45 ACP is not the best caliber for a bear protection gun. The caliber lacks the penetration and power required to stop a bear in its tracks reliably. The . 45 ACP is, however, not a slouch and can be turned into a perfect bear gun, provided that +P loads are loaded with 255gr hard cast bullets.
45-70 Government has been used to stop more than a few attacking grizzlies, and lever guns have been a top choice among backcountry guides the world over. There's no doubt that if you put a bullet or two in the right place, the . 45-70 can save your life.
Both are popular choices for self-defense and both have a lot of stopping power. The 10mm is a bit more powerful than the . 45 ACP and it also has a higher capacity.
The 10mm has a faster velocity and energy than the . 45ACP. But the 45 gives great diameter and has stood the test of time. Maximum damage becomes very handy when you're in dangerous situations and the 45 is going to give you the largest bullet expansion.
If you body-shoot an attacking bear front-on, those 10mm bullets must be chosen for extremely deep, straight-line penetration to compromise as many vital organs as possible, and they must shrug off any bone—no matter how massive and dense—encountered along the way.
Most knowledgeable people may agree the minimum caliber handgun suitable for bear protection is a . 44 Magnum. The ammunition also is critical, since the bullet must penetrate heavy muscle and bone, and drive into the vital organs.
Aim for the deadliest point you can find. On a close-in, charging bear, this will probably be the face or upper chest. Often full-attack grizzlies lower their heads as they come in, so that's about all you have to aim at.
For a bear cartridge anything equal to or more powerful than a . 41 Magnum or . 44 Magnum will be fine. Oldtime black bear hunters say that any load that throws at least a 200-grain or bigger solid bullet at 1000 fps or more will take any bear in the woods.
If so, would it be quick enough to avoid getting killed? If by magnum, you mean modern 45/70 pressures, combined with modern dangerous game projectiles, then yes absolutely. The (above)Marlin 1895 chambered in 45/70 is trusted by many a hunting guide in Alaska to protect them and their clientele from bear attacks.
Ideal Heavy Rifles for Bear Protection
Look for the biggest caliber you can shoot well in a rifle with a controlled-feed action like the Winchester Model 70 Safari Express, or the Ruger Guide Gun. While big bore rifles are ideal, even a . 308 will work.
44 magnum revolvers were used. The grizzly bear was killed. In total, there were 8 defenses against black bears and 27 defenses against grizzly bears. One pistol failure out of 35 cases translates to a 97% success rate for the use of handguns against bears.
Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it's the sound of a prey animal. Slowly wave your arms above your head and tell the bear to back off. Do NOT run or make any sudden movements. Do not make any loud noises or screams—the bear may think it's the sound of a prey animal.
Cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Lay flat on your stomach, and spread your legs apart. Keep your pack on, it will help protect you during an attack. Stay still and don't make any noise—you're trying to convince the bear that you aren't a threat to it or its cubs.
Such a blood trail will usually lead quickly to a very dead bear. Keep in mind a black bear can run 30+ mph, meaning, theoretically at least, one could cover 293+ yards in 20 seconds. I have never personally known a heart or lung-shot black bear to travel farther than 165 yards. Most drop within 40 yards.
The specific choice is yours, but if you use a minimum . 40 caliber, a minimum 200-grain solid deformable bullet and a minimum of 1,000 fps velocity from your chosen gun, you'll have a handgun load that will take any bear that shows itself.
Buffalo Bore makes excellent bear defense ammo in many calibers including . 45 ACP +P. See 45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN , which says, “the two non-expanding loads are designed to shoot through large shoulder bones or the skull on a black bear.
Firearms are not recommended for stopping an attack.
It's also harder to hit a charging bear with a firearm rather than bear spray, and a firearm can be dangerous to any hiking partners. While firearms have been effective at stopping an attack, they aren't recommended.
Premium magnum slugs are probably your best bet for stopping a charging bear. A shotgun with a short barrel and a long magazine works best for bear defense. The popular Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 pump-actions are perfect for the job.
Grizzly and polar bears are the most dangerous, but Eurasian brown bears and American black bears have also been known to attack humans. Some species depredate livestock on occasion, and some bears, such as Asiatic and American black bears, may destroy fruit or other crops, especially corn.
A handy way to keep a safe distance from wildlife is to use the rule of thumb. Give the wildlife a thumbs-up. Close one eye to see if it's completely out of sight. If you can see any part around the edge of your thumb, you're too close!
Don't yell or throw rocks. If the bear charges, stop backing away and use your bear spray. If the bear shows no signs of stress and is approaching, make yourself look big and scary by outstretching your arms, holding packs above your head, making loud noises, throwing rocks, and preparing to use your bear spray.
To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
If a bear approaches or touches your car, honk your horn and drive away to discourage this behavior.
Can you kill a full grown bear with a 7.62x39 based AK47? Yes, you can. There are poachers in a few of the former Soviet states that use AK-47s for bear (and other critters).
The 44 Magnum might be firing a slightly thinner bullet, but its case can hold 11.2 gr more propellant compared to the 45. The 44 cartridge has a case capacity of 37.9 gr compared to 26.7 gr for the 45 ACP. The added case capacity allows the 44 Magnum to fire heavier bullets at higher velocities compared to the 45.