Bear and Caliber

G

Gary H

New member
Another hiking and caliber question.

I've got handguns in 45ACP, 45LC, .40, .357 Magnum and want a gun to protect from bears in California. Would it be wise to purchase a 44 Magnum for such a purpose, or can I save my money and use what I have? If buy, what can I lug along and yet be able to control?
 
Seems to me that any of those would do that job..perhaps more than one shot.. Personally, I'd probably want a fairly hot load with good penetration..bears are tough.

Mind you, I've backpacked in the Sequoia 'high country' for many years and never seen a bear except at a distance (and the occaional pile of poo). When camping in the campgrounds however, seen more than I can recall.

Never had a problem scaring them away, cept this one that was obvously not scared. He did go way, just took his time doing it.
 
For whatever it's worth, I carry 357 mag with 158 gr JSP whenever I'm out in black bear country.

For the grizzly inhabited parts of the state, I have a Ruger 45 LC with some "+P" loads - 300 gr JSP @ 1250 fps.

So it depends on where you are. I would think that a standard 45 LC round would be enough for black bears.

If you look for rocks and fallen logs that have been rolled over, and old stumps torn apart, you may find that there are more bears around than you realize.
 
If firing 45 LC +P ammo (such as some of the Corbon 45 Colt magnum loadings), be sure your 45 colt revolver is rated to accept these hot loadings. Most of the older-model guns can't handle them safely.
 
Yeah, it says right on the box "Use only in Colt Anaconda, Ruger, or Freedom Arms revolvers, T/C Contender, or Winchester Model 94 Lever-action rifles."
 
Ya, I posted asking that very question. Can I load my S&W 25 L.C. with heavier loads approaching the 44 magnum? Reloading books keep the max. down due to the use of this cartridge in older SA guns, but when they list the heavier loads they only list them in reference to the Contender, or Rugers. That leaves me between and betwix as to how heavy a load the 25 will take.
 
Dang Gary,

I just saw that in Handloading. I'm sorry.

I found this from John Linebaugh:

The Smith & Wesson Model 25-5 chambered for the .45 Colt is a fine gun and one I pack daily myself. The problem with the Smith &Wesson guns in general is not so much a strength factor but rather a design factor. Before you S&W people beat up on me please listen. It has long been evident that the Model 29 in .44 Magnum very quickly beats itself apart with full-power loads. This is not technically a "strength" problem as much as a design problem and the assemblage of several small parts that are not as rugged as the Single Action design. In the course of time if all the little parts wear a tiny bit this soon adds up to a lot of play in the overall fit and lock-up of the gun. This in turn allows the gun to get a further "run" at itself under discharge and thus hastens the battering process. In reality the Model 25-5 is about 80% as strong as the Model 29 in the cylinder area. The frames are the same and are designed for a 40,000 psi load level even though we know this is a bit more than they are happy with. It's too bad S&W built a 40,00 psi cylinder and installed it in a 30,000 psi frame, so to speak. (note: since this writing S&W has worked on the problem of the cylinder unlatching and rolling back under recoil after it gets a bit worn) The 25-5 in .45 Colt is safe to 80% of the 40,000 psi of the .44 Magnum Model 29. This allows a load of 32,000 psi in this frame. I have shot hundreds of the 32,000 psi class loads listed at the beginning of this article in several Model 25-5's. Recoil is heavy due to the S&W "hump" on the grip, but I do not see these loads as being dangerous in this fine gun. I do consider 32,000 to be ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM for this gun and prefer to hold my personal loads to 5% under those listed loads for approximately 25,000 psi. I carry a S&W 4" in .45 Colt daily and shoot a 260 gr. Keith at 900 fps for general duty. When I saddle up and go into the hills I pack the same gun with a 310 gr. NEI Keith over 23 gr. H-110. This gives me about 1080 fps and all the punch I need for anything on our mountain. As with any gun and load data, work up carefully. I assume responsibility only for the ammo I myself assemble.
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hiking in bear country....i always take the lightest gun i own, no matter what the cal. is, and most important you always take along someone you can out run :D
 
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