YOULL NEED TO SHOOT A GREAT DEAL TO GET THE NECESSARY PRACTICE, its that frequent practice and hand loading that significantly reduces ammo cost, THAT MAKES THE 445 REALLY EFFECTIVE IN YOUR HANDS, CASTING YOUR OWN BULLETS SIZED EXACTLY TO THE THROAT/BORE SIZE HELPS, AS DOES THE COST SAVINGS...
garage.grumpysperformance.com
just a bit of info, if you think you might have to deal with a pissed off bear,
carry a heavy caliber rifle (45/70 with 400 grain hard cast or a 338-375 H&H )
or a 12 ga or 10 ga, shotgun loaded with slugs,
a handgun is noticeably less lethal or accurate in most peoples hands
, but if you carry a handgun (JUST IN CASE) Id suggest a 44mag as a minimum,
but yes the 10mm has a lot of fans.
keep in mind bears come in different sizes and temperaments, and every year people are fatally mauled or even eaten
if you use a handgun for bear defense it better be able to get the job done and push those bullets through a significant depth of hide, muscle and bone even before it destroys the vitals or your likely to get mauled
once most people come to realize that with any of the newer large bore revolvers in the 44 cal-50 caliber range,
it's more a matter of selecting the correct projectile and handload data required, and the skill and restraint in not using a handgun untill your well withing the range where the experience and skill of the hunter allows precise shots to be made consistently,
and the need for consistent and accurate shot placement and a good knowledge of the games anatomy and skeletal and muscular structure
( where the vitals are located and what is critical , thus, knowing what must be destroyed structurally)
and which vital organs are most easily and rapidly destroyed , and how to reach them from externally,identifiable anatomy and the location and angles to reach the vitals internally,to render the game rapidly immobile and having rapidly caused lethal internal damage)
most of us find that the power levels available from a quality ,properly loaded revolver (or in some cases semi auto handgun) are more than adequate in the depth of potential penetration and potential accuracy.
the issue is not in the weapons power or accuracy its mostly in the skill, practice and accuracy the operator can provide in the use of such weapons and in the restrain he shows in only using it once well within the weapons effective range.
facing the fact that even the AFRICAN big five are reasonable easy to kill with archery equipment in highly skilled hands , points out the overwhelming
improved range, power and accuracy a hunter has at his disposal if a handgun, properly loaded and well within its physical and its operator's limitations are used.
Ive used a 44 mag revolver to kill elk out at 70 yards and had the projectiles exit the far side of the elks chest, so lack of power with the larger and more powerful handguns is not an issue.
I've done a few penetration tests in stacked plywood and the 320 grain hard cast bullets from a properly loaded 445 DWSM penetrate extremely well, now there's zero doubt a 470 grain hard cast 50 caliber bullet from my 500 S&W mag packs a considerably harder impact , but the 445 DWSM penetrates about as deep.
both easily exceed what a 357 mag or 10mm semi auto provide in penetration,
but the fact is that even the 357 mag and 10mm have proven lethal to bears when used in skilled hands,
but even a 500 mags power numbers looks pitiful if your facing a pissed off bear at less than 20 feet
so again its your butt, if you can't shoot well under stress and only precise shot placement matters ,
you can't miss fast enough, to stop a pissed off bear thus mag capacity is not all that critical if you can't hit the vitals well.
if you do the math the 445 DWSM from my 10" barrel has near 1500 fps and that translated to near 1600 ft lbs at the muzzle
if you do the math the 500 S&W from my 7.5" barrel has near 1400 fps and that translated to near 2050 ft lbs at the muzzle
if you do the math the 10mm glock with a 200 grain hard cast, bullet from my 6" barrel has near 1240 fps,
and that translated to near 683 ft lbs at the muzzle
(btw a 158 grain hard cast 357 mag from my 8" revolver shows it has 690 ft lbs at the muzzle)
BTW if anyone cares
if you do the math the 44 S&W mag throws the 300 grain hard cast bullet from my 10" barrel has near 1400 fps,
and that translated to near 1300 ft lbs at the muzzle, and yes it shot completely thru an elks chest,
and bunches of hogs and deer over the decades
and its killed deer at 80 yards several Times with one shot, so it's well proven to be lethal on big game
and while the 44 mag seems to be close to the 445 DWSM in power on paper,
the penetration in plywood shows the 445 simply punches noticeably deeper,
not that it might matter much as I've stated the 44 mag shoots through and elk and exits
Id damn sure prefer either revolver over any semi auto 10mm or 45 acp if facing down a pissed off bear regardless of the semi auto
handguns far larger mag capacity
www.accuratemolds.com
www.accuratemolds.com
Double Cavity Mold C430-310-RF by LEE RELOADING PRODUCTS430 Grain 310 Grain Round with Flat Requires Gas Check handles and sprue plate are included with mold
www.midsouthshooterssupply.com
www.accuratemolds.com
Double Cavity Mold C501-440-RF by LEE RELOADING PRODUCTS.501 Diameter 440 Grain Round with Flat Requires Gas Check Handles and sprue plate are included with mold. Produces a .501 diameter 440 grain round nose bullet suitable for a cartridge like 500 S&W.
www.midsouthshooterssupply.com
10mm .400 Diameter 200 Grain XTP 100 Count by HORNADY AMMUNITION AND BULLETS Controlled expansion to 1.5x its original diameter over a wide range of velocities. Heavier jacket stands up to the high pressures and velocities of the highest performance handgun cartridges. Ballistic...
www.midsouthshooterssupply.com
10mm handgun users tend to prefer jacketed bullets to provide max reliability
I cast bullets from 95% WW alloy and 5% pure tin, and yes I use gas checks,
they do expand a bit on impact but hold together well
