Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Handgun for bear over bait

I'm in the market for a new revolver. Primarily for black bear over bait and white tails. I have a few revolvers but I looking for something newer then my super black hawk and bigger then my gp100.
I was hashing over the 44 vs 454C thing and even though I'm not recoil sensitive I think I've settled on the 44 mag. I do hand load so that didn't really sway me one way or the other but the fact that the 44 would do what I need it too well enough.
As far as the two gun choices I'm down to the Taurus raging hunter and the S&W stealth hunter...what are your thoughts?

A 45 LC can beat the 44 mag without all the bluster. Look at Garret, Double Tap, etc. All without going to the Casull. Rusty

If I were you, I'd move up to the 454 or at least 480.

Random pic of a blackie taken not far from you. Shoot well and use enough gun.



The heaviest 44 loads (340 cast, etc) will do it but may be too long for a Smith or Taurus cylinder. That leaves the Redhawk/Super Redhawk if you want a DA.

I too would suggest the .454. The extra horsepower is nice to have.

A 44 Magnum???? Not good on large animals.

Redhawk/super redhawk hunter with the factory scope rings....44mag , 45LC , or bigger if you want

mount a 2x Leupold or Burris

That or a SBH hunter model.

i'd go with 480

480 SRH w/ 2x Leupold.

LOL. You guys are too much. The 44 Mag is great for Bears over bait and no you don't need to use a 330 grain bullet or some other such nonsense. Imaginations run wild around here.

I’ve shot them over bait with a handgun and just prefer a bigger hammer. Many folks are satisfied with adequate, I like to overwhelm when possible.

Sig line material there max!

Trust me, a 44 magnum with good bullets from a stand will overwhelm any black bear out there. And it's highly unlikely that bullet will stay inside from any angle. The 41 magnum with 250 gr or heavier bullets will do the same thing, I've done it, but not from a stand.

Dick

Wasn’t saying the .44 Mag isn’t good. Just saying that I prefer something with more cajones. Definitely not necessary on 200 lb Maine black bears, but might be a different story on some of the big bruins we’ve shot in North Carolina. But in all fairness, we weren’t shooting them over bait, but behind dogs when they’re a bit “agitated” - for lack of a better term.

I’ve rekindled my relationship with the .454 over the last couple of years because it is such a versatile round. When you turn up the wick, it can be so much more than many of its “colleagues.”

My 454 Casull with 300+ grain hard casts all day everyday were I to hunt bears/black bears with a revolver.

Not much there to disagree with. I’ll take either the .45LC or 10mm to stand depending on
my mood. If I’m behind dogs, neither one is making the cut. In fact, on hound days I’ll carry the. 45-70 (not in handgun format 😀)

George

The Taurus would be my last choice. S&W is a much better choice than Taurus. I would have Ruger at the top of the list.

Please don't ignore comments to consider a good 45 Colt. Models would range from a custom build, Freedom Arms, Ruger Redhawk or a two digit serial number Blackhawk. If you go with a Ruger SB or RH in 454 you can feed it 45 Colt loads. Since you reload, this would be a great option. Ruger's SBH Bisley in 454 with a five inch tube is a very nice bear gun.

Here is something to consider

https://www.johnlinebaughcustomsixguns.com/writings

Never shot black bears, but I have killed a bunch of feral hogs with a .44 mag Contender shooting heavy hard cast at sub sonic velocities with a suppressor, - from a stand, mostly. Kills 'em dead, one shot kills are the rule. Great penetration.

Mike Holmes

Elmer Keith killed pretty much everything with the 44 Magnum and 250's...