West side Black Bear sidearm?

[coriantonk]

The pistol will be for "insurance".  I will be using my favorite rifle for the hunting part, A 7x57.  I had a bear growl at me while I was in the thick brush last year, and something a little less length to it would be nice.  The .45acp is my personal carry piece, the .357 and the .454, both belong to a friend and I have onle shot the .357.  So I guess another good question would be, does A .45acp have enough power for real close work on a Black Bear?

[ICEMAN]

...and the reason you would be shooting at humans in the woods at 100yds would be?

Cause the meth maggots almost got away?

[Rufous]

I use and recommend a Ruger Bisley 45 Colt. It has plenty of power. The 454 is more than needed but I am sure you could load it down somewhat to make it more pleasant to shoot and it would  still be deadly. I have never loaded for the 454 but I would guess that 2400 would be a good powder choice for somewhat reduced loads. I have finished off two bears and killed one from the start with my 45 Colt. Works great, Brian.

[C-Money]

I carry a .357, I shoot it well and that counts enough for me.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I carry my Redhawk .44 Mag.  After carrying it for over 12 years, I do not even notice it on my hip anymore.

   -I use a shoulder holster on my left side for either of my 44mags. Some people look at me funny, that I carry a big hog leg and a rifle. Been doin that for years though.

Rufous recommended a SBH in 45LC.  -Great suggestion!

All we're trying to do here 'Coriantonk' is give you enough reason to go buy a new hand gun!

So I guess another good question would be, does A .45acp have enough power for real close work on a Black Bear?

Sure! If you're real close, a rock is better than the fist. 

But seriously, the 45acp against a lean Bear is no match. Getting that slow moving slug through the meat and bone to the vitals might be tough. Possible, but don't expect a shoulder shot to slow a big boy down. And even if you get a lung, he'll still run well. Last resort would be the neck or under the jaw up into the stem. That's some tough bone though and a shot would nearly need to be surgical. Shove the muzzle in his mouth... Now that ought to do the trick! Problem is the bullets that are available/designed for the 45acp. Jacketed round nose that don't expand, hollow points that are designed to open up to twice the size on frail human tissue, or target/lighter hard cast LSWC. That really limits the effectiveness of that slow moving bullet on a game animal that 'can' be dangerous.

If I was in your shoes and only had the 1911, I would use a bullet from a Lee 230gn HP mould with some really hard lead, water quenched when I pour them. The HP is smaller than what you see with jacketed self defense bullets. There's also a Lee 250gn Truncated Cone bullet that if hard cast can be run up to near 1,000fps from a full sized 1911. It's a Bowling Pin buster! You'd have to play with seating depth as they don't feed well through all 1911's. And running them that warm, you'd want a heavier recoil spring in your gun. I could send you some of the 230gn HP's or the 250TC's hard cast if you hand load.  The 230's feed like hard ball. Ultra reliable. Off the shelf, the XTP's aren't too bad, and can be pushed a bit. I'd recommend Win231 powder for pushing those heavy bullets fast.

-Steve

[Mike_D]

I too carry the 44Mag 629 in 7inch barrel, in a shoulder holster.

[rasbo]

I too carry the 44Mag 629 in 7inch barrel, in a shoulder holster.

man I love mine a real shooter..gutpile hooked me up with some hot loads,all Im using this year

[Mike_D]

I stick to rifles mostly, but an all too close encounter with a cougar my first year out, has engrained me with desire to go down shooting if I'm going to be somethings dinner...

[hogsniper]

45 works just fine!! My old school 1911 took this guy with 1 shot!!!

[Skyvalhunter]

Is that milk on it's lips?

[KillBilly]

If I were going to carry the extra weight, it would be my .357 Maximum

[Machias]

Normally I don't recommend sitting way behind a bear to make it look bigger...but I'm thinking it might be a good idea sometimes.   

[hogsniper]

Haha, no doubt!!! I should have doctored it up a bit!! lol... With all the bears i saw last year this is what i came home with!!!   Ooops...Lol

[Kain]

44 mag 6.5" barrel.  It is f'n heavy but with the shoulder holster it is easily accessible and I dont really notice the weight.  I tried carrying it on my hip one day...it almost got left in the woods.    It is even out of the way when I shoot archery.

[saylean]

they're all just jealous Hogsniper.