Load opinions requested

[Raging480]

Hello all, I am planning on going bear hunting in the Catskill mountains this fall, and I am going to bring a handgun.  The gun I am going to bring is going to be a .41 magnum.  I have two different guns, one is sighted in to shoot a 250 grain cast bullet, and the other is loaded with 210 grain Hornady XTP hollowpoint.  Both guns are topped with non magnifying red dot optics, and I can shoot both accurately.  I imagine I will keep my shots to within 75 yards, and my question is, which gun/load should I hunt with?  My feelings were toward the heavy cast bullet, do people agree, or disagree?

[The deerslayer]

Use the cast bullets. The hollow points are good for deer but they dont give enough penetration for bear.

[myronman3]

i ll second that.

[oso45-70]

raging480
I'll third that motion, The 250 gr hard cast will do you a lot better job.
Break the shoulder down and you will have time to finish him off. Good luck on your hunt..........Joe..........

[Dand]

Hey I'm a 41 fan. Hope you are successful.  How about giving us a performance report on your return?  Would love to hear back.

I pack the 250 Federals or 250 or 265 Corbons for caribou hunting. The one 'bou I shot - the 265s zipped right through but it was a very small animal.

[Cabin4]

Use the cast bullets and go for a vital shot. You will have a dead bear if you put the bullet in the vitals with a 41mag.

[Raging480]

Thanks for all your replies.  I was leaning towards the cast bullets, but I enjoy your responses.
I absolutely will give a report after the hunt.  It won't be for a while, as we are going the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Another forum member and I are hunting buddies, and we are going bear hunting together, the first time for each of us.  We may look like twins in the woods, as we will be carrying stainless N frame 6" S&W revolvers, topped with UltraDot sights.  Mine is the 657, his is the 629.  And we both have the "Bandito" rigs to carry our guns. :grin:

[Gowge]

Make sure the bullets are hard cast - and tempered if possible.   Bears are a lot tougher than deer.   A wide, flat nose bullet with a large meplat gives you a better permanent wound channel on FAT bears & hogs.  If you're lucky enough to have it pass thru the animal after taking out the shoulders or heart, you'll have a good blood trail to follow if the shot doesn't anchor your bear.    If you're presented a head-on shot, the hard cast bullet has a better chance of penetrating heavy bone to the vitals or even raking the bear end to end if it's close....

As you know, handgun hunting puts you in close proximity to the bear.   With the limited power of a handgun, closer is always better for delivering more power on the target, but it makes you more vulnerable to a charge if the bear is simply wounded and you're on the ground with it....   You're easy to locate in the woods - partly from the noise of the shot, but also the smell of the gunpowder.   I suspect some bears are fired up when they smell gunpowder - especially if they've been around hunters before.  

I would always advocate followup (handgun) shots immediately if the shot is available.  You'll have backup right there with you, which is good when hunting dangerous game.    If either of you has access to a strong 12ga repeater with a smoothbore cylinder barrel or .725" or larger bore, some full bore,  Hard Cast Dixie Predator Slugs (650gr) or Tri-Ball loads (three (3) .57 caliber musket balls in a 3" shell) would be a good stopping load on a charging blackie at close range.    If you have a fully rifled barrel  shotgun available, then the 730 grain Terminator Express Slug is just the ticket!  

http://www.dixieslugs.com/products.html




Big Terminator Slug next to a 44 Caliber bullet.

http://www.dixieslugs.com/dixieslug.html



GOOD LUCK!   :wink:

[Rmouleart]

I personally disagree about the comments on JHP's on blackbears, I think hollow heads work very well on those Black bears, Remington premiere copper solid sabots for rifled shotguns.
This copper JHP rips through any black bear with ease, you can put your fist through the exit hole, I even like the Hornady XTP/speers GDHP's using my revolver, these are a JHP as well, I want the bullet to expand and make as big of a hole as I can make, bleed him out quick, less travel, solid tent to punch a hole like a wad cutter, the bears fat plug it up fast, no blood to track, no bear to find. I think the 12 guage rifled shotgun is one of the best choices for a baited situation using the right bullet is one of the most devastating gun in the woods. just my thoughts. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

[STL Cardinal Fan]

Go with the cast bullet. Remember though, if you have not got good shot placement, then you will be hurting no matter what bullets used.

Happy trails,
Kenny