Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: logola512c on June 26, 2024, 05:36:19 PM

Title: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: logola512c on June 26, 2024, 05:36:19 PM: So I was biking to work today, dreaming about opening day of archery deer or elk season. Then I realized that I like bear season a lot better, so it turned into a thought exercise of what I would do if a bear strolled by (let's say within 25 yards) and I had to choose between my trusty bow (65-ish pound draw and nasty fixed blade broadheads) and the 8.5 inch 44 magnum (barnes copper bullets and a red dot sight) in the holster. Assuming the same accuracy, which would you fire with? Pistol has the obvious benefit of much quicker follow ups...
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: jrebel on June 26, 2024, 06:04:03 PM: The bow if I felt I could draw and not get caught. I will kill a bear with my bow one of these days.....but w/out bait, it is exceedingly difficult in the brushy area we hunt.

No shame in using the pistol as that would be cool too. :tup:
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: Britt-dog on June 26, 2024, 06:59:59 PM: I’ve killed a dozen bears, never used a gun. I always have the option of using a gun I just always choose bow. Archery is just inherently more satisfying to me.
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: logola512c on June 26, 2024, 07:16:35 PM: I ended up thinking I'd choose the bow also. Mostly because it would be more flexible if the bear wandered closer or further before the right broadside shot opportunity came up. Willing to shoot the bow out to 50 or maybe 60 yards.
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: Call em in on June 26, 2024, 07:26:22 PM: Shoot it with your bow and keep the pistol on you in case you have to go in the brush and sort it out :twocents:
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: Threewolves on June 27, 2024, 08:23:20 PM: I've hunted and killed bear with a bow, not over bait. BUT, i would kill one over bait if given the opportunity.

I like the idea of taking one with a pistol, I've never done that, yet.

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: Brushcrawler on June 27, 2024, 08:51:39 PM: Pistol. Because an 8.5” 44 mag is just cool.
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: bearpaw on June 27, 2024, 09:39:20 PM: When a hunter calls and asks what weapon to bring, I usually reply: Which do you shoot the best?

If you don't hit a bear right, you will not find it!
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: 30.06 on June 27, 2024, 09:41:10 PM: {Revolver} Get it done quickly and humanely as possible. What if you were allowed to come back, even for a few years, as a bear? I got one last season with my old warhorse of a rifle and hearing the roar of a heartshot boar has to have at least some effect on anything graced with the basic emotions of empathy and compassion. Was the second time I have heard that painful sounding cry of frustration, agony and defeat. Both were taken down cleanly with the first shot, sure would not want to risk a slight miscalculation of drop at angle, wind gust, or target speed from even the fastest carbon arrow with the most politically incorrect razor-bladed chisel tipped titanium broadhead.
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: logola512c on June 28, 2024, 09:29:45 AM: Quote from: Brushcrawler on June 27, 2024, 08:51:39 PM
Pistol. Because an 8.5” 44 mag is just cool.

It is pretty awesome. Especially with the red dot sitting on top and the full length barrel shroud... It's a proper hand-cannon!
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: dilleytech on June 29, 2024, 10:22:48 AM: Quote from: logola512c on June 26, 2024, 05:36:19 PM
So I was biking to work today, dreaming about opening day of archery deer or elk season. Then I realized that I like bear season a lot better, so it turned into a thought exercise of what I would do if a bear strolled by (let's say within 25 yards) and I had to choose between my trusty bow (65-ish pound draw and nasty fixed blade broadheads) and the 8.5 inch 44 magnum (barnes copper bullets and a red dot sight) in the holster. Assuming the same accuracy, which would you fire with? Pistol has the obvious benefit of much quicker follow ups...

The bow is the more deadly option but both would kill the bear if a good double lung shot was made. Personally I think shooting animals with a bow is way more fun than any gun. Having said that I do intend to shoot a bear with my 10mm some day. I figure my affective range with either is about the same. But a bad hit with a bow would be better odds of recovering the bear.
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: Mudman on June 29, 2024, 10:43:49 AM: Grizz would be revolver!! Otherwise good bow shot takes care of em just fine. Making proper smart shot is the key. Lungs are lungs regardless of species. :twocents:
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: finnman on July 11, 2024, 08:45:11 PM: You will never go deaf shooting a bow…..I have permanent hearing damage in my left ear from shooting at a black bear with my .44 mag Ruger red hawk years ago…wish I would have been carrying my .308 Win that day….
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: dilleytech on July 12, 2024, 06:07:32 PM: Quote from: finnman on July 11, 2024, 08:45:11 PM
You will never go deaf shooting a bow…..I have permanent hearing damage in my left ear from shooting at a black bear with my .44 mag Ruger red hawk years ago…wish I would have been carrying my .308 Win that day….

First thing I think about after releasing a arrow into
Something. Oh hey!! No hearing damage today!! I wear electronic ear muffs at almost all time while hunting with a gun any more thousands of rounds from the shotgun in the duck blind will do that to a guy.

My biggest fear from having to shoot something with a pistol is that I won’t have hearing protection on.
Title: Re: Bow or 44 Mag Revolver?
Post by: wadu1 on July 12, 2024, 06:16:45 PM: I wear electronic earmuffs over my aids at all times while hunting. My hearing is very bad I wear them just to be able to hear something. I even hear the tree rats munching on cones.