Handgun Bear Hunting

[Bar]

After using a Win 94 30-30 for most of my hunting for bear, elk, and deer, and the last 5 years with a muzzy i'm ready for a new challenge.

I've decided to hunt with a handgun from here on out. Not sure how long that is at my age of 72, but I think using a handgun may add a few years of hunting for me. I'm looking around for a gun. I'm thinking the Ruger Super Blackhawk in .44 mag may be what i'm looking for. I shot CAS for decades, and like the western style single action guns.

My style of hunting is still hunting with some stalking. Anybody hunt bears like this with a handgun? No scope, so i'm talking close shots on the ground face to face with a bear. Sounds exciting to me.

Your thoughts?

 

[JG358]

I've been tossing around the same idea. I prefer the Bisley grips over the traditional plow handle, especially with hotter loads.

 

[Bar]

I've been thinking about the grip difference on the Blackhawk. I've never held the Bisley, and it seems to be a love-hate grip. You think it has better recoil control? Do you have big hands? I wear an XL glove.

To be honest I like the looks of the plow handle, but i'm more concerned with comfort when shooting. The .44 mag has a bit of poke, and comfort should be first on the list.

A lot of handguns i've shot really bang the knuckle in my middle finger on the back of the trigger guard. Hows the Blackhawk for that problem? Is there clearance for the knuckle?

btw..Beautiful guns.

 

[JG358]

I wear a med or large glove depending on brand. The bisley grip rolls less in your hand under recoil, much more comfortable for me with large cals with heavy loads. I dont notice near as much finger pinch on my grip hand since making the switch. Theirs a reason John Linebaugh prefers them when building 475s and 500s.

Where you at in CO? Might be able to arange a test drive of one(or both) of the 45 Colts it youd like to try a Bisley.

 

[Bar]

I'm in Buena Vista. Do you like the .45 better than the .44 mag?

 

[Rucker61]

So going forward we can hope that the Bar eats the bear, not the bear eats the Bar?

 

[Bar]

Being eaten is not on my list of fun things to do.

 

[JG358]

I'm in Buena Vista. Do you like the .45 better than the .44 mag?

Not sure why but I've always prefered the 45 Colt.

I'm hoping to make a run up towards Tin Cup in the next couple weeks, I'll shoot you a PM to see if we can work something out when I know the specifics.

 

[Bar]

I just found out the gun shop in Salida has some Blackhawks, so I can check them out there.

Thanks.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Not sure why but I've always prefered the 45 Colt.

I'm hoping to make a run up towards Tin Cup in the next couple weeks, I'll shoot you a PM to see if we can work something out when I know the specifics.

Because the Colt kicks the Magnum's ass.

I am a handgun enthusiast. But don't hunt with a handgun, tho I've wanted to. Too hard for me thus far. I like to succeed.

I've had Freedom Arms, BFRs, Bisleys, Blackhawks, Super Blackhawks, Redhawks and Super Redhawks.

By far...the Freedom Arms is the most accurate handgun (revolver) of the above list. I do have a Super Redhawk in 480 Ruger that is stupid accurate too, but across the board...the Rugers are just Ho-Hum.

If you could muster the coin, a Freedom Arms in any caliber will not fall short of expectations in accuracy or Fit and Finish.

The 454 was too hot for me. And I reload. So I've made the 45 Colt my Go To for some time. Looking at the actual bullets a .429 vs .452 is a huge difference in size. A 315 grn LFN is gonna be hard to contain within a critter even at mild velocities.

What turned me off with the .44 was being 21 yo and shooting a cylinder of factory 180s at a grouse. Swear I had blood dripping from my ears. Running a 315-335 grn bullet at 1025fps will still penetrate a broad side steer easily, yet the concussion of a hunting type shot without ear pro is not a career ender on your hearing.

Just my opinion. Think there is an Alaska guy that posts here often with much more experience in Handguns.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Nice Reeder-ized JG. Had him work over a 4 5/8" years back. Accuracy didn't really improve but fit, finish and serviceability sure did. Adding the FA front sight base was huge

 

[JG358]

By far...the Freedom Arms is the most accurate handgun (revolver) of the above list. I do have a Super Redhawk in 480 Ruger that is stupid accurate too, but across the board...the Rugers are just Ho-Hum.

Best shooter I ever had was a 500 Linebaugh. Still kick myself for parting with it. For out of the box performance I'd agree that its hard to beat Freedom Arms.

Nice Reeder-ized JG. Had him work over a 4 5/8" years back. Accuracy didn't really improve but fit, finish and serviceability sure did. Adding the FA front sight base was huge

It shoots pretty good but personally, I think his work is a bit over rated. I'm looking forward to seeing what the blue beater shoots like once I screw its new barrel on. Its already smoother, timed better and has tighter lock up than the Reeder.

 

[Bar]

Because the Colt kicks the Magnum's ass.

I am a handgun enthusiast. But don't hunt with a handgun, tho I've wanted to. Too hard for me thus far. I like to succeed.

I've had Freedom Arms, BFRs, Bisleys, Blackhawks, Super Blackhawks, Redhawks and Super Redhawks.

By far...the Freedom Arms is the most accurate handgun (revolver) of the above list. I do have a Super Redhawk in 480 Ruger that is stupid accurate too, but across the board...the Rugers are just Ho-Hum.

If you could muster the coin, a Freedom Arms in any caliber will not fall short of expectations in accuracy or Fit and Finish.

The 454 was too hot for me. And I reload. So I've made the 45 Colt my Go To for some time. Looking at the actual bullets a .429 vs .452 is a huge difference in size. A 315 grn LFN is gonna be hard to contain within a critter even at mild velocities.

What turned me off with the .44 was being 21 yo and shooting a cylinder of factory 180s at a grouse. Swear I had blood dripping from my ears. Running a 315-335 grn bullet at 1025fps will still penetrate a broad side steer easily, yet the concussion of a hunting type shot without ear pro is not a career ender on your hearing.

Just my opinion. Think there is an Alaska guy that posts here often with much more experience in Handguns.

Yes, but you can shoot a 320gr in the the .44 mag too, and it will have a better BC, and penetrate better than the .45. I'm not knocking the .45, but to get it to out perform the .44 mag you ahve to get it going faster than 1025fps. You need to get it up to .44 mag speeds, and then it's no more pleasant to shoot than the .44.

How's that SRH .480 feel for recoil?

 

[mt100gr.]

The 45 with heavy bullets at decent velocities is a really impressive round. I shoot them in my 454 and much prefer them to standard 454 or 44mag. More "boom-push" less "bang-snap" ....best way I can describe it.

With a hard cast or controlled expansion bullet, the 45 at modest speeds would downright flatten most critters in the lower 48. (With shot placement intended to breakdown the animal or destroy CNS)

 

[Bar]

I have a Taurus Tracker in .44 mag that I use for hiking and fly fishing the high mountains. It's light and easy to carry, and that's why I got it.

At 2.2 lbs, and ported it's not the most pleasant gun to shoot with full mag loads. I thought at first i'd just try hunting with it, but it's not really the best choice to hunt with.

I love the western era, and a Blackhawk in .45 sounds pretty good.

 

[Gwoodak]

You guys might find this interesting since you're into hunting with pistols. http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/showthread.php/147688-10mm-Game-Pics?highlight=10mm

 

[nirvanafan]

I can't comment on shooting bears with handguns, but I have taken whitetail with my Super Redhawk in 44 mag. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on a black bear here in NY. In fact, I'm hoping to get the opportunity this fall. There is a decent sized bear that has been spotted as close as 30 yards from the house on the land I hunt. We generally hunt from treestands, but do some still hunting. Make sure to pick a well designed bullet and you should be fine with a 44.

 

[Jarrod Renaud]

Yeah, a Super red (or black) hawk .44 with some HSM bear loads will do the job for sure. Barrel length is up to you. My brothers got a red-hawk with the 5.5 and that thing is dang accurate. Its what he carry's in Montana, and also keeps on hand during bear season in case he can get in close to use it.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

TC Contender 45-70 Govt would get 'er done.

 

[Jarrod Renaud]

TC Contender 45-70 Govt would get 'er done.

haha sure will