45 ACP for black bear

[Ranger30-06]

Kodiak ARE grizzly. Same species. And Kodiak get way over 800 lbs and take a LOT of stopping compared to a black bear which can easily be killed one shot with a good .357 magnum load or anything that'll take a deer.

You missed my point. My point, someone brings up blacks and three posts later, someone is yakkin' you need a .600 nitro express to kill a bear cause nothing lesser will do and file the front sight off the gun cause when the bear shoves it up you butt, it won't hurt so bad and save the last round for yourself and all the other dumb cliches. They don't know the difference in an Alaskan griz and a black bear. They shouldn't be commenting if they don't know what bears are.

Yes they are both brown bears, but there are differences. I agree with the .357 for black bear, and also that there is a huge difference between the two types of bears.

ALL THE GUY WANTED TO KNOW IS IF HIS .45ACP WILL BE FINE FOR A GENERAL BLACK BEAR. I SAID YES BECAUSE 99% OF THE TIME, IT WILL. They aren't bulletproof or even that big to begin with, except in my rare case of NJ.

Problem answered!

 

[Foto Joe]

Given the fact that I live in Grizzly territory it makes me cringe when I see or hear of somebody who carries a handgun as protection against bears. Bear Spray should be your first line of defense when you are not at the top of the food chain. The gun may give you that warm fuzzy feeling but a wounded bear is going to put up a fight to the death. Wanna make any bets whose death he is counting on?

Bear Spray and buy a new one every year, you don't want to risk it not working when your life or your families life depends on it.

 

[smitty704]

I would look at this as an opportunity(excuse) to go buy a .44 mag. Again, I'm sure the .45 would be plenty capable, but hey, why not go all out. Lol

 

[Mike1234567]

If you have a 1911, get a .460 rowland conversion kit and you will get .44 mag power out of your .45acp

I would seriously consider easher's suggestion. The kits aren't cheap and neither is the ammo but it sure seems like a good option. In fact, I'm thinking of replacing my .44 Mag with a converted 1911.

 

[cacoltguy]

Looking at the chart, yes black bears were more prominent in North Jersey in 1995,

Ranger, according to your chart, bears were more prominent in North Jersey in 1995 and still way more prominent in 2009. All the chart shows is that a some of them have made their way south during the last 10 years. It also shows that almost all of South Jersey was bear free until 10 years ago and, as of 2009, a large portion of the area still has no black bears. The highest concentration and total number of bears is in the north by quite a large margin. Sandy pine forest really don't have the food supply of the north/ northwest which also has quite a bit of farmland and diverse food supply as well as a much more suitable natural habitat for them.

 

[wisconsin]

ALL THE GUY WANTED TO KNOW IS IF HIS .45ACP WILL BE FINE FOR A GENERAL BLACK BEAR. I SAID YES BECAUSE 99% OF THE TIME, IT WILL. They aren't bulletproof or even that big to begin with

^this, over and over again

 

[NWcityguy2]

You will find that internet gun forums are a breeding ground for "off topic worst case-ism"

 

[Mike1234567]

*deleted*

 

[ExTank]

My job involves a lot of deliveries to the pine areas (Wharton State Forest),...

Ranger, if you happen to run across Paulie Walnut's Cadillac, keep an eye out for an angry Russian.

 

[CraigC]

Black bears are not brown bears. They're not built like `em, they don't act like `em. The .45ACP with a proper bullet would sufficient for black bear. No need for 300gr+ monster masher loads. Though I'd rather use something other than FMJ, which is abysmal on flesh.

 

[Ben86]

.500 S&W Magnum: Accept no substitutes.

Generally black bear aren't all that much harder to kill than a deer with proper shot placement. I'd still rather a shotgun or high powered rifle, but I wouldn't feel unarmed with a .45 either. The few I've seen around my house are smaller than my great Pyrenees doggy. I'm sure size varies from place to place, so you have to be the judge. If you really want a relevant opinion ask a local wildlife ranger.

You'd be better using bear spray first though. It has been shown to be generally more effective and gives you less legal problems. Still carry the .45 just in case though.

 

[MCgunner]

I would seriously consider easher's suggestion. The kits aren't cheap and neither is the ammo but it sure seems like a good option. In fact, I'm thinking of replacing my .44 Mag with a converted 1911.

I'd keep the .44, more accurate, I have no doubt. I don't like autos as outdoor guns, especially 1911s which if made accurate are often touchy in function because they have to be so tight, which was not in the design parameters originally. There is one exception in my collection, a Ruger P90 which is 1.5" at 25 yards accurate with MOST loads under 2" and 100 percent functional. I'd carry it in place of my .357s and .45 Colt with no qualms in black bear country, and have.