Is .45 enough for black bear?

[Magungo1066]

How does it stack up? Reliable killing power within 75 yards?

 

[No Deer]

It should be good enough if you are.

 

[Ames]

Yeah You gotta hit the boiler room with your one shot. Or he may turn on you.

 

[Walkingeagle]

Bears die easy. Easier than a deer. Just remember the hair is long so the actual body is several inches inside the hair requiring proper aim point. Shoot for two lungs and recover within 50 yards.
Walk

 

[hanshi]

Never have shot a bear but scads of downed deer tell me the .45 is serious medicine for anything under elk/moose in size. Even with the big stuff I'd not dismiss the .45.

 

[87TT]

Apparently not in Idaho. .50 minimum. Then there is this.
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/h...VFSBQykifPGIWU4CyGeKgnzer3JOFfAVf5Ek79OzlWxLc

 

[Beaver Trapper]

Be patient and pick your shot. All the black fur, esp. at low light means you have to be diligent that the bear is broadside. My best shots on bear is when they've had their heads in the feeder barrel

 

[toot]

go and try a 45 CAL. I think it would be DARWINS THEROY OF NATURAL SELECTION ?.

 

[shdwlkr]

If I were to go after a black bear I would choose a .54 maybe even a .58 caliber size round ball. You don't want that animal to decide you are the cause of its pain.

 

[Beaver Trapper]

go and try a 45 CAL. I think it would be DARWINS THEROY OF NATURAL SELECTION ?.

75 gr of 3f behind 128 gr .45 round ball 2012fps at the muzzle
30.30 Win 130 gr flat point 2,496fps at the muzzle

Besides, black bears are runners, not fighters - I've shot enough of them to know.

 

[Magungo1066]

75 gr of 3f behind 128 gr .45 round ball 2012fps at the muzzle
30.30 Win 130 gr flat point 2,496fps at the muzzle

Besides, black bears are runners, not fighters - I've shot enough of them to know.

So it is adequate then? Provided you do your job with shot placement? How far are the shots (generally) because I do have a .62 fowler

 

[Walkingeagle]

Yes, it will get the job done. Stay within 75 yds and place the shot well. Two lungs and done!!
Walk

 

[Nessmuck56]

If a 45 is all yah got...go with it. But if I was going bear/ Moose hunting...a .54 cal would be in my hands.

 

[TNGhost]

.45 will indeed do the job, but there is a reason the .50 has become by far the most popular for hunting.

 

[Magungo1066]

Does anyone know the average shot distance for a Black Bear? How far are shots generally? I also have a .62 fowler and that would certainly smack a bear, but the shot needs to be under 50 yards. -Larry

 

[M&P]

Does anyone know the average shot distance for a Black Bear? How far are shots generally? I also have a .62 fowler and that would certainly smack a bear, but the shot needs to be under 50 yards. -Larry

I am a bear hunter for over 10 years now. This year will be my second year with a muzzloader. Even with a modern firearm, I haven't took a bear not further than 25 yards. The closer you are, the bigger the target and you can see in details where you shoot ( my opinion). I usually hunt from a treestand at 15 feet high.
For me .50 cal and up for bear hunting. This year I will go with my kentucky rifle, with a load of 110 grains of Triple7 with a 300 grains bullet.

 

[Beaver Trapper]

So it is adequate then? Provided you do your job with shot placement? How far are the shots (generally) because I do have a .62 fowler

.62 fowler - depends on your comfort level. Some say they can shoot out to 60 yards, I personally can't shot well past 40.

 

[Beaver Trapper]

Does anyone know the average shot distance for a Black Bear? How far are shots generally? I also have a .62 fowler and that would certainly smack a bear, but the shot needs to be under 50 yards. -Larry

Hunting over a bait I've shot bear as close as 9 yards. If you watch some videos of guided hunts it looks like most shots are under 30 yrds (bow hunters). Wind is everything with bears, they can smell better than deer.

 

[Dillon W.]

How does it stack up? Reliable killing power within 75 yards?

I bet it would do the job. Like a lot of other things, shot placement. Which should be a fundamental regardless of caliber

 

[SDSmlf]

Won’t hesitate hunting with hounds and shooting a treed bear. But on the the ground, from a stand..... 45 roundball will work, although you could be in for some tracking.

I prefer something with enough power (45 caliber conical, or 50 caliber or larger roundball) to at least bust up one shoulder and penetrate to the vitals. I aim for the scapula if at all possible, not the lungs. Might require a follow up shot, but no tracking. And with their long hair it can take a while before you start to see blood on the ground. We trailed a double lung hit 400 pound bear a few years back in fresh snow than didn’t leave a drop of blood for the first 100 yards or so. Went less than 200 yards total and was dead when we got to it, but without snow likely would have required dogs to find it the mountainous area I hunt. Sometimes they go right down, but other times it’s ‘double lung and run’.