Brian Pearce has done a couple of pieces in Handloader Mag about the 45 Colt. The last one is around a Flattop Frame for his son around a Black Bear hunt. He developed 1100fps loads with the RCBS 285 grain SAA SWC. Bear was shot six times at 40 yards, with fist sized exits. Bear never moved. My son shot a 150# hog at 20 yards with this load. Entry was the eye and exit was large hole in ham. Never moved.
Bear load for 45lc
- Thread starter JLK
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buck460XVR
New member
Sometimes the truth is not what folks want to hear. Again, iffin one really needs to ask, which handgun and what ammo for bear defense , odds are they'd be better off with what I suggested in my first post......
Not trying to be negative, only honest. I have been shooting revolvers since the 70s. My primary weapon for hunting deer for the last decade has been a revolver(.357, .44 and .460). I have a private range on my son's property where I practice with said revolvers a coupla times a month throughout the year. I still have my doubts as to iffin I could stop a charging bear, even with the .460, that shoots like a laser out to 150 yards. That is after practicing at a tether-ball coming at me, being pulled by a cord on a powered cord reel. The size of the tether-ball is about the same as the vitals/cns of a bear, and it's bouncing across the ground is similar to the motion of a running bear. Even tho the speed of the powered cord reel is slower than a charging bear, it's hard to get off more than a coupla shots and even then it's darn near impossible to hit. So when I see folks that are unfamiliar enough with handguns they have to ask what is appropriate, I have my doubts as to how effective a handgun is going to be for them. Just putting a revolver in a hip holster is not going to do it. Until one becomes familiar enough with it and proficient enough with it, to actually hit a charging bear, they need to consider what I suggested. Sorry if it hurts anyone's feelings, but that's the just of it. Kinda like buying an indy car with hopes of winning your first race. Your first bear charge is probably gonna be your last.......whether or not you are successful. While a big bore on the hip may make us feel safer, odds are, a can of spray there instead will give us better results. Hunting bear is much different than bear defense. I have hunted and killed bear with a bow and arrow. I still would not want to have stop one on the charge with one, with me in it's sights.
Around 39 years ago, after a few years experimenting with 250/265gr jscketed slugs in the 12-1300fps range in my Ruger (new model) Blackhawk 7.5".
Then I settled on a load with a hard cast 250gr swc at 1100fps. I've been shooting nothing but that load out of that gun for decades, and before "the glorious result of a mis-spent youth" took its toll, I could regularly ring the 200yd gong on the rifle range, off hand, one handed. I'm pretty confident in the load doing every job I would ask it to do. A bit less confident (today) of my ability to hit the vitals of a charging bear outside of point blank range, though.
IF the goal is to stop a charging ..anything, really.. then you're probably better off with what I would call an express rifle. Or a 12ga with good slugs. Or a brace of howdah pistols...a .50 BMG would give me a warm fuzzy, but only if someone else was carrying it, or driving what it was mounted on.
There are cases of attacking black bears being killed with 9mm Luger and up. There was one case of a grizzly being killed by a bowhunter STABBING it repeatedly with one of his broadhead arrows. He was horribly injured, but survived.
On the other side of the coin, I have seen pictures of the leg bones, sneaker and a fired empty .38 snubnose. of a hiker. (Grizz did it NOT black bear, and that particular grizz was later stopped with several rounds of 7mm Magnum)
Also there is the story of the guy who carried a .32 auto as his bear defense gun. When asked by a buddy how he figured a .32 would save him from a bad bear, he said, "simple! I just shoot YOU in the knee..."
There's no free lunch, the .45 Colt suitably loaded can stop anything walking in North American woods. The rest is up to the shooter. You can go more, there are bigger and more powerful rounds available today, but the same limit applies, success is up to the shooter WAY more than the cartridge.
Light, Powerful, cheap
pick any two
Light, Powerful, controllable
Pick any two
and so on...
Bears are not noted for their good eyesight, so if you don't hit them, at range (and in the right place) they aren't impressed with the caliber of your gun until they are close enough to read the markings on the barrel.
Bears do respect fire, but not firepower, until you hit them with it. Primitive man's best bear deterrent was probably a torch, and I do wonder why no one makes a small (gun sized) flamethrower for bear defense. Maybe the long term consequences of starting forest fires make the idea unpopular...
What is today called "situational awareness" is your best defensive weapon. Done right, it prevents needing to use the firearm. But, have a decent gun, anyway. Just in case. its always better to have it, and not need it than the reverse.
I have a load that would probably work. 255 grain cast bullet with more Blue Dot powder than I'm comfortable with posting online in case someone tries it and grenades their SAA. I don't remember, but I think QuickLoad said it was 28000 PSI. I've shot quite a few in my Blackhawk, just using up the last of a pound of Blue Dot. (that was the only good use I found for Blue Dot, and I didn't find it until I'd used up most of the can trying to find a good .357 Magnum or .30 Carbine load)
It might be a great load for hunting bear, but I wouldn't want to have to count on it if the bear was hunting me. Still, that's the load I would carry in bear country (and bear spray) and hope to never find out if it's enough.
It might be a great load for hunting bear, but I wouldn't want to have to count on it if the bear was hunting me.
Still, that's the load I would carry in bear country (and bear spray) and hope to never find out if it's enough.Super Sneaky Steve
New member
Use the search function. There are two million bear threads on this forum.
Assuming we are talking black bear then I would get the 45LC. I do not know why these threads all go south and immediately start questioning the OPs ability to hit the bear. Yet go up in the forum and go on about concealed carry and how much they practice. What, like the bad guy in the dark alley is going to give you a 10 second warning before he jumps you and slits your throat? And just saying, some people do not go down all that easy either.
I practice, I can darn sure hit the dang bear, or bad guy, or whatever the Hades it is I am shooting at. I would rather have my Marlin SBL with BB loads but I will take the Ruger Blackhawk with BB loads any day if it is what I have and I need an excuse to buy one.
And as to reloading, I reload for my 45LC, it is great fun but for life or death defense loads, I would go factory loads from a quality company like Buffalo Bore, Garret or HSM.The HSM stuff is not quite as hot but will stop Mr. Blackie and they shoot good and consistent and I can hit the dang bear with them. Good grief! I bet the OP can too.
3C
I practice, I can darn sure hit the dang bear, or bad guy, or whatever the Hades it is I am shooting at. I would rather have my Marlin SBL with BB loads but I will take the Ruger Blackhawk with BB loads any day if it is what I have and I need an excuse to buy one.
And as to reloading, I reload for my 45LC, it is great fun but for life or death defense loads, I would go factory loads from a quality company like Buffalo Bore, Garret or HSM.The HSM stuff is not quite as hot but will stop Mr. Blackie and they shoot good and consistent and I can hit the dang bear with them. Good grief! I bet the OP can too.
3C
buck460XVR
New member
Wasn't tootin' any horn. Iffin I was, I'd swear positively like MR Three Crows above, that I couldn't miss. You say you are after information and I gave you what I thought was the best suggestion yet. Get some bear spray. Studies have shown it to work better for the average person than any handgun, even with those very proficient with them, when we are talking about a legitimate attack. Lived around Black Bears most all my life. Knowing their habits, preferences and inclinations have a better chance of keeping you safe than any handgun. Unfortunately things like trash day (I assume this is what you meant when you wrote "specially on tras day) has acclimated bears to associate humans with easy food sources. This is why so many towns do not allow folks to put their trash out the day before pickup.
IOWs, I'm saying I don't think the legitimate threat of a bear attack is very high. Nothing making a little noise won't prevent. I'd suggest you look into why the bears are around human habitation that much for you to feel threatened, and try to remedy that first. If getting a new gun makes you feel safer than by all means go for it. But practice and make sure you are proficient enough to get the job done. Not just wound a bear that someone else has to track down and try to put down. Around here bears get shot occasionally by folks that think they are being attacked. Investigations generally show the bear was at a distance farther away than the shooter thought/stated and many times the bear has been shot at an angle that shows the bear was not coming at the shooter. Have you talked to the local authorities about the nuisance bears? Most of the time, their options are much better(for both the bear and you) than just getting a gun.
Again, if what I am saying is not what you want to hear, I apologize. But this is a forum open for discussion and this is what we are doing. I am not assuming you are a bad shot, I just know from experience how difficult it is, for even the best handgun shooters, to make the shot needed, under stress/duress, very quickly.
Best bear defense is a couple of brave dogs...they make noise and smells that will keep the bears well away so you don't even see them because they will avoid you
If you do have a bear attack with dogs then the dogs will engage and distract the bear while you get time to get off multiple shots. The bear will fight with the dogs while you take aim...they aren't smart enough to attack the human with the rifle first
My buddy who spends lots of time in bear country with mules and dogs told me that pearl of wisdom
If you do have a bear attack with dogs then the dogs will engage and distract the bear while you get time to get off multiple shots. The bear will fight with the dogs while you take aim...they aren't smart enough to attack the human with the rifle first
My buddy who spends lots of time in bear country with mules and dogs told me that pearl of wisdom
buck460XVR
New member
Speaking of dogs......
You are 20 times more likely to be killed by your neighbors dog in the U.S. than you are by a Black bear, yet we never see any "What gun for my neighbor's dog?" threads on these forums.
When in bear country it's better to wear small bells and carry pepper spray so the bears will be alerted to your presence and give them time to flee.
It always helps to have the ability to identify bears by their dung. Black bear dung often contains small animal fur and bones. Grizzly bear droppings usually consists of small bells and smells of pepper.
Go 45 long colt.
It always helps to have the ability to identify bears by their dung. Black bear dung often contains small animal fur and bones. Grizzly bear droppings usually consists of small bells and smells of pepper.
Go 45 long colt.
disseminator
New member
Glock 20 for the neighbors dog. He's a fast mover and I might need the capacity to get him.
Stargater53
New member
Stopping a full grown bear is a tricky proposition. Bear spray may stop many bears and it's what I prefer for defense, but if you have to shoot a bear, it's best to shoot at the nose. That sends the bullet into the brain and causes instant death. It's important not to shoot at the head -- that will only send the bullet deflecting off the skull and make him very angry. If you're wanting defense against a black bear, a .357 is enough to do the job if you use a hard cast bullet or a jacketed soft point.
One reason bears are difficult to put down with body shots, regardless of caliber is because once those lungs take air into them, it powers the beast for a very long time. He can keel over and die after being shot, but he has more than enough time to end you before getting to that point. That's why an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.
The .45 LC can be used against bear if you know its limitations. My uncle knew a guy who killed bear (he pronounced it "bar") with a .22LR. (Of course, he had a second guy with him loaded for...bear who was there in case the first shot didn't work.)
Me, I want no trouble. I once read an account of a honeymoon couple who were talked by a black bear. The two were separated when the man attempted to lead off the bear, but the bear broke off the pursuit and doubled back for the woman. The husband and a park ranger found her partially eaten body later that day. In my view anyone who goes into the wilderness unarmed deserves what they get.
One reason bears are difficult to put down with body shots, regardless of caliber is because once those lungs take air into them, it powers the beast for a very long time. He can keel over and die after being shot, but he has more than enough time to end you before getting to that point. That's why an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.
The .45 LC can be used against bear if you know its limitations. My uncle knew a guy who killed bear (he pronounced it "bar") with a .22LR. (Of course, he had a second guy with him loaded for...bear who was there in case the first shot didn't work.)
Me, I want no trouble. I once read an account of a honeymoon couple who were talked by a black bear. The two were separated when the man attempted to lead off the bear, but the bear broke off the pursuit and doubled back for the woman. The husband and a park ranger found her partially eaten body later that day. In my view anyone who goes into the wilderness unarmed deserves what they get.
https://www.underwoodammo.com/colle...ong-flat-nose-gas-check?variant=7865928810553
Underwoods 325gr HCLFN+P
Underwoods 325gr HCLFN+P
Underwood also says this about their 325gr load...
They claim over 1300fps velocity. Ever actually shoot loads like that?? I have. If you are recommending a load, based only on its paper performance (any load) you aren't doing a useful service.
Now, I haven't shot any of the Underwood load, so I won't say anything about them, specifically, but I have shot similar bullet weights at similar speeds. Out of a 5lb(+) carbine, they are a bit of a thumper. Out of a 3.5lb (or less) handgun, recoil is on the heavy side of stout, or on the fierce side of heavy, depending on the gun. They are not loads conductive to rapid aimed fire. (and, at over a dollar a shot for the factory stuff, very few people are going to shoot enough of them to develop good rapid fire accuracy with them.)
NOTE Underwoods WARNING!! these are not loads for every gun, only a few specific models. (and I note that S&W's .45 Colt models are NOT on their list).
I'm sure Underwood's load is great stuff for some things. I have my doubts about how good a choice the ultra heavy bullets at top possible speeds are for DEFENSE. Now, I am a fan of big bullets, they do tend to work better. HOWEVER, there are situations where all the power possible is not as useful as enough power to do the job and do it repeatedly and rapidly.
Good advice about the bear skull, its shape makes it very good at deflecting bullets at certain angles. I personally witnessed 5 rounds of .30-30 bouncing off a black bear's skull at point blank range. It's not just about power, its also about shot placement and angles. In that case, the bear was not "stopped" it was "dissuaded". None of the head shots penetrated the skull or did fatal damage. That bear was dispatched with body shots by a second person.
Get a box of the Underwood stuff, get a box of anything you think might work, and shoot them in YOUR gun(s) in your hands, before you make any final decisions.
They claim over 1300fps velocity. Ever actually shoot loads like that?? I have. If you are recommending a load, based only on its paper performance (any load) you aren't doing a useful service.
Now, I haven't shot any of the Underwood load, so I won't say anything about them, specifically, but I have shot similar bullet weights at similar speeds. Out of a 5lb(+) carbine, they are a bit of a thumper. Out of a 3.5lb (or less) handgun, recoil is on the heavy side of stout, or on the fierce side of heavy, depending on the gun. They are not loads conductive to rapid aimed fire. (and, at over a dollar a shot for the factory stuff, very few people are going to shoot enough of them to develop good rapid fire accuracy with them.)
NOTE Underwoods WARNING!! these are not loads for every gun, only a few specific models. (and I note that S&W's .45 Colt models are NOT on their list).
I'm sure Underwood's load is great stuff for some things. I have my doubts about how good a choice the ultra heavy bullets at top possible speeds are for DEFENSE. Now, I am a fan of big bullets, they do tend to work better. HOWEVER, there are situations where all the power possible is not as useful as enough power to do the job and do it repeatedly and rapidly.
Good advice about the bear skull, its shape makes it very good at deflecting bullets at certain angles. I personally witnessed 5 rounds of .30-30 bouncing off a black bear's skull at point blank range. It's not just about power, its also about shot placement and angles. In that case, the bear was not "stopped" it was "dissuaded". None of the head shots penetrated the skull or did fatal damage. That bear was dispatched with body shots by a second person.
Get a box of the Underwood stuff, get a box of anything you think might work, and shoot them in YOUR gun(s) in your hands, before you make any final decisions.