Going Camping and Cant Find Heavy FMJ's

30 second google search pulled both these up.

Black bear killed with single 9mm round

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bbh1kxmFTM

Killed a charging grizzly with 2 9mm rounds

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?p=216460

People are under the assumption that bears are bullet proof or need a minimum of .44 mag to take one down. Sure they are pretty ferocious animals that are capable of ripping my arm off, but bullet proof, no. Just like many say .32, 380 and 9mm aren't adequate for SD vs a person, people think anything under a .44magnum will just PO the bear. I am not denying I would be better off with a larger caliber, but I don't have $500 to spend on a dedicated bear gun, especially when I have something in the mean time that could get the job done if need be.

By the way I have bear spray before someone else says it.
 
Too each his own. I will be up in Montana in the Cabinet Yaak area in a little over a week and my .44 magnum will by my primary and my EDC .357 as a BUG that day. Even those are on the light side of bear defense. And yes, I will have my pepper spray around as well.
 
By the way I have bear spray before someone else says it.
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Make sure you get some bear spray.:D

The FMJ in most cases is just jacketed soft lead. They will probably not penetrate a bears skull and just ricochet away with the angles from a frontal attack. They will pass through soft tissue cleanly unless the jacket comes off.

If all you have is a 9mm, I am a proponent of dumping as much HP energy on the snout of a bear in rapid succession. I even like it ahead of hardcast (unless you are hunting). Hardcast will blow right through a bears skull in most cases, and if you don't hit CNS, the energy dump is minimal and may not stop a charge.

The hydrashock should be fine. Any police duty HP is usually a good combination of penetration and expansion. I like the Fiocchi XTP because they are reasonable and the midrange 1.50% expansion with deep penetration is a nice combo on the snout of a bear. If the bear gets to you, he will be eating through a straw.
 
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Cabelas in Scarborugh might have something for you as well if you are going that far.

There are some pretty big black bears up there. One was shot by a hunter last year in my area that weighed over 600lbs.

Personally, I dread the mosquitos and blackflies far more than the bears.
 
Just another thought. I doubt you're gonna have any trouble with bears and I also agree with alot of other posters who say bears aren't bulletproof. However, I think having 10+1 and a reload is far more than you could ever use in a bear encounter. You don't get in gun battles with bears. Maine woods are thick and if your close enough to see the bear he's gonna be close enough to get you before you get off a whole mag.

But you've been there before and know the situation. Its too bad you can't get another gun. Bears are always a great excuse to go buy another gun :D
 
Spray

Already have bear spray.
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That's all you need.
I had black bears on the decks around my home in PA regularly when I had bird feeders in places that the bears could reach. They always ran away when I went outside and yelled at them.
It is not uncommon to see them in campsites at the state park up at Rickett's Glen. The rangers haven't had to shoot any.
Pete
 
Don't know if your local Wally Wold carries them but Winchester has a 124gr fmj 9mm NATO loading. They're accurate and very stout, IMO a bit more so that the 135gr 9mm +P critical duty that I tested in my gun. I don't know the ballistics on them but I'm sure it can be found, but at about 20 feet (from the face of the bales) they leave a considerably larger dent than the standard 115gr fmj's in the 3/16" steel bullet trap(after passing thru a few large bales of hay) my buddy has set up at his house.


Tapatalked via my highly abused iPhone
 
9mm NATO? Typically 124grain. No idea as to your area but my LGS has oodles of them (they are overpriced out the wazoo, which is why no one ever buys them)

147 FMJ typically aren't really sought out - bullets of that weight class, that I have seen anyways, tend to be HP defensive ammo
 
I frequently see 147gr American Eagle and Lawman around, and have found both to work reliably in my limited experience with them. Both are flat nosed and will cost a little more than the 115gr you're used to, but not as much as HP. If the cost of HP is prohibitive for you, they might be worth looking for.
 
I lived a few miles south of Calais
when I was a kid.
My grandfather always maintained the only
thing in the Maine woods that can hurt you
is your own self.
We always carried 22 rifles.
 
Try DoubleTap ammo.

Caliber : 9mm+P

Bullet : Montana Gold Full Metal Jacket Flat Point

Ballistics : 147gr @ 1135fps / 421ft. lbs. from a G17.
Glock 19 velocity - 1120fps.

You can get it online.

Deaf
 
giaquir, my guess is your grandfather never encountered a cow moose with her calf.

Those are typically much more dangerous than black bears.

Had one charge our canoe, once. We could paddle faster than it could swim, which was nice.

On another occasion, my father disturbed a mating pair during rut, and the bull decided to chase my mother. Mom made it to the cabin; the bull moose, blinded by my dad's high beams, ran into a birch tree and knocked itself silly, before staggering off.

There are things in the Maine woods that can definitely hurt you. The vast majority of the time, they won't. But that does not mean they can't.

Oh, yeah - the black flies and horse flies are typically more of a concern, but by late July and August they are usually just about gone.
 
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Use blanks , the noise will scare him away. Get a very loud whistle like I have. NEVER feed them ! That's the biggest problem.
 
You should be able to find the 124 nato equivalent around, but 147 is about as heavy as they get, and those are hard to find. Look for winchester 124s or perhaps Ranger 124 FMJs. There are some out there, like the Win Ranger practice rounds that load an fmj to duplicate or at least replicate the feel of defensive ammo. That's the best I can come up with. Do you have a 12 gauge? That might be better if you can't find anything better for the 9mm. I understand carrying the pistol is so much easier.
 
Do you have a 12 gauge
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I do but I don't want to be carrying it around with me all day since chances of me running across bear are slim, and I don't feel safe leaving it unattended back at camp since I will be hiking a good amount of the time. My truck will be a good hike from camp so I wont be going back and forth to lock it up.
 
I think the 124gr. NATO round would offer the best balance of weight, velocity, & penetration for your needs. In fact, the main complaint against 9mm NATO ammo, overpenetration, is exactly what you'd need against thick-hided animals like bear, elk, deer, etc.

Will you be in an area where snakes are known to live? If so, you might want your first round to be a CCI shot cartridge. It's good for snakes & small critters at close range. Check to see if it cycles reliably.
 
OP
....and I cant buy ammo online since I live in Massachusetts.
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Post#33

Deaf Smith

Try DoubleTap ammo.

Caliber : 9mm+P

Bullet : Montana Gold Full Metal Jacket Flat Point

Ballistics : 147gr @ 1135fps / 421ft. lbs. from a G17.
Glock 19 velocity - 1120fps.

You can get it online.

Deaf
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Your more than just "Deaf" Mr Smith, you know what I'm talking about! I know you can read, but.....?
 
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