44 magnum vrs Black Bear

Kalgalath · February 12, 2013, 10:44 PM

I'm going on my first bear hunt this September and I'm very excited. Part of my whole ritual is preparing in every way. I'll be using a 44 magnum revolver and we'll be hunting with dogs in North Eastern Tennessee, so I don't expect to take a bear larger than 250-300 lbs. I also expect to be shooting from ground to tree.

From now till then I want to use the same ammo at my range that I'm going to use on my hunt so that I can completely familiarize myself with the round. But I need some advice from you guys as to what that round should be.

I'm almost sold that I should be using a heavy JSP.

If people with experience could offer advice on brand names of bullets, casings, primers, Grain count and what ever else I need, I would be very grateful.

ATPBULLETS · February 13, 2013, 08:45 AM

https://www.rimrockbullets.net/catal...d749cd34cb99ee

this bullet maker is THE company that buffalo bore uses .....
that satisified me.... i order all my bullets from these folks...
just add primer and powder of choice.... that particular bullet should be excellent for your bear weight and any other tennessee hunting you do ...

totaldla · February 13, 2013, 10:57 AM

240gr XTP, 23.5gr of H110/296, CCI350 primer.

Rifleman1776 · February 13, 2013, 11:20 AM

Keith style SWC in hard cast 245 gr. with near max load will do the job fine.

Ifishsum · February 13, 2013, 11:37 AM

I agree with Rifleman, a 240-250 cast keith style SWC will do quite nicely for a treed bear. With a bear you want penetration first and foremost, especially for a larger animal.

My brother has killed two blackies with a .45LC, 255gr cast RNFP at maybe 850 fps. Both times he grabbed the box of plinking ammo rather than the heavier hunting loads I made for his Ruger. Put em in the right spot and they did the trick.

Cheap 870 · February 13, 2013, 04:15 PM

Speer's 300gr. flat point & Sierra's 300gr. flat point will give you all the penetration you'll need. I'd use either H110 or 296 powder 22grs.

Ozzieman · February 13, 2013, 05:38 PM

If your going to reload and since your ranges will be relative short go with a heavy garbage can.
I haven’t taken bear but wild boar hate this bullet.
320 GR SSK.
My problem with jacketed is fragmentation. You hit a major bone and you might have that problem.

http://www.pennbullets.com/44/44-caliber.html

buck460XVR · February 14, 2013, 01:47 PM

Any quality 240gr JSP(Speer, Remington, Nosler, etc.) over 23.5 gr of H110/W296 will do all you need it to do on Black Bears at treed range. Black bears are not hard to kill, you just need to be able to hit them in the right spot. This would be the same regardless of what bullet/load you use. I'd be more concerned with my accuracy than I would be with the brand of bullet I used.

DMZX · February 14, 2013, 02:15 PM

Quote:

240gr XTP, 23.5gr of H110/296, CCI350 primer. - totaldla

That is the load. Very accurate in my M-29.

GeauxTide · February 14, 2013, 08:24 PM

I'm with Buck460. I really like the 240RemSP over 23.0gr of H-110, WW Cases, CCI350, in my Ruger SBH. At the ranges you're talking, recoil recovery from heavier bullets could be an issue.

Rifleman1776 · February 15, 2013, 09:56 AM

Recoil was mentioned as a possible issue. I agree.
I'm not very big but have shot tens of thousands of rounds from my Redhawk .44 maggie. I handloaded all but about 50 of them.
The 245 gr. bullets at max. charges were no problem for me to handle.
But, using 300 gr. bullets at max-max (carefully tested) charges was very uncomfortable and tiring. I would rather place properly and be able to follow-up just as accurately with a 245 that I know will do the job well.

mikld · February 15, 2013, 01:24 PM

If I were gonna shoot some bear I would use my Ranch Dog 265 gr. RNFP bullets over a good load of 2400. But since you wanna purchase bullets I'll go along with the fellers above and say a 240-250 gr. Keith SWC over a hefty load of 2400 (I don't care for W297/H110). Beartooth Bullets makes a good 250 gr. Wide Flat Nose bullet available in .429" to .432" diameters (wide meplat for good tissue destruction and good weight for penetration).

Your idea of practicing with what you're gonna hunt with is the perfect answer 'cause a miss or poorly placed shot with the very best bullet ain't worth much...

Sure Shot Mc Gee · February 15, 2013, 02:20 PM

Since you said your trip & hunt takes place in September. Any bear taken is going to have a far amount of additional summers fat to get thru. I wouldn't use a HP but the heaviest jacketed SP available like Hornady's 265 gr Interlock SP should be sufficient for the purpose. Powder that's a matter of what's available these days. Although Win 296 & Hodgdon's H-110 are the same. But, H-110 is indeed coated with graphite and requires a LP Mag primer to fire it up. I personally would use Win 296 as its powder is much easier to ignite and it isn't coated with graphite. Win 296 normally requires just a Standard LP primer for its ignition.
Which ever way you decide to go in regards to powder is fine. Keep in mind Black bear especially large ones are indeed tough animals to kill. This type of hunt is all about first shot placement. Raised in Northern MN where Black boars sometimes get to be well over 400. I do have some experience with Black bear. Good luck and enjoy your bear hunt Sir.

February 12, 2013, 10:44 PM	#1
Kalgalath Member Join Date: January 5, 2013 Posts: 20	44 magnum vrs Black Bear I'm going on my first bear hunt this September and I'm very excited. Part of my whole ritual is preparing in every way. I'll be using a 44 magnum revolver and we'll be hunting with dogs in North Eastern Tennessee, so I don't expect to take a bear larger than 250-300 lbs. I also expect to be shooting from ground to tree. From now till then I want to use the same ammo at my range that I'm going to use on my hunt so that I can completely familiarize myself with the round. But I need some advice from you guys as to what that round should be. I'm almost sold that I should be using a heavy JSP. If people with experience could offer advice on brand names of bullets, casings, primers, Grain count and what ever else I need, I would be very grateful.

February 13, 2013, 08:45 AM	#2
ATPBULLETS Senior Member Join Date: July 31, 2012 Location: Land between the Lakes Posts: 267	https://www.rimrockbullets.net/catal...d749cd34cb99ee this bullet maker is THE company that buffalo bore uses ..... that satisified me.... i order all my bullets from these folks... just add primer and powder of choice.... that particular bullet should be excellent for your bear weight and any other tennessee hunting you do ... __________________ http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/y...e/photo-25.jpg

February 13, 2013, 10:57 AM	#3
totaldla Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2009 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 1,291	240gr XTP, 23.5gr of H110/296, CCI350 primer. __________________ Lee Auto Bench Prime Castor Oil Case Lube

February 13, 2013, 05:38 PM	#7
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	If your going to reload and since your ranges will be relative short go with a heavy garbage can. I haven’t taken bear but wild boar hate this bullet. 320 GR SSK. My problem with jacketed is fragmentation. You hit a major bone and you might have that problem. http://www.pennbullets.com/44/44-caliber.html __________________ It was a sad day when I discovered my universal remote control did not in fact control the universe. Did you hear about the latest study.....5 out of 6 liberals say that Russian Roulette is safe.

February 15, 2013, 01:24 PM	#12
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	If I were gonna shoot some bear I would use my Ranch Dog 265 gr. RNFP bullets over a good load of 2400. But since you wanna purchase bullets I'll go along with the fellers above and say a 240-250 gr. Keith SWC over a hefty load of 2400 (I don't care for W297/H110). Beartooth Bullets makes a good 250 gr. Wide Flat Nose bullet available in .429" to .432" diameters (wide meplat for good tissue destruction and good weight for penetration). Your idea of practicing with what you're gonna hunt with is the perfect answer 'cause a miss or poorly placed shot with the very best bullet ain't worth much... __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

February 13, 2013, 11:20 AM	#4
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Keith style SWC in hard cast 245 gr. with near max load will do the job fine.

February 13, 2013, 11:37 AM	#5
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,033	I agree with Rifleman, a 240-250 cast keith style SWC will do quite nicely for a treed bear. With a bear you want penetration first and foremost, especially for a larger animal. My brother has killed two blackies with a .45LC, 255gr cast RNFP at maybe 850 fps. Both times he grabbed the box of plinking ammo rather than the heavier hunting loads I made for his Ruger. Put em in the right spot and they did the trick.

February 13, 2013, 04:15 PM	#6
Cheap 870 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 159	Speer's 300gr. flat point & Sierra's 300gr. flat point will give you all the penetration you'll need. I'd use either H110 or 296 powder 22grs.

February 14, 2013, 01:47 PM	#8
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	Any quality 240gr JSP(Speer, Remington, Nosler, etc.) over 23.5 gr of H110/W296 will do all you need it to do on Black Bears at treed range. Black bears are not hard to kill, you just need to be able to hit them in the right spot. This would be the same regardless of what bullet/load you use. I'd be more concerned with my accuracy than I would be with the brand of bullet I used.

February 14, 2013, 08:24 PM	#10
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,423	I'm with Buck460. I really like the 240RemSP over 23.0gr of H-110, WW Cases, CCI350, in my Ruger SBH. At the ranges you're talking, recoil recovery from heavier bullets could be an issue.

February 15, 2013, 09:56 AM	#11
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Recoil was mentioned as a possible issue. I agree. I'm not very big but have shot tens of thousands of rounds from my Redhawk .44 maggie. I handloaded all but about 50 of them. The 245 gr. bullets at max. charges were no problem for me to handle. But, using 300 gr. bullets at max-max (carefully tested) charges was very uncomfortable and tiring. I would rather place properly and be able to follow-up just as accurately with a 245 that I know will do the job well.

February 15, 2013, 02:20 PM	#13
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	Since you said your trip & hunt takes place in September. Any bear taken is going to have a far amount of additional summers fat to get thru. I wouldn't use a HP but the heaviest jacketed SP available like Hornady's 265 gr Interlock SP should be sufficient for the purpose. Powder that's a matter of what's available these days. Although Win 296 & Hodgdon's H-110 are the same. But, H-110 is indeed coated with graphite and requires a LP Mag primer to fire it up. I personally would use Win 296 as its powder is much easier to ignite and it isn't coated with graphite. Win 296 normally requires just a Standard LP primer for its ignition. Which ever way you decide to go in regards to powder is fine. Keep in mind Black bear especially large ones are indeed tough animals to kill. This type of hunt is all about first shot placement. Raised in Northern MN where Black boars sometimes get to be well over 400. I do have some experience with Black bear. Good luck and enjoy your bear hunt Sir.