Hunting/bear defence 44mag ammo out of a 16 » barrel
- Thread starter DGY
- Start date
I’ve been up here 30 years living and playing in big bear country and so far so good I never relied on a gun to deal with bear encounters. I would have to carry a gun every time I leave the back door, doesn’t make any sense. To be honest the real reason for the 44 mag lever is I want one not I need one or that I think it is a viable option for bear defence
I think it would be a fun gun to own, I have an old (1898) Winchester mod 94 in 38-55 that is totally worn out bore wise that I really like, and when I saw for sale a beautiful mod 92 miroku lux TD on here I got real excited and started this thread… but I was too slow and I missed it! Anyway, I don’t know where you live and if you even live in big bear country but for me when I’m out and about it is usually bear spray. When I’m out hunting it is what ever I am carrying and a bear spray!
I did buy a couple boxes of these recently , no testing yet though . 40+ years back my grandfather had a contract to run the county dump , he had a problem brown bear . 30-30 dropped the large bear in his tracks
https://winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Handgun/Big-Bore/X44MBB
https://winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Handgun/Big-Bore/X44MBB
Last edited:
45-70 doesn’t have as much recoil as a 12 gauge slug in a shotgun. You think it costs more than a 44 mag round but a hard cast 44 mag round is gonna cost $2.60 per round if you are buying boxes of ammo (if you can even find it) also I have read that lots of lever guns will jam with these loads. I would t want to bet my life on that. With my 44 mag I bought some 300 grain Barnes and some 280 grain federal Swift A-frame bonded bullets which are $4 a pop. From my research those are the best 44 mags I could find that would be reliable in a lever gun.
You could get around the cost factor and hand load your rounds. 45-70 is a big cost savings for loading your own ammo.
I still say 45-70 is what you want. This gun has a job. It’s not gonna be a plinker. It could save your life.
Interesting article: https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=108I’ve been up here 30 years living and playing in big bear country and so far so good I never relied on a gun to deal with bear encounters. I would have to carry a gun every time I leave the back door, doesn’t make any sense. To be honest the real reason for the 44 mag lever is I want one not I need one or that I think it is a viable option for bear defence
Anyway, I don’t know where you live and if you even live in big bear country but for me when I’m out and about it is usually bear spray. When I’m out hunting it is what ever I am carrying and a bear spray!
Feed and function aside... 44 Mags wreck bears. Especially at ranges less than 100 yards.
Also, among the list of cartridges "to bet ones life on" when it comes to bears... the 45-70 shouldn't make the cut.
Speed kills.
R.
I know Tim has been around and is knowledgeable, but man is he dramatic lol. Phil shoemaker on the other hand will tell you the real thing or at least that is how I feel about these guys. For years Phil would carry a 30-06 for backing up clients even though is favorite is his 458 win mag. He even save some clients lives with a 9mm hand gun.
I know that more gun is better and like I said I do have the gun for the job if I really feel I need to carry a gun for the job, my 21” barrel 458 win mag spitting 485gn hard cast flat nose bullets at 1850fps is what I would choose, easy to shoot and plenty of power inside 30m where it matters!
I wont by a 45-70 cause I have a better option, my 458!
Anyway like I said I missed the gun I wanted by a few hours so that combo of short, take down, nice wood 44 mag treat has passe hahaha, back to my real priority, a nice German combination gun(I did find one yesterday but it is a bit over my budget)
Last edited:
Also to add to this post, FEDERAL 44 Rem Mag 280gr Swift A-Frame is 500fps slower than the Federal Hammer Down 270 grain Bonded Soft Point 44 mag rounds. Watching ballistics gel videos I like the way the Swift A frame held its shape but the hammer down held up very well also. Would be interesting to see how they held up smashing through bones.
Id take a 4570 over a 204 ruger anyday to deal with a bear of any type
Thunderhog
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootneys
Shooting a black bear from the front heading straight on is never ideal. Yes a boiler room hit will kill the animal, however not after they eat you first and then sh!t you out on the road......
A frontal shot is a low percentage shot in hitting the vitals. Sure the bullet or slug will pass through the entire bear, and quite likely end up in a hind quarter, eventually killing the animal. But even a heart shot black bear can do plenty of damage before expiring..........
I have shot plenty of black bears, and a few grizzlies in my career as an assistant hunting guide, a law enforcement officer and a veteran hunter in general........
I try to head shoot if blacks or grizzlies are advancing and are at close range. Well placed heads shots switch them off right now.
Every encounter is different, as well as challenging. Being charged by any bear is not for the faint of heart.
As a guide (holding my 32 Special Winchester), the bears always seemed to land facing my direction when falling out of a tree. And half the time they tried to run through me, I guess I was in the wrong place, or right place when this occurred...........
I carry a black bear tag every year, however I do not have a desire to shoot any more bears. Unless I have to now........
Last edited:
Shooting a black bear from the front heading straight on is never ideal. Yes a boiler room hit will kill the animal, however not after they eat you first and then sh!t you out on the road......
A frontal shot is a low percentage shot in hitting the vitals. Sure the bullet or slug will pass through the entire bear, and quite likely end up in a hind quarter, eventually killing the animal. Even a heart shot black bear can do plenty of damage before expiring..........
I have shot plenty of black bears, and a few grizzlies in my career as an assistant hunting guide, a law enforcement officer and a veteran hunter in general........
I try to head shoot if blacks or grizzlies are advancing and are at close range. Well placed heads shots switch them off right now.
Every encounter is different, as well as challenging. Being charged by any bear is not for the faint of heart.
As a guide (holding my 32 Special Winchester), the bears always seemed to land facing my direction when falling out of a tree. And half the time they tried to run through me, I guess I was in the wrong place, or right place when this occurred...........
I carry a black bear tag every year, however I do not have a desire to shoot any more bears. Unless I have to now........
Well, I agree but it wasn't me holding the gun or pulling the trigger. Yes, it was my gun not my shot.Shooting a black bear from the front heading straight on is never ideal. Yes a boiler room hit will kill the animal, however not after they eat you first and then sh!t you out on the road......
A frontal shot is a low percentage shot in hitting the vitals. Sure the bullet or slug will pass through the entire bear, and quite likely end up in a hind quarter, eventually killing the animal. Even a heart shot black bear can do plenty of damage before expiring..........
I have shot plenty of black bears, and a few grizzlies in my career as an assistant hunting guide, a law enforcement officer and a veteran hunter in general........
I try to head shoot if blacks or grizzlies are advancing and are at close range. Well placed heads shots switch them off right now.
Every encounter is different, as well as challenging. Being charged by any bear is not for the faint of heart.
As a guide (holding my 32 Special Winchester), the bears always seemed to land facing my direction when falling out of a tree. And half the time they tried to run through me, I guess I was in the wrong place, or right place when this occurred...........
I carry a black bear tag every year, however I do not have a desire to shoot any more bears. Unless I have to now........
