Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns .45 ACP for bear protection - what bullet?

Have a 1911 in 45 acp that I plan on taking with me hiking around Glacier National Park as just-in-case bear protection.

Though I know it is not the caliber of choice it is what I have, that and a 9mm, so what round would you suggest using in case I need it?

Not to worry, I've already purchased and plan to have the rest of my family carry pepper spray, as will I so that option is covered. Am just thinking worst case scenario or as the Boy Scouts say, "Be prepared."

I would think a 230gr Hydro-shock to the head would work,providing it shoots well in your gun. Bullet placement is always the key...

Use what you are familiar with and can shoot accurately rapid fire at close range. Bullet construction is not going to matter much with that cartridge. Cheap ball ammo that functions flawlessly would be my recommendation if you are not a reloader.

I know that there will be various forum experts that will tell you to go buy some wonder ammo, but I'm going to tell you that you'll be wasting your money. I love the 45acp, but it is a pretty wimpy round. I think your bear spray is a much better solution.

I used to carry a 45acp until I encountered bear up close - now I carry a S&W329pd (and still feel totally under-gunned).

Buffalo Bore .45 ACP +P 255s...

...or their 230 JFP...

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php

Bob

+1 on Buffalo Bore.

Actually I love it more and I think you need more than it


snake

Heavy hard cast. Penetration is what you want.

that's what she said

I agree, HP's won't do on the heavy bone of big bears.

One .45 ACP bullet will piss off a griz as well as another.

A pissed off Griz is what a Werewolf aspires to be when it grows up.

Another vote for the Buffalo Bore .45 ACP +P 255 grain hard cast. I keep some of those on hand.

How fast are those supposed to be going?

Chronographed 5 shot average of the 255 gr. +P hard cast out of a Glock 30SF with a 3.78 inch barrel: 923 FPS, ES 25, SD 12 out of the factory barrel; 927 FPS, ES 11, SD 4 out of a KKM barrel, same length. Buffalo Bore advertises 960 FPS out of a 5 inch barrel. Their numbers are usually spot on or even low.

I would ask Phil Shoemaker about this.

no matter what load you wind up choosing, bring a couple of extra magazines. You might need them.

Nice!

For my own loads using 255 gr Oregon Trail SWC's, I'm getting 850 fps over 5.2 gr of Unique from a Commander length barrel. 6.0 gr of Unique put me at 920 fps but then the POI climbed up higher than I wanted so I stayed with the 850

This.

Glacier ain't black bear country, and the big griz they have up there ain't gonna pay any more heed to a 45 ACP than to a 9mm. Unless you're talking about a Thompson with a 30-round magazine.

I don't expect Phil would be inclined to give an answer that the OP would feel was kind. Phil backs up his hunters with a 45-70 or a 505 Gibbs, because he's learned that's the ballistic category of projectile needed for these large bruins.

You'd probably be better off playing dead than pissing a Grizzly off with a pistol round, even "if" it runs off you now have a wounded Grizzly loose in a national park among numerous tourists. I'd guess you wouldn't have time to ponder over whether to use the pistol or the bear spray once something happens, best make that decision ahead of time and the best choice without a doubt is the bear spray. Carry the pistol for two legged varmints sure but not a good idea against a bear.

I have never faced a grizz, but a couple of black bear up close and personal convinced me of the 45/70. I was shooting mine with a 400grain pill last seek at about 1600fps. Now what does interest me, and i haven't chron'd yet, is a 280 grain pill out of a .45colt doing about 1000fps. Putting that load in a marlin lever .45 colt with the longer barrel you are approaching the commercial load of a 45/70 albeit with a somewhat lighter bullet. Ain't grizz medicine tho.