Best .45 ACP round for black bear protection

[ldmay375]

In Alaska my G21 Gen 4 Trail Pistol

45 ACP +P
RimRock Hardcast Top Shelf 250gr .451
8.0 of Longshot
Starline 45 ACP Brass
Fed 150
1.190”
Lee Factory Crimp Die
1000 FPS in 4.6” KKM
20 Pound Spring

Care to share the details on that one ?

 

[Alaska338]

Care to share the details on that one ?

It’s a great load very similar to Buffalo Bore 45 ACP+P 255gr load just has a slight more velocity but less than 45 Super. Dispatch several moose over the years with the load in G21 pretty much has replaced my G20 and 220gr load for Alaska trail.

 

[analog_peninsula]

I've loaded up some LeHigh Defense Xtreme Penetrators at a reasonable velocity for my suppressed M&P 2.0. I'll report back if I get a chance to zap a hog or a hog carcass with it. The LeHigh videos that I've seen online make it look like the cat's meow for .45 ACP loads that need reliable penetration.

 

[Alaska338]

The XP 200gr should be an excellent medium game bullet black Bear / Deer / Hog as well as the 240/250 XTP in 45 ACP.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

The XP 200gr should be an excellent medium game bullet black Bear / Deer / Hog as well as the 240/250 XTP in 45 ACP.

I'm starting to hear more about this type of ammo.

 

[analog_peninsula]

I loaded the 200 grain Xtreme Penetrators, but I also bought some of the 135 grain Xtreme Defense bullets too. In the online testing that I've seen, the Penetrators seemed best for sizable game animals (aka bears, large hogs, etc.), and the Defense bullets seemed best for self-defense and other less heavy targets. Both products seem more-or-less true to their names.

 

[Alaska338]

I loaded the 200 grain Xtreme Penetrators, but I also bought some of the 135 grain Xtreme Defense bullets too. In the online testing that I've seen, the Penetrators seemed best for sizable game animals (aka bears, large hogs, etc.), and the Defense bullets seemed best for self-defense and other less heavy targets. Both products seem more-or-less true to their names.

I loaded the 200 grain Xtreme Penetrators, but I also bought some of the 135 grain Xtreme Defense bullets too. In the online testing that I've seen, the Penetrators seemed best for sizable game animals (aka bears, large hogs, etc.), and the Defense bullets seemed best for self-defense and other less heavy targets. Both products seem more-or-less true to their names.

For game I would not go less than 200gr in 45 ACP.
Preferably around 1100 fps
Another good bullet for med game is the Sierra 200gr FPJ.

 

[Safari Dave]

If bear protection is your primary objective:

45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN

45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN

www.buffalobore.com

 

[450 Dakota]

Another user of the Lehigh 200 gr penetrators.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

I’d load the heaviest hard cast in a 4” S&W 625.

 

[Green Chile]

If you prefer a 1911, consider a 10mm for bears, lions and assaulters wearing heavy coats/clothing.

 

[Daryl S]

1st of all, black bears attacks here in B.C., whether started as protection of cubs, territory or food, generally change to predatory. You become a food item. This is not heresay or guesswork, and was spelled out in no incertain terms in the "bear awareness" course ALL Provincial employees were in attendace for. Grizzlies, on the other hand, while not unknown to turn predatory, did so very much less often than black bears.
I shot 8 "trouble" bears one fall at work in Corrections. The bears were chasing the night shift outside Prowl officers who had some close calls. I shot 2 of then with my somewhat altered 1911. Both bears were in the 300 to 350 pound range, large for being town/garbage bears.
1st was a side head shot with a 230gr. FMJ = DRT. The range was close, about 10yards. I shot him(both were boars) when he turned his head as a car went past on the highway.
The second was at a range of about 15' as he was walking, pacing me as I was on the other side of the ecercise yard from him. He was parallelling me. I shot him with a 260gr. SpeerHP, loaded with W630powder, 11.9gr., Speer's max. frome my 5" Wilson barrel, they ran 960fps. The bullet entered the left side behind the elbow, double lunging him, just above the heart. He immediately coughed up blood, then bit at the entrance hole in his left side. He had stopped having interest in me. He just stood there, with his head down, then collapsed.
The other 6 bears were shot with rifles including a .30 wildcat I had made up on an 8x57 case with an '06 neck.
That one is a different story.

 

[M70375!]

Well if I were serious about protection from black bear, 45 acp would not be my choice, it's a great 2 legged predator protector , but not much for bear, and don't use expanding bullets whatever you do, at 45 acp velocities they will not penetrate far enough, use hard cast. A 10 mm would be a better option, or what the heck, go buy yourself a nice revolver in 44 mag, then you have some real stopping power with heavy for caliber hard cast. It would be a good excuse to buy another gun. When I am in bear country here in Wyoming, I always carry my 500 S&W with 400 gr Buffalo Bore loads in a Galco Kodiak holster and barely know I am carrying it.

 

[Hififile324]

I've been shooting 45 Super since the Springfield V16 in 45 Super first came out (I bought one). It's a great round and I do use the Buffalo Bore 255g hardcast in 45 Super at 1100 fps (out of my 6" barrel) for a woods gun. That being said if I had a normal 1911 I wouldn't shoot 45 Super out of it. I would shoot these and with a good shot no black bear will know the difference.

45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

45 ACP +P OUTDOORSMAN Field Proven pistol and handgun ammo. Maximum firepower bullets. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

www.buffalobore.com

Here's my old V16 in 45 Super with the ammo I shoot, but it was made for it. It kicks less with the Buffalo Bore 255g hardcast at 1100 fps then my Springfield Pro with 230g regular hardball.

View attachment 410827View attachment 410826View attachment 410825

Another vote for Buffalo Bore. All of my handguns are loaded with their ammo. I killed a 330 pound hog, one shot, through and through, DRT with their .44 SPL Outdoorsman Load.