.45 APC on bears for self-defense

[H&Hhunter]

Having seen a little ole about 200 pound black bear soak up three 230 gr hollow points then run off with out so much as a indication of hit I'd have to say. We never recoverd that one either.

IXINEAY .45APEY ON BEARABEY.


In plain english that means NO WAY JOSE'.

 

[carebear]

I think most effective "defensive" handgun usages have been the "warning shot" to break what may have been a bluff charge anyway and the "put it in the things ear" shoot it off you technique.

Actually getting one or two handgun rounds in the right place in the short period of time and actually having a near-instant effect is coming down to the damn near metaphysical when bears are involved.

I wish I were Spiff, he just calls them "Brother" and they pass on their ways. Must be nice to still be in tune with nature.

 

[sm]

Somewhere in Cyberspace there must be a Forum that Bears subscribe to.

Rocking right along with Hibernation tips, Berry picking, Favorite Fish, Favorite Salmon Runs...some bear posts a "human thread"....I just know it.

 

[SamlautRanger]

Just read an interesting account in Traditional Bowhunter magazine, Sep 2004 issue. Story of a bowhunter, Ed Bangs, who had a Brown Bear sow charge at him. He was able to kill the bear in self defense, by drawing his .357 mag and getting several shots off in the face of the bear. One of the few documented cases of a charging bear being killed in self defense by a handgun.

there was another post discussing whether a .357, .41, or .44 would work best on bears. Kind of same thing. Argument was for the .357 and .41, that you could control the getting the shots off quicker and they might actually even have more penetration.

Again the best thing for bear defense, would be a rifle in 375, 416, 45-70 or 12 guage slugs. But, if you are solo bow hunting, many will just carry a handgun as backup (where it is allowed.)

 

[mr.trooper]

HOT .357 and 10mm are the minimum for bears...SMALL bears. while people have killed Grizzle bears with bolth of them, the 44 is the minimum id feal safe with...but then again i wouldnt feal safe with anything but a long gun .338 minimum

What about a 45-70 revolver

 

[.45&TKD]

Really stupid question- Would a warning shot possibly scare away a bear or would it just make it angry?

 

[carebear]

Not a dumb question.

Just think, do YOU like gunshots going off near you?

Bears are pretty smart, as long as they have been hunted they do associate armed humans as threats.

There might be the odd rogue that has a beef with gunshots but that one is probably gonna stomp you on general principles anyway.

Like so much else in life, if the bear is bluff charging or reacting out of fear, a warning shot may spook it. If it is determined to get you, shots to the heart and brain might not stop it in time.

 

[spacemanspiff]

I wish I were Spiff, he just calls them "Brother" and they pass on their ways. Must be nice to still be in tune with nature

only the black bears respond to my calling them 'brother'.

with grizzlys ya gotta pimpslap them and show them whose boss.

 

[.45&TKD]

How would a SKS do against a Bear?

I always thought I would make my SKS my camp rifle, but maybe not after all this talk. Maybe the M38 Mosin would be a better choice, even though it is not semi-auto.

 

[Guns_and_Labs]

I second the .460 Rowland suggestion... I just put one on my Kimber and ran some rounds through it. It seems to match .41 magnum performance in the familiar 1911 format.

Of course, a very hot load in a 10mm Delta would do that, too.

That said, I'll still stick with a S&W 329 with Garrett's loads, and hope never to have to touch them off. I made it through sighting in, barely, and hope to never fire it again (unless with .44 Special practice loads).

 

[mbartel]

samlautranger-

What kind of ammo you have in your 45 doesn't matter. You will need some bacon grease though. Because after you empty your gun into the bear, smear the bacon grease on the weapon, then throw it at him, so he will lick the gun and you can escape with your life. But if he chases and catches you...it will be good that you put that bacon grease on the gun, cause it will slide easier when he shoves that gun up your a**

seriously though.....45 acp as a manstopper...very good.
45 acp as a bear stopper....NOT TOO GOOD!!!!!!!

 

[rick_reno]

Pepper spray? I was talking with one of the local state forestry fellows tonight about bear protection - we're in the Idaho Panhandle and can encounter bears (black and grizzly). This year they've been out for awhile (winter missed us) and food is in very short supply. This combination results in some very PO'd bears. He said pepper spray is something you use if you want to taste good when the bear bites you. He carries a Ruger BH he's shortened to just over 3 inches. He likes the BH because it's light and it's easier to cut down than the RH.

 

[sturmruger]

Do they even have bears in Cambodia???

Is there a US city named Cambodia, because the only Cambodia I know of is in Asia somewhere.

 

[SamlautRanger]

Sturmruger

Sturmruger,

read the previous posts on the first page.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

SamlautRanger:

As to your question (which wasn't an invitation to tell you what other guns/calibers you should carry), you may want to check out DoubletapAmmo.com

They have 230 gr. FMJ and Gold Dots @1010 fps for 521 ft/lbs, at under +P pressures. They also have 200 gr. Gold Dots @1125 fps for 562 ft/lbs, also at under +P pressures.

Sam

 

[White Horseradish]

I always thought I would make my SKS my camp rifle, but maybe not after all this talk. Maybe the M38 Mosin would be a better choice, even though it is not semi-auto.

Make sure to have the bayonet attached. Better, yet, use a full-length 91/30 mosin with a bayo, that should put some distance between you and the bear. They say you should stick a bear between the third and fourth rib. Ask the bear to stand still while you count.

 

[black bear]

I bought a Colt Anaconda .44 Magnun 4" barrel for protection from bears, while I fly fish in bear country.
When hiking during the day I don't expect to find a bear, so I use my Colt .45 Goverment which is more comfortable to carry with heavy packs.
I load the magazine and chamber with 230 grains ball ammo, for its penetration.
For wild people management I like to use 230 grains Federal Hidra-Shock.
black bear

 

[bad LT]

White Horseradish: The correct method of using a bayonet is as an "old school laser sight."

and if you use an M44, you will cook the bear too

 

[Cosmoline]

The problem with .45 ACP is that the bullets have a very low SD. Lower than the hardcast bear loads available for .357's, .44 Mags and .45 Colts. That, coupled with their relatively low velocity, means they may not give you enough penetration. Also, keep in mind that the .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, modern .45 "Hot" colt loads, and so on were all developed for hunting. Using them for bear isn't very far from their initial purpose. The .45 ACP, OTOH ,was never intended for use against any game with four legs. It's a man stopper, pure and simple.

 

[Instinctivshot]

I think that the original post inquired about the 45ACP because that is probably the only handgun readily available. I doubt that the larger hunting calibers are available in Cambodia (unless you have $$$). In the Philippines the 45ACP is considered the king of handguns.

 

[SONICMASD]

i remember seeing a post awhile ago from a guy who was charged by a black bear and drew his desert eagle 50AE and the thing just dropped. I remember he said it cracked bone and just kept on going.

What do i think?

honestly, I think shot placement is the bottom line. A bear skull wont even stop smaller loads than 45ACP. sure a 9mm is a bad choice especially if a bear is charging but no matter what caliber (9mm and up i'd say) in the head you should be able to stop the attack. Although I would prefer a 45ACP at the very least.

 

[Geno]

Reflect on why J.M.B. developed the .45 ACP:

Browing designed the cartridge to be able to kill a horse to stop the charge. But, that was with a 230 grain FMJ, not a hollow point. Can a bullet kill or how effective/efficient or moreover how prudent the bullet are all very different considerations.

I have had Russian Boar (most consider these the black bear's equal) soak up 300 grain FMJs and run on 200+ yards over 4 minutes time. I have it on video. I have also dropped Russian boars in their tracks at 33 yards with one shot from an Encore .444 Marlin with 240 grain hollow points.

For my comfort, I would NEVER hunt bear with a .45 ACP. I wouldn't hunt one with less than a rifle bullet .444 Marlin or .45/70 Gov't. in an Encore, if I were to use a pistol at all; and I probably would not. Even then, I would have a nice 12 gauge shotgun with slugs over my shoulder.

If you ever want to understand fully why, read Larry Kelly's (Mag-N-Port's) book, and his experience with bear using a .454 Casull!

Doc2005

 

[killzone]

OHH Yeah

.45 would be my choice of weapon against a back bear,,, HEAD sHOT maN tHAT THE WAY TO GO...

 

[Carl N. Brown]

45 Acp

Head shots with a .45 on a charging bear are not easy.

Recently fired both 45 ACP from 5" pistol and 16" carbine
at my swinging metal target at 60 yards. The bullets smeared
lead and jacket metal on the metal plate (3/8 inch or 10mm thick).
Fired three rounds of .357 Mag (125 gr Remington) and
had three craters in the plate that bulged the other side.

My son has seen bears while ATVing on my uncles farm.
I think I will leave my .45 at home and take the .357 with
158 gr (only for self-defense kill-or-be-killed encounter).
When camping there three years ago I took a 12 gauge
double with buckshot for protection. Not easy to carry
readily on an ATV.

 

[Shootcraps]

It amazes me that people would even consider 45ACP against a bear. The cartridge just doesn't have enough power against that type of animal. It's not that freakin' complicated.