357 mag bear ammo

[jmeadows76]

looking for a good black bear defense load for gp100 357 mag...want to use as side arm when hunting or hiking.

 

[GP100man]

Lookin for factory, powder/bullet combo as in reloading your own ???

Blackies or Brownies ???

 

[jmeadows76]

factory loads if possible ... dont have the room to reload a this point

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Any premium 180gr flat point hunting round would be my thought.
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=24&newcategorydimensionid=15455

 

[GA Cracker]

Corbon makes a 200 grain flat nose hardcast at 1150 fps. I wouldn't hunt black bear with a 357. Having personally seen a lot of on game bullet performance I would carry 45 Colt hardcast or 44 special 44 mag hardcast or the biggest flat nose widest meplat hardcast I had available that I could shoot and handle accurately.

Oh yeah howdy and welcome from south GA!

 

[stevemb]

As above, the 180-200gr. hard cast WFN style loads. If buying, look for Federal Castcore, Underwood,Buffalo Bore, Corbon. When Dad-n-law was younger and active and in Fla., I sent him the Federal Castcore for use in his gator/shark/hog gun. A .357 BH.. steve

 

[The Blackhawk Kid]

You'll only P*** the bear off with a 357. A big flat nose heavy bullet in 44 or 45. Check out Buffalo Bore loaded ammo. JMHO Bhk

 

[GunnyGene]

Underwood has 180gr LFNGC in stock for $40/50rds. http://www.underwoodammo.com/357magnum180grainlfngcboxof50.aspx

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum.
You will get a lot of different responses. Many will scoff at your choice of a 357 for bear. Ignore that. If a 357 is what you have and/or choose to use for hiking, then that is YOUR choice.
Look at the companies listed above & select a good quality, heavy cast lead flat nosed bullet, moving around 1100-1200 fps and you will have a good bear load. While many may not feel the 357 is big enough, it can do the job. Proper bullet placement is the key to stopping any critter. 2 legged or 4 legged.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

We've seen this question posed any number of times. Search "bear" for examples.

I'd still like to read a half-dozen or more posts from folks who have actually, really, no-kidding fended off bear attacks with a .357 handgun. Speculation is cheap.

 

[stevemb]

While a .357 is not my choice, it is much louder than a bear whistle. It is capable of taking bears. It is better than nothing. Not everyone is gonna crack the piggy bank to buy your favorite bear stopper. Very few here have "stopped" a bear with a handgun. I haven't. I have turned away bears that were acting too aggressive for my comfort. We are ALL talking theory. Reality is the guy has a .357. I'd shake his hand for thinking ahead of possible threats and making choices, asking for advice. steve

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I also commend him for asking the question and I also agree that a .357 is better than nothing.

The question remains . . . where's the first-hand data on bear defense with handguns, any caliber, any style.

I think that's a fair question as well.

 

[DGW1949]

I also commend him for asking the question and I also agree that a .357 is better than nothing.

The question remains . . . where's the first-hand data on bear defense with handguns, any caliber, any style.

I think that's a fair question as well.

True that.
Nothing like a dose of reality to help a guy get his perspectives in order.

DGW

 

[WESHOOT2]

The 180g lead flat wide-meplat bullets loaded by BuffaloBore (and the like) will offer sufficient penetration for black bear.

But even more important is your aim (study its anatomy, and with the 357 suggest shooting for the heart).

 

[stevemb]

I don't automatically equate stats with reality. At least when it comes to bears and things that might eat us, stats fail due to the number of variables. The man asked for ammo choices for a .357. There are lies, there are damn lies, and then there are stats.. an old saying, true without stats.. Number crunching while trying to avoid bone crunching, eh ? Really, I don't believe there are enough incidents to compile to derive solid stats. I'd rather hide behind a tree than stats. Intestinal fortitude and teflon coated undies aside. Take a deep breath, be aware of the threat, take steps, and enjoy life. Stay safe folks.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I don't automatically equate stats with reality, either. But I'd still rather see several posts from folks experienced with the question than folks simply expressing opinions based on no hard evidence.

Yes, this is the internet, and there's nothing to prevent Rambo-wannabes from regaling us with how they fought off the entire herd of raging grizzlies with a sharp stick and some pepper spray. We've seen plenty of those, for sure.

This is JMHO and can be easily ignored by those who so desire.

 

[stevemb]

A big long thought out reply...gone. Crap. So, Ale-8(1)I enjoy and respect your thoughts. You could have skipped the "Rambo-wannabes" stuff, but You chose to go to insults.

 

[mikld]

We've seen this question posed any number of times. Search "bear" for examples.

I'd still like to read a half-dozen or more posts from folks who have actually, really, no-kidding fended off bear attacks with a .357 handgun. Speculation is cheap.

Yep! Or even three, real life occurrences...

 

[Ale-8(1)]

A big long thought out reply...gone. Crap. So, Ale-8(1)I enjoy and respect your thoughts. You could have skipped the "Rambo-wannabes" stuff, but You chose to go to insults.

And I respected your thoughts, as well. I just think that a little more first-hand info would be reassuring.

That comment was not directed at you. If it fits, however . . .

 

[powder smoke]

Shot placement is the key here. IMO for bear protection the biggest caliber you can handle.

I wouldn't use a 357. Lots of bruins here in Maine I pack a Redhawk 300 gr hard cast with a good dose of 296. ps

 

[Rclark]

Not a hunter.... But I do read. Brian Pearce's son took a good size Black Bear with the .45 Colt.... Shot with a flattop medium frame Ruger BH with custom loads. Documented in a older hand loader magazine. John Taffin took a big Turkey with a .357. Documented in one of his books. In Max Prasac's books, I don't recall reading much about the .357 for big game hunting. Kind of formed my opinion on what I should carry. Note as a kid, I did pack around a .357 while hiking, camping, and fishing... but now I see it a bit differently.

That said, Just pick ammo with a heavy bullet (180-200) and you will probably be ok. At least that is what I'd do if my option was a .357. As said above you do have to 'hit' with it to do any good. I know I need lots of practice here on 'fast moving, coming closer and closer' targets.... Either that or be able to run faster than my hiking partner.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Some good info here.
http://www.chuckhawks.com/protection_field.htm

Handguns for Protection in the Field

By Chuck Hawks

 

[LaneP]

The takeaway I get from reading about bear attacks is your greatest challenge is going to be organizing your response and fending off the debilitating effects of confusion, chaos and terror. These attacks are almost always "out of no where" (what the predator does by design) and purposely timed to take you off guard and unprepared.

Bears are thick, dense and heavily built, so what ever you shoot at it needs to penetrate and resist deflection as much as possible, because you may only get one chance.

Here's a real world grizzly attack survivor that used a .357, but it is not clear if any conclusions can be drawn because it's not confirmed he landed a solid hit during the event.

From the article - "Miller was fortunate to have survived, said Rick Sinnott, an Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist.

He should have been packing a more powerful gun, Sinnott said, adding, "You have to be a very good shot or very lucky to stop a brown bear with a .357 Magnum."

http://www.cleveland.com/nation/index.ssf/2010/06/man_survives_repeat_attacks_by.html

 

[GA Cracker]

Shot placement is the key here. IMO for bear protection the biggest caliber you can handle.

I wouldn't use a 357. Lots of bruins here in Maine I pack a Redhawk 300 gr hard cast with a good dose of 296. ps

+1
I helped some friends with pay hog hunters for over ten years. Three years in a row three young men came to kill wild big boar hogs with 357 mag. Shot placement and ammo selection are key to any situation. I never saw 357 magnum do an adequate job with multiple shots. A deputy friend of mine had a big wild hog almost take a 4 wheeler from him even after shooting the hog with a 357 mag.
A hunting friend named Barney carried a 357 when dog hunting for black bear for several years. Been awhile and I don't remember for sure if he got bear caught or came very close but he says 357 is not enough.
I have seen A LOT of on game bullet performance on black bear hunting with dogs since 2001. Yes I have seen one shot neck, spine, and brain shots. But I have also seen multiple shots from small caliber rifles that did not do the job. In a close tight situation from what I have seen you need the biggest fatest hardcast meplat you can shoot effectively to destroy bone and tissue to let air in and let blood out. Dog hunting in thick south GA swamps on a bear bay with dogs many times within just a few feet you see a patch of black stick the gun out almost touch the black and let the powder burn. In a close tight situation you may not be able to place a shot and you need the BIGGEST handgun that you can handle the recoil for multiple follow up shots. David Mankus carried a stubnose 38 special and finally killed a bear from three or four feet after he emptied the cylinder.
You also need a revolver with grips that won't be real slick so that you can handle the recoil if your hand or revolver gets wet with water or blood.

 

[mikld]

I'm not a hunter, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night...

But I have a friend who knows a feller at work whose brother in law said he knew some guy on Guam that shot a pig with a 357 and it bounce off the skull and killed the hunter's guide, who also used a 357 for Kamoto Dragons west of New Guinea and often told of some feller that was in Kentucky and died from a black bear attack after emptying his 8 shot .357 into the bear's head and shoulders...

 

[WESHOOT2]

Used to wear his 357 Blackhawk.
Needed it one time.

And this is where I (and he) learned this: "... .400" minimum, 200g minimum, 1,000fps minimum..."


That's his quote.
But I agree (even though my wife insists on just her GP when woods-walking), and have my 5.5" 44 Redhawk.
Properly loaded.

 

[stevemb]

Where is Red Skelton when ya need him ?

 

[dougader]

Not too many years ago, a guy shot an attacking, wounded, black bear with a short barreled 45 auto. It didn't stop the attack

Another man in Alaska shot and killed a mama griz in Alaska, with a 9mm.

Hey, it happens, and while a 357 mag may not be the best medicine it certainly does offer some measure of protection against black bear attack.

Here's a picture of Aaron Wyckoff's Llama 45 he used to defend himself:

And a link to his story:

http://www.kval.com/news/local/19488649.html

 

[kodiakisland]

The first rule in self defense is to have a gun. Any gun. Then load it as best you can. If a 357 is what you have or what you are most likely to carry, then load it with a quality heavy hard cast bullet like the buffalobore 180gr WFN loads. The average black bear is really not that big. The 357 with the right bullets will easily penetrate to the vitals. Black bears are not grizzlys or brownies.

For actual hunting of black bear, I think you'd be better off using a bigger cartridge. A 41mag would make me feel a lot better about purposefully tracking and shooting blackies if handgun hunting is what you intend.

I've spent quite a bit of time up close and personal to some really big bears. No handgun made was a good choice when purposefully around them. Even my 358STA felt small sometimes. That said, I would have no problems carrying a 357 in black bear country.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Which is better Bear Spray or a 357mag Handgun? Both? ...for woods walking, hiking, camping, Black Bear and other wild critter protection.