Bear calibers

[TheJason]

@JLS what bullets did you use in your 223 for the bears you killed with it?

Barnes 62 grain TSX.

 

[midwesthunter]

Shot my first one this year with my 375 RUM, DRT. 300 grain bulldozer I talked to several others that killed same area, all with 270 or 300 win mag, they all ran off and required follow up shots, some more then one. Now not sure where the initial hit was, but I think they were all using hornady SSt's?

 

[elkhnter]

Dang, sounds like some of you guys are going after Godzilla or a T Rex. Shot all of my bears so far with a 70# bow.
I won’t hesitate to shoot one this fall with my 257 Weatherby if the opportunity comes.

 

[jabber]

28 Nosler.

 

[Bullshot]

My only bear was with a 50 cal muzzleloader shooting a 45 cal. 300 grain XTP sabot. Double lung, ran about 20 yards.

 

[Don Fischer]

Barnes 62 grain TSX.

I suspect that with a 55gr FMJ from a 223 using the same shot you'd get the same result!

 

[Deleted member 28227]

@220yotekiller I think a .30-06 with 165 grain bullet is just about perfect for most big game hunting.

Look up the energy of whatever gun you use and if it's similar to a .30-06 with 165 grain bullet you are good to go. Obviously lots of wiggle room.

Here is AKs recommended shot placement, I always review this before going into the field as it's a bit different than I aim for deer and elk typically.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/hunting/blackbearhunting/pdfs/hunting_black_bears_in_southeast_alaska.pdf

 

[BearHunt]

30.06 !

 

[SG25]

Opinions on .25-06 for bear?

 

[Millsworks]

My largest bear was pushing 400# and dropped after 30-40yrds after one shot from a 25-06 at 260yrds.
30-30 and 180gr bullets took many threw the years.
I personally dont think black bears are hard to kill.
But i can say they go down like they were struck by lightning with a .338 win mag and 200+ gr. bullets.

 

[std7mag]

I'm probably gonna use my Savage 111 in 257 Roberts AI with 120gr Partitions for PA bear this year.

Archery deer starts tomorrow, Oct.2nd.
My tree stand is 10 yards behind the camera.

 

[Rhino Hunter]

A 30-06 would be a great cartridge for black bear.

My son shot a huge 460 pound black bear with my Ruger .450 Bushmaster. We used it because we were hunting over dogs and he needed a light/short gun to travel through woods quickly. However, I would NOT recommend it. I bought a Ruger Guide Gun in .375 Ruger Magnum and it a hell of a gun. With a a shorter barrel it has more energy/velocity than a .375 H&H. It’s a thumper.

Good luck!

 

[Pmacc60]

@220yotekiller I think a .30-06 with 165 grain bullet is just about perfect for most big game hunting.

Look up the energy of whatever gun you use and if it's similar to a .30-06 with 165 grain bullet you are good to go. Obviously lots of wiggle room.

Here is AKs recommended shot placement, I always review this before going into the field as it's a bit different than I aim for deer and elk typically.
View attachment 193862
View attachment 193863

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/hunting/blackbearhunting/pdfs/hunting_black_bears_in_southeast_alaska.pdf

That’s a great tool for any bear hunter, it’s probably more important to understand a bears anatomy than everything else . Awesome contribution

 

[std7mag]

@220yotekiller I think a .30-06 with 165 grain bullet is just about perfect for most big game hunting.

Look up the energy of whatever gun you use and if it's similar to a .30-06 with 165 grain bullet you are good to go. Obviously lots of wiggle room.

Here is AKs recommended shot placement, I always review this before going into the field as it's a bit different than I aim for deer and elk typically.
View attachment 193862
View attachment 193863

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/hunting/blackbearhunting/pdfs/hunting_black_bears_in_southeast_alaska.pdf

Thank You, Wllm1313!

I've shared this with my friend/hunting partner who has never been bear hunting before.
This will be his first year.
Was hard to get him from thinking deer anatomy.
He understands now.

 

[Don Fischer]

Opinions on .25-06 for bear?

I think it will depend a lot on the bullet you use and placement!

 

[MHWASH]

Out of all the big game in North America, I think bears are the animal that most people disagree on which equipment to use. This year my son and I used 2 270 Wins to kill 4 bears. Most likely we’ll be packing 270s again this next year.

 

[BrentD]

OOOOOk guys, I have made a few conclusions about black bear hunting.
1) Black bears are seriously under rated.
2) They live in hell holes.
So my family and friends have spent a lot of time hunting black bears, with marginal success I might add. I have either seen or heard of from close friends, 3 out of 5 bears that have been hit have gotten away. I think that much of the problem is the calibers being used. Most of my friends and I used to shoot between 25 to 270 calibers. As of late we have been trading up to 7 Rem Mags.
I spent a very long evening last night on my hands and knees helping a close friend look for a bear that had been shot with a 257 Weatherby with a Barnes 100 triple shock bullet. I trailed him about 150 yards, a drop of blood about every 10 yards of so.
I have come to my opinion that to hunt black bears effectively is use a bare minimum of a 7mm Rem Mag. But I am seriously thinking of buying a 338 Win Mag or a 375 H and H. Anyone who have been actually successful with killing bears have an opinion?

Why would you not buy a.45-70 and be done with it?

 

[HighDesertSage]

I've seen em die quickly with 270, 30-06, and 308. I disagree that you need something crazy like a 338 for black bears.

 

[MarvB]

I’ve only killed three bears in my life, one with my bow, one with a 30-30, one with my 6.5x55, none ever argued about what killed them.
Shot placement=Dead bear IMHO

 

[rjthehunter]

My .338 WM has taken its fair share of bears. From Kodiak island brown bear weighing in around 1200lbs to a polar bear, to average black bears. (most of these critters taken by my grandpa with the rifle). Having 1 rifle that can do just about everything is helpful.

Don't get me wrong, I like having other guns, but I always grab the rifle my grandpa gave me! I'm comfortable shooting it and am extremely familiar with it.