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Author Topic: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle  (Read 4969 times)

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Offline wayne24

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bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« on: February 01, 2009, 04:31:07 PM »
Just booked my first Canadian bear hunt!!!!! I am thinking of taking my 44 mag ruger deerfield and my 44 mag handi rifle. The hunt is over bait (20 to 40 yard shot) so I think the 44 mag would do the job ( if I do mine).I reload for this caliber so what bullet would work the best hard cast lead,jacketed soft point or hollow point? What  weight bullet is best? Any load suggestions and bullet ideas would be great.Can't wait for august!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks,
             Wayne
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Offline Two Bears

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2009, 05:37:23 PM »
Hard to beat a 240 grain Hornady XTP bullet for bear. It is a great cartridge and is plenty for Black Bear over bait.

Have fun.
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2009, 07:41:30 PM »
Myself, I would not use a hollow point bullet. I like a good hard cast bullet in the 300 gr. range for black bear. My load for my 44 Mag is a 300 gr. hard cast bullet with 17.5 gr. of 2400.
The load works great in my 44 Mag handgun, as well as my Marlin 44 Mag rifle. I took a nice big boar hog with it. One shot was all it took and I had 2 nice holes in the hog.

Good luck on your bear hunt, where are you going?
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Offline wayne24

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2009, 06:49:48 AM »
Going to Maiden bay camps in north cobalt Ontario.The hunt includes a boat and motor .Can't wait august is  to far away.Talk with the owners at a local gun show ,they said that the area was hunted last year for the first time in 14 years.Thanks for the info
Wayne
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Offline countryrebel

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2009, 09:38:30 AM »
The 240 xtp will work just fine.
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Offline teddy12b

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2009, 10:31:34 AM »
I have nothing against the 240gr hornady XTP.  I used that bullet in a handload for last seasons deer hunt with great success.

There is a 320gr hard cast made by grizzly ammunition.  Fire that from your rifle a couple times and you'll know the difference between that and the 240gr bullets.  I don't shoot the 320gr bullets for fun because there is too much recoil for that.
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Offline wayne24

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2009, 04:50:05 PM »
I have some 300 grain hard cast bullets that I have loaded up fairly hot .They do have a little more kick but not enough to knock me around,I bet my 280 lbs. helps with that too.That little handi rifle is becoming my favorite gun,I have yet to find a load that it does not like.
Thanks for all the input,
Wayne
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Offline Cabin4

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2009, 04:54:19 PM »
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the deerfield a semi auto? If yes, check the gun laws in Canada. Not sure if you can hunt with a semi there.
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Offline wayne24

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2009, 05:03:05 PM »
I will do that .Thanks for the heads up
Wayne
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Offline wayne24

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2009, 05:12:09 PM »
Found it
Firearms
Firearms include rifles, shotguns, air or pellet guns, bows and
crossbows. You may use semi-automatic or repeating firearms
for hunting in Ontario, but not handguns or fully automatic
firearms. Air and pellet pistols with a muzzle velocity less
than 500 feet per second may be used for hunting in Ontario
I will still call and check
Wayne
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Offline Cabin4

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2009, 05:26:04 PM »
Thats good. You should be good to go.

The reason I mention it, I was extremlly surprised when I found out you cannot hunt with a semi auto in Pennsylvania. You can own them, but no hunting with them. Pennsylvania has some of the most liberal gun laws in the nation. So when I think of Canada, I think of very strict gun laws.
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2009, 01:28:32 AM »
Yes you can hunt with a semi-auto in  Ontario Canada, my buddy did last year during black bear season.
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Offline BBF

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2009, 03:10:42 AM »
Stay with jacketed bullets for the Deerfield.
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Offline teddy12b

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #13 on: March 03, 2009, 03:18:56 AM »
Also, on the Canada gun laws, you can use a semi auto, but the magazine can't hold more than 5, or the gun plus mag can't hold more than 5.  You may want to look into that as well.
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Offline wayne24

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2009, 04:33:16 AM »
I have some 270 grain gold dot jacketed soft points for the deerfield .They shoot very well out of that gun.
Wayne
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Offline Ak.Hiker

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #15 on: March 04, 2009, 06:50:36 AM »
The 270 grain Gold Dot is a great choice. I have an old Ruger 44 Magnum and the Dold Dot would be my first choice for black bear. I did some penetration tests a few years ago and the Gold Dot was the best out of the expanding bullets I tested. Nothing wrong with a Remington or Winchester 240 grain soft point either.
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Offline Varmint Hunter

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #16 on: March 04, 2009, 01:31:14 PM »
I use a 300gr Hornady XTP in my Deerfield with a max load of H110. Bears HATE this load!
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Offline maglvr44

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #17 on: March 18, 2009, 10:00:08 PM »
Quote from: wayne24 on February 01, 2009, 04:31:07 PM
Just booked my first Canadian bear hunt!!!!! I am thinking of taking my 44 mag ruger deerfield and my 44 mag handi rifle. The hunt is over bait (20 to 40 yard shot) so I think the 44 mag would do the job ( if I do mine).I reload for this caliber so what bullet would work the best hard cast lead,jacketed soft point or hollow point? What  weight bullet is best? Any load suggestions and bullet ideas would be great.Can't wait for august!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks,
             Wayne
Any hardcast, flat nose weighing 250gr or more, though more is not better as the 250 is going to pass right on through anyhow, as for velocity, 1000fps or more.
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Offline maglvr44

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #18 on: March 18, 2009, 10:03:26 PM »
Quote from: wayne24 on February 02, 2009, 06:49:48 AM
Talk with the owners at a local gun show ,they said that the area was hunted last year for the first time in 14 years.
;)  ;)  ;)
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Offline teddy12b

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #19 on: May 28, 2009, 05:06:14 AM »
Wayne24,
       Any updates on this?  What ammo did you decide on?  Good luck this season. 
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Offline wayne24

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #20 on: May 29, 2009, 07:36:29 PM »
I have been working up some loads with a 300 grain hard cast wfn.Not much time to shoot My youngest turned 16 on the 28th and she has her learners permit .tonight is her big birthday party wooohooo  10 teenage girls screaming around the house.My son will be home at the end of june for his pre-deployment leave he is headed to afganistan  for at least 15 months with the Army.
Wayne
 
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Offline teddy12b

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #21 on: May 30, 2009, 03:49:04 AM »
Wayne,
    Good luck with all the girls.  My little girl is almost 6 months old now and I can't even imagine her getting behind the wheel.  I'll say some prayers for your son, and please tell him another army vet says thanks.
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Offline wayne24

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #22 on: May 30, 2009, 09:44:12 AM »
Will do  Thank you
Wayne
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Offline kiddekop

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #23 on: May 30, 2009, 01:14:13 PM »
Quote from: teddy12b on March 03, 2009, 03:18:56 AM
Also, on the Canada gun laws, you can use a semi auto, but the magazine can't hold more than 5, or the gun plus mag can't hold more than 5.  You may want to look into that as well.
An M1 Garand  would be a good bear stopper, one of our club members used  his M1 in Colorado for a successful mule deer hunt so I decided to try my luck with my garand and I was successful .A WW2 vet  I met told me he hunted the whole western USA for mule deer,elk & bear with his 2 M1D garands plus he had 2 additional service grade garands that he let his son & family members use .
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Offline drdougrx

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #24 on: May 31, 2009, 02:05:00 AM »
Hi Wayne,

Redhawks got a lot of experience, his word is good for me.  I have a few revolvers in 44 that I hunt with and they need new sights to shoot heavy, 300gr, bullets accurately.  So, I use 240gr xtps.  I use them on hogs and they do flatten them like lightning.....but...they didn't exit!  I'd shoot heavy if you can find a good load.

BTW...I've had 2 girls getting licences in that last 5 years...can you say grey hair.
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Offline BBF

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #25 on: May 31, 2009, 04:47:24 AM »
The M1 Garand was my first issue service rifle and I recall the clip holding 8 rounds. I suggest you check with the Canadian Firearms Centre before trying to bring it to Canada.
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Offline wayne24

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #26 on: August 12, 2009, 03:41:37 PM »
I am leaving very early Saturday morning.All guns are locked up and ready to go.I am taking 3 of my handi rifles,500 s&w loaded with 440 gr.wfn lead bullets and 2 44 mags  one shooting 300 lead bullets and the other with some 270 gr gold dot soft points.All  three are sighted in at 50 yards and ready to go.Just have to get the rest of my clothes packed .All camo is scent free and packed.I will post when I get back hopefully with some pics .Talked with the guide this week and the bears have been hitting the baits.That sounds better than the hunt I took to Maine last year allready.(not one of our baits hit all week, mine and my buddys) one guy out of 40 got a bear.At least we have a boat to go fishing if all else fails.
Wayne   
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Offline 1sourdough

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #27 on: August 12, 2009, 04:47:06 PM »
 Have a great time. I'm about ready for some hunting myself, working all summer it seems.
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Offline wayne24

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #28 on: August 22, 2009, 03:20:55 PM »
 I returned home late Friday night.I got my first bear .Shot him last Monday night around 6:15 pm.He is a small boar but I am happy .My buddy that went up with me did not see anything so I am glad I shot the first bear that I saw.Shot him with the 500 s&w handi. I had carried the 44 mag with the red dot on it but when I looked thru it at normal shooting time (almost dark) the red dot  was very hard to see anything at the target area.Hit him at about 10 yards from a tree stand and he piled up in about another 10 yards.No problem following that blood trail ,I could see it from the stand.He even ran towards the road what more could you ask for.
Wayne
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: bear hunting with 44 mag rifle
« Reply #29 on: August 22, 2009, 04:36:24 PM »
Congrats on your first black bear, I leave in one week for my black bear hunt in Maine with my bow.
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