hello all, which 454 load for black bears

[timney t]

I have three bullets and wanted to know which one would be best for northwest black bears. It will be my backup and possibly harvesting load depending on situation ( range, shot picture dictate obviously). I will be carrying my 30-06 as my primary weapon of choice though (180 TSX or bear claw load).

the bullets i have for the 454 are the...

300 gr Hornady XTP

260 gr Win partition

400 gr Doubletap hard cast flat nose

what would you recommend

 

[H&Hhunter]

Any of the above.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Any of those would do fine for a blackie.

 

[timney t]

Really .... hmmm.
Here i was going to expect that one or maybe two of the loads would be too questionable.

Alright out of the three which would you pick and why?

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

It's not imperative to have a gun for black bear (bear spray is #1), but it's nice, plus most people don't carry bigger than .44, hence your query is somewhat irrelevant. Hard cast ftw

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Uh WTB, considering he is hunting black bear, it would be mighty dern difficult to harvest one with bear spray dont you think?? I can see it now, "spray spray, now haul yer butt in my truck bear and don't you resist any more!!!"

As far as selecting one out of those 3 timney, I would have to say whichever one shoots the most accurately in your weapon since all 3 are more than sufficient to drop a black bear if hit well. I personally carry either a Ruger .44 mag Super Redhawk or my .500 S&W whenever I am going to be in hunting critters that can eat me. That .454 is good medicine for pretty much anything on legs with all 3 of those loads. So just pick whichever one you shoot best and have fun.

 

[timney t]

thanks all
i guess after the game i need to head out and see what Big B prefers of the three. i'll check groups at 25 and 50 yrds and maybe see what i can do at 100 for $h1t$ and giggles

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

Freedom Fighter, we all see he's using a .30-06 for hunting and the 454 is for defense. Honestly, just stop with the childish crap, which is not even remotely witty.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

It will be my backup and possibly harvesting load depending on situation ( range, shot picture dictate obviously).

Care to retract your obviously childish remark there WTB as he did clearly state it would possibly be his harvesting load depending on the situation. No need to get all snippy there fella.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

Ya my bad I misread, see your point, but since he doesn't know which load to use, he clearly hasn't done the work to actually hunt with a handgun. It'll be for defense...

 

[timney t]

Ya never hunted with a handgun. Boy it is nicer then lugging a scoped mossberg 835 through upstate New York, lol. Bills lost AGAIN today. Depressed. Should probably go shooting to end the day right. We'll see what happens.