Bear Defense?

zeroed4x said:
100% worthless. First of all 45 colt is very weak. Lead bullets will not penetrate deep enough nor can they be loaded hot enough. You would need full metal jacket or at a minimum soft points with a good heavy jacket for penetration. Secondly you need to push that round supersonic. I would not go into bear country with anything less than a 44 mag loaded at 1200fps with 240 grain fmj. Anything less and your going to possibly end up as a pile of bear scat.
Click to expand...

I don't know about the brand specifically but 45 colt can actually be loaded pretty hot. There's a difference between a "cowboy load" which is designed to simulate 1800's ballistics and what can be put through a modern firearm like a Ruger. Also, those aren't lead bullets. They're cast core wich is basically one solid chunk and will penetrate BETTER than jacketed ammo because they don't deform all that much. It's possible to pull a cast core bullet out of an animal and be able to reuse the bullet. You can tell because they're more silver in appearance then lead is. No personal experience but I did study this type of bullet a decade or so ago.

Edit: Did a quick google search. They're pushing 325 grain at ~1200 fps.
 
Shotgun said:
I don't know about the brand specifically but 45 colt can actually be loaded pretty hot. There's a difference between a "cowboy load" which is designed to simulate 1800's ballistics and what can be put through a modern firearm like a Ruger. Also, those aren't lead bullets. They're cast core wich is basically one solid chunk and will penetrate BETTER than jacketed ammo because they don't deform all that much. It's possible to pull a cast core bullet out of an animal and be able to reuse the bullet. You can tell because they're more silver in appearance then lead is. No personal experience but I did study this type of bullet a decade or so ago.

Edit: Did a quick google search. They're pushing 325 grain at ~1200 fps.
Click to expand...

B.S. :-) 45 Long Colt will blow up in your face loaded that hot. Thats a 100% accurate fact. The cylinder pressure is too high.
The only hot loads I've ever seen that are even close to being that hot are with the Thompson Center Contender and even then, the cases will often split because of the high chamber pressure. I've also hand loaded for many type of revolvers and autos, since I was about 14 years old. I would not trust any load data found on the internet or from anyone on an internet forum. There is a 45 Colt Mag but we are talking about a completely different load and these are not cowboy action type pistols. The 45 Mag is close to the 44 mag performance.
 
Last edited:
zeroed4x said:
B.S. :-) 45 Long Colt will blow up in your face loaded that hot. Thats a 100% accurate fact. The cylinder pressure is too high.
The only hot loads I've ever seen that are even close to being that hot are with the Thompson Center Contender and even then, the cases will often split because of the high chamber pressure. I've also hand loaded for many type of revolvers and autos, since I was about 14 years old. I would not trust any load data found on the internet or from anyone on an internet forum. There is a 45 Colt Mag but we are talking about a completely different load and these are not cowboy action type pistols. The 45 Mag is close to the 44 mag performance.
Click to expand...

Including yourself? ;)

Buffalo Bore sells .45 Colt loads at 325grain/1325fps and 260grain/1500fps, among others, for use in modern revolvers.
Is this company known for selling dangerous ammunition? I thought they were a very reputable.
 
zeroed4x said:
100% worthless. First of all 45 colt is very weak. Lead bullets will not penetrate deep enough nor can they be loaded hot enough. You would need full metal jacket or at a minimum soft points with a good heavy jacket for penetration. Secondly you need to push that round supersonic. I would not go into bear country with anything less than a 44 mag loaded at 1200fps with 240 grain fmj. Anything less and your going to possibly end up as a pile of bear scat.
Click to expand...

.45 Colt in the original form threw a 255 grain bullet at around 950 fps. It will penetrate well in hard cast lead. Even in stock form, it'll do quite a bit.

zeroed4x said:
B.S. :-) 45 Long Colt will blow up in your face loaded that hot. Thats a 100% accurate fact. The cylinder pressure is too high.
The only hot loads I've ever seen that are even close to being that hot are with the Thompson Center Contender and even then, the cases will often split because of the high chamber pressure. I've also hand loaded for many type of revolvers and autos, since I was about 14 years old. I would not trust any load data found on the internet or from anyone on an internet forum. There is a 45 Colt Mag but we are talking about a completely different load and these are not cowboy action type pistols. The 45 Mag is close to the 44 mag performance.
Click to expand...

There is a good deal you can do with .45 Colt. It really depends on what your combo is. Hogdon lists their Ruger, Freedom Arms, and TC loads with a 360 grain bullet at 1150 fps (which is right at super sonic). That in hard cast lead bullet will take care of anything if you do your part. They also list a 240 grain bullet at over 1500 fps. All of their loads are about 10,000 CUP below the 40,000 CUP under .44 Mag...... You can get very similar performance with less pressure.... and that's not just "internet data" that's from a powder manufacturer.

That being said: .45 Colt is just for those people with the right gun, who like to load. For most people .44 Mag would be easier to find a wide variety of loadings for.

Nullity said:
Including yourself? ;)

Buffalo Bore sells .45 Colt loads at 325grain/1325fps and 260grain/1500fps, among others, for use in modern revolvers.
Is this company known for selling dangerous ammunition? I thought they were a very reputable.
Click to expand...

Are you sure it's for "modern revolvers" or is it for Rugers Blackhawks/Redhawks only? What I looked at didn't say "modern revolvers" and I don't think I'd stick it in my N Frame.
 
Woodrow F Call said:
Are you sure it's for "modern revolvers" or is it for Rugers Blackhawks/Redhawks only? What I looked at didn't say "modern revolvers" and I don't think I'd stick it in my N Frame.
Click to expand...

I was simply trying to differentiate between Colt SAA and "modern revolver" loads. Apologies for the confusion. You can read more details about the particular loads on the Buffalo Bore website. I could have said "some modern Ruger revolvers" but I thought it was needlessly detailed for the particular information I was presenting. I never meant to mislead.
 
Nullity said:
I was simply trying to differentiate between Colt SAA and "modern revolver" loads. Apologies for the confusion. You can read more details about the particular loads on the Buffalo Bore website. I could have said "some modern Ruger revolvers" but I thought it was needlessly detailed for the particular information I was presenting. I never meant to mislead.
Click to expand...

:thumbup: No problem. I just don't want someone to think they could just stick one of those rounds in their Ruger New Model Vaquero.
 
Dirtknap said:
No. You're hardcore awesome.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes:

Spudly94 said:
Bear spray is the best option , not a gun , it's stupid that people automatically just go to a damn gun thinking there a badass
Click to expand...

Some people, myself included, carry everywhere they are legally allowed to. It makes sense that if I were carrying anyways, I'd carry something useful for my activities, including protection against wild animals. I'm carrying a firearm anyways, and I don't feel a need to carry spray for the very rare possibility of being attacked. I'd rather just be aware of my surroundings, and act responsibly. It's a lot less to carry. ;)
 
I went to Montana a couple summers back with my family. We were in a local shop talking to a fishing guide and my uncle asked if he carried bear spray. He said, " Yep. Its chambered in .45"
 
Last edited:
I spent the weekend on the river here. No bear spray , cooked next to my tent and kept food in my tent, including an open bowl of dog kibble. No problem. Of course Jake and I had thoroughly scent marked the gravel bar where we camped. And I did have my old smokewagon with me. Knife? A 3 1/2" stockman backed up by my Weeks SPK custom 3 3/4" custom fixed blade. We weren't skeered. The scent marking evidently worked. No lions, tigers, bears, possums or coons attacked.
 
Codger_64 said:
I spent the weekend on the river here. No bear spray , cooked next to my tent and kept food in my tent, including an open bowl of dog kibble. No problem. Of course Jake and I had thoroughly scent marked the gravel bar where we camped. And I did have my old smokewagon with me. Knife? A 3 1/2" stockman backed up by my Weeks SPK custom 3 3/4" custom fixed blade. We weren't skeered. The scent marking evidently worked. No lions, tigers, bears, possums or coons attacked.
Click to expand...

But others were attacked:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/19/us/bear-attacks/

n2s
 
First one is very predatory but also sounds like it was confused. Attacked a fleeing animal but did not execute the kill. Odd behavior. I have seen dogs press an attack on a running person or person on bike but then break off once the person stopped running.

I am glad the young lady is going to be OK. I have a 14yr old daughter myself.

Bill
 
not2sharp said:
But others were attacked:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/19/us/bear-attacks/

n2s
Click to expand...

Cadillac, Michigan - 775 miles away.
Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska (can't get there from here).
Pagosa Springs, Colorado - 1,284 miles.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - 1,626 miles.
Shotgun Valley, Idaho - 1,716 miles.

When bears can make it past TSA and get on planes without tickets, I'll worry. Or if I get on a plane and go to Idaho, I'll use awareness, best bear territory camping habits, and carry bear spray and a pistol.
 
I live in a small town, the county seat, with a population of 1,000 +/-. My house was built before WWII. I wear old blue jeans and khakies, both made from easily renewable, recyclable cotton. My yard is one of the best kept in the neighborhood (with no chemical added), no pollution here. And not a single bear has shown up in my yard. Deer, fox, squirrels and rabbits, yes. But no bears. Yet. But I have been wanting to try some bear recipes.
 
Come up to bear country, then you can try all the recipes you want!
If you want to eat them then get a spring bear, Fall bears are good for the lard(best donuts you will ever have!)-we have two bear seasons in Manitoba.
Lucky for you, there aren't too many bears where you go because you would end up with a bear trying to get in your tent (and it usually turns bad when a dog is involved) if you did that here, and they don't seem to care what pants you are wearing
 
All good reasons to stay right where I am, where I know I am at the top of the food chain.

PS- I don't swim with sharks either. Or rassle gators. Or run with the bulls.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top