What the hell I want to start a bear defence/hunt thread to.

mlehtovaara

mlehtovaara

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Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
Just wondering what you guys think of a lever action .44 mag to take in the bush for a week, or just going hunting deer or black bear. Lots of Black Bears where I plan on camping, no grizzlies. I have heard people using .44 mag handguns for grizzly defence, and I would prolly want something bigger for grizz but for the black bears if I had to use it is .44 mag in a 18 inch any good. My other choice is a bolt action .308 and I can shoot it pretty fast if I needed to get a couple shots off quick. I have both and the lever is a little lighter with no scope, and cheaper for some plinking in the woods as I reload for it.
Thanks
Mark
 
I carry an 1894C in .357 mag exclusively in Black bear country. I use Beartooth bullets 185 gr hardcast wide-meplat bullet going close to 1600FPS...and I don't feel outgunned at all.
My exuberant confidence comes from shooting the rifle ALOT, and knowing I could easily put two follow-ups in the vitals in the time it takes to shoot one 12 GA slug follow-up due to recoil.
An 1894 in experienced hands is blazing F'ing fast for follow-up shots, such a short lever throw and the .44 mag handloaded with hardcast bullets or with a factory hunting bullet is good Blackie medicine!
 
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Ok why not.
Excellent gun for your purpose. I used a similar gun with factory 240 hp and it dropped our large Island bears just fine. The bears I shot were quite adrenalized as well so there is no doubt in my mind about the lethality of the little 44 with a well placed shot..
 
I use a Remington 16ga defender style Wingmaster laoded with slugs. When in grizz country I go to my 1100 with an extention loaded with slugs. Never had to use any of them and hope I never do.
 
I wouldn't neccasarily go with a hard cast for black bear defense I want a bullet that just doesn't zip thru I want to see a reaction from a bear so I can get another shot into it if need be...

When I am in black bear country I have been loading 270gr Speer JFP Gold Dot's in 44mag when I used to have 44 mag rifles/handguns, 300gr XTP's & 300gr Gold Dots in 45 Colts & 300gr XTP-Mag's in my 454 Casulls.

I saved the hard cast for when I was in grizzly country...
 
Camp Cook said:
I wouldn't neccasarily go with a hard cast for black bear defense I want a bullet that just doesn't zip thru I want to see a reaction from a bear so I can get another shot into it if need be...

When I am in black bear country I have been loading 270gr Speer JFP Gold Dot's in 44mag when I used to have 44 mag rifles/handguns, 300gr XTP's & 300gr Gold Dots in 45 Colts & 300gr XTP-Mag's in my 454 Casulls.

I saved the hard cast for when I was in grizzly country...
Click to expand...

XTP's? :confused: I have always found them a very frangible bullet. I was under the impression that they were constructed for rapid expansion at pistol velocities(personal defense). Black bears aren't that tough to put down, but they do have some muscle and hide to bore through. IMHO penetration is key with a pistol round, the half inch hole from a .45 caliber hardcast is just a bonus! ;)

I am only disagreeing with you in theory Campcook, as I have no experience with XTP's on anything with a heartbeat. I certainly wouldn't feel any bear anxiety using your setup. :)
 
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