will a 45acp stop a brown bear (alaska size)?

Question

i know shotgun with slugs, 44 mag and higher will just curious about the 45 acp stopping power on a bear

Answer 1

Bound's hubby here:

It is doubtful. While the .45 is an excellent man-stopper, I would not want to face down and Alaskan sized brown bear with a .45, and come to think of it I would not want to do that with a .44 Magnum either.

Keep in mind, an encounter like this is totally defensive. Your ability to place a disabling or killing shot on a closing target is going to be compromised. You need to approach this scenario as if you were handgun hunting. If you intended to engage the bear with the odds on your side, what would you be comfortable using? For me, it would be a bolt action rifle with a .300 Winchester Magnum, as a minimum.

Good luck.

Answer 2

A bear isn't a tank and it is not some mystical animal that can not be brought down. If you do an internet search, you'll find a number of stories about people bringing down black and brown bear with a 22 rimfire. This isn't something I'd try, but it has been done.

Would a 45ACP stop a bear? Its possible. If a bear was determined to get you, using a 45 ACP would be a real "Hail Mary" 90 yards from the goal line.

Bears tend to avoid confrontation. If the bear was determined to get you, I doubt a clip of 45 ACP rounds would change its mind. If the bear was attacking you out of reaction or it wasn't determined to kill you, then a round or two from a 45 ACP might change its mind and send it on its way.

A handgun isn't my weapon of choice when in bear county (personally, I carry a 35 Whelen rifle). If it was, I'd personally opt for a 41 Magnum (decent amount of power and low enough on recoil for a quick follow up shot). You need to compromise between power and recoil. Two hits from a 357 Magnum is much better than one miss with a 454 Casull.

I have walked more miles and fished more salmon streams in Alaska than I can remember. I have yet to be attacked by a bear or have anything I'd even classify a close call. I'd be more worried about carrying a firearm to kill food in case you get lost than having a firearm to defend against bears.

Answer 3

I wouldn't go up against an Alaskan brown bear with less than a 45-70 rifle. You may only get on chance to save your own life. In the words of some wise man, "Use enough gun."

If you take a 45acp, save the last shot for yourself. I takes an awful long time to bleed to death when disemboweled by a bear. (Sorry to be so graphic.)

Answer 4

If you had enough 230 grain rounds it would. Ones made by Hornady, Winchester or Federal would be the better brands to use.
That jacketed hollow point (JHP) stuff would not get the job done because it would not penetrate enough.

I would not want to try it though and I am a .45 ACP man.
I would prefer to have my Marlin 1895G Guide Gun in .45-70 Gov't if that was an option.

There was a big Brown killed by a Katmai Ranger with his 9mm. It was only because he had enough rounds (11) to stop it.

It was the one that killed that Timothy Treadwell and his girlfriend Amie Huguenard.

See the story below.

Answer 5

at the same time as a .308 isn't appropriate for preventing a bear in it really is tracks, it will be performed. A bear's heart can beat particularly sluggish, so do not assume a bullet notwithstanding the chest vitals to kill a charging bear earlier it claws your face off. they in simple terms gained't bleed out quick sufficient. A shot notwithstanding the cranium or notwithstanding the backbone is what you actually favor to renounce a bear. As for ammo, do not use hollow factors. they gained't penetrate deep sufficient. Even a 30-06 PSP can look proper off of a bear cranium. they're confusing headed creatures. Use bonded or good copper bullets (like barnes tsx). pick which ever round is maximum sturdy on your platform. The semi-automobile delivery will be helpful for preventing a bear too.

Answer 6

Straight from the COR-BON/Glaser website:

"Q. I am going up into brown bear country for some fishing. The only gun that I have is a .45ACP. I carry the Cor-Bon 185gr JHP in it. Will these be effective against bear?

A. The .45 ACP - no matter what it is loaded with is not a bear gun. While we understand that sometimes you carry what you have, a gun and ammunition designed for self defense against two legged critters was never intended to be adequate protection against a charging grizzly. If you have no choice but to carry this combination, recognize the limitations."

Answer 7

No, you'll just piss it off. If you must use a pistol, use a 44 mag or larger and use a deep penatrating bullet such as a brass solid. The best thing to carry is a short 12 ga. with slugs.

Answer 8

The .45acp is not a hunting round. Although a good man-stopper, the .45acp lacks speed & penetration to be a good hunting round.

You might be able to take a bear cub with it, but I wouldn't trust my life to it in bear country. A .357 Magnum is a better hunting round and if you must have an auto loader the .10mm is still better. The .45acp is better than nothing but will probably just get a full grown Brownie mad.

Good luck.

H

Answer 9

I would not go after a bear as you describe with any thing less than a 458 win mag and a 44mag as a side arm loaded with 260gr. corbon rounds. I spend alot of time in the back country and always carry large caliber weapons for dangerous game with either 4 legs or 2 legs

Answer 10

FMJ's will kill with a heart/lung shot, but not quickly enough to save your life, more likely than not.

Hollowpoints MIGHT penetrate enough to kill with a lung shot or a shot angling into the heart (that is, not through the sternum).

The bear won't gain anything from being hit, but it will take a while for it to die.