Author Topic: 44 mag for bear (Read 13886 times)

Kain · « **on:** July 17, 2009, 04:58:59 PM »

For you pistol guys what is your preferred bullet for black bears with a 44 mag revolver? I have some 240gr SJSP that I am pretty good with. Is that good enough. Also what is the effective range with open sites?

Huntbear · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2009, 05:44:31 PM »

I have worked up handloads that are real whompers. 300 gr. Sierra JSP, pushed by a full boat load of H110. Sierra designed this bullet for bear and boar. It WILL NOT expand on a deer shoulder,

. I wanted a JSP over a HP for penetration, and I like heavy bullets anyway.

However, if you are using premium bullets a 240 gr. should do just fine. I am

As for effective range with open sights, that is kind of up to you. How much do you practice? Do you regularly shoot out to 50-60 yards? How about 75 yards? Are you using shooting sticks or just off hand shooting? I am comfortable out to 60 yards with my 6" Redhawk. Others may be more or less.

Kain · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2009, 06:06:52 PM »

No I am not good enough to shoot 60 yards but I was just wondering about the effective range of the bullet. I just wasnt sure how fast these loads drop off. I would be confident to about 30 yards with a rest, maybe 40 if it was sleeping.

I do not hand load either so maybe some off-the-shelf stuff that would work.

Kain · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2009, 06:10:34 PM »

300gr with a hot load? Hows that feel on the hand? Sounds kind of unpleasant.

rasbo · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2009, 06:12:39 PM »

Im using 200 grain xtp loaded by gutpile they are hot

Huntbear · « **Reply #5 on:** July 17, 2009, 06:25:25 PM »

Quote from: Kain on July 17, 2009, 06:10:34 PM

300gr with a hot load? Hows that feel on the hand? Sounds kind of unpleasant.

Kind of like shooting a .454. I have to quit after 20 rounds. Can not hack it after that. B

Kain · « **Reply #6 on:** July 17, 2009, 06:31:37 PM »

Quote from: Huntbear on July 17, 2009, 06:25:25 PM

Quote from: Kain on July 17, 2009, 06:10:34 PM
300gr with a hot load? Hows that feel on the hand? Sounds kind of unpleasant.

Kind of like shooting a .454. I have to quit after 20 rounds. Can not hack it after that. B

Sounds like a shoulder breaker on both ends of the barrel.

Huntbear · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2009, 02:05:27 PM »

I got crazy, and decided that I wanted something to stop anything in N. America, including grizzly. I accomplished that part, I guess. And I am a glutton for punishment anyway, when it comes to shooting. Never found a big caliber I did not like.

TheHunt · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2009, 01:58:20 PM »

240 or 300 would do the job. Talk to Rasbo on what he uses. His shots are all under 30 yards.

Huntbear · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2009, 08:34:19 PM »

Quote from: Kain on July 17, 2009, 06:31:37 PM

Quote from: Huntbear on July 17, 2009, 06:25:25 PM
Quote from: Kain on July 17, 2009, 06:10:34 PM
300gr with a hot load? Hows that feel on the hand? Sounds kind of unpleasant.

Kind of like shooting a .454. I have to quit after 20 rounds. Can not hack it after that. B

Sounds like a shoulder breaker on both ends of the barrel.

And I can hold them in a 5 in. circle at 50 yards over a stump.

Bofire · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2009, 08:16:42 AM »

:)I cut two Winchester Soft points out of a small black bears neck, 240 grain, 44 mag, shot from about 10 feet. They penetrated abou 2-3 inches. did not mushroom at all.
Carl

Huntbear · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2009, 11:58:09 AM »

Bofire, if they were Winchester's cheap ammo, they may not penetrate/or mushroom. There is a difference between 44 mag. target/self defense ammo, and hunting ammo. Most ammo labelled as hunting ammo comes 20 rounds to a box, and cost more than a 50 round box. Now if you are handloading, and working up hunting loads, for me, I want the round as hot as is safe for me and my gun, with as big a bullet as I can use. I want quick clean kills. That is why I do not shoot my 300 gr. JSP loads at deer anymore. It will not expand. Same size hole going out as going in.

For tough, thick skinned animals, however, give me my 300 gr. handload every time, because I know it will penetrate,(from shoulder to shoulder on a bull elk at 60 yards) and it expands wonderfully.

JackOfAllTrades · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2009, 12:46:26 PM »

Quote

I have worked up handloads that are real whompers. 300 gr. Sierra JSP, pushed by a full boat load of H110. Sierra designed this bullet for bear and boar. It WILL NOT expand on a deer shoulder, . I wanted a JSP over a HP for penetration, and I like heavy bullets anyway.

I've done the same but also use the 250gn FPJ that's running out the barrel faster and actually hits harder than the 300gn Sierra JSP's do. I keep three of each in the gun. I push either of the Sierra selections with ample amounts of win296 or AA#9 for best accuracy and velocity.

Are they painful from my Redhawk or Ruger SBH Bisley? Managable... I don't like shooting more than 25 in a shooting session.

If you're shooting factory loads, I'd look for something better than the Win240hp's. Some Hornady XTP's would be a better choice if you're going to stick with the HP. I agree with HuntBear, Penetration, over expansion is my choice when hunting game larger than Deer at pistol distances.

-Steve

Kain · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2009, 05:07:31 PM »

Quote from: Bofire on July 20, 2009, 08:16:42 AM

:)I cut two Winchester Soft points out of a small black bears neck, 240 grain, 44 mag, shot from about 10 feet. They penetrated abou 2-3 inches. did not mushroom at all.
Carl

Wow that must be some crap ammo. I know for a fact that what I am shooting will do better than that on any bear. Are you sure they were not 44 specials?

Bofire · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2009, 08:13:05 PM »

44 mag from a 7.5 inch Black hawk. I dont think the white box was around yet, and the guy shooting was a handgun lover and shot all the time. won many contests, others on this board know of this experience.

BEAR ONLY
Flame on, I do not think any handgun bullets expand, I think your only chance is penetration, I would use nothing but hard cast 300-350 grain bullets. Kain, How many bears you shot?
I have killed a few, and a bunch of other game. I have been in on, in the dark, at 10 feet or less, the killing of two wounded bear also. with hand guns
none of my experience is based on magazines, or stories.
Carl

Abolt338 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2009, 11:35:04 PM »

If you want something over the counter that's more than enough, try Federal Premium 300gr Castcores. Those things absolutely devastate bears inside of 60 yards, and they'll do the job well enough under 100.

RW

Dean44 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 22, 2009, 05:20:01 AM »

Which .44 Mag makes a lot of difference. A Ruger Redhawk or Super Redhawk can be loaded with a lot more whollop than a Smith and Wesson without shaking the gun apart.

I have killed several Elk and Deer with the SRH and a few deer with my S&W. Out of the Super Redhawk I prefer full throttle loads with a 300 grain bullet and H110. I choose bullets that can be seated as far forward as the cylinder will allow. This greatly increases case capacity and potential power. My favorite bullets are the 300 grain Hornady XTP and 300 grain hard cast lead. The 300 Grain XTP has a shallow hollow point so it expands moderately. I have never had it not expand on an elk. For hard cast I prefer the Lee mould that is slightly over 300 grains. With a gas check it is 317 grains. It has a very wide front and does considerable damage without expanding. This bullet is one of the great bone crushers and will break both front shoulders or a hip and a front shoulder on an elk. If I am using the hard cast bullet, I try to make bone crushing shots instead of lung shots.

This is my experience with the .44 and you can apply it to bears as you wish. I have been carrying the XTP for bear hunting.

Huntbear · « **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2009, 09:02:12 AM »

Dean44, seems you and I shoot basically the same gun with the same handloads....

PWN Kurt · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2009, 07:15:23 AM »

There's a lot of great options out there. I agree that the 300 gn XTP and Sierra JSPs are good. Although, I found the Sierra's were a little too long for all applications...the OAL was to long to feed in my leveraction.
Another good choice is the 265 JSP HDY. That bullet is designed for the 444 marlin, and therefor has a thicker jacket and designed expand at higher velocities...it would act more or less like a solid.

I also like the hardcast bullets, Cast Performance WNFPGC and about 18 grains of H110.
This is my load for my Ruger Alaskan for defense/back up. Its not a long enough bbl for hunting.

TeacherMan · « **Reply #19 on:** July 28, 2009, 06:26:04 PM »

I leave for Alaska in just a couple days and I'm bringing my 44 with me, what would be a good round for the Grizz? Would anyone actually hunt a grizz with a 44mag? I would but I just may be a little crazy

Huntbear · « **Reply #20 on:** July 28, 2009, 06:52:20 PM »

Teacherman,

I know a guy that went to Alaska grizzly hunting and took only his .44 mag. He said he learned that he could shoot and sh!t his pants at the same time. He said he never realized how big an 71/2 foot bear was till it stood up on its hind legs 8 yards from him.

He got his bear, but said he will never ever go after a grizzly again with less than a .338 WM.

TeacherMan · « **Reply #21 on:** July 28, 2009, 07:35:07 PM »

Quote from: Huntbear on July 28, 2009, 06:52:20 PM

Teacherman,

I know a guy that went to Alaska grizzly hunting and took only his .44 mag. He said he learned that he could shoot and sh!t his pants at the same time. He said he never realized how big an 71/2 foot bear was till it stood up on its hind legs 8 yards from him.

He got his bear, but said he will never ever go after a grizzly again with less than a .338 WM.

thats funny,

I was thinking of doing it with a stick and string (bow) once I move there...

PWN Kurt · « **Reply #22 on:** July 28, 2009, 10:22:54 PM »

I'm not sure I'd go after black bear with a 44 unless I had someone backing me up with a bigger gun. A .44 mag on a grizz is just to make it change it's mind if it's trying to eat you or someone in your party. Non-residents in Alaska must hunt grizzlies with a licensed guide or with resident next-of-kin...I'm sure guides and next-of-kin will likely suggest something more effective than a 44 mag.

Kurt

TeacherMan · « **Reply #23 on:** July 28, 2009, 10:27:00 PM »

When I'm up there this next month I will be with my father-in-law and he would most likely use his 7mm or 45/70. I carry my 44 when I'm on the rivers fishing, or hiking cross-country several miles to get to the rivers.

backwoods_boy · « **Reply #24 on:** July 29, 2009, 12:55:24 PM »

thats what im getting

TeacherMan · « **Reply #25 on:** July 29, 2009, 06:15:41 PM »

Decided to carry my guide gun with me up there instead of the 44, little bigger but a lot more put down. 405 gr. Kodiak specials.

Huntbear · « **Reply #26 on:** July 29, 2009, 10:06:42 PM »

Good choice Teacherman, other than a 12 gauge with an 18 in. barrel, mag tube ext. and full of slugs and 00 buck, best bear medicine out there, for a quick handling weapon. Open sights right???

TeacherMan · « **Reply #27 on:** July 29, 2009, 10:14:23 PM »

Quote from: Huntbear on July 29, 2009, 10:06:42 PM

Good choice Teacherman, other than a 12 gauge with an 18 in. barrel, mag tube ext. and full of slugs and 00 buck, best bear medicine out there, for a quick handling weapon. Open sights right???

open sights is the only way to go on that gun

The hardest thing that I have found is finding a bullet that is cast hard enough so it doesn't flatten out to quickly. The 405's made my Remington are garbage on the big bears because you just don't get the penetration. I found Kodiak bullets that have the thicker jacket that allow for better penetration. I think you took a bullet made for the 458 and use it in the 45-70, but I'm not sure. I had my father in law pick up a griz tag over the counter maybe he will get to try it out, it opens the 10th up there. Only $25 for a gizz tag over the counter because he is resident.

PWN Kurt · « **Reply #28 on:** July 30, 2009, 10:57:39 PM »

You need to reload for the guide gun and check the reloading manuals for marlin pressures and recommended loads for dangerous game.

There's some good bullets out there for the 45.70 that won't expand to quickly and provide good penetration.

Kurt

Big Boar · « **Reply #29 on:** July 31, 2009, 11:09:47 AM »

My .44 is an Encore with a 12" barrel so velocities run a little higher than a wheel gun. This year I'll shoot either Federal Fusion 240 gr which chrono at 1600fps or more likely some 305gr Buffalo Bore hardcasts I picked up recently... Either would work well I think...

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Author Topic: 44 mag for bear (Read 13886 times)

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