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Favorite Bear Gun?
- Thread starter Cosmoline
- Start date
Robert the41MagFan
New member
Use a Smith & Wesson 657. It's a stainless steel 41 Magnum with a 6 inch unlugged barrel. The gun is heavier than a Mountain Gun and lighter than a hunting handgun. Easy to carry and can fire 265 grain bullets at over 1400 FPS (yes, from this gun!). The weight of this gun allows me to unload these bullets into a 6 inch pie pan at 50 feet in less than 6 seconds. Each bullet has enough power to turn any game in North America in to a telescope.
Robert
Robert
I, too, favor the .41 Mag. Mine is a 6" S&W 57, with my handloads. (I've killed one 400 pound black bear with this revolver.) But, I also love the .45 L.C., with my heavy handloads, and if I'm not carrying the .41, I'm carrying the Ruger Blackhawk in .45 L.C., 4 5/8" bbl., with my heavy handloads.
I have two .44 Mags., but haven't carried them in a long time.
I have no desire to tangle with a bad bear, but, as an Eagle Scout, I believe in being prepared.
FWIW. J.B.
I have two .44 Mags., but haven't carried them in a long time.
I have no desire to tangle with a bad bear, but, as an Eagle Scout, I believe in being prepared.
FWIW. J.B.
I bought a 338 Mag for AK bear protection many moons ago. Anymore I think I'd use either the 338 or Marlin 1895 45-70 with HEAVY handloads for serious bear protection. I would feel very silly confronting Mr. Griz with a handgun.
What I would really feel safe with now that I think about it is a 458 Mag. Bigger IS better!
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Just one of the Good Guys
What I would really feel safe with now that I think about it is a 458 Mag. Bigger IS better!
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Just one of the Good Guys
Several years ago 3 friends and I were planning on a kayak trip along the coast of AK and we had planned to bring along Remington 870 with 20" rifled barrel, Remington 870 with 18" cylinder barrel and Marlin 1895 in 45-70. These guns were borrowed from family and friends. We didn't even consider handguns. My girlfriend didn't plan on carry any rifle. Too bad we didn't have enough money to do it.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jay Baker:
I, too, favor the .41 Mag. Mine is a 6" S&W 57, with my handloads. (I've killed one 400 pound black bear with this revolver.) [/quote]
Mr. Baker, can you share with us your .41 Mag. handload(s)? [All disclaimers apply -- we'll use the data at our own risk.]
I, too, favor the .41 Mag. Mine is a 6" S&W 57, with my handloads. (I've killed one 400 pound black bear with this revolver.) [/quote]
Mr. Baker, can you share with us your .41 Mag. handload(s)? [All disclaimers apply -- we'll use the data at our own risk.]
LIProgun, as you said, these are what I use, and are safe in my Mdl. 57 and Marlin Lever Rifle, .41 Mag.
.
First, the load with which I killed the 400 pound black bear was... New Rem. cases, 210 gr. Sierra J.H.P., 20 grs. H2400, CCI Mag Primers. This load is TOP END! I emphasize, the bear was treed and NOT charging. I was about 20 yards from it and fired one round which clipped the heart, penetrated a lung, and snapped the spinal column. It was a through-and-through shot and I never recovered the bullet. He was dead within about 15/20 seconds after hitting the ground. (Do not start with this powder amount! Work up!)
Today, I use a Beartooth Hard Cast, gas check bullet, 250 grs., Long Flat Nose, behind 20 grs. WW296, or H110, with mag. Primers.
My plinking or fun loads are 215/220 gr hard cast with 13 grs. Blue Dot.
Again, if you like these loads, work up from 10% below what I've listed. As we all know, every gun is a bit different.
My rifle in bear country is a .338 Mag. The reason I have the heavy handgun(s) is because in camp, cooking, sleeping, working around camp, cutting firewood, etc., carrying a rifle is nearly impossible. That's why I carry the handgun.
If I have to tangle with a bad bear, which I do not want to do, I hope I have my .338 in hand. If not... then the heavy handgun will have to do.
Best of luck. J.B.
.
First, the load with which I killed the 400 pound black bear was... New Rem. cases, 210 gr. Sierra J.H.P., 20 grs. H2400, CCI Mag Primers. This load is TOP END! I emphasize, the bear was treed and NOT charging. I was about 20 yards from it and fired one round which clipped the heart, penetrated a lung, and snapped the spinal column. It was a through-and-through shot and I never recovered the bullet. He was dead within about 15/20 seconds after hitting the ground. (Do not start with this powder amount! Work up!)
Today, I use a Beartooth Hard Cast, gas check bullet, 250 grs., Long Flat Nose, behind 20 grs. WW296, or H110, with mag. Primers.
My plinking or fun loads are 215/220 gr hard cast with 13 grs. Blue Dot.
Again, if you like these loads, work up from 10% below what I've listed. As we all know, every gun is a bit different.
My rifle in bear country is a .338 Mag. The reason I have the heavy handgun(s) is because in camp, cooking, sleeping, working around camp, cutting firewood, etc., carrying a rifle is nearly impossible. That's why I carry the handgun.
If I have to tangle with a bad bear, which I do not want to do, I hope I have my .338 in hand. If not... then the heavy handgun will have to do.
Best of luck. J.B.
Back in the early 50's my grandmother got her a grizzly with her Winchester 1892 in 30-30. They were out camping in the sierra nevada's north of paradise. The bear came wondering into camp when all the men were out fishing. Only one's there were a couple of my aunts and my grandmother. As the story goes while the bear was going for the food, my grandmother went for the gun.
Growing up I remember playing on and with the nice bear skin rug she had. Always impressed me how large the claws and teeth were. Don't know how big it was or much else about how she killed it. Do know the gun she used as one of my cousins still has it.
A friend of mine borrowed my .357 colt trooper one year when he was working for the smoke jumpers out of bosie idaho. Claimed that bosie international always made jumps in alaska and he wanted to take something along for bears. Seems he did get a chance to use it. Got him a 900+ lbs kodiac with it. I had loaded up some special rounds for him 158 grain simi-wad cutters, 16 grains cci powder and a alloy mix of 8% tin to 90% lead and 2% of a metal they used in the hog blades at the lumber mill.
What do I use... anything I have handy above a .22.
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Richard
The debate is not about guns,
but rather who has the ultimate power to rule,
the People or Government.
RKBA!
Growing up I remember playing on and with the nice bear skin rug she had. Always impressed me how large the claws and teeth were. Don't know how big it was or much else about how she killed it. Do know the gun she used as one of my cousins still has it.
A friend of mine borrowed my .357 colt trooper one year when he was working for the smoke jumpers out of bosie idaho. Claimed that bosie international always made jumps in alaska and he wanted to take something along for bears. Seems he did get a chance to use it. Got him a 900+ lbs kodiac with it. I had loaded up some special rounds for him 158 grain simi-wad cutters, 16 grains cci powder and a alloy mix of 8% tin to 90% lead and 2% of a metal they used in the hog blades at the lumber mill.
What do I use... anything I have handy above a .22.
------------------
Richard
The debate is not about guns,
but rather who has the ultimate power to rule,
the People or Government.
RKBA!