My next bear rifle

caboverbobby

caboverbobby

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Thinking of buying an H&R single shot in the 500 S&W calibre.... I think the bear should drop instantly.

What do you guys think?

Good or bad idea?

I just want the bear meat, not the pelt.
 
Around here you don’t have access to off the shelf ammunition so you would want to reload. It does supply plenty of energy, and will give you a big hole for tracking if required, so I can’t see why it would not work. The pelt would more than likely be useable, just a bigger hole. A 12 gauge slug leaves a bigger hole and the pelt is usable.
 
I'll get the Ammo from SFRC, they are only half an hour away.

I have yet to learn how to reload. I have not had good luck at finding someone around here to teach me. I'd be willing to drive within 3 hours of Kingston to have someone show me and i'd be willing to buy lunch and a few beers for after the lesson.

I've started to save up money for a New Brunswick bear hunt in the spring so i figure i should treat myself and get a new rifle.
 
45-70 would definately do the deed, and probably be easier & cheaper to source than .500S&W...

Just sayin. :)

45-70 Gov't 300gr JHP (Standard load) = 2,069 ft/s (631 m/s) / 2,852 ft·lb (3,867 J) from 24" barrel
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.500S&W 300gr FTX LEVERevolution = 2,075 ft/s (632 m/s) / 2,868 ft·lb (3,888 J) from 8.375" barrel
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2075fps from a 8.3" barrel? Maybe I gotta get me one of these rifles!

I choose a 4570 for my bear rifle. 350gr hornady flat point. I've heard that the 500sw was hard to find factory hunting loads for big game. Reloading with cast bullets would be a fun. 700gr maybe
 
cosmic said:
Well - Having a second shot available might not be a bad idea... Personally, I wouldnt go bear hunting with a single shot.
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I have shot all 36 of my bears with a bow... it's a single shot! :D

caboverbobby said:
Not worried about a second shot.

Never needed one before on any game i have hunted, just have to make the "right" shot.
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You should not need a second shot on a baited bear... if the first doesn't drop it right there, it is unlikely that it will be in view when you jack the second round anyway... as always make the first one count.

Don't let anyone "dis" the Handi Rifle... they are nice, simple, well built guns... I have a number of them. One SB2 frame with .243, .30/30 and .308 Win barrels. Another SB2 frame with .22 Hornet, .223 and 7mm-08 barrels... and a third SB2 frame with .300 AAC Blackout and 7.62X39 barrels. Also have two SB1 Sportster frames with .17 HM2, .17 HMR and .22 WMR barrels.

The 500 S&W will work great for your hunt... with that said, there are other calibers that I would go with first.
 
I wouldn't worry about using a single shot on bear,with pratice you can get pretty quick with a follow up shot if needed.I've hunted griz with a ruger#1 as have thousands of other people.
 
Interesting thread...it has me thinking about an H&R in .500 now. I like H&R's in general, and I had no idea how well the .500 compared to my old fave the .45-70. Ammo and brass are expensive, though.
 
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