How Big ya need …to feel Safe?

[Surfinator58]

I remember when I lived in Fairbanks Alaska Hearing of a bear that a hunter had just killed when they cut it open and found six well-healed 158 grain copper jacketed bullets in its chest at an angle appropriate to suggest he was eating the person who was shooting at him..

 

[Africa58double]

I don’t want to be eaten… So going on this endeavor Prepared is the Plan

I remember when I lived in Fairbanks Alaska Hearing of a bear that a hunter had just killed when they cut it open and found six well-healed 158 grain copper jacketed bullets in its chest at an angle appropriate to suggest he was eating the person who was shooting at him..

 

[Bad Karma]

Where is the best place to shoot a large bear? Head, chest, heart?

In the road. About 100 yards from your truck.

 

[Bad Karma]

I just KNEW you were gonna ask....

That’s a beautiful rifle…

 

[LME]

As I read the different post concerning this subject my mind keeps thinking,"David killed Goliath with a sling shot"? It must be stated he had the ultimate back up! I don't believe everything I see in the news nor the web. Yetis, sea monsters, big foot and unbelieveable things people have done with pellet rifles?

 

[OldSmoky1967]

Many say a venerable .45 caliber breechloading round is suitable as " Furry , Large and sharp" medicine, but I'm only inclined to say that is so if you can ensure a direct brain or CNS hit. I've shot too many thin skinned furry, medium and fleet and seen them take off in a mad dash to trust it for a bruiser that wants me dead and will charge through a hail of lead to accomplish that. I suppose what you have hanging on the basement wall pointing toward us is about as good a stopper than anything else we will recommend. Sure would like to see the rest of that behemoth.

I would like to see the gun, too!

 

[OldSmoky1967]

So a 45 conical with 70 gr of Black Powder is your muzzleloader suggestion for Elk hunting while Angerus-De-Fur-Humungunus is Roaming around the Mountain your hunting?

It’s a .58 Pedersoli Kodiak , I also have a Big Boar T/C .58View attachment 117984View attachment 117988

Very nice! Ty for sharing. That is my first time seeing a double like that.

 

[Bad Karma]

If you don’t mind, please elaborate on these experiences. Do you feel the Roa to be sufficient. Also I’m seeking Black Bear… My boss Elk. So I may be in different areas…. And the Northern part of state has large population of Grizz. Also Black Bear are not exactly Friendly.
My Roa is the 5.5” with fixed front sight and with 777 max and a 255gr conical I feel up close it’s not a pea shooter

Small front site - I Shouldn’t have to “File it off” as some suggest. (Silly regurgitation of comment in a bear thread)

Africa, your ROA is probably the best balance between power and portability in a ML handgun. If I was ever back in grizzly country and had my mind fixed on ML only it’s what I would carry. With a 30 to 1 cast bullet weighing a bit under 230 grains I can get 35 grains of 3f Swiss under there for hot 45 auto ballistics from my 7.5 inch ROA. I’m not 100 percent sure it would stop an angry bear but as they say, it sure beats teeth and fingernails.

I’d also be carrying bear spray. Jokes be damned, statistically it’s probably the best option for repelling bear attacks.

 

[Africa58double]

@Bad Karma -

Sound advice I’ll take.
Bear spray is not a joke.

The ROA Can be a formidable piece.
Seen a video of the 255gr Kaido Bullet punching thru 11 Gallons of water. That’s a considerable amount of penetration. Who knows what the Lead BHN was… Yet I bet it could be a tad bit more.

A 45 caliber 255 gr Bullet has abilities at 850fps that are usually very under estimated. John Linebaugh has proved that. The Roa is Excellent to say the least.

 

[Nuthatch]

My Double .58 is equivalent to that 1oz slug at 1500 fps. Or better with a 600gr.

Yet keep in mind- I’m Hunting Black Bear or with my Boss as he hunts Elk.
So I need to be able to reach 100 yards accurately. I can place a 1oz 445gr 8 Bhn Real Bullet few inches low at 80 yards. Have a Ghost ring set at 50 yards andexpress sites for further-distance I can see over the ring.

Or you can just wait for a closer shot.

Black bears while hunting (not already charged up to attack) aren't such hard animals to put down. Any deer-capable setup should do fine. For grizzly protection, any handgun and any single shot weapon is little more than an emotional comfort, I'd think. Some options are probably better than others but I think the odds are still overwhelmingly in the bear's favor. Best case is the ol' Hatchet Jack result -- you end up shooting the bear that kills you (first).

Sounds like your .58 would do well. I've only taken 2 -- one with a recurve and the other with a CF rifle (15 and 50 yards, respectively). No ML experience with bears yet. Neither went far. Trailing was difficult, though. Hardly any blood until I was almost within spitting distance of the carcass. Fantastic eating, though. I've really been enjoying the 200+ sow I got this past fall.

Good luck!

 

[Bad Karma]

@Bad Karma -

Sound advice I’ll take.
Bear spray is not a joke.

The ROA Can be a formidable piece.
Seen a video of the 255gr Kaido Bullet punching thru 11 Gallons of water. That’s a considerable amount of penetration. Who knows what the Lead BHN was… Yet I bet it could be a tad bit more.

A 45 caliber 255 gr Bullet has abilities at 850fps that are usually very under estimated. John Linebaugh has proved that. The Roa is Excellent to say the least.

He does promote the hardened bullet and if there’s any chance that the target will have a bad attitude I believe a hardened bullet is mandatory. Wide flat nose and hardened enough to retain the shape without coming apart at impact is a devastating combination.
BTW, I think Elmer Keith wrote about a drilling a bull elk in the forehead with Winchester silvertip in 38-40. The bullet essentially splattered on the skull and really irritated the bull. A hard 200 grain bullet might have punched through.

 

[Africa58double]

A up close Patched roundball .58 cal 280gr at approximately 8bhn with 110 grain under it would very much be a Sufficient chunk of lead.

I prefer the conical /Bullet for a Thick fur that’s possibly caked in mud, covering dense muscles and large bones. 445gr or 600 grain.

Just as long as I can use my 3 leaf express sights out to a 100 yard trajectory, accurately.

As I’m there to hunt and the big bullet is only insurance for a Defense shooting circumstance… if needed.

The 255 gr .45 ROA with harder bullets is sound thinking for a Up close- poke head in tent deterrent, against a Bruin!

 

[Bad Karma]

That’s big medicine alright…

 

[Africa58double]

I’ve had excellent accuracy with my Double barrel and using 8-9 Bhn lead casting

 

[Africa58double]

Think I found the safety factor….

.58 and 900gr

 

[OldSmoky1967]

Think I found the safety factor….

.58 and 900gr

WOW!!!

 

[cynthialee]

900 grain bullet....that'll hit like a freight train....on both ends

 

[Africa58double]

Ya thats impressive and painful looking

 

[Dirty Mike]

Not much a 58 Prb from my big boar won't stop. But with the right shot placement anything is possible

 

[Africa58double]

Big Boar will do its job. 120gr of 2F and a Large grain projectile.