Lots of variables to consider including the type of bear , your experience , shot placement , etc . Lots of communities in northern Canada use everything from SKSs , to 303s , to 30-30s ; and think nothing of it ; kind of a use what you have situation it seems . The Forest Rangers here use shotguns when putting down nuisance bears .
Bear rifle. Will 44 mag be enough?
- Thread starter Jdiep
- Start date
Of all the replies on the 15 pages of this thread, I wonder how many posters here have actually shot a bear?
How many have shot more than 10? 20? 30? How many have shot more than 10 with more than 10 different types of bullets or in more than 10 different chamberings?
Certainly wondering how many folks have shot a bear with a 44 mag before.
How many have shot more than 10? 20? 30? How many have shot more than 10 with more than 10 different types of bullets or in more than 10 different chamberings?
Certainly wondering how many folks have shot a bear with a 44 mag before.
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For normal hunting I use my 338wm for everything.
We used to grizzly hunt every year on the other side of williston lake, about 6 - 8 hours out of Mackenzie. I kept the 416 in the truck for when the occasional bad shot was made and we had to go into the thick to finish the job.
The range that things happen at is measured in feet. If you have never done that you won't understand, but that is why I have used a 416.
We used to grizzly hunt every year on the other side of williston lake, about 6 - 8 hours out of Mackenzie. I kept the 416 in the truck for when the occasional bad shot was made and we had to go into the thick to finish the job.
The range that things happen at is measured in feet. If you have never done that you won't understand, but that is why I have used a 416.
I think the huge difference in opinions here is that some people are confusing killing a bear with stopping a bear, the end result is the same but making sure its drt while under pressure and shooting at a moving target I think you want to shoot something with a little more room for error and something above the 2200 fps mark to cause hydrostatic shock as well.
There's probabaly better options out there but for what I have in the safe it would be my sako grizzly in 9.3x62 that I would bring
There's probabaly better options out there but for what I have in the safe it would be my sako grizzly in 9.3x62 that I would bring
My neighbour dropped a bear with my 44 mag. The distance wasn't all that much, about 35 yards or so. One shot and that bear dropped where it was standing. It was facing straight at us so it only took that 1 well placed shot.
Yes to all of the above, but I’m picking up what you’re laying down.
It’s hard for most people to get a meaningful amount of bear killing experience. Depending on where you are, trappers might. Livestock operators and bee-keepers could be well within their rights to kill every bear they see. Fishing camp operators kill lots of bears too. Guides may see a lot of bears being shot, or they might not.If you can actually get someone who has some or all of that experience theres a good chance that he is in the only thing better than a dead bear is a dead bear somewhere else mind set. Or maybe he’s a run what you brung guy, and having something that kills bears, has little interest in finding out what else kills bears. Maybe he doesn’t have the means and opportunity to experiment. If you did find that guy he’s probably learned to keep his mouth shut.If he does offer an opinion, he might get shouted down by someone who knows basically nothing but thinks he does. Wouldn’t take long for that to get old.
There is a difference in between killing a bear .... and stopping a bear in it's tracks.
A 22lr can kill a bear .... but not many calibers and options can stop a bear in its tracks ... and stop an actual charge. For that you need to crush bones ....
A bear with a perfect heart shot can still go on and has enough time left and to kill you ....
But a bear that cannot move any more because of broken bones .... is easy to finish off.
A 22lr can kill a bear .... but not many calibers and options can stop a bear in its tracks ... and stop an actual charge. For that you need to crush bones ....
A bear with a perfect heart shot can still go on and has enough time left and to kill you ....
But a bear that cannot move any more because of broken bones .... is easy to finish off.
What bones are you going to break to stop a bear in its tracks? What bones are you going to break so it can’t move?
I'd want a heavy bullet. in 44 mag your usually using a 240 grain bullet. you don't want a hollow point so I figure for a Grizzly . you want a solid
bullet for deep penetration . you can get hard cast 300 grain bullets with gas checks on the bottom. myself if I had real big bears I'd opt for a 4570 instead of the 44 mag. you can go up to what a 450 to 500 grain bullet in a 4570? and from what I've heard people like Brenneke slugs the Black magic magnum because they have an extra hard cast slug .I've seen videos where Bears are on someone like yesterday as in very fast. to me a pump action shotgun would be a lot faster to bring into play than a lever action rifle in an emergency.
bullet for deep penetration . you can get hard cast 300 grain bullets with gas checks on the bottom. myself if I had real big bears I'd opt for a 4570 instead of the 44 mag. you can go up to what a 450 to 500 grain bullet in a 4570? and from what I've heard people like Brenneke slugs the Black magic magnum because they have an extra hard cast slug .I've seen videos where Bears are on someone like yesterday as in very fast. to me a pump action shotgun would be a lot faster to bring into play than a lever action rifle in an emergency.
I know that if you poke them in the wishbone with a 300 RUM they will shuffle off this mortal coil in a rather decisive fashion, but so will just about anything else.
Head down put your shot through the top of the neck and on into the body, though it won’t make any difference if it hits the spine first. Side shots probably aren’t really a defensive shooting, thats just a bear showing how big he is. If you’re hunting; square through the shoulders will end that pretty quick.
Not a charge, but I walked up on a broadside shot, dying med boar that I thought was dead. Point blank bear went into a pounce position and let out a low, deep growl like sound. I slowly lifted the rifle barrel to its head, without shouldering or looking through the scope, I pulled the trigger. The second 100gr tsx from a 257wby entered the eye and exited in the armpit or shoulder (can’t remember).
Given the choice, I’d much rather go into that situation with a 92 44mag loaded with 305gr hard cast, but a bolt action 257wby with mono bullets worked.
I think most 45-70’s are much heavier than a 92. A just in case rifle is likely to never be used and only be carried..
I’ve never used hard cast on game, my opinion of bullet choice comes from what I’ve read.
Speaking of experience of bullet penetration on bones. I’ve neck shot two deer and a bear with soft cup and core bullets, penetration wasn't impressive but the spine was absolutely destroyed, none exited. I dispatched a wounded doe with a 12ga slug to the head, that didn’t exit. Dispatched a buck to the head with a 240gr xtp from a 44mag, didn’t exit.
Did OP ever update??
Given the choice, I’d much rather go into that situation with a 92 44mag loaded with 305gr hard cast, but a bolt action 257wby with mono bullets worked.
I think most 45-70’s are much heavier than a 92. A just in case rifle is likely to never be used and only be carried..
I’ve never used hard cast on game, my opinion of bullet choice comes from what I’ve read.
Speaking of experience of bullet penetration on bones. I’ve neck shot two deer and a bear with soft cup and core bullets, penetration wasn't impressive but the spine was absolutely destroyed, none exited. I dispatched a wounded doe with a 12ga slug to the head, that didn’t exit. Dispatched a buck to the head with a 240gr xtp from a 44mag, didn’t exit.
Did OP ever update??
