Best 44 mag load.

[bornhunter]

Anyone know what is the best factory 44 mag load for bear?

[WapitiTalk1]

The HSM 305 GR Bear Round is pretty damn potent but not a “plinking” round. 

https://hsmammunition.com/bear-load/

[bearpaw]

I've seen bear killed with 180 and 240 grain bullets. It seems like the 240's get a fair bit more penetration so that might be better, but the 240's also have a lot more recoil if that matters? I've got Remington, Federal, Winchester, Norma, and some other cheapies I think are called American Eagle, I think they will all kill at close range if you do your part. I've used Speer soft point 240's loaded with sabots in my .50 muzzleloader with good success too.

Some guys I know are packing smaller semi-auto pistols (I think .40's) with some new fangled bullets and those loads will go through a bear at close range, kind of amazing. I'll try to remember to ask what that ammo is called, that type of bullet loaded in a more powerful .44 would probably be very deadly.

[Encore 280]

Buffalo Bore makes a hard cast 325gr load for the 45LC that's a bone crusher bear load. Not sure if they make a load for the 44 mag or not but I would imagine they do. The recoil will set ya back on your heels making recovery time a bit slower.

[bornhunter]

I'm guessing but will most of these be ball, flatnose or wadcutter types? Are hollow points ok for bear? And I ask cause I have a bunch of those but not sure if good for bear. Also, I am asking not to hunt with but for defense. I archery hunt and carry a 44 while hunting.

[Encore 280]

Here's what the label says; Heavy 45 Colt +P Outdoorsman, 325gr, hard cast, LBT-LFN, 1325fps, ME 1267 ft lbs.
They come 20 to a box and run around $35 or more a box.
They have a website www.buffalobore.com

[jrebel]

I would think any 200+ grain hard cast with a good powder load behind it would do the job.  I load my 454 casull with 325 gr. beartooth bullets for the the bear woods.  Have yet to shoot one with it, but I am positive it will bow to stearn one if needed. 

[huntnnw]

I’m shooting HSM bear loads 305gr hard cast. Shot 2 bears with them

[bearpaw]

For self defense purposes I think most .44 loads will repel bear. 

[boneaddict]

90 percent of people will miss anyway, so just make sure it’s very loud. 

[bornhunter]

Boneaddict you are right on. Will miss anyway. Never used to carry while hunting but in the last two years had run in with a bear and a cougar. Had a stare down with a big blackie and had I had a sidearm thats exactly what I would have done, made a lot of noise but not tried to hit it unless it charged. Then finding a fresh cougar elk kill and then spotting the cat 50 feet above me watching me look over his breakfast, I now carry while hunting. Thanks everyone for the bullet info. Now to go shopping.   

[Wanttohuntmore]

I've spoke with a guy that hound hunted bears, killed hundreds working for the timber companies,  and he said stay away from the hard cast and go with jacketed.  Said the hc works but they'd often run a bit after the shot or mess up the dogs.   Any first hand experience with using both? 

[jasnt]

I like the 260gr gold dot deep curls.

[boneaddict]

Boneaddict you are right on. Will miss anyway. Never used to carry while hunting but in the last two years had run in with a bear and a cougar. Had a stare down with a big blackie and had I had a sidearm thats exactly what I would have done, made a lot of noise but not tried to hit it unless it charged. Then finding a fresh cougar elk kill and then spotting the cat 50 feet above me watching me look over his breakfast, I now carry while hunting. Thanks everyone for the bullet info. Now to go shopping.

Certainly makes you feel better than swinging a big fir limb.   Goodluck

[bearpaw]

I've spoke with a guy that hound hunted bears, killed hundreds working for the timber companies,  and he said stay away from the hard cast and go with jacketed.  Said the hc works but they'd often run a bit after the shot or mess up the dogs.   Any first hand experience with using both?

I like jacketed expanding bullets best, but a hunter from Indiana killed a half dozen or so bear with me through the years, he made his own hard cast bullets with some alloy added to the lead, I think it was tin. He was pretty deadly, but I would agree that softer bullets open faster and cause more damage, but the harder bullets will more often go all the way through and that can be deadly too, so there are two different ways of looking at it and both types of bullets are deadly if you put them where they need to go! 

[boneaddict]

I've spoke with a guy that hound hunted bears, killed hundreds working for the timber companies,  and he said stay away from the hard cast and go with jacketed.  Said the hc works but they'd often run a bit after the shot or mess up the dogs.   Any first hand experience with using both?

I like jacketed expanding bullets best, but a hunter from Indiana killed a half dozen or so bear with me through the years, he made his own hard cast bullets with some alloy added to the lead, I think it was tin. He was pretty deadly, but I would agree that softer bullets open faster and cause more damage, but the harder bullets will more often go all the way through and that can be deadly too, so there are two different ways of looking at it and both types of bullets are deadly if you put them where they need to go! 

Tin and antimony mixed in.  Tin makes the bullet harder versus pure lead.   Just like hollow versus jacketed you get to play to make it to characteristics you desire.  Penetration versus expansion.     When shooting a six shooter, I'll alternate them (similiar ballistics)  Maybe weird and ultimately may not matter much on the other end.

[Dan-o]

In my own experience, I have shot several handfuls of elk with hard cast lead bullets (Harverter 400 grains) out of my muzzleloaders.

Those hard cast bullets leave the most devastating wound channels I've ever seen.   Truly amazing.   45 caliber hole, but HUGE wound channel.

That's enough to make me carry my 10MM with hard casts when in big bear country.

(And I think Bone is right..........   I'd probably miss)

[bearpaw]

I've spoke with a guy that hound hunted bears, killed hundreds working for the timber companies,  and he said stay away from the hard cast and go with jacketed.  Said the hc works but they'd often run a bit after the shot or mess up the dogs.   Any first hand experience with using both?

I like jacketed expanding bullets best, but a hunter from Indiana killed a half dozen or so bear with me through the years, he made his own hard cast bullets with some alloy added to the lead, I think it was tin. He was pretty deadly, but I would agree that softer bullets open faster and cause more damage, but the harder bullets will more often go all the way through and that can be deadly too, so there are two different ways of looking at it and both types of bullets are deadly if you put them where they need to go! 

Tin and antimony mixed in.  Tin makes the bullet harder versus pure lead.   Just like hollow versus jacketed you get to play to make it to characteristics you desire.  Penetration versus expansion.     When shooting a six shooter, I'll alternate them (similiar ballistics)  Maybe weird and ultimately may not matter much on the other end.

yes that was what he called the mix   

[CAMPMEAT]

Double Tap....Buffalo Bore hardcast.

[jasnt]

Adding 2% tin to wheel weight lead makes some very good cast bullets. They expand well and retain a lot of weight

[Ingwe]

HSM 305 grain bear load

[Windwalker]

I've spoke with a guy that hound hunted bears, killed hundreds working for the timber companies,  and he said stay away from the hard cast and go with jacketed.  Said the hc works but they'd often run a bit after the shot or mess up the dogs.   Any first hand experience with using both?

I like jacketed expanding bullets best, but a hunter from Indiana killed a half dozen or so bear with me through the years, he made his own hard cast bullets with some alloy added to the lead, I think it was tin. He was pretty deadly, but I would agree that softer bullets open faster and cause more damage, but the harder bullets will more often go all the way through and that can be deadly too, so there are two different ways of looking at it and both types of bullets are deadly if you put them where they need to go! 

 "jacketed expanding bullets best" 

That said- I'd caution to stay clear of hollow points in the rare event things go sideways and your best option is a quick head shot.

The story is so redneck I don't wana retell it but, suffice it to say there is a higher probability of even a 44 mag hollow point to botch a head shot and pancake than a solid and only knock it out.
Yea it has to be the perfect 'wrong' angle and all that BUT I have a buddy that will absolutely, positively never use hollow points on bear.

Hypothetically speaking.. if you were to traipse down the steep hill on slick pine needles...as the hounds are having a wild time worrying this bear you just give a 3rd eye to.

When it suddenly comes to, stands up and recognizes the thing that caused it grief and a raging headache, you frigging slip and slide straight down the hill between its legs and the only thing keeping it from ripping your face off are the hounds slamming into it. (God Bless those hounds)

It may led to a few disparaging thoughts on your choice of ammunition. 

Just say'n.

Do as you wish & may your aim be true each and every time. My choice is not to use hollow points. 

Ahh, as a side note. Your choice of bullets are imminently less important than to verify you actually have ammunition in your gun before crawling on your hands and knees through the brush to get into the fray. Be it hollow points, solids or those high B.C. dynamos of modern computer profiles than to arrive just in time to hear a loud "click".
 Yup, another good guy I knew had the occasional lapse. I am not judging BTW.

He was reflecting how thankful he was another kind sole came along and gave him a newer gun. With ammunition.
His was the worse for wear, having used it jousting with a bear, it unceremoniously had chewed off the front sight and chomped the stock into splinters.

I am told it is an anomaly to the wonders of nature how loud that 'click' is, in contrast to the pandemonium of hounds baying when a bear swirls at you when on hands and knees in thick under brush & turns out your only defense is feeding it your 'no bang' stick to keep it busy.

Use what ever ammunition floats your boat. Bears aren't that difficult..usually.
And if they are, once the rodeo is over you'll have a great story to tell.     

[bornhunter]

Exactly why I asked the question. I really appreciate all the input from those who obviously have more knowledge than I.

[bearpaw]

I've spoke with a guy that hound hunted bears, killed hundreds working for the timber companies,  and he said stay away from the hard cast and go with jacketed.  Said the hc works but they'd often run a bit after the shot or mess up the dogs.   Any first hand experience with using both?

I like jacketed expanding bullets best, but a hunter from Indiana killed a half dozen or so bear with me through the years, he made his own hard cast bullets with some alloy added to the lead, I think it was tin. He was pretty deadly, but I would agree that softer bullets open faster and cause more damage, but the harder bullets will more often go all the way through and that can be deadly too, so there are two different ways of looking at it and both types of bullets are deadly if you put them where they need to go! 

 "jacketed expanding bullets best" 

That said- I'd caution to stay clear of hollow points in the rare event things go sideways and your best option is a quick head shot.

The story is so redneck I don't wana retell it but, suffice it to say there is a higher probability of even a 44 mag hollow point to botch a head shot and pancake than a solid and only knock it out.
Yea it has to be the perfect 'wrong' angle and all that BUT I have a buddy that will absolutely, positively never use hollow points on bear.

Hypothetically speaking.. if you were to traipse down the steep hill on slick pine needles...as the hounds are having a wild time worrying this bear you just give a 3rd eye to.

When it suddenly comes to, stands up and recognizes the thing that caused it grief and a raging headache, you frigging slip and slide straight down the hill between its legs and the only thing keeping it from ripping your face off are the hounds slamming into it. (God Bless those hounds)

It may led to a few disparaging thoughts on your choice of ammunition. 

Just say'n.

Do as you wish & may your aim be true each and every time. My choice is not to use hollow points. 

Ahh, as a side note. Your choice of bullets are imminently less important than to verify you actually have ammunition in your gun before crawling on your hands and knees through the brush to get into the fray. Be it hollow points, solids or those high B.C. dynamos of modern computer profiles than to arrive just in time to hear a loud "click".
 Yup, another good guy I knew had the occasional lapse. I am not judging BTW.

He was reflecting how thankful he was another kind sole came along and gave him a newer gun. With ammunition.
His was the worse for wear, having used it jousting with a bear, it unceremoniously had chewed off the front sight and chomped the stock into splinters.

I am told it is an anomaly to the wonders of nature how loud that 'click' is, in contrast to the pandemonium of hounds baying when a bear swirls at you when on hands and knees in thick under brush & turns out your only defense is feeding it your 'no bang' stick to keep it busy.

Use what ever ammunition floats your boat. Bears aren't that difficult..usually.
And if they are, once the rodeo is over you'll have a great story to tell.     

yes, the dreaded "click" 

[yorketransport]

Hardcast lead is great for penetration and breaking bones, but the right expanding bullet can do an awful lot of damage and still penetrate very well. Something like a 300gr XTP or 280gr Swift A-Frame will expand well and give excellent penetration. I'm a big fan of the Barnes XPB as well; they expand extremely well and penetrate as deep as any other HP bullet I've played with.

I think for defensive uses I'd look at one of the factory loads with either the 225gr Barnes XPB, 300gr XTP or the 280 A-Frame. Those would all give good penetration and expand well if you had to use them a light skinned animal like a cougar.

[jasnt]

I would agree the xtp’s are great. Some where I got pics of some recovered 147gr xtp’s from my 9mm.  They are beautiful https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=225316.0;attach=478248;image

[shallowforks]

I also use the buffalo bore hardcasts. Awesome factory ammo, and who cares about causing tissue damage, you want something that can break thru a grizzlies skull. 

[spin05]

Buffalo Bore atleast for defense of bear

[Machias]

I've spoke with a guy that hound hunted bears, killed hundreds working for the timber companies,  and he said stay away from the hard cast and go with jacketed.  Said the hc works but they'd often run a bit after the shot or mess up the dogs.   Any first hand experience with using both?

I like jacketed expanding bullets best, but a hunter from Indiana killed a half dozen or so bear with me through the years, he made his own hard cast bullets with some alloy added to the lead, I think it was tin. He was pretty deadly, but I would agree that softer bullets open faster and cause more damage, but the harder bullets will more often go all the way through and that can be deadly too, so there are two different ways of looking at it and both types of bullets are deadly if you put them where they need to go! 

 "jacketed expanding bullets best" 

That said- I'd caution to stay clear of hollow points in the rare event things go sideways and your best option is a quick head shot.

The story is so redneck I don't wana retell it but, suffice it to say there is a higher probability of even a 44 mag hollow point to botch a head shot and pancake than a solid and only knock it out.
Yea it has to be the perfect 'wrong' angle and all that BUT I have a buddy that will absolutely, positively never use hollow points on bear.

Hypothetically speaking.. if you were to traipse down the steep hill on slick pine needles...as the hounds are having a wild time worrying this bear you just give a 3rd eye to.

When it suddenly comes to, stands up and recognizes the thing that caused it grief and a raging headache, you frigging slip and slide straight down the hill between its legs and the only thing keeping it from ripping your face off are the hounds slamming into it. (God Bless those hounds)

It may led to a few disparaging thoughts on your choice of ammunition. 

Just say'n.

Do as you wish & may your aim be true each and every time. My choice is not to use hollow points. 

Ahh, as a side note. Your choice of bullets are imminently less important than to verify you actually have ammunition in your gun before crawling on your hands and knees through the brush to get into the fray. Be it hollow points, solids or those high B.C. dynamos of modern computer profiles than to arrive just in time to hear a loud "click".
 Yup, another good guy I knew had the occasional lapse. I am not judging BTW.

He was reflecting how thankful he was another kind sole came along and gave him a newer gun. With ammunition.
His was the worse for wear, having used it jousting with a bear, it unceremoniously had chewed off the front sight and chomped the stock into splinters.

I am told it is an anomaly to the wonders of nature how loud that 'click' is, in contrast to the pandemonium of hounds baying when a bear swirls at you when on hands and knees in thick under brush & turns out your only defense is feeding it your 'no bang' stick to keep it busy.

Use what ever ammunition floats your boat. Bears aren't that difficult..usually.
And if they are, once the rodeo is over you'll have a great story to tell.     

Awesome stuff!!!!!!

[2MANY]

I send my money to Tim in Salmon Idaho.

[shortymorty]

10mm is my vote.180gr hp.

[spin05]

I did alot of research before going to Alaska last year. Atleast for a grizzly ,a hollow point is not what you want. They say it wont go thru there thick skin and just piss em off.   A .44 mag buffolo bore bear load they say can end for end a grizzly if shot in the chest. I took my .357 mag with buffolo bore loads in 180grain  Figured if a .44 can end for end. My .357 should make the vitals maybe more.   For that 10mm you can get a 220 grain from them that will do nicely.

[W_Ellison2011]

I'm going to be running buffalo bore 44 mag +p+ 340 gr out of a ruger redhawk 5.5". If a bear soaks up the energy from the 7mm mag, 300 win mag, or my buddies 510 nitro mag and gets in the brush I'm going in with something potent!

 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1000693136/buffalo-bore-ammunition-44-remington-magnum-p-340-grain-lead-flat-nose-gas-check-box-of-20

[bornhunter]

Guessing those dudes must buck a little bit?

[W_Ellison2011]

Guessing those dudes must buck a little bit?

Only a bit lol. I figure when and if it comes to that... adrenaline will keep them from bucking too much. Also, the wife told me that if I get mauled by a bear that she is going to whoop my butt soooo... going big and bad to try and be prepared for anything.

[bornhunter]

Yup. If mamas happy everybody is happy!

[shortymorty]

Many Grizzlies have been killed with 10mm 180 gr. Hp.In all reality it is all about shot placement.Super heavy loads brings the muzzle up way to far.With a glock 10mm follow up shots are right there.Twice as many rounds as compared to the 44

[yorketransport]

Many Grizzlies have been killed with 10mm 180 gr. Hp.In all reality it is all about shot placement.Super heavy loads brings the muzzle up way to far.With a glock 10mm follow up shots are right there.Twice as many rounds as compared to the 44

I love the 10 mm as much as the next guy and I’ve had 5 of them, but it’s really not in the same league as a 44 mag. Even a hot loaded 10mm is a distant second to the 44mag. I say that as a guy who’s really not a big 44mag fan either. The 41 mag is a much better comparison to the 10mm.

What I really want to know is where are you guys at that you’re worried about a bear sneaking up in you? I could stand in a berry field covered in bacon grease and the only bears I’d see would be running the other direction. 

[Skyvalhunter]

What are you mixing in with that bacon grease? Try some peanut butter

[mountainman]

Many Grizzlies have been killed with 10mm 180 gr. Hp.In all reality it is all about shot placement.Super heavy loads brings the muzzle up way to far.With a glock 10mm follow up shots are right there.Twice as many rounds as compared to the 44

I love the 10 mm as much as the next guy and I’ve had 5 of them, but it’s really not in the same league as a 44 mag. Even a hot loaded 10mm is a distant second to the 44mag. I say that as a guy who’s really not a big 44mag fan either. The 41 mag is a much better comparison to the 10mm.

What I really want to know is where are you guys at that you’re worried about a bear sneaking up in you? I could stand in a berry field covered in bacon grease and the only bears I’d see would be running the other direction. 

Now that's a scary image in itself! 😝

[bornhunter]

Just want to be prepared. I survive on " if its predictable, its preventable!"

[W_Ellison2011]

Many Grizzlies have been killed with 10mm 180 gr. Hp.In all reality it is all about shot placement.Super heavy loads brings the muzzle up way to far.With a glock 10mm follow up shots are right there.Twice as many rounds as compared to the 44

I love the 10 mm as much as the next guy and I’ve had 5 of them, but it’s really not in the same league as a 44 mag. Even a hot loaded 10mm is a distant second to the 44mag. I say that as a guy who’s really not a big 44mag fan either. The 41 mag is a much better comparison to the 10mm.

What I really want to know is where are you guys at that you’re worried about a bear sneaking up in you? I could stand in a berry field covered in bacon grease and the only bears I’d see would be running the other direction. 

Not really worried about one sneaking up on me. More worried about if the bear doesn't go down from the rifle shot and makes it into the brush. Rifles in thick brush are slow and hard to maneuver. My 44 mag pistol wont be as hard to move around. Really I'm hoping to kill the bears within eye sight so I don't have to chase them but we all know that sometimes animals can soak up a TON of lead and keep on churning.

[smittyJ]

Garrett Ammunition for my 44 ad 45/70, Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman or Pennetrator for my 40 S&W and 45LC.

http://garrettcartridges.com/products.asp