I backpack and hunt in areas where there a lot of black bears. Haven't had a problem yet, but tomorrow is a new day. Sometimes there's a rifle, sometimes not.
Dispensing in advance with all the warnings about "dude, ya can't stop a bear with a handgun" etc., here's what I figure I need. 250-300gr. @ about 1200 or so. Preferably recoil to be no more than a factory .44 mag. I'd like the gun to be fairly short and light, say 40 oz. or so. This would be easy with single action guns. Ruger BH in .45 4 5/8" (done deal)
BUT!!!! I've spent yearzzz becoming (sort of) proficient with DA guns. I wonder if the Smith 45 colts or the L frame 44 spl. can give this velocity without flying to pieces??
OR!!!! Should I start working on 200 gr. loads for my 7 shot .357?? OR!!!! Just start learning to shoot S/A guns??
The whole deal is that, if (unlikely) I have a bear sitting on my chest, I think my muscle memory would kick in and I'd be trying to shoot DA with whatever I have in hand SA, DA or whatever.
Thanks ya'll
Dispensing in advance with all the warnings about "dude, ya can't stop a bear with a handgun" etc., here's what I figure I need. 250-300gr. @ about 1200 or so. Preferably recoil to be no more than a factory .44 mag. I'd like the gun to be fairly short and light, say 40 oz. or so. This would be easy with single action guns. Ruger BH in .45 4 5/8" (done deal)
BUT!!!! I've spent yearzzz becoming (sort of) proficient with DA guns. I wonder if the Smith 45 colts or the L frame 44 spl. can give this velocity without flying to pieces??
OR!!!! Should I start working on 200 gr. loads for my 7 shot .357?? OR!!!! Just start learning to shoot S/A guns??
The whole deal is that, if (unlikely) I have a bear sitting on my chest, I think my muscle memory would kick in and I'd be trying to shoot DA with whatever I have in hand SA, DA or whatever.
Thanks ya'll