Big bears with handgun cartridges in lever actions?

[Tommie]

Firstly - I’m not a bear hunter and never will be. I’m mostly curious to hear opinions from experienced big bear hunters on the subject.

So for those who have faced down a large bruin:
What handgun cartridges (if any) are plenty powerful for these large animals when used in a carbine?

 

[Prose]

That seems like flying too close to the sun. Carbines come in 45-70 and 450 bushmaster. I’ve seen a grizzly taken with a 460 s&w using buffalo bore ammo and it’s not comparable to a rifle in any way.

that being said. Almost any handgun can kill a bear if the bullet is hard enough. But people carry big bores because they “stop” bears.

 

[olddav]

I have often read that a 44 Mag is the minimum for big bear so there’s that to be considered. So with that in mind I would say yes a hand gun cartridge in a lever action would take care of a bear.

I am not a big bear hunter and I hope I have not wasted your time.

 

[1885Winman4590]

I have killed 3 w/44mag/240gr/semi-jacketed HP, @<20 yds. They drop right where you shoot them and don't even wiggle. Marlin model 94, forgot to mention, all head shots, in the ear or just bend it.

 

[ND shooter]

I have killed 3 w/44mag/240gr/semi-jacketed HP, @<20 yds. They drop right where you shoot them and don't even wiggle. Marlin model 94, forgot to mention, all head shots, in the ear or just bend it.

What kind of bear?? Edit.. guessing black?

 

[Doug Beach]

I’m not a bear hunter, but I can’t imagine an appropriately loaded .500 S&W carbine not being effective, within its useful range.

 

[1885Winman4590]

Yes, black bears in Northern Minn. Don't know if I'd have the balls to try that on one the big bears. Never had the opportunity.
I believe I'd want the 50-140 w/ the 700gr slug.

 

[ND shooter]

Yes, black bears in Northern Minn. Don't know if I'd have the balls to try that on one the big bears. Never had the opportunity.
I believe I'd want the 50-140 w/ the 700gr slug.

Agree! Not enough balls here either. To the OP I say "don't go into bear country without enough gun!" Going into bear country with balls and not enough gun doesn't make you "the man!" And No I have never hunted bear, but... If I ever do it will be with more than enough gun. Doing otherwise will end with poor results I'm guessing. You will get others who will disagree. You get to choose who to take advice from.

 

[Treerat-sniper]

I was looking into a MN black bear hunt for this fall (before the covid hit). The outfitters I looked into recommended a .308 minimum. I was planning on taking my .45/70 guide gun since the ranges were short.
The late Larry Kelly (RIP) of Magnaport fame, took a monster 9'+Alaskan brown bear with 1 round from his .44 revolver. On the same hunt a smaller 7' brown tried to break into the cabin that they were staying in. Larry emptied his Blackhawk & then his 629 .44s point blank & the bear just looked at him, the guide ended up killing it with multiple shots from his .375 H&H. IIRC there were 16 rounds in the bear when they skinned it... I guess it would depend on the bear's motivation!

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

https://www.bighornarmory.com/product/model-89-carbine-18-500-sw/

For the 45-70 Lever Gun Shooters: https://www.garrettcartridges.com/4570.html

And for the 45-70 Handgun (BFR): https://www.garrettcartridges.com/540 bfr.html & https://www.garrettcartridges.com/540 bfr tech.html

 

[troupe]

Folks that run dogs for bears here in Eastern NC love the short rifles in handgun calibers. The reason is that here in Eastern NC, prime bear run in the under growth that is so thick, that it looks as if you are crawling through tunnels and on your hands and knees for very large bear. 600 lb black bear are common in some of the locations of Hyde county. The growth is so low and thick, that it forms tunnels were the bear travel.