[Bren]

Given the standard Glock Talk arguments about bears and calibers and .44's:

Just saw this article in an old America's First Freedom and found it at Americanhunter.org.

Publisher Robert Petersen killed this with a Model 29 .44 Mag.

Petersen and his guide remained concealed behind an ice mound as the bear approached, and he unloaded five well-place rounds in to the shoulder, chest and heart of the bear with his Smith & Wesson .44 mag.

http://www.americanhunter.org/GalleryItem.aspx?cid=45&gid=95&id=1136

 

[ronin.45]

Not surprising. .44mag is plenty for polar bear if loaded properly and in the hands of a competent shooter. Look at old articles from the late 30's when the .357 was the baddest around. It killed almost everything you could think of. Now some argue that it isn't enough for whitetail deer. A 300gr. hardcast flat point at speed will do plenty of damage to a big bear if placed properly.

 

[up1911fan]

That's cool, although something I could carry in a hip holster would be my last choice to hunt a polar bear, i'd be more inclined to have a .338 or .375 myself.

 

[bac1023]

With hot loaded, hard cast ammo, the 44 can handle any bear, provided you hit it well.

 

[Free Radical]

It's the "hit it well" part that's the rub.
For my part, if I'm going to carry a hand gun for the express purpose of defending myself against a brown or polar bear than that gun is going to be a S&W .50 mag.

 

[bac1023]

It's the "hit it well" part that's the rub.
For my part, if I'm going to carry a hand gun for the express purpose of defending myself against a brown or polar bear than that gun is going to be a S&W .50 mag.

It may be easier to "hit it well" with the 44.

 

[fnfalman]

Looks like a Roper style grip on that hand cannon. I dig it.

 

[kirgi08]

:wow:

 

[4 glocks]

That's big bear.

 

[crazymoose]

Not surprising. .44mag is plenty for polar bear if loaded properly and in the hands of a competent shooter. Look at old articles from the late 30's when the .357 was the baddest around. It killed almost everything you could think of. Now some argue that it isn't enough for whitetail deer. A 300gr. hardcast flat point at speed will do plenty of damage to a big bear if placed properly.

Yeah, the Eskimos killed walruses and polar bears with the .357 after it came out, but I'm assuming that they could shoot. I suspect that a lot of the animal/caliber advice given these days assumes a lot less skill on the part of the average hunter.

 

[LEAD]

http://www.blackbearheaven.com/new-bear1.jpg

Heres one I wonder if a 44mag could handle, 7mm Mag killed this one, maybe not much bigger, but looks to be to me.

 

[bac1023]

http://www.blackbearheaven.com/new-bear1.jpg

Heres one I wonder if a 44mag could handle, 7mm Mag killed this one, maybe not much bigger, but looks to be to me.

I remember hearing about that one. It was killed while charging. I think it was over 1500lbs.

I actually think heavy, hard cast, large caliber bullets may do better in that situation than a smaller caliber, lighter weight, high velocity bullet.

 

[jhoagland]

I saw Tred Barta kill a Griz with a longbow and home made arrow. Just one arrow mind you. He was lucky because the bear ran instead of charged. It was a good shot too mind you.


What I am saying is, that loud of a noise unexpectedly will make just about anyone/thing jump and run the other way. Bleed out at leisure.

 

[off road]

If one is a hunter and just wants to 'kill' something, almost anything will work. A hunter has the luxury of being able to stalk up close, shoot an amimal that is not expecting danger, and follow the blood trail to the quary after it has wandered off and died.

However....making a defensive shot that will disable a bear quickly, is a much much different matter! Don't ever make the mistake of thinking this example means that the .44 is the ultimate bear defense caliber. You will be betting your life on it....

 

[kilroy2721]

I have always believed in Shot placement rather than caliber size. I think it would be more accurate and faster follow up shots with a .44mag using good hard cast bullets than a .500S&W

I just about had my wife talked into a camping trip in Alaska for this next year, and then this latest bear attack Saturday night in Alaska has her changing her mind.

 

[Novocaine]

Well, again "ambushing a bear" vs. "ambushed by a bear". On another hand Russian Arctic expeditions carry SKS as a polar bear insurance, hardly a big game gun.

 

[SmokeRoss]

I just about had my wife talked into a camping trip in Alaska for this next year, and then this latest bear attack Saturday night in Alaska has her changing her mind.

Come on up anyway. The tourist numbers are down this year. If the bears run out of tourists to eat, they may start on us locals. BTW, I have a Brown Bear hanging around my house this summer. You can set up your tent in my back yard. Right next to the recently used BBQ pit. Make for great up close bear viewing. :whistling:

 

[Berto]

I agree hunting and defense are two different things.

 

[bac1023]

If one is a hunter and just wants to 'kill' something, almost anything will work. A hunter has the luxury of being able to stalk up close, shoot an amimal that is not expecting danger, and follow the blood trail to the quary after it has wandered off and died.

However....making a defensive shot that will disable a bear quickly, is a much much different matter! Don't ever make the mistake of thinking this example means that the .44 is the ultimate bear defense caliber. You will be betting your life on it....

I agree hunting and defense are two different things.

I must have said it 20 times during my years on this forum. Killing a bear and stopping a charge are two totally different things.

 

[Old Style]

What I am saying is, that loud of a noise unexpectedly will make just about anyone/thing jump and run the other way. Bleed out at leisure.[/QUOTE]

When you are talking about "That loud of a noise" I assume you are talking about Tred in general. Right?