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Author Topic: 41 mag black bear load???  (Read 1086 times)

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Offline benny

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41 mag black bear load???
« on: January 30, 2006, 06:52:46 AM »
Hello,

I'm thinking of bear hunting next year with my 657 and I was wondering which loads would be better, a JSP or hard cast?

The hard cast loads I am considering are the Buff Bore 265gr WLN and the grizzly ammo 250gr WFN.  Both clock over 1300fps at the muzzle.  Buffalo bore also has a 230gr keith style at over 1400fps.

On the other hand there is the old 210gr Remington JSP at about 1300fps.  That seems to be the only soft point available in 41, all the others are hollow points which I would think are not nearly as effective on larger game.  Winchester does make the 240gr platinum tip hollow point but I think their stated velocity of 1250 is a little bit of wishful thinking, more like 1100.

Anyway, I have heard that some alternate between a soft point and hard cast in their cylinder, but I don't know if that is a good idea?

I will be hunting in my home state of PA so the bears are pretty big.  The state record is over 800lbs and a 12 year old shot a 731lb bear this past season.  Of course, most are not quite as large.

Any suggestions are much appreciated.
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Offline swampthing

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41 mag black bear load???
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2006, 07:28:18 AM »
I'd go for the heavier and wider profile in the hardcast. Deforming bullets tend to have shallow penetration, were as the WFN hardcast tends to have more gusto when it actually reaches the vitals.
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Offline oso45-70

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Handgun hunting
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2006, 07:32:36 AM »
benny,

If you are a hand loader i would suggest a 240 gr, hard cast bullet or maybe a 250 cast core, you might even consider the corbon 250 0r 265 which will give you good penatration. Good luck Sir. :D ........Joe.....
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Offline Dusty Miller

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41 mag black bear load???
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2006, 09:45:59 AM »
If that 265 grn WFN at 1300 fps won't stop a black bear then you need to pick on smaller bears!!
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Offline Redhawk1

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41 mag black bear load???
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2006, 12:10:11 PM »
Hard cast is the way to go in my opinion.  You want good penetration.  :D
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Offline Gregory

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41 mag black bear load???
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2006, 12:16:39 PM »
benny

Will you be hunting spot and stalk or from a stand?  I recall from my years in PA (1990-1992) that baiting is not legal.  

You are really handicaping yourself with a handgun for bear in PA.  I love handgun hunting, but I'd be toting a rifle for bruins in PA.  Over a bait stand in Maine I'd agree a handgun would make sense.  I'm not saying your 41 Mag is not adequate, but your limiting yourself to close range shots at an animal that is probably on the move from other hunters in the woods.

Tell me more about your hunting strategy please.
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Offline benny

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41 mag black bear load???
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2006, 03:14:13 AM »
greg,

this will be my first attempt at bear hunting so, i'm not sure exactly what i will be doing yet.  i'm going to do some reading / scouting in the off months while looking for coyotes.  if a rifle works out better, i have no aversion to using one, but i would like to find a way to use my 41.

also, you are correct, baiting is illegal in PA.

any suggestions are much appreciated.
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Offline coyotefever

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41 mag black bear load???
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2006, 01:23:27 PM »
I'm confused about what to use on a black bear too :? I have a new .41 mag and now everybody on here says use a hardcast bullet on em.20yrs ago I never knew nothing about them.One fella use to load me some of his .41 mag hot loads he shot a few black bear that were hollows.I only got to try em on paper though.And after reading I think a post by JJHack ??? he says use hollow points.Maybe someone could post what he says or post a link to the thread.I don't know how as I'm a computer dummy. :D I have never shot a bear with a .41 but the new federal fusion in 210 looks like I might try that when it comes available.The winchester platinum tip in 240gr looks good too.I admit 0 bear with a .41 handgun so I really don't know but will take advice on somebody who has actually killed a few as I don't want to become bear scat. :gulp:
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Offline SingleFan

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Use the Hard Cast WFN
« Reply #8 on: February 08, 2006, 11:47:17 AM »
I have found for both deer and bear the WFNGC hard cast work excellently.  The penetration is excellent and it sure stops them quick.  I like beartooth   www.beartoothbullets.com  give Marshall Stanton a call and he'll give you a great load.

As far as a .41 in PA, I've been hunting this neck of the woods for 30 years and I no longer even consider bringing a rifle along because most of what I hunt are hardwoods and shots are within 75 yards 95% of the time and within 50 yards about 80% of the time.  

Don't worry a lick about using the .41 unless you're hunting over the edge of large field areas.
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Offline JOE MACK

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Black bear with a .41Magnum
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2006, 04:35:13 PM »
The only time I've used the 210grJHP in .41Magnum on a black bear was for a +/- 250lb that was treed by hounds. A quartering shot took the heart and part of a lung. The bear was dead before it hit the ground. For spot and stalk or calling black bear, I use a 250gr.WFNGC from a NEI mold. I can run this to over 1350 in my 7.5 inch Ruger Redhawk. I've shot a 350 pounder in the left chest and had the bullet exit the right ham at 35 yards. That's definitely a load I wouldn't put in any of my S&W 57s!

For factory loads, I've had really good luck with Federal's 250gr. Cast-core, Corbon's 250gr. hunting load, and Buffalo Bore's 250gr. cast load. Haven't tried any of the new factory hollow points on black bear yet so I can't comment on them, sorry.

You'd be surprised at the game the .41Magnum can take with the right bullet. I've taken large hogs, black bear, elk, and elk-sized+ African game. Welcome to the fold.
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HAVE MORE FUN AND GET THE JOB DONE WITH A .41

Offline Bitterroot Bob

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41 mag black bear load???
« Reply #10 on: February 11, 2006, 08:01:42 AM »
Howdy,
I used to shoot a 220-grain Sierra jacketed silhouette bullet. The nose was flat with lead showing, but not protruding. It lookes like it will penetrate whatever is in front of it with little deformation. I have a few that I recovered from the dirt on my range and the copper is bent a little, but still whole.
Would this be a bullet to consider?

Bitterroot
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Offline SmackFactor

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41 mag black bear load???
« Reply #11 on: February 12, 2006, 04:57:21 AM »
Hello Bitterroot,
I haven't used them in a 41 but I have used them in a 44 on bear and hogs. They acted like a cast bullet. I used them because in that particular pistol it shot jacketed bullets better than cast. Unless you have the same problem, or have some laying around that you want to use than I would just use a heavier cast bullet and get it over with. They worked OK, but I would use a heavier cast or a heavy well made jacketed bullet.

Regards,
Jerry
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Offline jro45

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41 mag black bear load???
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2006, 11:41:04 AM »
I'd go with some hard cast bullets or jacketed bullets over 200 grs.
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Offline Raging480

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blackies
« Reply #13 on: February 17, 2006, 04:47:57 PM »
No bears yet, but my 657 Classic Hunter II shoots a Cast Performance 250 grain bullet over 20 grains of L'il Gun and a CCI mag primer.  No signs of over pressure.  Anybody have any idea what the velocity may be?
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Offline rimfire

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41 bear load
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2006, 03:27:29 PM »
Check out Foggy Mountain bear hunting guide service in Maine [google for website].  He is considered the bear guide's bear guide.  He makes a point of noting that he hosts handgun hunters and his favorite round is the 41 mag with the 210 JSP from Remington.

I imagine he has lots of experience and if it good enough for him...probably will be right good.
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Be honest with yourself.  Can you guarantee you would hit a paper plate at 250 yards...100 yards...50 yards?  Then you have no business replacing the plate with a live animal.
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