.45 LC--Big Bear Protection?

[Backpacker33]

Single action vs double action

Some years ago I wanted a .500 Linebaugh and asked Hamilton Bowen about building on a Blackhawk frame. He said the double-actions are stronger than the single actions, excepting such as the Freedom Arms artillery.

John Taffin said the Colt Anaconda .44 would handle any load the Rugers would handle. There was a succession of articles on the .45-Colt Anaconda. Colt allegedly said the gun was not heat treated to the level of the .44, something S&W allegedly said about the 29 .44 vs. the 25 in 45-Colt. I have since read articles by people who claimed to have tested the hardness of both the S&W 29/629 and Colt Anaconda .45-Colt, and found no difference from the .44 models.

After S&W told me their scandium frame 329 will handly any hunting load the 29/629 will handle, I don't worry about stout loads in my 625 Mountain Gun, say at approximately +P levels such as by Corbon. Never have worried about the Anaconda after reading John Taffin's loads for it.

I used to know a retired airline pilot who lived on the Salmon River in Alaska. He took a Mossberg pump with slugs and buckshot. Like someone else on this forum, he said that you either have enough time to get away, or just enough time to decide which part of your anatomy you'll feed to the bear first. He felt he could swing that Mossber, thumb off the safety and start shooting fast enough. The stories he tells of brown bears stalking him curl my hair.
-Backpacker

 

[MCgunner]

Elmer Kieth said for those who learned how to shoot on single action, then they will shoot none faster.

Yup, I can cock the hammer on my Ruger one handed, do it all the time. Of course, I can also walk and chew gum, though I never really liked gum. I do like my Blackhawk, however.

 

[zxcvbob]

If a .44 Magnum is enough gun, then a .45 Colt is enough. (that's a big if) Either one should be able to shoot clean thru a big bear, and a .452 bullet makes a considerably larger hole doing it than a .429".

 

[ahpd1992]

Id go w/ a G20 and MB put a 5 or 6" barrel from Wolf for some extra velocity, but MB Id leave it stock

The G20 is going to be good for everything up to the big guys, and it 14 180gr hardcaster's dont drop one of the big ones, put the last one in your skull

I think practically the G20 gives you more options as an all around pistol v a hand cannon for 1500lb brown's that your prob not gonna see.

I also think a 12ga slug is the best cheapest answer as you can pick up a shotgun for a lot cheaper and use the extra money for ammo and practicing how to avoid bears in the 1st place

 

[Lar1911]

7 years old

 

[akadave]

Ive loaded FA WLFN GC 300 gr lead up to a bit over 1200 FPS in a 5.5 inch Ruger Bisely. PLENTY of bear medicine! Makes a 44 mag look like a pop gun as far as Taylor Knockdown and energy. Plenty safe for the Ruger too...

Really, good Star brass 45LC brass is great for big thumping loads in revolvers than can take it. And that means Ruger. Sorry to offend the Ruger haters but their guns are tough as nails. I have a S&W 45LC MT Gun and would not ever think of shooting heavies in it.

I run 475 gr. WLFN GC's in my .500 Linebaugh to over 1200 FPS which is built on a standard Ruger Bisley. I really think that its a nice sweet spot for big lead velocity. Its probably a bit more than needed even for Kodiak Brown. Heck, a couple of years ago and guy dropped a huge B&C Brown on the Kenai Peninsula in self defense with a 9mm semi but I would rather eat broken glass that shoot a bear with one.