Posted on 08/13/2024 4:27:27 AM PDT by marktwain
These cases do not include incidents where handguns were used with other lethal means or a mix of handgun calibers were used. If more than one handgun of the same caliber was used, the incident is included. There are 44 incidents with a .44 Magnum caliber handgun was fired (9 black, 30 brown, 5 polar bears).
One incident was a failure with a polar bear, although no one was injured. It does not appear the bear was hit. The incident with Tom Sommers is considered indeterminate. The incidents are listed chronologically. The .44 Magnum is 98% effective.
The bear started to enter his shed. He took an aggressive stance and told her to get out. The bear showed no signs of leaving, so he stomped on the floor toward her. . Vic said, ” Her front bows moved like black lightning… the staccato of her claws rebounding off the door and frame…. The speed at which she could move was frightening. She was too fast for me to see the movement.”
She ground her teeth, and in a blur she came for him. He poped a cap and dropped the bear. What would have happened had Vic not had a pistol?
The bear charged Jerry Austin of St. Michael. Jerry stuck his .44 in the bear’s mouth as it lunged at him, and pulled the trigger. He went down, and rolled away, losing his rifle, but holding onto the .44.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
The problem with the .44 Magnum for bear defense is that you have to hit the bear.
As a geologist I carried a M29 Smith for years in bear country and have used it not in self defense but handgun hunting a number of times for bears it’s a fine bear caliber. Hard cast gas checked 240gr at 1250 fps gets the job done if you do your part and hit the boiler room. My bear country carry now is what the Norwegians issue for polar bear country the G20 by Glock I have two of them one is nearly stock with a lone wolf barrel so it can take max pressure rounds and hard cast lead with a 35# recoil spring. The other is full custom with , holographic optics , a extended threaded lone wolf barrel a huge comp on the end and a 2lb trigger no safety it uses glock bloks that fall out from behind the trigger why you un holster it. Hand loaded to near primer flattening pressure and with a 35# spring it will throw 220gr hard cast gas check at 1350fps all day every day. I have shot two black bear with it and never recover the rounds just fist sized exit holes. Both were DRT shots. Bang , slump and over. Having 15+1 of 220gr@1350 with a comp grade trigger means you can get off twice as many rounds as a revolver in the same time. Bears are fast they will close the distance in seconds. I meet other geos who swear by the 44 mag then I let then light off my G20 it has much less recoil due to the comp and semi automatic action so you never lose sight picture you can just pump round after round a half second apart into a target with it just like the comp rail gun it is. But you are throwing 44 mag level energy not 9mm or 45acp level. Many a convert has been made.
“The problem with the .44 Magnum for bear defense is that you have to hit the bear.”
This is why the G20 is such a good platform. Even in stock form it will throw 220gr FMJ at 1100fps but it will have 16 ready to go and 3/4 of a second between rounds as fast as a human can pull a trigger hitting a fast moving target is a bout throwing lead at it. We hunt feral hogs on foot on equal terms on the ground. No one would consider using a revolver for that it would be suicide. We use semi automatic Glocks on the regular. These are up to 300# male boar with tusks that easily kill a human. They run in sounders too. 10mm auto puts huge holes in them and they drop quickly. I have a matching set a G20 custom rig and a custom AR45 Glock lower with a 10 mm auto upper in 12.5” both use the same mags on this case 28 round extended stick mags fine pig medicine. The AR is on a one point harness you can let it go and it falls to your chest grab the pistol from the tac holster and get to work. All my guys and myself are former small teams guys we hunt like we fought in 2 or 3 teams of 4/5. Flank a sounder and drive them to the others into a killzone. Pigs are called poor man’s bear for a reason mean tuff critters, smart too.
Just checked it out. Awesome. I wonder about a colt .45 in a hot load. They can put out over 1100 ft. Lbs of energy in a hot load.
Easy, stick the barrel in his mouth and pull the trigger...
Having a firearm that you can shoot well is far more important then caliber.
That goes for any firearm. I've never been in bear country, but killed many big hogs. You can kill a big hog with a .22. But, I wouldn't advise purposely carrying a .22 for that reason. My sidearm of choice is a 6" Colt Anaconda. I have the option of a 10mm semi-auto, but it failed to function once, on premium ammo for no apparent reason. The Anaconda is easy to shoot, and follow up shots are quick as the recoil is easy to control because of it's weight. But, it is a big heavy gun, and some people may find it a bit much to handle. Being a revolver, it will function no matter if you are aiming down from horseback, or rolling around in the dirt.
Being a revolver, it will function no matter if you are aiming down from horseback, or rolling around in the dirt.
It is a common misconception that revolvers can not fail.
I have shot well north of a hundred thousand rounds through revolvers. From 22rf’s to 500S@W. With just as many through semi autos.
I have seen plenty of revolvers malfunction.
A well maintained resolver or good semi auto with good ammo are very reliable.
I carry one or both on any given day I don’t not feel under gunned with either.
Get dirt in a fine revolver, especially sand, and it can jam up quite easily.
Thanks for posting. Long ago, I posted about, somewhat recalling, an article I read as a kid in the early 1960s, about a guy emptying his 45 into a charging bear, without much success. My guess was that it was a “Field & Stream” article (too long ago to remember exactly when). I did a half heart ed search for the article, to no avail. Anyway, apparently a 44 magnum would have done the trick for the poor sole. As I recall, the dude survived, but got seriously chewed up.
I had a revolver fail in practice due to an “earth friendly” lubricant. I have also had premature wear from a high tech dry lubricant.
We did a lot of experimenting in mounted shooting competition. Pretty much came back to standards.
To the bear: ya gotta ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky?
Well,do ya, punk?
Another revolver failure worth repeating was the police officer who saturated his revolver with WD-40. The solvent penetrated the primer and prevented the cartridge from firing. He ended up dead in a shoot out.
When you want the best, go with Lesters.
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81l1hCmXz9L.__AC_SX300_SY300_QL70_FMwebp_.jpg
What lube do you use?
I really like the 45 colt especially in a large frame revolver in 454 casull you can shoot the much milder 45 for practice then load up the big boy 454 for the hunting trip. 454 will bring down anything that walks in North America. I used to not be big into handgun hunting then I got to do some bear and a moose hunt up close and personal changed my mind from the 300 winmag at a distance hunting.
That also happens with semi auto ammo.
Bears are readily killed with a will placed bullet.
The bear indeed needs to be lucky.
OK, here goes another can of discussion worms, synthetic motor oil. Sometimes Rem oil.
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