44 Special Black Bear Defensive Load

[Tempus Tom]

Hey friends,

I need to create an effective (not amazing, not perfect) defensive black bear load in 44 special.

While it will be fired from a 44 magnum, it needs to have 44 special recoil so that my wife feels confident enough to both practice with it and use it if needed in an emergency situation.

Right now, I have bullets that range from 180 grain to 300 grain and am basically willing to purchase whatever is needed (as long as I can find it in this environment).

Does anyone have experience in creating 44 special bear loads? If so, did you use lead or jacketed bullets, what grain were they....?

I'm currently working on a 300 grain lead WFN 44 magnum load for myself, but don't think my wife would feel comfortable enough to carry a revolver loaded with them.

After a google search, I read that for black bear, you want a 250 grain lead bullet traveling around 1000 fps. Does that sound right to you?

Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Sneakshot92]

Hey friends,

I need to create an effective (not amazing, not perfect) defensive black bear load in 44 special.

While it will be fired from a 44 magnum, it needs to have 44 special recoil so that my wife feels confident enough to both practice with it and use it if needed in an emergency situation.

Right now, I have bullets that range from 180 grain to 300 grain and am basically willing to purchase whatever is needed (as long as I can find it in this environment).

Does anyone have experience in creating 44 special bear loads? If so, did you use lead or jacketed bullets, what grain were they....?

I'm currently working on a 300 grain lead WFN 44 magnum load for myself, but don't think my wife would feel comfortable enough to carry a revolver loaded with them.

After a google search, I read that for black bear, you want a 250 grain lead bullet traveling around 1000 fps. Does that sound right to you?

Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

I'm sure someone else will chime in shortly with other options but i'm going to reccomend the classic Skeeter load.
7.5grs of Unique under a 240-250 gr Keith type SWC.

 

[Blue68f100]

Personally I would want full Magnum loads if I needed to use it on a bear. If the time comes where she has to use it she will not notice the extra recoil. Use the spl for practice, but carry full Mag.

 

[.308 Norma]

Personally I would want full Magnum loads if I needed to use it on a bear. If the time comes where she has to use it she will not notice the extra recoil. Use the spl for practice, but carry full Mag.

That's the way I feel about it too.

After a google search, I read that for black bear, you want a 250 grain lead bullet traveling around 1000 fps. Does that sound right to you?

A "250 grain lead bullet traveling around 1000 fps" is barking at the heals of a light 44 Magnum load anyway.
That's exactly what I like in my Smith 69 for my "bumming around in the hills" load. I use 44 Magnum cases for it.

 

[Alex Clayton]

What gun? That will make a lot of difference. If its a full size all steel gun the weight will soak up a lot of the recoil. Has Wife tried the gun yet? Let her see how she feels with some full ammo if it's a heavy gun she "may" be fine. A 240's LSW will be fine for the small bears, assuming the shooter can handle the gun. If she struggles or just does not want to practice with the full house load nothing wrong with making some a little lighter. If she can hit what she shoots at they will still work dandy on the small bears.

 

[Tempus Tom]

Thanks for the replies.

The revolver is a S&W model 69 4" which is a L frame. Its the only 44 I've ever shot so while I can't speak from experience, I've read that my model 69 kicks more than the larger model 629 N frame.

Perhaps with enough practice I can get her comfortable shooting moderate 44 magnum loads. For now, she prefers the recoil of 44 special...and after watching me shoot pretty hot 300 grain magnum loads, she politely declined to give them a try.

After reading your replies, I think I tend to agree that she can practice with 44 special loads (and maybe a small amount of light magnum loads) and then carry the magnums when in the woods.

I have some Unique that I loaded up a couple days ago in increasing amounts of powder so we'll start with those.

Thanks again all.

 

[.455_Hunter]

... or you can just pick-up a box of Buffalo Bore's 255 gr LSWC.

[Edit to add: Forgot we are in an ammo shortage]

 

[Tempus Tom]

... or you can just pick-up a box of Buffalo Bore's 255 gr LSWC.

[Edit to add: Forgot we are in an ammo shortage]

Correct! I've been to basically all of the stores in my town looking for these (or something similar) and they were all sold out. I nabbed some 305 grain BB and some Grizzly 300 WNGS but she doesn't want those!

I haven't tried buying ammo online yet, but I figured I could load up something for her and that way I we could also have her practice affordably using the same ammo she'd carry.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Correct! I've been to basically all of the stores in my town looking for these (or something similar) and they were all sold out. I nabbed some 305 grain BB and some Grizzly 300 WNGS but she doesn't want those!

I haven't tried buying ammo online yet, but I figured I could load up something for her and that way I we could also have her practice affordably using the same ammo she'd carry.

Have you been to the Sportsman's Warehouse on the northwest side of town off US 95? The Denver area locations have maintained a pretty good stock of the HSM .44 Special loading- a 240 gr hard cast LSWC at 845 fps. Maybe there are some in Vegas too.

 

[Random 8]

The .44-40 has accounted for a lot of bear...the big kind too...and game up to moose with relatively soft flat lead bullets in the 180-200 grain range at pretty modest velocity. I'd try to replicate this performance level, and ramp up the velocity with a quality JHP such as the XTP as the wifey can tolerate.

 

[.308 Norma]

I've read that my model 69 kicks more than the larger model 629 N frame.

Using the same loads, yes, your Model 69 does "kick more" than a Model 629. It's physics, but I'm speaking as someone who has shot 629s, Ruger Redhawks and Ruger Super Blackhawks. I prefer the recoil of my Model 69 with moderate loads to any of the others with full-house 44 Magnum loads though.

For now, she prefers the recoil of 44 special...and after watching me shoot pretty hot 300 grain magnum loads, she politely declined to give them a try.

I don't blame her. I have a Ruger Blackhawk 45 Colt. With 300 grain bullets at about 1,100fps (Ruger Only Loads) it will get your attention too.
BTW, my 5'2", 120lb wife knocked down hundreds, if not thousands of steel silhouettes with her Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Magnum back in the '80s. She used 220 grain Sierra "Silhouette" bullets over large charges of 2400 back then, and she fired thousands of those loads during practice and actual competitions. The row of trophies on a shelf in the basement reminds us of those days, but not as much as the arthritis in my wife's right thumb joint does.

 

[AJC1]

So you reload and control every aspect of the load. You can make a box that she shoots to determine her level of comfort. Once her baseline is established you can work up as long as she is comfortable. You can go up a few tenths per trip and in a short while her experience and comfort will leave her well prepared.

 

[Sistema1927]

A 240-250 hard cast LWC at ~850 will do the job.

 

[sonora]

Personally I believe it is important to be comfortable with the revolver and load combination she will have more confidence.
Skeeters load should be adequate. Start her out with a reduced load of 6.5 grs of Unique and a 240 grn, swc. See if she is comfortable and confident with that. You can increase the load when and if she is ready. Have you considered possibly trying a short barreled 20 gauge shotgun loaded with buckshot.

 

[Eddietruett]

Personally I would want full Magnum loads if I needed to use it on a bear. If the time comes where she has to use it she will not notice the extra recoil. Use the spl for practice, but carry full Mag.

I would agree with this 100%. I would not be comfortable that a 440 special loaded at 850fps would give the penetration on a big bear that you might need nor break a bone etc. I've neve shot a bear, but all of the "experts" say its about penetration and while 850 in a 44 spl is a great defense load, I think I'd rather have a .357 with 180gr hard cast running about 1300 fps than the 44 spl load. Practice with the light, shoot the heavy if you need them. The 2nd shot is the hardest. Won't be thinking about anything with the first shot which is the most important.

 

[Sneakshot92]

I would agree with this 100%. I would not be comfortable that a 440 special loaded at 850fps would give the penetration on a big bear that you might need nor break a bone etc. I've neve shot a bear, but all of the "experts" say its about penetration and while 850 in a 44 spl is a great defense load, I think I'd rather have a .357 with 180gr hard cast running about 1300 fps than the 44 spl load. Practice with the light, shoot the heavy if you need them. The 2nd shot is the hardest. Won't be thinking about anything with the first shot which is the most important.

I'll take the hot 357 loads myself. Mainly because I have the perfect gun to shoot them in.

 

[forrest r]

Thanks for the replies.

The revolver is a S&W model 69 4" which is a L frame. Its the only 44 I've ever shot so while I can't speak from experience, I've read that my model 69 kicks more than the larger model 629 N frame.

Perhaps with enough practice I can get her comfortable shooting moderate 44 magnum loads. For now, she prefers the recoil of 44 special...and after watching me shoot pretty hot 300 grain magnum loads, she politely declined to give them a try.

After reading your replies, I think I tend to agree that she can practice with 44 special loads (and maybe a small amount of light magnum loads) and then carry the magnums when in the woods.

I have some Unique that I loaded up a couple days ago in increasing amounts of powder so we'll start with those.

Thanks again all.

I'd ditch the unique, high pressure for low performance.

2400 is a lot better choice. higher velocities with recoil that's more of a push then a crack that unique brings to the table. I understand you're using a 69/44mag so pressure really isn't an issue. At the end of the day you bump up unique & you'll will have high pressure high recoil loads that can't hold a candle to the 2400 loads.

 

[Tempus Tom]

Have you been to the Sportsman's Warehouse on the northwest side of town off US 95? The Denver area locations have maintained a pretty good stock of the HSM .44 Special loading- a 240 gr hard cast LSWC at 845 fps. Maybe there are some in Vegas too.

Yes! Its my favorite store in town. We have another in Henderson, which is also close enough to where I live. I've picked up probably 10,000+ primers from those two stores over the last month. Right now the primers are $27/1000, but many primers (like SR) are always out of stock.

At our Sportsman's, handgun ammo is scarce. Especially in 44 magnum and 44 special. They get shipments in all the time, but I haven't found everything I need. At least not yet.

So you reload and control every aspect of the load. You can make a box that she shoots to determine her level of comfort. Once her baseline is established you can work up as long as she is comfortable. You can go up a few tenths per trip and in a short while her experience and comfort will leave her well prepared.

This was my plan as well. I just wanted some suggestions about what loads should be our goal. In other words, what grain bullet, powder charge...stuff like that. And I think I have some good ideas now.

........., I think I'd rather have a .357 with 180gr hard cast running about 1300 fps than the 44 spl load. ..........

I think I agree. I don't currently own a 357 but will definitely purchase one at some point.

Thanks again.

(And I'll check out 2400. Haven't used that one before)

 

[Antihero]

If another gun is in the budget.....look at a Taurus Tracker. The porting and ribber grips help immensely. My wife fires full power 357s out of hers without problem and she hates recoil.

Also.....I'd rather have a hot 357 load than a mild 44spec load against bear too

 

[AJC1]

Yes! Its my favorite store in town. We have another in Henderson, which is also close enough to where I live. I've picked up probably 10,000+ primers from those two stores over the last month. Right now the primers are $27/1000, but many primers (like SR) are always out of stock.

At our Sportsman's, handgun ammo is scarce. Especially in 44 magnum and 44 special. They get shipments in all the time, but I haven't found everything I need. At least not yet.



This was my plan as well. I just wanted some suggestions about what loads should be our goal. In other words, what grain bullet, powder charge...stuff like that. And I think I have some good ideas now.



I think I agree. I don't currently own a 357 but will definitely purchase one at some point.

Thanks again.

(And I'll check out 2400. Haven't used that one before)

I would think that a gun dedicated to a purpose should be perfect for that goal. A 6 inch barrel for true magnum powder would give her more weight as well. A lot of Alaska people are choosing 10mm. Might also be worth a look long term.

 

[Tempus Tom]

I would think that a gun dedicated to a purpose should be perfect for that goal. A 6 inch barrel for true magnum powder would give her more weight as well. A lot of Alaska people are choosing 10mm. Might also be worth a look long term.

I don't disagree.

 

[AJC1]

I don't disagree.

Oh the double negative.

 

[Weflyfast]

The best special bear load is a .44 magnum....

....but if you can't trade up to a magnum shoot a heavy flat nose lead bullet.

 

[Lafitte]

Shoot and have range fun with a good mid-range load. When in bear country pack it with a "bear load". If she needs to defend herself against old blackie she won't notice the recoil.
Lafitte