Foxtrot1
Well-known member
Got a bear hunt booked in N Ontario for spring of 2023. Booked a small outfitter that only hunts 1 week in spring and fall. They average 225lb boars but take a 350-400lb bear each week. So theres a decent chance at getting a shot at a big bear. Avg boreal thick cover, where shots will be close.
Before everyone starts with the "I use my .22 rimfire every year to shoot black bears".... I know bears aren't particularly hard to kill, but looking at going into this with the same mentality we do hunting hogs in thick swamps: 2 holes are better than 1, big holes leave better trails, and the shorter the trail the better. I already have a rifle that is ideal for big game in thick cover. The scope is ideal for low light shooting as well.
Looking at taking my rifle I use for hogs over bait. Light, handy, 9.3x57 mauser with 1-4 illuminated scope and german #4 reticle. Should be a perfect setup for bear over bait too.
I've been shooting 250 gr nosler accubonds @2350 fps. They've been great, but I've recovered a couple from some heavy quartering shots on big boars ( 200lb plus, quartering away, bullets under skin on far side of shield). A friend used this rifle on December hunt and shot a big boar that was trotting at 100 yards. Hit him quartering away, right in front of the ham. It stopped somewhere before the diaphram, but we didnt recover it. Boar dropped at the shot. When he got to him, the boar stood up and charged. Hit him again at 10 feet and dropped him in his tracks. I was really impressed the 1st shot stopped him where he was with its poor placement, even if he had to hit him again.
I have some PPU 285 gr round nose standard cup and core bullets I can load to 2150 fps or so. I tested 1 of these on hogs last week. Had to finish a 150lb boar someone else shot that was laying down. Bullet entered the bottom of the jaw and drove into the brain cavity. Completely came apart and didnt exit top of skull. It was alot of bone at full muzzle velocity, but apparently these bullets are soft even at this slow speed.
I also took some 285 gr nosler partitions. I am concerned about partitions expanding and size of the wound channel at this slower speed. I shot 2 small hogs and the bullets expanded. But I hit solid bone on both, so I'm not sure it was a good test. Penetration should definitely be the highest with the partitions, but his bullet is made for BIG game and I'm concerned with performance on 250lb animals.
So to recap, I know there is no wrong answer here. All 3 will do the job. Just looking for some input from guys that shoot bears in thick cover regularly. Always been a good shot on game and know shot placement is critical, but I want to be prepared to take a quartering shot on a big boar if that's all that's presented and be confident the bullet will shatter bone to reach the vitals if it needs to.
Which bullet would you guys recommend?
Photos are 9.3x57 285 PPU and 250 Nosler Accubond next to 30-06. My 9.3 husqvarna. And typical blood I've seen from this round. Yet to have to track anything I've shot with this rifle.
Before everyone starts with the "I use my .22 rimfire every year to shoot black bears".... I know bears aren't particularly hard to kill, but looking at going into this with the same mentality we do hunting hogs in thick swamps: 2 holes are better than 1, big holes leave better trails, and the shorter the trail the better. I already have a rifle that is ideal for big game in thick cover. The scope is ideal for low light shooting as well.
Looking at taking my rifle I use for hogs over bait. Light, handy, 9.3x57 mauser with 1-4 illuminated scope and german #4 reticle. Should be a perfect setup for bear over bait too.
I've been shooting 250 gr nosler accubonds @2350 fps. They've been great, but I've recovered a couple from some heavy quartering shots on big boars ( 200lb plus, quartering away, bullets under skin on far side of shield). A friend used this rifle on December hunt and shot a big boar that was trotting at 100 yards. Hit him quartering away, right in front of the ham. It stopped somewhere before the diaphram, but we didnt recover it. Boar dropped at the shot. When he got to him, the boar stood up and charged. Hit him again at 10 feet and dropped him in his tracks. I was really impressed the 1st shot stopped him where he was with its poor placement, even if he had to hit him again.
I have some PPU 285 gr round nose standard cup and core bullets I can load to 2150 fps or so. I tested 1 of these on hogs last week. Had to finish a 150lb boar someone else shot that was laying down. Bullet entered the bottom of the jaw and drove into the brain cavity. Completely came apart and didnt exit top of skull. It was alot of bone at full muzzle velocity, but apparently these bullets are soft even at this slow speed.
I also took some 285 gr nosler partitions. I am concerned about partitions expanding and size of the wound channel at this slower speed. I shot 2 small hogs and the bullets expanded. But I hit solid bone on both, so I'm not sure it was a good test. Penetration should definitely be the highest with the partitions, but his bullet is made for BIG game and I'm concerned with performance on 250lb animals.
So to recap, I know there is no wrong answer here. All 3 will do the job. Just looking for some input from guys that shoot bears in thick cover regularly. Always been a good shot on game and know shot placement is critical, but I want to be prepared to take a quartering shot on a big boar if that's all that's presented and be confident the bullet will shatter bone to reach the vitals if it needs to.
Which bullet would you guys recommend?
Photos are 9.3x57 285 PPU and 250 Nosler Accubond next to 30-06. My 9.3 husqvarna. And typical blood I've seen from this round. Yet to have to track anything I've shot with this rifle.
