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.44 mag bear load

Oh I don't disagree. You may get one chance, which probability says will not have a shot placed well enough to dump it DOA. I still think it better than dumping 10x 9mm bullets which may or may not do anything.

I'll have a rifle, but probably won't be on me 24/7.
 
It always seems it is easier to discuss a "good" 44 Mag load that does the caliber justice, than it is to discuss Grizz with respect to spray versus gun or even more controversial... what is enough gun in a charge...

I learned a little in life about how wild the differences between killing can be, people or animals. Some seem to go down quickly with the touch of a feather, others seem to take Thor's Hammer and tons of punishment and keep going.

I'll just waste a little more space and add... I would rather live my life taking responsibility for going into Grizz country than staying where it is "safe". Not that the OP asked for the lecture on bears or ethics, but sometimes we take our friends and loved ones out there so whatever tools you choose, make sure you practice with them like their lives depend on it, not just yours.

In for the pictures from the trips.
 
Minshooter said:
One time, for fun (sort of), we rigged a paper bear head target on a slider track, pulled up and down about 12-16", by a string. Each prospective defender would have three seconds to fire his five or six hammer loads
from 15 yards, while the target was bounced up and down. Though doubtful a large bear would need three full seconds to close 15 yards, it was just an experiment with shooters having a fair amount of revolver skill,
but no one whose last name was Miculek. Shooting started with revolver in hand, at high ready.

The result: A few perimeter hits, which may or may not have bounced off the skull, and -zero brain hits.
Several shooters learned they could not fire even three aimed .44 Mag Revolver Max loads in three seconds.

Side note:
One shooter only fired three shots, total. He used this as his first opportunity to fire 300gr Hammer loads
in his 329Pd (25 oz. .44 Magnum). Three other shooters each fired one remaining shot, and decided
that was sufficient. While a charging bear would easily cancel such discomfort, and ignoring the feeling of getting hit in the palm by a major league baseball batter, the main difficulty was in pulling that revolver back down into position for the next shot.
Click to expand...
How did that 329 handle the 300?
 
Dusty Stevens said:
What is a good safe load for 2400 and 300 hardcast from a 329pd or a 29?
Click to expand...
It is called a Dan Wesson or a Ruger...... sorry, couldn't help myself....

ETA: I used to shoot revolver silhouette and hunt with 44 mag. Experience with S&W 29s has shown that they don't stand up to full house loads like the other brands. While they have a very nice double action and are elegant, they stretch under the stress of high pressure loads.
 
Dusty Stevens said:
Im a s&w guy, i just dont want to split my piece open. I wish i could find a good short FA for decent money
Click to expand...
Dusty, keep the load pressure average or low in the S&W and they will do fine, but don't make a habit of high pressure hunting loads or silhouette loads with them. If you jump to their S&W 500, you are in a different discussion.
 
RegionRat said:
Dusty, keep the load pressure average or low in the S&W and they will do fine, but don't make a habit of high pressure hunting loads or silhouette loads with them. If you jump to their S&W 500, you are in a different discussion.
Click to expand...
Yea thats what im wondering whats a good 3/4 throttle load for a s&w using 2400 and 300gr?
 
Zeke 225 said:
Here a 250 gr RCBS that went from head to tail on a 300 lb hog, punching the skull, broke back side of it jaw traveling through and broke rear hip bone and stopped at the hide. Figured at least 3 foot of penetration flipped him out of his wallowing hole backwards. Shot from Marlin 1894 around 45 yds.
Click to expand...
that was in the vittles n buttocks
 
I'm currently loading a 250gr Partition bullet (no longer avail) over a max charge of H110. Shooting 300gr bullets in my custom Ruger SRH resulted in all bullets landing high. I had to put a taller front sight on to accommodate the 300gr bullet's impact.

Eventually I went back to lighter stout bullets. But then again, I never intended to use this rig for grizzlies. It was set up for chubby black bears.
 
240-300 grain cast bullet at 1000 fps, tailored to recoil tolerance using your powder of choice.

You reach a point of diminishing returns increasing velocity trying to gain penetration, and at some point you lose penetration as velocity goes up. So 1000 fps, good hard cast wide meplat bullet, and find a load you can control.

I have a bunch of woods 44 mags and specials. Loads for the 396, model 69, and the single actions are all different because recoil characteristics are different. Any of the smith 44 magnums will handle SAAMI loads.
 
Dusty Stevens said:
Yea thats what im wondering whats a good 3/4 throttle load for a s&w using 2400 and 300gr?
Click to expand...
When I played with that combo you could not get the sights adjusted. The big bullets hit high still with the sight bottomed out. Plus it was brutal. Id shoot the 454 all day in a steel gun vs that 329 even my my normal load of 20 grains of 2400 and a 250, which is warm but not maxed out.
 
Dusty Stevens said:
How did that 329 handle the 300?
Click to expand...
The six shots that were fired worked fine. No apparent harm to the gun.
My personal 329 only gets 250 Keiths at around 1000fps, or even a little less. I'm fine with that.
The sole reason to use a 329 is for lightest weight. I actually prefer the Stainless .44 Mountain Gun.
The bear stopper loads (If the bear feels the same way) will only be carried, and hopefully never used.
 
300 grain hard cast and 17 grains of lil gun yielded 1181 fps

18 grains was 1241 fps.

Fed mag pistol primer. More than enough power for what I need it to be.
 
Lil Gun has earned a reputation for eating forcing cones. I use it in 357 Max carbines, but most revolver guys won't use it in their pistols.

Work up a hot load that allows quick follow up shots. Tailor the load to recoil. Then make the sights happen- Bowen Rough Country, white outline, available in various heights. Fermin Garza for a pin in front blade, vertical white line- he'll help you figure out the height you need.
 
Have taken deer, bear and elk with Sierra's 240 JHC with 24gns. of 296. Used in S&W Mod. 29 but my favorite is my brass frame Ruger Super Blackhawk. Have not changed this load in either gun for about 40 years.
 
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