.44 Mag and a Grizz?

[BlueMerle]

A few weeks ago I started a thread about hunting rifles and Bears... Many of you suggested that I get a big Wheel for the Bear. So, is a .44 Mag big enough? Or do I need to go with a S&W 500???

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[P95Carry]

Just my own thoughts - but bigger the better!!!

.44 mag is a great round and well placed probably could do Ok but I really would want a max power available. My choice would be .454 because I have a couple ..... even a hot 45-70 too per in my BFR - that also would give me some feeling of security.

Put it this way - overkill is probably not gonna happen anyways, even with big bore handguns. Shot placement too is a biggie but I have heard stories where a shot needs taken real fast and so if accuracy is prejudiced - best to have a big stick caliber..

[p8riot]

A few weeks ago I started a thread about hunting rifles and Bears... Many of you suggested that I get a big Wheel for the Bear. So, is a .44 Mag big enough? Or do I need to go with a S&W 500???

Well, I certainly wouldn't go any smaller. Personally I like my .475 Linebaugh, but since those are not commonly available I'd go for the .460 or the 45-70. Some of them griz's is big.

[retsupt99]

In Alaska...Bear...or better yet, an angry Moose who is on the same sled dog path?

A 44Mag...and a pair of brown pants helps!

ret

[raevan]

Some times size matters, the bigger the better, as long as you can handle it. When I was in Alaska, I was told the absolute minimum was the 41 Mag. My 44 mag was considered adequate, but bigger is better.

[gregarat]

The only bear I ever shot was a 300lb Black bear, wich I used a .30-30. You can get an idea how tough bear are when you cleaning one. A Black bear is tiny compaired to a Grizz.
I would atleast use a .375 H&H as a rifle cartrage. I dont know about a sidearm round. Personaly, I would keep a fast reload for the rifle. Over using a sidearm.

[Janq]

I've never hunted one but I do know bear have a dense thick matted hair with thick overlapping muscle.
I'd go with a .460 as suggested by others if a proper rifle were not available to me.

When hunting stuff this big and that can hunt you I imagine it's better to have too much than just enough or worst too little...



- Janq

[ELCruisr]

I've been in a little griz country and I'd, personally, want a rifle and a belted magnum at that. A 44 mag would be a minimum for me, a 460 even better.

I had a friend that did the taxidermy mount for the record Kodiak. Oh my, the thought of hunting something that big was a real nightmare. I don't remember the cartridge but it was a big Weatherby. The first shot was muffed and missed the spine hitting the jugular instead. That was at 200 yards. The bear turned and charged. He got 4 more chest hits, 2 through the heart. It was still coming when the Inuit guide hit it in the head with a 10 gauge slug which bounced off the skull but knocked it off its feet. It was unable to rise again due to blood loss. The range was 15 feet at the end! The hunter gladly admitted to soiling his drawers. That blasted thing looked like a locomotive. That's what a big, wounded, angry bear is capable of......

[PapaScout]

Ok, ElCruisr, you scared me. I'm moving to the city!!! :)))

[havegunjoe]

I have found that rounds larger than the .44 magnum are not particualry fun to shoot, your wrist can only take so much pounding, and a lot more expensive. Try a .44 loaded with 310-Gr super hard cast Garrett Hammerheads. The rest of the time shooting over the counter loads is fun and only will cost you an arm instead of an arm and a leg or more for those big bore guns.

http://www.garrettcartridges.com/products.asp

[ELCruisr]

Ok, ElCruisr, you scared me. I'm moving to the city!!! :)))

Hey, the good news is there's no Kodiak bears in the midwest!!!!

[p8riot]

In Alaska...Bear...
A 44Mag...and a pair of brown pants helps!

I wished I'd had brown pants on when I came across an 8ft 1050# Alaskan Brown a few years back. But the .475 did just fine. I had two shots left. One more for the bear and....well.....

I'll have to dig out some pictures

[obxned]

The British had a double-barreled pistol in something like .577. That might do the trick, but a rifle is still better. A .44 Mag will kill the bear, but he just might live longer than you do.

[CopperKnight]

Bigger is better, but a hot .44 should be sufficient as a back up gun, since it's assumed you would have something bigger to start with.

[Tom G]

Those high calaber revolver rounds are hard on the ears and handsthe 44 mag is a dream to shoot The 454 is quite a bit more recoil. I haven't shot the 460but gave read some good reviews