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!