I have started the booking process for a fall black bear hunt for next year. Hunt will be in Maine over bait. The guide treats shot distance with handgun like archery. 20 to 25 yards is where he places stands. I have a choice of three calibers. 41 mag, 44 mag and 45LC.
Looking for input on this. All three are capable of quickly doing the job if I do my part.
Thanks
Rick

I am doing a similar hunt in 2013 and I will probably use a .45 Colt. My choice would be the one that I shoot the best as all of them will get it done with proper placement and a good bullet. But, I lean to the bigger caliber.

45 Colt! There is no replacement for displacement.

Let me preface this post by saying I have no experience with the calibers listed.

That being said, I vote for the 45 colt, and here is why...

I have been researching the 44mag and the 45lc a bit during the last week, and will be getting the 45lc in a Colt Anaconda as soon as I can find one. From my research, the 45 colt does what the 44mag does, only it does it better. It does it with a bigger, heavier bullet, but with less pressure because of a bigger casing. The 44mag maxes out at a 300gr bullet if I remember correctly, whereas the 45lc can run with a 350gr bullet. Don't quote me on those bullet weights, but it was close to that.

I did find that it is highly recommended to go with a large frame of some sort if you go with the 45lc AND plan on running hot loads. Some suggestions were the BFR, the ruger redhawk or super redhawk, the taurus raging bull (crap shoot on getting a good one or not), and the one I'm after-- the Colt Anaconda.

One article I read said the 45 colt would be his choice if he was allowed to pick only one caliber. It can be run at low levels and equal the 44mag. It can be run hot and take anything in north america. Or, in a lever gun, it can be used to hunt at longer distances. I thought that was pretty interesting!

Not that the other two you mentioned wont get it done, but I vote 45 long colt!

I assume you already have revolvers in these calibers. I personally would use a 41 mag with hardcast bullets. But I am just a big fan of the 41 mag. Most will suggest 44 mag or 45LC.

If you are buying a revolver in one of these calibers, I'd go with 44 mag myself.

I have the listed calibers. Toss up between 41 and 44 which I shoot better. I have very little trigger time with 45. Most of my trigger time has been with 41.

I believe you just solved your on puzzle...;)

Although I'll be doing a very similar hunt, I'm gonna use my FA 97 45 colt with 260gr NP's over 18.0gr of H110.

Big holes get it done.

I would imagine that if it is only 20-25 yds. that you should be able to get any one of your guns to do the job. Even if it was a 40 yard shot a heavy hard bullet at or over 1000 fps should get it done for you.

Good luck.

44 or 45, 300 grn bullets

Thanks for the replies

Only when put in the right place.

Lets put it this way. The vast majority of Maine Black Bear are not big. We just have a lot of them.

I know of 9, make that 1 less the old sow was shot last weekend Saturday morning by a friend she weighed 330, so now its 8 different bear within ten miles. 6 of which are under the 200 mark. Every time I go out hunting I run the chance of bumping into one of them. In no way would I feel under gunned for the situation with a 41 mag. Personally I don't own a 41 but I do own a 401 as well as the 44 and 45 you mentioned. Given the option between the three and knowing that I was specifically going after Maine Bear over bait, I'd opt for the 401/41 in the 170 gr flavor. The bear will be occupied by Aunt Jemima and Moldy Doughnuts, the opportunity for a great shot will eventually happen, its just a matter of patience.

A Serious consideration has been missed completely. Do You Reload??? If not the 44 Magnum, If you do the 44 Magnum or 45 Colt both with heavy WFP Bullets should work fine.
I would take the 45 Colt out of the running if you are not running Reloads.

Next, which do you shoot best, and are most comfortable with?

Just My 2 Cents.

Bob

agree with this

I do reload. I have the most trigger time with the 41. I am equally comfortable with either 41 or 44. Most likely will be 41 due to trigger time

Good choice!!

Rick

The gun you shoot the best is the answer, a bit more diameter is not as important as good shot placement. The .41 is a good caliber, and I have wondered why it did not achieve more popularity.

You did not mention if this was a ground or tree stand hunt, if you are shooting from a tree a bit of practice doing that would also be advisable..

Good luck and shoot straight.

Hunt will be over bait, which is typically an elevated stand.

I agree on the 41's following. I enjoy shooting the caliber and know it can get the job done.

If you choose the 41, I would stay away from HP bullets. Assuming you don't hit the spine and drop him, you've got to have a blood trail and an exit wound. Based on a relatively small amount of experience with 41's you will have a harder time getting the HP's to exit reliably. Personally, I would pick a non hollow point bullet regardless of the caliber.

Words of wisdom!

Rick

I shoot cast bullets exclusively in my hand guns, and a 220 bullet in your .41 with an upper end load should work just fine for bears.

I do not have any hunting rounds that are hollow points. Every thing I have for hunting is wide flat nose or soft point