smith & wesson .44 mag trail boss

[great dane]

I just bought a smith & wesson .44 mag. "trail boss" with a magna-ported 3" barrel. Looking for suggestions for loads in grizzly bear country. would like to handload them.

[Savage]

I'd hate to have to use a handgun on a grizzly,--------but if I had to use one in 44 mag, the old Keith load using a 240gr cast over a maxium load of 2400 would be hard to beat. My old Lyman manual shows 19grs of 2400 for about 1400fps. At these velocities you need a hard cast bullet for sure.
Good luck,
Savage

[Thebear_78]

I would go with a hard cast from 300-320gr, beartooth and Cast performance both make excellent bullets in that range.  YOu could also check out the Garret ammo to have someing to compare your loads too.

[Bucolic Buffalo]

Jesus christ that 330 gr Garrett load from my 7.5 in barrel Redhawk is a real tough load to handle. I've had to pull the front sight out of my forehead a time or two after firing a cylinder of those heavy loads. I certainly would not want to try that out of a 3" berrel even if it is magna ported.

[Mikey]

great dane - get yourself some 295 - 300 grain semiwadcutters from Cast Performance and load them over 18-20 gns of WW296 or H110.  Those loads shoot nicely from my 44 mag Mountain Gun and fairly easily compared to a high end 240.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Questor]

I've used Cast Performance 300 grainers and the penetration is phenomenal compared to 240 grain bullets.  Load data comes with the bullets. Cabelas sells them.

[Dusty Miller]

Hey Buffalo, them Jesus Christ bullets ought to really CRUCIFY them grizzlies!!

[oso45-70]

great dane

I want to welcome you and your question, I think you would be better off using a heavy bullet some thing like in the 300gr hard cast. with a healthy dose of H110 or W 296. Don't think i would like to blister a Griz with the lighter bullet, The 240 or 250 gr bullet might work ok on a blackie or deer but i woulden't use it on Grizz, Good luck........Joe..........

[Bucolic Buffalo]

Hey Buffalo, them Jesus Christ bullets ought to really CRUCIFY them grizzlies!!

Yeah Dusty and they can crucify the shooter at the same time.

[Redhawk1]

With the gun selection out now, I would for go the 44MAG and get either the Ruger Alaskan in 454 Casull or the 4 inch S&W500.  If you feel you need a lot of power and for Grizzles and you do. The 454 Casull and 500 Mag are surely up to the task.    I got the S&W 4 inch 500 Mag for when I am in Grizzly country.   But seeings how you already got the 44 MAG, a 300 gr. cast bullet with a good powder such as H110, W296 or 2400 will work.

[Dand]

I agreee with TheBear-78.  Big heavy hard cast bullets.  It was only a year or 2 ago a guy stopped a bear with his 44 right near Anchorage.  You can probably find the thread on the Hunting In Alaska forum down below.

As far as the Ruger Alaskan, I'd sure be interested to read shooters' experiences.  I looked at one in Anchorage in June. Real short barrel and it felt nice.  But I sure wonder about the fireball it will deliver vs bullet power.  Such a short barrel and so much powder - I wonder if the shooter and the bear would be blinded.  Anybody have some actual experience to offer comment?

[great dane]

Just wanted to thank all of you that took the time to help. Thanks again, Dane