Goin prospectin in bear country with a 45 LC

[rickt300]

Just happen to know where I can pick up some nice pieces of fire agate. However it is in the heart of some serious bear country, black bears that are mostly fishin for salmon in the river I will be camping on. I decided to take my Vaquero, the large frame version that was discontinued. I am having it's polished stainless finish bead blasted and a taller front sight installed so as  to get my reloads using 275 gr. semi wadcutters at 1000 fps closer to the top of the front sight. I'm not expecting any real trouble out of the bears but it is possible I guess. This country is steep sided creek and riverbanks that often have only one path and the bears made that one so a close encounter could happen unexpectedly especially if I am busy fishin for rocks.  Anyone think I might need a bit more horsepower than the load listed? 1100 fps is not out of the question but do I need it?

[bilmac]

I carried a Ruger 45 in Alaska but only when it was pretty unlikely I would meet a bear, like winter. The rest of the time a Marlin 45-70 hung from my arm. I can't offer any opinions because I never fired a shot at bears from either of them.
 

[rickt300]

The bears will certainly be black bears though they don't see people much and get pretty big on berries and fish. A lot of the trails are holes the bears make in salmonberry and blackberry patches along the creeks and rivers.  I am really hoping for a live and let live attitude from both parties. My partner will be carrying a short pump shotgun loaded with Brenneke slugs. We will also be carrying food, sleeping gear and digging tools.  I have never seen another human down in this little patch of heaven, wonder why?

[rickt300]

The last time I was in there I was alone and only had a 6 inch Colt Trooper 357. Well I had a dog and the durn fool though it was funny when he treed two cubs. Me I was more than a bit nervouse getting Brown away from that tree and us down the creek a ways.

[demented]

 I think that whatever cartridge fired by a revolver I carried, it'd have to be double action.  I can only imagine the difficulty of having to thumb a hammer while fending off a bear. 

[Duke0313]

As stated previously, I would take a long gun and use the vaquero as secondary defense.

[rickt300]

Clawing my way thru tangled tunnels in 10 foot high Salmonberry and blackberry briar patches I think a holstered six gun would be quicker to get into action than a slug loaded shotgun over my shoulder. And I am not expecting to actually be accosted anyway. I may once again take a dog though, trying to decide between Max or Tinker. This would definitly take away any surprise a bear may have on his side.

[briarpatch]

If I had a dog and it treed cubs, it would be on its own.

[bilmac]

Blacks run from you 99% of the time and I would feel perfectly comfortable with a souped up 45 Colts. Having a dog tree cubs is a different story however. Momma bears don't run. If a dog of mine treed cubs I would exit the area immediately, dog be dammed. I would exit the same way I came because the chances of running into her there would be slimmer.

[rickt300]

My dogs mean a lot to me and I will not leave one in a tight spot just like I won't abandon my friends when they are in trouble.  In fact any bear that pushes me is taking it's chances. Every time we drive our cars we take a bigger chance of being hurt by some cell phone wielding jerk than virtually any encounter of the wild kind. Decided on taking Max, he is bigger and can help carry gear but his big plus is that he listens better.

[Silvertp]

I think you will be well served with a warmed up 45 load, as long as you use your head...and you sound like a guy familiar with those spicy situations.  Ive shot a couple Black bears with a Ruger .44 Mag 240 gr. handloads and both were shoot-thru.

Ive also spent a lot of time around Griz and Brown bear which is an entirely different situation which demands some bigger artillery.

Only thing I would add is make sure your Ruger is quickly accessible, stuffed in a pack is not good.

PS
A comment about your dog is in order.  I consider a good dog or two an asset in Black Bear country.  They will be your early alert system when you have your eyes focused on some Gem and can't hear anything but the river.  Sure, they may attract a bear, but the can keep a bears attention which could save your bacon as well.

Silvertp 

[1sourdough]

 I too like the 'early warning' asset of the dog around. If things got tight I think you could step back & the dog could keep away from contact with a bear on it's own. It's a truly surprise attack/charge that is the hardest to deal with. A dog alerts you to many things that would take you longer to discover. Now if it's a Lab & you are on a fishing trip, you may need to think it over some so the dog isn't in the water all the time.

[Ken ONeill]

I would have no reservations carrying a .45 loaded as you describe in black bear country. Keep it readily accesible in an exposed belt or shoulder holster and enjoy yourself.

[KAYR1]

Although I have never had occasion to use it as such, I, too carry an Old Model Vaquero .45LC with 300 gr. LBT gas checked handloads. PMC makes 300 Gr +P, as does Bufflo Bore, etc. I havent been able to lineup enough water jugs to stop one. As the above posters mentioned, I'd rather have a long gun, but I think that you are well-amed with heavy loaded .45 Colt.

[rickt300]

Max is a heinz 57 by rottweiler making him a large black longhaired dog with a big head. His main goal in life seems to be watching out for me. And watching out for him is a goal of mine also.  I have a Ruger Super Redhawk in 454 Casull but it is a lot of gun to carry even in a holster. It's 7 1/2 inch barrel and generally large size take it out of the handy utility group which the early Vaquero models are as big as a pistol in that size range around. Too bad Ruger discontinued it.
 
 

[painted horse]

What you're packin will be more than enough. If you can hit a black bear with that load it'll do the job easily. OF COURSE IF IT WAS A CHARGING GRIZZLY YOU'D BE BEAR SCAT.....

[rickt300]

A man could end up worse than bear scat I suppose, put it on my tombstone.

[Lonegun1894]

I'm with you on protecting the dog just like he does you.  But then again, I like my dog much better than most of the people I've met.  Lets face it, that dog is family to you just like mine is to me.  As to the gun, I also carry, both now and for the past 12 yrs or so, a "old" Ruger Vaquero when a heavy handgun might be beneficial, and never feel under gunned.  Granted, I haven't had to use it against a grizzly, but have put down a charging full grown bull with it, and it was using a load almost identical to what you describe.  One shot stop, entered the forehead, and stopped on the left hip bone.  I dont know if that was a fluke as I only had to do it once, and always heard they had amazing penetration, but not sure i would have believed it if i hadn't seen it.

[dpe.ahoy]

KAYR1, I used to shoot some of those PMC's haven't been able to find them for a few years.  I'd like to, they shot real good in one of my Rugers, haven't been able to match the accuracy of that with my reloads for that revolver.  DP

[rickt300]

Well I did go prospecting and found about half of what I needed to pay expenses. had a blast, saw no bears but did see some big dark elk and some pretty deer.

[gcrank1]

Fortune favors the bold  , goodonya mate!