Light 12 ga slug bear loads?

[lar45]

I have a 70 cal double barrel pistol that I'm thinking about taking bear hunting.
I load 1oz 12ga slugs over 60gn of FFg that gives around 650fps.
Will this be enough for black bear at close range?

[JSnover]

It's close to one of the Howdah pistol loads: a .577" 480 grain boolit over 70 grains of Black.
Intended for lions or tigers, I imagine it would work for black bears.

[stubshaft]

Probably be good for 20 - 25 yards or closer.

[lar45]

http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/guns/700howdah/700howdah-01.jpg

http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/guns/700howdah/70cal-01.jpg

http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/guns/700howdah/70cal-02.jpg

http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/guns/700howdah/70cal-03.jpg

http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/guns/700howdah/70cal-04.jpg

http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/guns/700howdah/70cal-05.jpg

[Markopolo]

Wow… now that’s some eye candy!!!!!

[Shawlerbrook]

Nice looking. Black bears are not that hard to kill. Shot placement is always key.

[versa-06]

Now that is 1 unique piece! It ought to do the job. Distance pending accuracy.

[Ramjet-SS]

Wow that is very cool

[Mk42gunner]

That is a seriously neat pinfire.

No real idea as to the effectiveness of your load; but I think it will do if you are trying to keep a bear out of your blind, much as the Howdah pistols were originally designed for.

A question though, how do you safely carry pinfire ammo in the field? Something about the firing pin being exposed on every single round of ammo has always given me the willies.

Robert

[JSnover]

A question though, how do you safely carry pinfire ammo in the field? Something about the firing pin being exposed on every single round of ammo has always given me the willies.

Robert

First, you get an elephant...

[Screwbolts]

LOL, I am sure it wont bounce off! 1 oz at 650 FPS will work wonders IMHO, it is very self evident! A 3/4" hole in the right place will let a lot of blood out and air in, it will lower the blood pressure very quickly. you should also be able to eat right up to the hole.

K

[Tripplebeards]

About the same velocity (or a little less) as a a Dragon claw (679 fps with a 200 grain pellet) big bore air rifle. Would think in the correct place under 20 yards it will get job done. If it were me, I’d want something a little more powerful for reassurance. Wouldn’t wanna have to deal with a wounded bear…Unless I had some dogs to distract it to finish it off.

[lar45]

I have a small ammo box that I stack them in every other spot, no speed loaders, lol.
I really want to find a centerfire.

[Big Goose]

lar45 -- That is awesome!!!
I'd say that a 1 oz. slug at 650 fps will go through whatever you hit with it.
Very cool and handsome piece- I like that it's a pinfire- adds to it's character.
Big Goose

[Mk42gunner]

I have a small ammo box that I stack them in every other spot, no speed loaders, lol.
I really want to find a centerfire.
I can understand the box, and also wanting a centerfire version.

Thanks for answering my question,

Robert

[Digital Dan]

A somewhat different course might utilize a round ball with a cloth patch. You'll get a bit more velocity and better penetration. I use a patched .690" ball in an old Damascus double that works fine. I use ~75 gr 1.5 FG, and the patch is about .020" thick.

25 yards, offhand
http://i.imgur.com/tBKlMxk.jpg (https://imgur.com/tBKlMxk)

[Tripplebeards]

I’d say she would say shoot a bear as far as you can hold a fist size group, or tighter, with that thing freehand and you’ll be all right….hopefully….lol. It just makes the hair stand up on my back thinking about tracking on my hands and knees when I shot my last black bear that was 7’ 2” with with a 300 rum amd a 200 grain Nosler partition stout hand load. It did a backflip at he shot, got back up, and ran with a perfect broadside heart and double lung shot. Made it a good 45 yards before it let out 7 loud curdling roars before it expired. I couldn’t see where it went and shot it 2 minutes before close. It was pitch dark 12 min later. I had to crawl through some thick brush on my hands and knees till I almost bumped into it. Lucky it was dead.