.45 colt single action 6 shooter for bear, thoughts?

[saylean]

I have been kicking around the idea of using a cowboy style, .45 colt single action 6 shooter for bear this year (not for all hunts, but just close ups where I would be surrounded by brush, up on a log jam, etc)....I think with the length of barrel (7.5 inches) and bullet weight, it would be effective enough (correct shot placement) for close up bear action.....thoughts?

[Sideswipe]

My 3d bear, an old sow, was taken w/hounds in CA.  It was up a redwood tree.  I shot it out of the tree w/my 45-70.  Busted her shoulder but after falling about 30' & rolled down a 15' embankment into a stream, she got up really pissed.  I was running towards her...jacking another shell into my Guide Gun when my buddy pulled out his old Colt single action 45.  Put two shots into her chest at about 10'.  I got there just in time to see two jets of steam (her last breath) coming out of two well-spaced holes in her chest.  Obviously, got the job done & it really went well w/my lever gun

[saylean]

I just think it would be fun to give it a try, given the right circumstances..Cool story sideswipe

I think I am gonna try it this spring when I draw....

[fish vacuum]

The .44mag is considered good for close range black bears and some of the .45colt loads match those ballistics. I say do it. A 7.5" barrel will do well and 1000 ft/lbs can be accomplished with stout factory ammo.

[carpsniperg2]

I love hunting with a handgun as most know. I have taken more then a few animals with a handgun as well. The 45lc at a close range "ideal would be around 25-30 yards" would be more then fine for a black bear. I have handguns I would feel fine shooting one to around 150yards with. With the right bullet and ideal shot placement it will have no problems taking care of a bear

[BOWHUNTER45]

heck ...just buy a 500 S&W and you will not need to worry about anything 

[coachcw]

yep that will get it done . there's some preety stout loads for .45lc

[44 Flattop]

I've hunted with a SA sixshooter for 35 years with no problems so that part shouldn't bother you.  A .45 Colt is a good caliber especially if you are a handloader.  If not, there are specialty loads on the market that will make it a VERY potent caliber for just about anything you want to hunt.

44

[saylean]

heck ...just buy a 500 S&W and you will not need to worry about anything 

I inherited this gun...otherwise, I'd be happy to buy one!

thanks for the info guys. I appreciate it. Look for an upcoming bear/cowboy gun/predator calling/ too close uh oh, thread....

I drag along my lever action 30 30 for the funk of it too...

[Kowsrule30]

Nice!!!

[arees]

I carry one just like it for hunting in thick brush.  With the hand loads I make I have no concerns about bear or anything else.  I picked it up after shooting two elk at under 100 feet with a scoped rifle.  Open sites are better than a magnified view of fur.

[carpsniperg2]

Very nice gun. I always love hunting with a gun that has been inherited. Always nice to take a moment and stop and think about where the gun has been and the people that left them to you. I have several that have been inherited and handed down. Some of my best hunts have been with them.

[Sideswipe]

Nice look'in Colt....& a levergun too.  Don't pretend to know a lot about handguns but some of the responses to this thread were very interesting.

[Rufous]

I have killed 3 black bears with my Ruger Bisley 45 Colt. You can probably do a search and find my posts about those hunts. First one was in SE AK May of 2004. Second one was in May of 2007 in SE WA. Last one was September of 2009 just east of Walla Walla. The AK bear was shot the previous evening with my 300 Win Mag. I did not hit it well. I tracked it for a couple hours the next day and was able to finish it with my revolver. The bear May 0f 07 I saw it from 700 yards away and decided to drive further up the road and then hiked toward the bear. When I saw it again it was about 50 yards away and I stalked in to about 25 yards away and opened fire. It took 4 or 5 hits before going down for keeps. The last one I was hunting on my own and called in with a mouth blown call while in some thick stuff. It came to within about 10 yards but I was not certain that it was the big one that I was hoping to find in that area based on all the big piles of poo. It got nervous and retreated back from where I had first seen it. I decided it was big enough and took the shot at 85 yards. It ran about 20 yards and was dead when I walked up on it.

I will tell you that they do not react to the shot like from a high powered rifle. The bullet does not "impress" them. But a well placed shot with a good bullet will certainly kill them.

I load my own ammo. I use the 345 grain WLNGC bullet from Beartooth Bullets and H110 powder. Quite effective. Good luck and let me know if you need more info. You may want to check the diameter of your cylinder throats. Most Ruger's these days are undersized which negatively affects accuracy. I had the throats on both of my Bisley's reamed out to 0.4525" diameter. They were about 0.449" from the factory.

[Rufous]

I forgot to mention that I had some other custom gunsmithing work done on mine. One operation that I had done is called a Taylor Throating. It reams the bore out where the barrel threads onto the frame. Many revolvers bores will have a constriction in this area so reaming that out will prevent the constricted bore from swaging the bullet down. You do not want that to happen as it is important for the bullet to make a tight seal with the bore. My guns are more accurate than I can shoot them. When I mount my 2x scope on and shoot from the bench with sandbags I can get 2" groups at 50 yards sometimes. I cannot do that with open sights, especially now that my tired eyes do not focus up close like they used to. Anyway it is a fun and exciting challenge to take bears with a revolver.

[TwoSixFourWins]

For hot loads in 45 colt I load a 300gr Hornady xtp mag at about 1200-1300 fps. It has good penetration and more energy than all but the hottest 44mag handloads. I shoot a blackhawk.

[Encore 280]

Just to be on the safe side with that ol Colt and any single action I spose, you want to have the hammer down on an empty hole. That leaves you with 5 rounds, 4 for the bear and 1 for you when things get really ugly.

[saylean]

Just to be on the safe side with that ol Colt and any single action I spose, you want to have the hammer down on an empty hole. That leaves you with 5 rounds, 4 for the bear and 1 for you when things get really ugly.

Ive read that too, having the hammer down on the empty. Thanks for the tips~

[75johndeere]

this thread got me thinking and i think im going to try and take my spring bear with the 44 mag or the 50 s&w (sorry to hijack just hella excited that i finally drew my first spring tag

[Rufous]

If your Ruger is a newer one then you can safely carry it fully loaded. You need to determine if it has the transfer bar safety. If so then you can carry with all 6.

[Encore 280]

It looked like a Colt emblem on the grips in the picture so that's why I brought up the hammer down on an empty hole. Even with the Ruger transfer bar I would still have the hammer on an empty one. If that transfer bar failed, I would sure hate to have a hole in my foot or leg from a 45 Colt. Any other round would be bad enough.

[Rufous]

Saylean, is it a Ruger or Colt or You definately need to figure out if it is safe to carry 6- if not load 5 and have hammer down on empty chamber as suggested. I am pretty sure that with the Ruger transfer bar it is perfectly safe to carry 6. If it is a Colt you will need to stick to weaker loads because they are not as strongly built as the Ruger. Would you be reloading or using factory ammo?

[Encore 280]

Another thing about the picture is that it's a 3 screw and they don't have the transfer bar. I have 8 Rugers and only 3 of them are the 3 screw Blackhawk 357's and one of the older single sixes the rest have the transfer bars.

[high country]

I suggest the same bullet rufous uses. I have sent that same bullet on some long trips through critters. A fat meplatted hardcast may not produce instant bang flops of explosive bullets that hit just right.....but they NEVER fail....and penetrate for days.

[superdown]

The gun in the picture is a Colt New Frontier.

[saylean]

The gun in the picture is a Colt New Frontier.

Correct. Thanks all for the advise. I was hoping for some action with it this spring...but I guess I will have to use the camera till aug/sept!

[Encore 280]

You can always go out and practice with it and get it dialed in, that's always fun.

[saylean]

You can always go out and practice with it and get it dialed in, that's always fun.

Totally intend on it.

[Rufous]

With that gun not being as strong as the Rugers I would suggest a lighter weight bullet than what I have been using. Perhaps a Keith style bullet weighing 270 to 290 grains. Let me know if you would like load details.

[Sideswipe]

Good read Rufus & good luck!