Bigbore5
Single-Sixer
I've hunted bear for 40 years now. I've taken 32, mostly with hounds, the smallest being a 285 pound black, largest was a 745 pound inland grizzly.
I've stopped 7 full charges at very close range.
My usual load out is two revolvers. They are more practical than a rifle when handling dogs and pushing through brush. I practice regularly with them and and hunt other games as well.
First is a Service Six 6" carried in a shoulder holster loaded with the MP 359-640 bullet on a max charge of H-110. The first two rounds are with the small hp pin cast at 10bhn, the rest are solids at 15bhn.
That 357 has killed most of my bears. It does it's job reliably every time. It's purpose is to take treed bear where you typically have time to place the shot well. It's second and most important role is when a bear bays and fights. It can be a real melee, and you don't want a bullet passing through and hitting a dog.
The second gun is a 500 Linebaugh.
For years it was a Redhawk built by John loaded with 430gr wfn at 1250fps cast 15bhn. The past few years I have been carrying a BFR 5" loaded with MP 525gr bullets at 1100fps. This is what is in my hand when coming up on a bayed and fighting bear. That's when a charge is most likely.
Facing a full charge requires destroying the cns and crushing supporting bones. Miss either and you lose. Period.
When putting out or servicing bait stations, typically I am carrying a Colt Delta Elite tuned by Leonard Baity years ago and still going strong. It's loaded with 215gr swc. I may be packing a 629 4" with 300gr wfn. Either will do it's job.
Pursuing a wounded bear, I tend to prefer the Benelli Super 90PS by SGT loaded alternating 1oz slug/000 buck or my M77 Safari 458 Lott because of their handling abilities as well as peace of mind.
Load out is the same whether it's the large black bear in North Carolina or Brown Bear in Alaska. A 500- 800 pound black has the same size as a 500-800 pound brown.
I've stopped 7 full charges at very close range.
My usual load out is two revolvers. They are more practical than a rifle when handling dogs and pushing through brush. I practice regularly with them and and hunt other games as well.
First is a Service Six 6" carried in a shoulder holster loaded with the MP 359-640 bullet on a max charge of H-110. The first two rounds are with the small hp pin cast at 10bhn, the rest are solids at 15bhn.
That 357 has killed most of my bears. It does it's job reliably every time. It's purpose is to take treed bear where you typically have time to place the shot well. It's second and most important role is when a bear bays and fights. It can be a real melee, and you don't want a bullet passing through and hitting a dog.
The second gun is a 500 Linebaugh.
For years it was a Redhawk built by John loaded with 430gr wfn at 1250fps cast 15bhn. The past few years I have been carrying a BFR 5" loaded with MP 525gr bullets at 1100fps. This is what is in my hand when coming up on a bayed and fighting bear. That's when a charge is most likely.
Facing a full charge requires destroying the cns and crushing supporting bones. Miss either and you lose. Period.
When putting out or servicing bait stations, typically I am carrying a Colt Delta Elite tuned by Leonard Baity years ago and still going strong. It's loaded with 215gr swc. I may be packing a 629 4" with 300gr wfn. Either will do it's job.
Pursuing a wounded bear, I tend to prefer the Benelli Super 90PS by SGT loaded alternating 1oz slug/000 buck or my M77 Safari 458 Lott because of their handling abilities as well as peace of mind.
Load out is the same whether it's the large black bear in North Carolina or Brown Bear in Alaska. A 500- 800 pound black has the same size as a 500-800 pound brown.
