BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[blackbear]

What is the best handgun,caliber and ammo for Black Bear ?

[WiskeyJaR]

My nephew-in-law uses a 357mag in 8" barrel...has gotten 3 bear in last 5 years with it. Not sure what grain bullet is. This is in the Willamette Valley...so bears arent huge, but big enough.

[ADKBEAR]

The whole "what is the best rifle for black bear" question I kind of stay away from. I killed a bear with a 257 roberts one time. Many would say this is not enough gun. I dissagree it was one shot and a dead bear at 25 yds.

Hand guns is a whole different story (my opinion :thumbsup1: )
Personaly I would not hunt with anything but a 44 mag or bigger. I carry 250 gr nosler partitions in my Dan Wesson 44. I would not think twice at pulling the trigger on a good shot out to around 80 yds.

Wiskeys n-i-l sound like a real good shot with a handgun. He has confidence in the gun and I am sure that he knows the guns/ and his limitations as far as distance. These things go a long way when hunting bears.

[bassrat68]

I don't hunt with it but I always carry my Ruger GP100 357 when I'm bear hunting. I have total confidence that it would put a bear down if it had to.

[WyoJoe]

ADKBEAR wrote: Hand guns is a whole different story (my opinion :thumbsup1: )
Personaly I would not hunt with anything but a 44 mag or bigger.

I like the .44 too but would go with the .41 mag if need be. As for ammo I only use handloads. For me factory "one size fits all" does not work.

[blackbear]

WyoJoe, I have one of those revolvers that won't shoot a factory load accurately, at least none I have tried so far. I will begin reloading this Spring. Looking forward to it.

[NH Hunter]

I have two S&W Model 57's. Both shoot factory ammo pretty good. One has a 6" barrel, the other an 8-3/8" with an Aimpoint 1000 red dot scope. It's a very good shooter and I think it would be fine for black bear. It works great on deer.

[mikey]

I have never killed A bear with it but I have enough trust in my Ruger Blackhawk 41 mag. that I would not be scared to shoot any big game with it. :thumbsup1: :=;

[Redhawk1]

I am an avid handgun hunter, I would not go with anything less than a 44 Mag with hard cast bullets.

My gun of choice for black bear has been my custom 6 inch BFR 500 Mag. I also carry my S&W 4 inch 500 Mag. I use 370 gr. hard cast bullets and have taken 2 black bear with the BFR 500 Mag. I also shoot the S&W 460 Mag with 300 gr. hard cast bullets. No black bear taken with it yet, only whitetail deer.

[blackbear]

Redhawk1, Welcome!

[Redhawk1]

blackbear wrote: Redhawk1, Welcome!

Thanks for the welcome, this looks like a great place here.