Handgun cal for Black Bear?

[gunzo]

Back in May a hiker was attacked by a bear approx 45 miles east of where I live here in Ky. It's known that there are bears in Ky. but usually along the W.Va., Va., & E.Tn. borders. Now they seem to be headed west & there have been several sightings in the Lexington area.
In the past, while walking the woods or riding my ATV in warm weather, there were only about three reasons to pack: feral dogs, poisonous snakes, or over protective pot growers. Now it looks like a bigger caliber might be in order. I realized that I know nothing of what it takes to put down a Black Bear. I've seen them shot on TV with everything from arrows to .458 mags, whats it really take with a handgun? Considering proper shot placement of course.
Lately I've studied their anatomy & read of their avg. sizes, etc. but would like to hear from people who have actually shot eastern bears with a handgun or have been present at autopsies of handgun shot ones.
I still don't think bears are a big threat around here, but nothing wrong with being prepared. The hiker did get 80 stitches for his experience.

Thanks, gunzo

[razor]

41 mag and up should work just fine. It would need to be in a good single action!

[COR]

...and here we go...I just love a good 19 page "bear gun" thread.

[cottonstalk]

I agree 41 and up,I have taken a few with 44s and a 45colt and they work fine.Good bullets and good placement are key.

[COR]

Maybe I scared folks with my rude comment...sorry man.

I use a .41, .44, or .45. They all work for me with XTP or Hardcast loads. The .357 is also used but if you have the others I would go for the ones that start with a .4...This all being said, practice under field conditions (I use clay pigeons in the woods) is what will make it all happen. Take your gun out groundhog hunting too. Just shoot the gun is what I am saying because all the calibers, velocity numbers and bullet style mean nothing without a good solid killing FIRST shot. Black bear are not hard to kill in a a hunting situation where they aren't aware you are there but it is always good to put them down with the first shot because they will run to the thick stuff and make life a little interesting. The whole charge scenario is where the debate starts but that's usually the threads that take a life of their own. Good luck.

[steveb]

What were you packin' before you added bears to your possible threat list ? You may only want to change your bullet choice. If you wanted an excuse to buy a new piece, I'll not stand in your way ! Go for it ! LOL. A snake load, or shotshell is seldom loaded into my field carry piece due to the variety of possible threats and sizes. Could have used them at camp last week though. steve b

[gunzo]

Thanks fellas, sounds like a blackie needs agout the same power as a large deer. I have that covered, many Rugers & Smiths in 44 & 45C to chose from in my vault. My usual bullet for these are Keith style from water dropped wheelweights and they haven't let me down yet. I have read at least 19 pages, maybe 19,000 about grizz but not much about Black bears with a handgun.
When I'm on my place I carry what ever I'm in the mood for that day outside of hunting season of course. It may be a single six or an AR15. When I go to the mountains to ride I usually have a Glock 23 or a 1911. 180 gr or 230 gr Hydrashocks in that order. Sounds like the 45 might do in a pinch, not sure about the 40. I might just start packing my 329, I have a good shotshell load for it also.
Practice? I need it more than most, so I do it on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. Been doing it for about 35 years now. Maybe someday I'll figure it out.
An excuse to buy a new piece? That wasn't my intent for the post but I kinda got busted on that one & steveb wasn't the first, the wife was. Sorry guys but I just gotta tell this one:
Wife came home from WORK & told me about the bear attack.
I said: thats pretty close to home.... THAT DOES IT! I've been wanting a 475 for a long time, & NOW I NEED ONE!
Wife: You need a JOB is what you NEED!
Dumbassed Me: A job ain't gonna keep no bear offa me.

I cooked dinner for her that night. Washed dishes, couple loads of laundry, yada yada yada.

[COR]

The Keith bullets at moderate velocity will be all you need. I'll have a 44Spl loaded with them this weekend up at the Allegheny National Forest ...most bears I see just go the other way. I enjoy an encounter and if you've never bounced a black bear it is amazing how quickly they move, I'd be lucky to clear leather if they wanted to really get at me. Dad calls them the "Ghosts of the big woods". They just slither and slide that greasy hair through the thick stuff...look at a sighting as a positive thing. 99% of encounters are just that with no bad ending. Don't sweat the little stuff.

And don't mess with mamma. You know better.

[steveb]

I'd skip the Hydra-shocks. Now considered old technology. They will not get the penetration you'll want. The cast SWc in the Rugers/Smith you mentioned are a better choice. Good luck with the wife thing, as Red Green says..."We're all in this togther". steve b

[boomer]

Aug 24, 2010 17:11:53 GMT -5 COR said:

The Keith bullets at moderate velocity will be all you need. I'll have a 44Spl loaded with them this weekend up at the Allegheny National Forest ...most bears I see just go the other way. I enjoy an encounter and if you've never bounced a black bear it is amazing how quickly they move, I'd be lucky to clear leather if they wanted to really get at me. Dad calls them the "Ghosts of the big woods". They just slither and slide that greasy hair through the thick stuff...look at a sighting as a positive thing. 99% of encounters are just that with no bad ending. Don't sweat the little stuff.

And don't mess with mamma. You know better.

+1 Do not mess with mom and a 255gr keith bullet @ 900fps is perfect. My 14 yr. old took( 2 )275lb hogs with a .45redhawk this spring with shoulder shots on both great penetration

[boomer]

THAT DOES IT! I've been wanting a 475 for a long time, & NOW I NEED ONE!
Wife: You need a JOB is what you NEED!
Gunzo ;D ;D ;D ;D There is a silver lining here you NEED the .475 and then you can get a job protecting the hikers

[cottonstalk]

gunzo I have heard all about that incident near Natural Bridge,is this the one you are refering to?If so common sense would have helped alot in that instance.Ticking a bear off so you can get cell phone pics,not the smartest choice.Good bullet and good placement will handle alot,and most will go the other way,as COR says.

COR there is no boubt why your dad calls them "ghost" a squirrel can't get around without making some noise but blackies just seem to appear,and disappear.

[sixshot]

I agree about not using the Hydra Shoks, you need a tougher bullet for bear. As mentioned they are very fast & you need first shot ability to stay out of trouble.
Seeing bears in the wild is one of life's greatest thrills but you always need to be prepared so have a gun that you shoot well & bullets that will penetrate. The very first thing you do when you see a bear is pull your gun, that sounds kind of funny but many people make the mistake of waitng to long to recongnize a threat.
A Dr. friend just returned from the NWT in Canada, in 14 days they spotted 6 grizzly bears, 3 of them charged! He was stunned how fast they could move. One of them wanted a gut pile from their caribou & charged to within 10 yds before he shot over its head, non residents can't shoot grizz in the NWT. The bear turned away & the guide said if it charged again to kill it!

Dick

[gunzo]

cottonstalk, You hit the nail on the head. I heard it was in the Red River Gorge which is just north of the Natural Bridge S.P. but close enough. And, the the hiker was said to have had several pics of the bear on his phone. DUH! Can't say he deserved it , but sounds like he asked for it. Two other hikers beat the bear off with their back packs & it simply went away.

I have no real concerns about seeing a bear, I would love to! And to shoot one out of season in KY. would mean a hefty fine or worse, unless that is, you have some teeth marks. I just figured that if I HAD to shoot one I would want the proper caliber/penetration. Having a mad as hell flesh wounded bear roaming the area wouldn't be a good thing.

boomer, That silver lining thing was priceless. A new 475 & gettin paid to roam the Gorge! You take optimism to whole new level. Not sure if I'll throw that one on the misses though.

Oh well, Dove season is 6 days, 19 minutes, & 35 seconds away. I've been invited to several very good shoots, & I might "NEED" that 20 ga. O/U Beretta I've been wanting. Don't they recommend that you keep some excitement in your marriage?

[gunzo]

sixshot, I agree 100% on all counts. Having the gun ready makes a very good point.

Outside of deer season the hydra shocks were all that was needed in my area. Now, new opportunities. The critter situation has really changed around here in the last 20 or so years. No coyotes known of till about 1979, now there are several. The cattle & sheep farmers hate em, the hunters love em. No geese to speak of, now we have plenty. We are still looking for a recipe that will make them palatable. Our elk population is at 10,000 and growing. No wild turkeys here for many a decade, now there is a flock of 20 roaming my back yard shooting range as I speak. Our whitetail population is at 900,000. Now BEAR. Good times for hunters around here.

When I was a kid all I had to do was borrow dad's single shot 12 ga. for rabbits or papaw's 1890 Winchester for squirrels. That about covered it. The times, they are a changing.