Bear hunting

Beware bullet construction.

Some jacketed hand gun bullets do NOT penetrate.

2010 Wisconsin Bear season I shot a smallish(270 # dressed) boar bear in the ribs. Point blank, well 3 feet from the muzzle to the ribs.

I used a 41 Remington Magnum. Ruger Redhawk. Factory Federal 210 grain jacketed hollow points. It never broke a rib, it never made it into the chest cavity.

I was hunting with hounds and the bear was knocked out of the tree. On the ground dead. My host had remarked on the absolute necessity of a well constructed handgun bullet. Lying at my feet was the best test medium I could find.

I recall a similar size bear in Michigan that was shot 4 times with a 44 Mag. Bullets were expanded just under the hide. The bear was killed with a 308. The dogs would not let it escape. The sorry performance of the bullet put dogs and man in danger.

Use good bullets. I am glad I did not need to use that brand of ammunition. Bears can hurt you.
 
Outside bear rib cage

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Inside bear rib cage

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The bullet

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My ammunition choice would always be either FMJ, soft point or lead. At least they will make a deep hole in a flesh and blood target.
About 1975 I read a Guns & ammo article about a hunter ( I expect he was an expert) who shot a Grizzely with a 44 magnum I think he had a scope. It took 4 bullets to bring down the bear. If you go after bear with a hand gun make sure your affairs are in order.
 
I would not ever use a expanding jacketed bullet on any thick skinned, heavy boned animal which pretty much describes a bear. Solid heavy bullet construction is the way to go on bears. While I have not had a chance to prove my ammo choice ( 44mag 310gr Garrett Defender Ammo ) on a bear I have the upmost confidence in this ammo on bears. Not to say a 44mag revolver is as good as a rifle for bears you use what you got at the time. A 44mag pistol on the hip is better than the rifle you left back at camp. Only a hard cast lead bullet can penetrate to the vitals of a large or small bear. Even if you do punch all the way through a bear 2 holes leaking out the life fluids are better than one. Be prepared for quick follow up shots also as one may not put it down.
 
I would not ever use a expanding jacketed bullet on any thick skinned, heavy boned animal which pretty much describes a bear.
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This is exactly why I use the 265 Hornady FP #4300...

It's thick jacket is designed for .444 Marlin velocities, and is listed only in the 'Rifle Bullets' section...It does not open well at .44 Mag velocities in a carbine, and not at all in a handgun...

It essentially acts as a hard cast, or solid...

YMMV
 
Hoping for such a hunt, I have my Ruger Redhawk ready with a batch of rounds loaded to max-max (I won't say what but tested OK) and 300 gr. XTPs.
The .44 mag. has been great for me to shoot but I have to admit this load is a serious kicker. I really cannot practice with it as much as I would like.
I have studied bear anatomy and hope to place properly. I will limit my range to 25-35 yards.
 
Sorry it took me so long to get back. I'll be hunting in wisconsin, over bait. And I have a 2 powered scope on my gun too
 
Thanks for all the advise. Maybe because its my first bear I will just ancor it down with one of my rifles.
 
I have never hunted bear, but....

I have been way too close to bear up in Alberta (griz), and would agree that I personally wouldn't want to intentionally take on any bear with a handgun. I would prefer a 12 Ga loaded with 3" slugs, but that's just me, a rifle would definitely be a better choice.

(Funny story about the bear up in our neighbors to the north's backyard)
 
I carry a Ruger Super Redhawk in .44 mag as a woods gun when I don't have a rifle and I load it with the Buffalo Bore 340 gr which gives me near .454 Casull performance. I have no doubt it will penetrate, but once again, it ain't what I would choose to hunt with.
 
Thanks for all the advise. Maybe because its my first bear I will just ancor it down with one of my rifles
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NO WAY!!..you are set up!! the 44mag with a 2X over bait will be awsome!!. I hunt with handguns just about exclusively... there is no better hunting:D

You will hear a lot about bullet failure with the XTP's SP's etc, But if you read closely you will see most if these happen when the target is too close.. An expandable bullet in a high powered pistol round, shot at close range, will destroy/expand the bullet and stop penitration. (At 50 and 100 yards these same bullets will often give complete pass throughs)

For your application you will be close...so buy some quality cast bullet loads from 240gr up...(the big 320's+ are not easy to shoot and will gain you nothing with a blackbear) If you reload, then the heavy weights are great because you can slow them down. There is no need to run a 320gr and 1400fps.
 
I believe the original OP specified that it was Black Bear, not grizzlies, that he was interested in taking with a .44 mag handgun. I have taken two black bear with my Bowtech compound, so yeah, I think your .44 mag is more than enough to terminate any black bear and probably a .357 mag with a premium 180 grn. hunting load would do a fine job as well.
 
My ammunition choice would always be either FMJ, soft point or lead.
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FMJ is a terrible choice for any handgun round on any critter. Jacketed bullets if you want expansion, hard cast bullets if you do not. Leave the FMJ's at the range.
 
One poster said "FMJ" for bear?? Yuk!!

Use what you got. Just keep the shots under 65 yards, or less. Practice so you can tit a small paper plate at 65 yards and you will kill em all.
Shoot a couple hundred rounds before you go.

Black bear-thick skinned?? Not in Michigan.
 
another one of these posts.

some people say nothing less than a bazooka or other high powered long gun will do. others say why bother? others say nothing less than a 500...460....fill in the blank caliber handgun.

the truth is the 44 mag with a good bullet and a well placed shot has taken elephants and EVERY other game animal on this planet. of course that was with competent shooters.

the real question is why use a handgun? in almost any situation a rifle of suitable caliber is a better choice. well the answer to that question is suitable caliber handguns are available for game such as bear. some people may have taken a bear with a long gun or want a different challange. some people are just handgunners and don't even own a long gun. if using a handgun gets someone out in the field doing what they like, then that is a good thing.

the truth is people have taken black bears with lesser calibers than a 44 mag. check your local laws and use what is legal. practice with your gun and ammo and take only a good shot, be safe and have fun.

maybe someone can explain why someone goes after large dangerous animals with a bow and a sharp stick? those people seem a couple of slices short of a loaf to me.........just kidding, if it's legal they have a right to test themselves and chase thier dreams too.

the problem isn't with your choice of weapon or caliber. the problem is being qualified to use it.
 
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