Best Semi-Auto to drop large North American game

In the market to buy a semi-auto for hunting/p.p. Any recommendation? I am looking for something that will take down anything and in a fast manner. Some sort of protection from cats and bears while bow hunting. Thanks

Does it have to be a semi? Going that route really limits your options. A short barreled revolver will have way more flavors of cartridges available that will do better should you ever have to place a lethal shot on target rather than just making noise.

Also, since you mentioned doule duty as a PP gun, do you mean in public situations (malls, eateries, etc?) or just in the woods?

check out the 460 Rowland . 1911 package and power of the 45 Colt midrange loads. I don't own one, but I read a bunch of stuff about it a couple years ago.

Toby

About the only thing I can think of that has any sort of portability and any reasonable expectation for finding ammo would be a 10mm. Glock makes one. Dan is right though, a short barreled revolver from 4 to 4 3/4 inches would make a better choice and you can get them in anything from one of the 500's on down.

Ditto on the 10mm if you stay with a semi.

If it must be a semi, the 10mm

I second the 460 Rowland. You can buy the drop in top end for most quality 1911's, and loaded ammo from Clark Custom, as well as Starline brass:

Clark Custom Guns

You won't find ammo in stores but if you are going on a trip take a box of 50 and you'll be set. I know of quite a few guys that carry it in bear country.

Second would be the 10mm, with ammo from Double Tap or Grizzly you can pack a pretty good punch, but most "normal" factory ammo is a bit aenemic.

I bought a Glock 20, which is chambered in 10mm, for woods carry/hunting medium game. The pluses are a high magazine capacity and reasonable recoil. If you don't reload, ammo is a bit less common and slightly costly. Overall I am glad to have one in my battery...

I've read good things about the .50 GI from gun crafter industries.
Of course I have to have one!(right after I win the lottery.......twice)

http://www.guncrafterindustries.com/

10 Auto always a great choice. But why not a LAR Grizzly 5" in 45 Winchester Magnum, 44 Magnum or 50 AE. Not that much bigger than a 1911 but much more power.

I'd say 1) 10mm or 2) .45WinMag.

http://www.doubletapammo.com for you not so common store bought shelf stuff. The 200-gr loads are recomended for the 10mm which will be around 1245 fps. With an after market KKM barrel you could use the 200-gr and 230-gr WFNGC bullets by Double Tap.

Some day I would like to get a Glock G20 but till then my S&W 629 works very well here in NW Montana.

WELCOME to HHM crsby34!!




Not a good choice for PP, but sure would be a good dangerous game semi-auto.

475 WILDEY

460 Rowland is a good choice, have one, love it! Built on a Kimber frame. The 10mm isn't a bad choice, either. Teddy Nugent finished a "charging" wounded water buff, at about 6-10 yards with his 10mm. As Gary and others state, the revolver is much more versatile in caliber and load selection. Reduced loads for practice are not an option for the Rowland.

If the $$ is no object you should look into the offering from Wilson Combat in 460 Rowland.

$$$$$$$ for the autos. You can by a good double action big bore for a lot less. Spend the rest on the over priced ammo if you don't reload. Don't forget like Montanan said. Glock says not to use non-jacketed ammo in their factory barrels. All is not lost if you have to have an auto. But it will be a pain. Desert Eagle 44mag/50AE maybe?

Actually you can buy about 4 good DA's for the price of the Wilson or a couple of FA's.

the 460 Rowland barrel alone to convert my 1911 was about 350.00 which is a big reason it's still a 45.

If it's for black bear & cats. 10mm is my choice. But if I go to Montana I take my 44mag.

I gave this one some more thaught. Your still stuck w/the 10mm. It's the best "all around" choice. Springfield or Kimber is a good place to start. I still think you need a revolver.

The .45 ACP with ball ammo can kill anything up to moose. A friend killed a cow with a clip of neck shots. He wasn't hunting but the moose and he were trying to use the same snow plowed driveway with 10 foot drifts on each side. 200 grain JHP didn't penetrate the skull on first round but all the ball ammo that followed did penetrate the neck. Hornady jacketed flat nose would be my defensive load against cats or black bears in .45 ACP, if I didn't reload. I've also seem one mountain lion finished with a .45 ACP at close range, using 230 grain JHP. I consider my Glock 20 with 200 grain hard cast bullets from Double Tap the best semi-auto choice, if big bears are likely, for the penetration on skull shots, lots of volume fire in tight situation. Kimber Target II gives me more useable accuracy in 10mm Auto, but that's just 35 years of 1911 style guns talking.

I am not making this up... I have a friend that shot an Elk with a 22-250 loaded with a 40 partition. He had a text book shot and harvested his elk, but he watched it for 5-6 minuets before the Elk finely fell. At this point we get into a debate on what is ethical to use... so, you CAN kill it with a 22LR... What do you feel comfortable with? A round large enough to drop a big animal is going to bulky to carry or horrendous to shoot because of its compact size. Trying to find middle ground I would vote on the 45 ACP

Desert Eagle 50 AE or a Wildey in 475 Wildey Magnum

Wise choice

Magnum research Desert Eagle in 44 mag.(stainless steel)

Desert Eagle, probably in .44 Mag., rather than .50 AE... but it's a heavy honker.

I know a couple guide in Alaska that pack 1911's in .460 Rowland and swear by them. Less bulk and weight than the DE's and 45LC performance. Perhaps a Coonan in .357 Mag. The 10mm Magnum (not 10mm auto) boasts some impressive numbers, but it never got any love.

I bought my first LAR Grizzly back in 1986 to go on a bear hunt in Washington state before I was transferred from there to DC. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to shot both the grizzly and the desert Eagle before buying. I've taken it hunting many times and over the years it has harvested several animals, it's my #1 semi auto choice. Must like it, I have 5 of them now; .357, 10mm, 45 Win Mag x2, and 50AE.

I do have a DE also in 357 and 50AE (not a 44 fan). I like to shoot them and do several times a year but not my hunting choice.

I also reload almost all my ammo and have since I started actively shooting and the LAR is easy to load for, uses 45 ACP equipment, and shoots cast very well. The DE is only for jacketed bullet as it bleeds gas from in front of the chamber. If this port/conduit becomes fouled, cleaning is a bitch (but doable).

1911, .45acp if I were to hunt with one.