I'm heading into bear country with 12 lbs of honey this weekend and packing a 1911 Government Model .45 ACP. Now, understanding that a .45 Auto is not bear medicine, what's the best factory load (preferably +P and FMJ) to use as a deterrant against a 250+ lb black bear. I've got some +P 230gr Hornady XTP handloads on hand, but I'm not sure a hollow point bullet is the best choice.

For a small black bear what you have will be enough.

I like the Buffalo Bore 230 grain flat FMJ they are advertised at 950 FPS,yet Chrons'ed out of 2 different 1911 clocked 1015 and 1017.....A very potent 45 ACP load...A compairable Corbon +P flat point would be excelent also IMHO......

I'd use whatever you shoot in your gun.

As you're aware, this is marginal for the use you have in mind so personally I'd use the bullets you are confident shoot well in your gun.

In regards to any other bullet, how many rounds are you going to shoot before you're happy they feed reliably- 10? 100? 500? See my point? Hollowpoint or not, I think a +P 230 gr is about as good as it gets for what you have in mind.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark:
As you're aware, this is marginal for the use you have in mind so personally I'd use the bullets you are confident shoot well in your gun.

In regards to any other bullet, how many rounds are you going to shoot before you're happy they feed reliably- 10? 100? 500? See my point? Hollowpoint or not, I think a +P 230 gr is about as good as it gets for what you have in mind.

I strongly agree! The last thing you want to encounter is a failure to extract or stovepipe jam! Use whatever self defense round you typically carry.

One reason wheelguns are so useful is that they will function reliably with a variety of loads, though they won't shoot them all well.

BTW before I bought a SRH 480, I carried a Glock 23 with the stout Doubletap .40 S&W 200 gr woods load - I didn't feel adequately armed, but at least I knew the rounds would penetrate. Unfortunately this ammo is pretty much "Internet only", and you still need to run 100 rounds through the gun to make sure it works ok with the tuning of your gun.

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.p...ab29c66778ed0c83932b

"The fastest 230gr FMJ-FP in existence! A great woods load for the man who carries a .45ACP. The thick jacket helps the bullet to keep its shape while the flat point crushes as it penetrates. This is the hiker's dream loading for his .45ACP. This powerful loading comes in boxes of 50!

Caliber : .45 ACP

Bullet : 230gr. Full Metal Jacket - Flat Point

Ballistics : 1010fps - 521 ft./lbs. - 5" bbl.
Box of 50rds."

John Davies
Spokane WA

The 45-08 is supposed to be fairly popular in Canada as a Bear defense load(Black and Grizzly)
It shoots a 200gn SWC to 1300fps and has performed well on putting bears down.

The 230 flat point +p loads sound pretty good.

I did see some 400gn loads for the 454 going 1400fps on the Double Tap website.
I wonder how they'd shoot in the Ruger Alaskan?

When I carried a 45ACP in bear country I use the Buffalo Bore 230gr FP,s.

If you cannot find any of them, or get any of them in time for your trip, then I would use 230gr Ball.

I will add that I have tracked a couple of wounded black bear [not wounded by me] while carrying my Colt Commander LW, this was before the days of the buffalo Bore load, I carried 230gr Ball.

On those two hunts Speer Shotshells killed several grouse for the pot.

However now I carry, and recommend, a 4" 44 Mag, with hard cast lead bullets.

Fnj bullets that function in your gun . May have to change to heavier springs for better reliability. I would make sure the gun is squeeky clean Those last 230s sound good. You want a bullet that will keep a goin into the bear. I cast 252 hard bullets that are for the 45 long colt and even with that flat tip they work in my gun but the velosity isnt near 1000. good Luck !!!! Also meggar 8 round mags would be nice if they work in your gun . or any 8 that works

FWIW, my father in law shot a 250# black bear at about 100yds with his Contender in 45Win Mag loaded with cheap jacketed soft point loads. It took 3 shots, and certainly wasn't a bang-flop kill, but it worked. The soft points just didn't penetrate enough. It seems like the ballistics at 100yds with the 45WM would be pretty close to a 45ACP up close. And with FMJ's instead of the poor quality soft points, I bet the 45ACP would work just as well.