Judge for bear

[COUG]

I searched some of the Judge topics from the past and couldnt find an answer to these two questions...

1)  Would you reccomend the Taurus Judge for self defense for bear while backcountry river fishing in Alaska.  I have a .44 and my Father in law wants a Judge for Christmas and I want to make sure it would work on a bear. 

2)  For bear, would you use the .45 or .410 with buckshot?

Thanks,
Coug

[addicted]

probably buck shot up first for if you dont have a lot of time to make a good shot. example. quick charge and you would rather take out his eyes or make him turn and figure out whats biting him.  then a .45 up next so you can roll over to the next chamber in the cylinder if you have a chance to draw, aim and have a stare down with him.

[addicted]

and yeah, i wouldnt mind having a judge on my hip. a lot of versatility.

[NWHydroprint]

I bought a Judge for my dad its a fun gun to shoot but the 410 buck shot isn't going to stop a bear. The #4 shot is good for 2 legged predators and would be better for shooting the bear in the face as more shot to cover more area but for 4 legged ones load it with the 45colts.
The gun is a double action and is great for second shots.

[carpsniperg2]

I bought a Judge for my dad its a fun gun to shoot but the 410 buck shot isn't going to stop a bear. The #4 shot is good for 2 legged predators and would be better for shooting the bear in the face as more shot to cover more area but for 4 legged ones load it with the 45colts.
The gun is a double action and is great for second shots.

right on i have a snake slayer that is 45lc or 410 i have shot everything from #9 to slugs in the 410 they are just going to piss off a bear good. the 2 1/2 have 3 pellets and the 3 inch has 5 pellets of 00buck which i shoot. for very close range it is good but not a whole bunch of power you are better off with a 44 mag or 45 lc i use a 454 casull that will do the trick.

[Gutpile]

I have a judge and wouldn't even consider it for protection from a grizzly. They are inaccurate and throw a terrible pattern with the shotshells. That said, they'd be a great x-mas present. Fun to shoot and a great conversation piece but grizzly medicine? No way.

[ICEMAN]

Bear Pepper Spray, 12 gauge pump shotgun, to be used in that order. Buy him both.

[jackelope]

no way in hell i would feel safe and protected from a grizz with a 45 or a 410 on my side, especially one that gets lots of criticism for being inaccurate.

[bearpaw]

I am not endorsing the 410 for bear, but an uncle of mine used to pack a 410 for grouse, he always kept a few slugs with him, he killed a couple bear at close range with his 410, dropped them both in their tracks. So the 410 might suffice as a personnal protection weapon....

[thinkingman]

Let's not start the 'how do you drop a bear in his tracks?" thread.
I've said this same thing every time the subject comes up...my goal is not to kill the bear, it's to get the hell away from it with minimal damage.
That said, a shotshell to the face of the bear is likely to reduce its ability to find and attack me, or buy me enough time to gain the advantage.
That's it.
The idea of bang-flop on a motivated bear is ridiculous.

[COUG]

Thanks for the insight guys!  I have been up in the back rivers for years now and found that the shotgun is difficult because I will set it on the boat and wade to fish a hole etc...  I carry a .44 and have only pulled it once but never shot.  I like the idea of a "spread" shot because I fear my accuracy would be off with the fear of death setting in.  To that end I carry the bear spray and my first step is to pull that and spray the area the bear may come at me (if I have time). 

Thanks again for the info!

[bearpaw]

A faceful of #8 will probably give you the opportunity to get away I would think. 

[bearpaw]

Has anyone actually tried the pepper spray on a bear, just curious.

[FALFire]

Using a Judge for brown bear protection is foolish, 

It's designed for personal protection from human threats. Carry the 12 gauge, get good with it and quit guessing, you only get one chance when pressed against a pissed off bear

[jdb]

Bear Pepper Spray, 12 gauge pump shotgun, to be used in that order. Buy him both.

sage advise

[ADAMS]

I saw a test somewhere on the web where they tested both slugs and the three balls of buck loads (don't recall if it was 00 or 000).  The short of it was that the velocity was so compromised that neither load is worth a darn.  The buck had about 5" penetration into ballistic gelatin and the slug had about 7-1/2".

For bear, I'd rather have a 9mm over a buckshot or slug loading.

That being said, you'd be better off with a stout .45 Colt loading in the Judge.

[Galpster]

FNH makes a really nice 45 called the FNP 45. I would trust this on my side over all others. Great personal defense and made by one of the best firearm producers in the world right here in the US of A.

[D-Rock425]

Has anyone actually tried the pepper spray on a bear, just curious.

I saw it used in a video on a black bear.  bear didnt likeit one bit but the bear was not charging or anything just walking.had no idea the guy was there