bear and the .357

[BlkHawk73]

A co-worker will be hunting Maine black bear later this year.  He'll be hunting over bait from a stand approx 30yrds away.  He'd like to try this with his 8' dan Wesson .357 magnum.  It's this handgun or none so suggestions for a diferent chambering are moot. (i know, I know)   He'll also have his .30-06 rifle with him also.   So, anywyas, what factory round would be most reccommended for this situation?

[Maine_Hound_Hunter]

What area will he be hunting? Is he hunting w/ a guide or by himself or with some buddies? Will the area being baited be heavily wooded? Will he have a small shooting lane? The first 2 questions are kind've irrelavent, but if he has a small shooting lane he SHOULD stick with the rifle...

[BlkHawk73]

Proberly with at least one other prson but w/o a guide.  It's in the woods but not really that dense and has some real good clear shots available.

[NYH1]

 He'll also have his .30-06 rifle with him also.

Good, tell him to use it instead of the 357 mag. :?

[Cabin4]

I'm a firm believer in the Nosler Partitions. They offer a 180 grain that would be my choice if I had to use the 357. Perhaps a 200 grain hard cast would be my second choice.

[ihookem]

If he is so bent over backwards with using his 357, why is he bringing his 06?

[BlkHawk73]

He's one of those that "Know it all" and had to buy a handgun to protect him while baiting.   :roll: Knows zilch about ammo/balistics/guns.  appwased him with this question to you all.  he believes exactly what he reads in magazines and what the expetrts say.  :roll: Because of that, he takes thier words as 100% gospel and there is no other methods/ acceptable.  


well, you get the picture.

[Cabin4]

The average Maine bear is about the same size as the average Maine resident, about 140 - 150 lbs. Over bait at 30yards should present a very good opportunity for a revolver shot. A well placed, high quality bullet like the 180 grain partition from the 357 should do the job well. Although it's not the best bear medicine, it will work.

There are specific areas in Maine that have a larger average size bear. In these areas I would not consider the 357 enough. So depending on area, he should be ok.

[The deerslayer]

I think It would work fine if you used a hard cast bullet. 2 good ones I found was a  200gr Hard-Cast Flat Point from corbon. The second I found was 180 gr. LFN-GC from buffalo bore. It probly would be better yet if the ammo was handloaded. Also I reccomemd a shoulder bone shot. It would be best with the hard cast bullets. I have a post about the same thing on a different web site. Most said I would be ok if if the shot was in bow range.

[dabigmoose]

HOPE YOUR FRIEND CAN TRACK WELL
I would say he needs to cut the 30 yards down to 15 I have known people who have used 357 with hard cast bullets that killed bears in their dens but thats point blank range.
Why take the chance of wounding the animal since this is a sport hunt, get as close as possible and 15 yards is not that close.better yet use the 06
and trade the 357 off for a 44 mag.
dabigmoose