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Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

Title:The Hunting Notesfile
Notice:Registry #7, For Sale #15, Success #270
Moderator:SALEM::PAPPALARDO
Created:Wed Sep 02 1987
Last Modified:Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1561
Total number of notes:17784

1349.0. ".44 mag BEAR round" by AVALCH::CALDERA () Thu Feb 10 1994 15:41

    I am looking for opinions on a good (production) .44 mag round for
    bear.  I read the note in FIREARMS on pet .357 and .44 loads, those 
    were all reloaders recipes, I am not a reloader, and really don't 
    want to become one, (no offence to reloaders, God bless you all).
    Articals I have read mention hardened bullets for penetration, but
    they were hand loaded.  I don't think I want a bullet that is going
    to mushroom on impact, those cridders are tough, hide, fat, muscle and
    bone.  I don't want one mad and knowing which direction I am in.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Paul
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1349.1How big is that Bear?MSTIME::BSS::DSMITHRock with the DEADFri Feb 11 1994 09:5914
    
    
    Paul
    
    
     What type bear are you going to hunt? had a friend that went up
    too Alaska this summer and stopped in bar, he asked how many of the
    locals carry 44 mags for bear protection, they laughed at him and said
    the first they do with 44mag is file off the front sights, that way it
    doesn't hurt as much pulling the pistol out of a certain spot!
    
    
     Dave
    
1349.2flat pointSALEM::MACGREGORWaco, a modern day Alamo?Fri Feb 11 1994 10:349
    Sounds like what you want is a flat point instead of a hollow point. I
    think there is an ammuntion manufacturer that makes a 300 grain flat
    point. I also believe that there is a 250 grain Full Metal Jacket. I
    don't know who makes either. I reload so I don't buy much already made
    ammo any more. I use 180 grain hollow points and wouldn't for a minute
    hesitate to use them on black bear and I use max loads. Grizzly is
    another story. I'd buy a .454 Casull for them or maybe a .50 AE Mag.
    Good luck. 
    						Bret
1349.3Black BearAVALCH::CALDERAFri Feb 11 1994 11:475
    RE:1
    Going after Black Bear, Maine, using the .44 as backup.  I were going
    to Alaska I'd use something I had to drag around behind a 6 by.
    
    Paul
1349.4DNEAST::CURAVOO_GARYCRUZN IISun Feb 13 1994 22:078
    My wife uses a model 94 trapper and I was using (until my 45-70
    contender) model 29 Smith for bear. If you will be hunting over bait,
    or for that facts dogs, a 44 is more than enough. The shots will
    be fairly close. We were using hand loads with semi wadcutters. That
    piece of lead would leave one mighty big exit wound and a river of
    blood for trailing which never was to far. 
    
    					gary c 
1349.5HLDAR2::SADINThe easy way is always mined..Wed Feb 16 1994 12:5010
    
    
    Sampson is a custom ammo maker that loads some 300grn monsters in
    .44mag specificly for bear. I read the article on them about 2years
    ago, and then a couple little follow ups since. I couldn't tell you
    what the address or telephone # is.......maybe the NRA could help.
    You're a member, correct? Just call one of the number on the back of
    your card....they're usually very helpful....
    
    jim
1349.644 MAG for Grizzly3149::FWALSHTue Feb 22 1994 14:488
    There was an article in Sports Afield a while ago on this very subject.
    they were asking people that guide and people that live in Alaska about
    using the 44 MAG for Grizzly. Their recommendation unanimously was load
    the 44 with six bullets shoot the grizzly five times and use the sixth
    on yourself. Nuff said!
    
    Fred
    
1349.7Perhaps Hornady 240s or Garretts?4BY4::LESLECraig LesleTue Feb 22 1994 17:4630
    
    A recent article in Hand Gunning said the factory Hornady 240 grainers 
    were excellent for blackies over bait and by hounds (close range). The 
    author seemed to really like the Garrett 310 grain SWC loads (very hard 
    something like 23 hardness) pushing 1320 fps, but these are expensive,
    as much as factory magnum rifle shells, around a dollar a throw. I've 
    never seen a local supplier for them but their address is;
    
    	Garrett Cartridge Co.
    	Box 178
    	Chehalis, WA 98532
    	206-736-0702
    
    Speaking of griz and AK, hoping to get to there this fall with my brother 
    who is stationed up there now and a resident :). Have not decided if griz 
    is on the menu yet - can I save enough money for that, too? Plan to use
    a .338 as primary and probaby will try something along the lines of a 
    handloaded 300 gr for the .44 or perhaps these Garrett loads for backup. 
    
    Anyone tried these or have experience with the commercially available 300
    PSPs - Sierras or Speers?
    
    According to my brother there lots of griz around and encounters are more 
    common than you might think. A fellow he works with got his camp destroyed 
    twice by them while sheep hunting last fall - not too picky on what they 
    consume, they drank his cooking kerosene, ate part of the tent and 
    cigarettes, but left the filters...
    
    Good luck.
    Craig
1349.8HLDAR2::SADINslightly unstableWed Feb 23 1994 08:028
    
    
>ate part of the tent and cigarettes, but left the filters...
    
    	at least they smoke like real men....;*)
    
    
    jim
1349.9Designer Bullets ???AVALCH::CALDERAThu Feb 24 1994 17:0024
    How did Daniel and Davey do it?  I mean harder than hard lead,
    jacketed gizzmo, patition, solid copper, grains of this swages of that.
    I think I'll cover my self with honey and let the bear eat me.  It has 
    got to be less painful than all this Hi-tech bullet stuff.  I am in
    Hi-tech, I go on vacation to get away from all that stuff.  The more I
    read the more I find out I don't know.  I did find out that there are a
    bunch of companies out there that make special bullets, and what
    special ones there are.  The only special I used to know about was 
    .38 Special, thems was the good old days, boy was I dumb.  If the
    Native Americans at the Little Big horn could see what has been done
    to the bow and arrow, they would have left the country rather than
    fight.  Custer would have been out there with a PC, figuring out what
    the best bullet and charge were for the distance and weather
    conditions.  Lets not even get started on the propper power scope, nor
    its country of origin.
    
    Things sure have changed; buying bullets off the rack, how tacky, 
    designer bullets is the way to go.
    
    Seriously, thanks a lot for all the input, I'll make some calls and
    after my hunt which is 6 months away, I'll post the results, if there
    is any results.
    
    Paul