Pistol cartridge for Black Bear

[airedale]

42 minutes ago, turkeyfeathers said:

Would you switch out the grips to packmire or similar? 

 I will surely be firing some full powered 357 ammo, but this revolver will be fired mostly with 38 special target loads as I have a large quantity of cast and swaged lead 357 bullets laying around here on the shelves along with a bunch of once fired 38 special cases I acquired. Also a big container of "titewad" powder which should make up some good plinking loads for a song so I will be more than likely leaving the grips as they are as recoil will not come into play much.

While Pachmayr are more comfortable when it comes to recoil I just can not warm up to them and prefer wood, and even though they sting a bit it don't bother me a whole lot.

Al

Edited June 13, 2018 by airedale

[Pygmy]

I love the standard S&W wood grips....Had a set of target grips on my K22 for awhile...Took them off and gave them to a buddy...

I have a set of Pach grips on my M66 and they are not bad, but I'd still prefer the standard grips...

[Rack Attack]

My vote would be for the 44 or better yet a 460.

[Padre86]

17 hours ago, Rack Attack said:

My vote would be for the 44 or better yet a 460.

.44 Mag just seems like an overkill for my uses.  I'll mostly be dealing with deer, maybe the occasional black bear.

 

Plus heavier platforms, more expensive ammo, can't down-load and practice with a cheaper round like I can with .357 Mag.  

[turkeyfeathers]

23 minutes ago, Padre86 said:

.44 Mag just seems like an overkill for my uses.  I'll mostly be dealing with deer, maybe the occasional black bear.

 

Plus heavier platforms, more expensive ammo, can't down-load and practice with a cheaper round like I can with .357 Mag.  

Can dumb down a 44 with 45 long colt ? 

[Padre86]

5 minutes ago, turkeyfeathers said:

Can dumb down a 44 with 45 long colt ? 

I believe so, but the downloaded variant of .357 Magnum (.38 special) seems so much more common and cheaper to deal with.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

28 minutes ago, Padre86 said:

I believe so, but the downloaded variant of .357 Magnum (.38 special) seems so much more common and cheaper to deal with.

That 357 will do everything you mentioned in your original post. 

[outdoorstom]

I carry a S&W  model 69 44 mag. I bought a chest holster which I'll be using this tracking season. There is no way I'd carry a rifle while tracking. Sometimes  you're literally on your hands and knees in super thick stuff, with a leash in one hand.

[Pygmy]

39 minutes ago, outdoorstom said:

I carry a S&W  model 69 44 mag. I bought a chest holster which I'll be using this tracking season. There is no way I'd carry a rifle while tracking. Sometimes  you're literally on your hands and knees in super thick stuff, with a leash in one hand.

Faced with a real chance of meeting a pissed off ,injured and desperate bear, such as tracking, I would say the .44 Mag makes sense...

[Rattler]

Years ago, old timers often used a .44 Special revolver and swore by it.  The .44 Mag had not been invented yet.  The .44 Special would still be a good choice today, especially if you get a nice 6" barreled .44 Magnum and load it with .44 Specials that have good hunting bullets in them.  This leaves you the option of going to .44 Mag rounds in the event you think they are warranted.  Light enough for dispatching game, but strong enough to stop a killer.

 

[silent death]

Thompson contender in 444 marlin or a  35 rem

Edited August 14, 2018 by silent death

[Nytracker]

I know it's an old post but I have to wonder what caliber did you end up with and what platform?

[Chef]

If you’re not carrying a long gun the sidearm becomes the main gun and that changes my answer, kinda. A light short carbine chambered for a real cartridge still has my vote. Every tracker that tracks with dogs that I know carry’s a 22lr or 22mag revolver. My wife would got to a single action revolver in 22mag for dispatching wounded critters.




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So are you suggesting maybe something like a m1 carbine for tracking? Because I kind of like that idea


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[Buckmaster7600]

So are you suggesting maybe something like a m1 carbine for tracking? Because I kind of like that idea


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Yes, but not a 30carbine.


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[Dom]

I like the Handy Rifle from HR in .357 When purchased I had the option of buying the pistol grip and yes it is legal single shot w/a conversion

[Nytracker]

I carried an 1187 20 gauge first year I tracked. There is no good way to carry a long gun in and out of heavey brush while handling a dog . I carried a glock  21 plus p load with a lazer after that. My choice in revolver would be a super Redhawks convertible 45 lc/45acp. Cheap practice with 45 acp .Enough energy with the 45 lc.Heavey for caliber hard cast bullet.  Probably something 300 plus grains. Looking for a bullet with mass and energy  to pass through  dense  fur  break heavey bone end exit.

[Pygmy]

10 minutes ago, Nytracker said:

I carried an 1187 20 gauge first year I tracked. There is no good way to carry a long gun in and out of heavey brush while handling a dog . I carried a glock  21 plus p load with a lazer after that. My choice in revolver would be a super Redhawks convertible 45 lc/45acp. Cheap practice with 45 acp .Enough energy with the 45 lc.Heavey for caliber hard cast bullet.  Probably something 300 plus grains. Looking for a bullet with mass and energy  to pass through  dense  fur  break heavey bone end exit.

On my Alaska hunts,  air taxi pilots were required to carry firearms...The  SW Mountain Guns in .44 Mag with 4" barrels were very popular..Designed to be carried a lot and shot very seldom....

[Hunter007]

On 3/16/2018 at 11:00 AM, Padre86 said:

I'm looking for feedback on which pistol cartridges are ideal for dispatching black bear and deer.

I need a good sidearm to carry along for tracking and dispatching wounded game.  I will always rely on a rifle or shotgun if I believe the animal's wounds are marginal.  But for those situations where the animal's wounds are fatal but it life still lingers, I would like a reliable, widely available and effective pistol cartridge for dispatching it.

 

The cartridges I am considering for this application:

• .357 magnum
• 10mm auto
• .44 magnum
• .41 magnum
• .454 casull

I would prefer a revolver for its simplicity and reliability for shooting big cartridges.  As well, I really don't see the need for anything more than 6-8 shot capacity for this use.  That said, I would consider a semi-auto if the case for 10mm's usefulness can be made.  

With regards to the magnum cartridges and bears: I've seen a lot of people preach that "bigger is better."  And while I acknowledge that something like a .44 magnum or .454 casull are well-regarded for killing big game, I would prefer a cartridge that is adequate for handling black bear rather than one that is overkill, if that makes sense.  I have given .357 magnum much consideration for this reason.

I would like to hear feedback from those that have experience with these cartridges, or perhaps others that I haven't considered.  

I think you are better off getting a carbine  in something with the power of a  44 mag or better,  then carry both with you .

 

[ny hunter]

I carry either a 357...or 44mag  on my hip at all times in the woods.... Never feel under gunned for NY bear..

[Padre86]

Ended up getting an 8 shot S&W chambered in .357 magnum.

5” barrel. Scandium frame, so a bit lighter than the average stainless steel magnum revolver but still heavy enough to tame the more powerful loads. Perfect for my needs.


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[rob-c]

11 minutes ago, Padre86 said:

Ended up getting an 8 shot S&W chambered in .357 magnum.

5” barrel. Scandium frame, so a bit lighter than the average stainless steel magnum revolver but still heavy enough to tame the more powerful loads. Perfect for my needs.


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Nice, how about a photo ? 

[Nytracker]

Must have photos

[Padre86]

I’m away from my house for the weekend. I’ll post a pic when I get back.

It’s the m&p r8 (pretty much the same as the s&w trr8 with a few minor differences).


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[Hunter007]

 

[Nytracker]

I'm betting I would be changing my shorts. Cool video.... I think it would be hard to video while holding my srh. Just saying i wouldn't be in bear country without a revolver with big bear medicine  loaded to the max.