tad light.
I know a 12 ga. is good and there are lots of carbine rifles that would work, but I'm looking at a wheel gun.
So what do you use and why?
 
I havent bear hunted,but I know alot of guys that do and some of them like the taurus raging bull in 454 casaul.I think thats how you spell it,and some like the ruger super redhawk in 44mag.Both I've shot and there are nice hand cannons.
 
I am not a bear hunter but from what I have read about the matter, it sounds like a man rarely survives a grizzly bear attack with the help of a .44 magnum. Loading your own ammo, and using a good heavy bullet may change the picture a little bit though.
 
Never hunted Griz. Have taken a few Blacks, one huge one. Have seen bears shot and shot them with handguns at close range. Brother Tom killed a small bear with a 9mm glock at about 4 inches. was wounded. Hit a medium sow in the face twice at about 2 feet with a 357.also wounded. cut 240 (Winchester Soft points) grain 44 mag. out of two bears necks, penetrated about 6 inches.
I carry a 5 inch Redhawk 44 with Garret 325 grain solid "Bear Loads". He is located in Chehalis, WA.I had a Smith Mountaingun very nice and light, but with these loads too light for me.
Hopeo my meager experience helps.
Carl
 
Bofire,
Good information there pardoner, and is directly in line with my own thoughts. Those 325 grain "Garret" loads should shoot clean through a Volkswagon. I ain't sure that MY wrists could handle the recoil of those loads,but if my life depended on it I sure as heck would give them a try. My wrist gets a bit sore even after a dozen or so shots from my model 629 Smith with full house 240 grain loads. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Thanks for the replies. I have shot tons of bears, but not with a hand gun.I have never found them very hard to kill.I shoot through the front shoulders on a broadside and very seldom have had to shoot again. They are usually dead by the time I walk the 100 or 200 yds to get to them. In any case 99% go down and don't get up so if I need a second shot, at least the bear is anchored.Of course I've tracked some that other guys or clients have shot.I shoot a 7mm Rem mag with 160 Noslers and I can't ever remember shooting a bear that went more than 100 yds.

The thoughts on the handgun are just thoughts. When I'm calling bears there is always the potential for things to get real "Western " in a hurry, especially bow hunting, because you got to balance the "keep calling, he's nearly in range thing with the "holy crap, he really thinks I'm lunch" thing. That's probably why I don't bait. Calling is sooo much more..."Hands on" :eek: /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Besides I've been married a couple of times so I lost my fear and common sense a long time ago. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
In Canada it's extremely difficult to get a carry permit for a handgun. Not impossible but nearly. I'm working on it. Keep the info coming guys.
Carl :What kind of ballistics or actually field info do you have on the "Bear Loads" The penetration info is great, that's the kind of stuff I was looking for.
 
No problem Red,
They advertize 1350 fps./325 grain solid, I don't know barrel length. Unfortunately and fortunately LOL I have not shot a bear with one yet.
With the smaller calibers at close range square on head shots seems to work. Keep in mind my VAST experience is 2.
I think the neck or shoulder is a waste of time with pistols, or at least last choice. Behind the shoulder or quartering away I think would work, I would think of a bow hunting type shot. That is assuming you have a choice in shot placement, at close range wounded all I have seen look right at you.
But I am sure you have shot many more than I.
Anyway Red that is all I know. I normally hunt with a 300 win mag, 180 grain bullets for everything.
Carl
 
Well, I still figure ya ought to try a knife Redfrog... Just get ya some duct tape, a good size knife and tape it to your hand and jump on his back and go to whooping him... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

I still want to try this.... I reckon I could whoop a black bear fairly easy, with a good pig sticker... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Actually a knife would be semi quick compared to what I have in mind if I can't get a carry permit.

I thought I would make a recording of "Yes Dear" nagging me. Then when the bear attacked, I'd play it and he would either take pity on me or take off runnin' or kill his ownself. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
FWIW - A 44 mag will do fine as a backup and is carried here by many of the pros (guides and bush whackers). They have killed many a griz in self defense with it. I personally tote a 45/70 5 shot revolver with 405 gr bullets unless I decide to carry one of my other revolvers. The 454 may be better but I don't like shooting it. The trouble with pistols and revolvers is that they are slow getting into action versus a rifle or shot gun. The plus is that they are usually with you on your person. When calling and the bears might still be out I definitely have extra firepower with me usually sitting in my lap.

Keep that knife handy as it my be all you have. No matter what super dupper magnum, rum, 400+ calibar, etc that you carry them grizz even with perfect shot placement can stay alive long enough to do you harm. Yeah they'll be dead alright but you'd be real hurt too! It is real scary to see how fast they can move when hit even with perfect shots.

Best defense story is when an acquantance of mine's friend killed an attacking grizz with a double bit. All he had was the axe. Split the bears head open on the first charge. He picked himself up and the axe which had brains on its blade and whacked the bear again on the second charge which ended the disagreement.
 
RedFrog, I used to call bears quite a bit to the bow and have taken a couple that way. That said after a few Western moments I usually only take the bow if I have a back-up shooter. A couple of things about pistols one if you don't have it with you it doesn't do you any good. And they are slow to get into action from a holster. I have gotten older and fatter and the mountains I hunt keep getting steeper. I find my old standby 44 mag redhawk usually rides better in the truck than on my fat but. So I have invested in a couple of titanium revolvers. I have a taurus 357 4" barrel that I never leave home without. and I have a second that is a 45 long colt. I don't know how bear peper spray works on grizzlies but it is extremely effective on black bears. I have called in a few that wern't big enough in the last few years one of them wouldn't leave after I stood up so I hit him with the pepper spray this worked well. Kind of like catch and release bear hunting.
Anyway if you do much walking I would suggest getting a lite weight gun so it will be with you instead of at the truck if you need it.

Scott
 
I have gotten older and fatter and the mountains I hunt keep getting steeper.

Looks like you've been reading my mail. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

My brain keeps writing checks my body can't cash. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Thanks for the advice. My only saving grace, is that I'm really not allergic to packing heavy guns. The other side of that is I don't usually have to travel more than 1/2 mile from the truck.

I pack bear spray as well, but haven't used it.
A buddy let a minuscule spray go in my carport once. It works. :eek:

What do you use for loads in the 357 and 44?
 
Here's the iron I carry when playing in bear country. It's a .445 super mag in Dan Wesson's Alaskan Guide Special model.
SSCN0106.jpg
 
Here is something I found on the internet.
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"In keeping with its company philosophy that penetration's the ideal, Garrett offers two hard-cast thumpers for the 44 Mag. The first is a 310-grain SuperHardCast Hammerhead with a .320-inch meplat, good for all 44 Magnum revolvers and TC Contenders. Advertised muzzle velocity from a 7 ½ inch barrel is 1325-fps, which is remarkably close to the 1321-fps average we got from our 7 ½ inch Redhawk. Garrett's 330-grain is for Ruger Redhawks and Super Redhawks. It's a beast, faster and, of course, heavier than the 310-grainer. The company claims a muzzle velocity of 1385-fps (and an awesome 1400 ft/lbs). Out of our Redhawk it averaged 1392-fps. Those 330s were very accurate from our particular gun, although it's tough to shoot photogenic groups with a load of this magnitude (we can honestly report that the Garrett 330s are the heaviest recoiling 44 Mags we've ever experienced). Both the 310s and the 330s were remarkably consistent, with a standard deviation of 16-fps and 12-fps, respectively. Both loads cost $65 per box of 50. Steep, yes. But if you want to play around in the high end of the 44 Mag field, these things will deliver. Texas big-bore revolver authority Ashley Emerson tells us the 330s are terrific medicine for monster hogs. We believe him."
- GUNS & AMMO, October 2002
 
RedFrog,
I shoot 240 grain JHP in the 44 mag and 110 grain JHP in the 357. I have shot a few bears with the 44 over the years. Eather out of a tree or not knowing I was there, broadside shots. Preformed great. The only bear I have ever had to shoot I shot with the 357. We had a bear bayed up in a bunch of cliffs and rocks and I was working my way up a narrow shoot to get to the dogs. The bear decided to leave down the shoot I was headed up. He came around a curve about 25 yards from me and I had no where to go. I shot him three times and he skidded past me about 5 yards dead. I hit him the first shoot center mass in the chest. The second shot right under the chin and the third shoot in the top of the head. Any of the shoots would have killed him eventually, but the head shoot is the one that put him down quick. The guy I was hunting with was bragging to everyone about how good a shot I was in a pinch. I never told him I was just shooting at the center of the big black blur headed my direction. :eek: :eek:

Scott
 
Thanks for the info guys. That Garret ammo sure sounds impressive.

Rooster: that's one nice looking firearm. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif How much do you shoot it and are you happy with it?
Have you shot bears or other game with it?
 
It'll work fine, I just need someone to keep reloading it for me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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