.45 ACP Caliber Bear Ammo

[ripcurlksm]

Before we start my first pick of a defensive caliber for large game would be a .44MAG however I have shot this before and I can handle the power fine, I just hate the grips on revolvers, it just dosent fit my hand right. I want to focus on the .45 if possible so please keep on the topic of .45 ACP.

So moving on, I really like the 1911 platform and this is probably a stretch, but if you had to bet what the best ammo would be to protect against large game, what would your pick be? 230 grain HydraShock?

 

[Outlaws]

Nothing that is Self Defense ammunition for people is suitable for bears, even black bears.

Full Metal Jacket. But a .45 ACP is still a terrible choice IMO.

 

[SnWnMe]

Use the 45 to shoot your hiking buddy in the leg. That'll slow him down enough while you escape from from Yogi.

 

[Outlaws]

lol@SnWnMe

And remember to file the front sight down flush with the barrel/slide.

 

[Waywatcher]

Nothing that is Self Defense ammunition for people is suitable for bears, even black bears.

Full Metal Jacket. But a .45 ACP is still a terrible choice IMO.

I find your line of reasoning very peculiar, given that average black bears aren't much larger than a man.

There are plenty of self defense loads touted as being "over-penetrating" in humans, so pick one of those if it's readily available. I wouldn't use round nose FMJ, as it tends to ricochet and glance.

However, my first choice would be Cor-Bon DPX for black bear and smaller sized critters.

 

[Outlaws]

I find your line of reasoning very peculiar, given that average black bears aren't much larger than a man.

Thats all fine and dandy, but black bears still come in a larger variety of sizes than most humans.

 

[Waywatcher]

I will agree with you that .45 isn't 'ideal', but in real life you go with what you've got, not with your dream gun. A .45 with decent bullets is far better than a pointy stick.

 

[ripcurlksm]

I will agree with you that .45 isn't 'ideal',

Exactly, and I agree, just wanted to see the strongest ammo list

 

[Outlaws]

I will agree with you that .45 isn't 'ideal', but in real life you go with what you've got, not with your dream gun. A .45 with decent bullets is far better than a pointy stick.

And I agree with using what you have, but the original post sounds like he hasn't bought the gun yet.

 

[justashooter]

hardball thru the upper pallate when he opens his mouth. FMJ tend to bounce around shoulder bones on bigger animals, rather than punching thru like SWC.

 

[Cosmoline]

The .45 ACP is simply not designed for the job. It's a relatively low velocity round that fires a wide, stumpy bullet. It doesn't do well with SWC or FN hardcast bullets, and can't cope with the heavy ones at all. This makes it very limited for game. A .45 COLT is a much better choice, and opens up a wide array of heavy hardcast loads with sufficient velocity and sectional density to get the job done. You posted another thread about the grips issue, but I have to wonder what you've tried. If you're dead set on a 1911 frame, I'd go with a 10mm over a .45 ACP.

 

[ripcurlksm]

Cosmo, this is true, I am looking at a .44MAG, I love the caliber, love the recoil, but hate the grip of the revolver compared to the 1911.

 

[Travis McGee]

It would sure beat throwing rocks! Seriously though, if I was in Alaska, I'd up-gun. But in the lower 48, I think .45 would do the job, for the combined risk of bears and social encounters in the back country.

 

[OpFlash]

If you have to have an auto I'd recommend 10MM as well. Another option is .45 Super, which is dimensionally the same as .45ACP and therefore can be shot in some .45ACP weapons that are very strong with a few minor modifications.

There is a company that modifies 1911s for .45 Super but its not cheap. Many buy the full sized Steel Tangfolio Witness in .45ACP and shoot .45 Super with just a heavier recoil spring. I think some use a heavier firing pin spring too as a safety measure to keep the stronger recoil spring from possibly causing a slam fire. The Witness is somewhat crude compared to a quality 1911 but it is a big heavy overbuilt brute that seems to handle the .45 Super OK. Even if you do get some peening over time, the gun only costs about $300 so when it wears out buy a new one.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

I am just going to answer the question without giving my golden opinion...........If I had to choose a load it would probably be hornady's 200gr. +P XTP. Corbons Deep Penetrator all Copper bullet would also be a good choice. (basically a barnes expander)

 

[gunsmith]

what about the .50 GI if you have the dough

http://www.guncrafterindustries.com/model1_50gi.shtml

 

[Alexfubar]

Sawyer on LOST dropped a Polar bear with a 9mm in the 1st episode.

( Okay , I'm sorry. )

I would lean toward ball , and two spare mags. And running shoes.
bears are fat , and tough. Lots of very deep holes would be a good idea.

 

[akodo]

while black bears and humans may tip the scales at roughly the same amount, the body structure is drastically different, hence what will 'overpenetrate' on a man will often underpenetrate on a bear....especially if that bear is down on all 4 legs.

And handgun is not a great tool for the job you are describing.
among handguns, a 45 acp is a poorer tool than most for what you are describing, although a 9mm or 38 special would be worse

Really what you ask for doesn't exist.

Obviously, you want as heavy of a bullet as you can find, but that still isn't going to be all that great.

So you don't like the grips on a revolver, well, there are tons of different aftermarket styles of grips, try these.

If you cannot find a revolver grip you can live with, you need to look at less traditional semi-auto loadings. Others have mentioned 45 super, which will definately have the power, but I don't know if it will have the correct bullet selection, unless you can come up with some handload using bullets intended for 45LC hunting rounds, then the greater pressure a 45 super is able to handle will allow you to get the velocities that a standard 45 acp wouldn't be able to with such a long bullet eating up your powder space.

Really, the call for the 10mm semi-auto seems to me to make the most sense, then simply select the heaviest weight bullet you can for 10mm

 

[ryan b]

i think the only good round for bear in a 45 is to handload and use heavy springs in the 45 pistol proably something in the 230 gr class in a hardcast perferably with a flat nose loaded to max.

 

[doubleg]

Maybe a 1911 with the 460 rowland conversion? It throws out the same bullet but at about a 10,000 psi increase, alot better for bear hunting.




http://www.realguns.com/archives/107.htm

 

[S&Wfan]

Hi,

Get an "N" frame S&W .44 mag. revolver, shod in Hogue rubber grips . . . it should wonderfully fit your 1911-lovin' hands. It surely does for me!

Don't worry either if they don't exactly fit . . . that's the least of your worries if a bear decides to chew your face! All you'll need to do is point and shoot at close range. Bullet of choice for me would be a 300 grain, solid lead, flat nose bullet. It should penetrate the toughest areas perfectly!!!

IF YOU INSIST ON USING AN .45ACP . . .

If you go with an auto, any 1911 will do, but PLEASE ADD the old-fashioned, WWI lanyard loop on the bottom of the mainstring housing and attach a loop of sturdy cord to the bottom of the lanyard loop and attach the other end of a short lanyard rope around your wrist.

Doing so will possibly allow you to get your .45ACP into your shooting hand as the bear is chewing your face! Then, you can use the .45ACP to piss the bear off by pointing the .45ACP directly at YOUR brain and pulling the trigger.

A brain shot will thus instantly kill YOU will do two things:

1. Deny the bear of the pleasure of hearing your screams go to no avail.

2. Spare you a LOT of extra pain and suffering and end it quicker for you!


SERIOUSLY DUDE . . . you evidently haven't done much, if any hunting. Game don't always just fall down like the bad guys do in Hollywood, nor does game always fall instantly, like on the hunting shows on TV.

Frankly, I wouldn't try to take a peaceful bear, not bothering anyone, with a .45ACP round . . . for that bear will naturally attack the attacker, and that bear will kill you before he bleeds out himself.

Sure, you COULD make a perfect shot . . . but it is hard enough to do this on a motionless, broadside target 10 yards away that is unaware you are there. Making a perfect shot on an 800 lb. mass of seething fury as he rapidly shakes his head back and forth to aid in him ripping your arm off is virtually impossible.

Even the "mighty" .44 mag. offers no guarantees that you'll win that confrontation alive and unharmed before the bear bleeds out.

T.

 

[ObeOne]

I agree with the others if you insist on using a 1911, 10mm would be a better choice or 45 Super.
From what I understand, the 460 Rowland that Doubleg mentiond has similar performance to a 44 mag.
Of course, a handgun (except the 500 S&W) is not ideal for bear.
Obe One

 

[Antihero]

while black bears and humans may tip the scales at roughly the same amount, the body structure is drastically different, hence what will 'overpenetrate' on a man will often underpenetrate on a bear....especially if that bear is down on all 4 legs.

+1 billion, bears are very different than humans.

If it has to be an auto get a 10mm and load it with DoubleTap hardcast 200 or 230 gr, it gives you more power than a 357 but less than a 41.

460 rowand is another good choice but i dont know of a company that loads a heavy hardcast bullet for it.

Seriuosly though if you're in serious need of a bear defence handgun choosing s gun that is about a third as powerful instead of a gun that could save your life isnt smart, especially picking it because they "dont fit my hand right"

Have you tried all of the many many many many many big bore revolvers out there? What about a Ruger Bisley? A Ruger Redhawk? A S&W 629 with Hogue's? A Ruger Blackhawk? Something with Pacymer Presentation grips? The Taurus Raging Bull series? A Taurus 44C with Ribber grips? I could go on and on here, all these feel different.

What revolvers have you tried?

 

[LBTRS]

If you have to use a semi auto then make it a 10mm, that's about the best you're going to do in a realistic defensive handgun and even that isn't even close to a great bear choice.

I would recommend a S&W 629 with houge rubber grips loaded with Garrett Hammerhead Ammo:

http://www.garrettcartridges.com/44mag.asp

 

[SoCalShooter]

Use the 45 to shoot your hiking buddy in the leg. That'll slow him down enough while you escape from from Yogi.

Haha that was hilarious, trip up your friend and distract the bear. AHHAHAHA