Originally Posted by
Markopolo
i would say your 44 special is a fine weapon against blackies. You like the gun and have been carrying it for a long time... confident in the weapon...
on a charging bear, you shoot for center of pass and keep firing till the bear is down. 5-6 shots from a 44 cal anything is a lot of lead... but most of the shots will be off center I figure, as nerves come into play.. shoulders break the bear down and chest just kills it. any hit is going to have an effect on the bear, head shot just stuns them unless you come in from the side. i hit one once from the side near the ear with a 44 and it blew the top of the skull clean off along with most of the brain... not a pretty sight... i was aiming for behind the skull . it was a very close shot.
my wife carries the 38 lady chik cuz it fits her small hand... i load it down with 4g of bullseye and the 358429.. at first I was a bit worried about this load, but she has a good grip on the gun and practices with it.. and it fits her hand..
my son carries a 357 with the same boolit loaded with 13g of 2400... he likes the gun and says its easier on his hand then the 44 I shoot.
i am a huge fan of the regular ol 44 mag loaded with the lee 310's shooting a max load of 2400.. we don't have brown bears around here on my island but see black bears almost every time we are out in the woods part of the year. I got used to the combo, know where it hits, and am comfy with it...
moral of the story is, shoot what you are used to, comfortable with, can stay on target with after successive shots. you might only have a second or 2, and trying to wield a ungainly hand cannon your not used to my not get you anywhere except mauled or eaten... and most of all, practice.. be a quick draw kinda guy... we use stumps... walking around on a practice session and I yell "bear" and the wife and kid draw and shoot into the nearest stump short range... even with all the bears around here, i have yet to have to shoot one that wasnt being hunted for self defense... but I have had my pistol out a few times and even fired a warning shot. i still practice.
hope this helps.