[30-06 lover]

My deer season starts in two days and black bear starts at the same time. I was in a major pinch for ammo, and had to buy Federal Fusion 150gr ammo. I am thinking it should be fine to use for black bear, but am wondering what you all think? Should I be okay with 150gr. Fusion ammo, or should I try to find something else in a hurry. Thanks!!!
-Mike

[Starter52]

.30-06? No problem.

[MeekandMild]

Just remember that a heart/lung shot bear will take several minutes to bleed out, can run as fast as a horse and can climb trees for those several minutes. :scrutiny:

[Bartkowski]

Never hunted one, but I'm 99% sure it will be plenty.

[mustanger98]

I'm not too sure about a balck bear... 150gr should do it for a black bear though.

[30-06 lover]

Sorry I forgot to put I will be hunting with a 30-06. I was just reading through a balck bear hunting how to book and the author (richard P. Smith) states that he thinks that the 150gr round is the best weight as it will break one shoulder, destroy vitals and then break the other shoulder with the bullet just under the hide. So I think I should be fine, but he failed to mention at what range he usually takes bears or if he uses a premium bullet. Thanks!
-Mike

[stevelyn]

Easy. Black bears don't have that much structure. The 150 gr Fusion will be more than enough. I wouldn't hesitate to take a black bear with a .243.

[ArmedBear]

According to Marlin's website, their .32-20 lever gun is a black bear rifle.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/1894centerfire/1894CL.aspx

I'm not sure I'd want to go looking for bear with a .32-20, but to each his own.

[eliphalet]

150 grain from a 30-06 will kill anything on the Continent, I wouldn't recommend it for the large bears ( polar, grizzly) but anything legal to hunt in the lower 48 it is just fine if your shot is placed correctly.

BTW I have a Marlin 1894 in 25-20 made in 1904, when I bought it from the fella that owned it the last 60 years he told me of the bear he had killed with it. He did add " it wasn't a large one".

[ArmedBear]

I have a Marlin 1894 in 25-20 made in 1904

...and I'm envious!:)

I have a friend with a pair (one short mag, one long mag tube) of ancient .25-20 1892's. There's something cool about that cartridge, and those old lever guns! He still uses them, too.

WRT the bear, well, I'd shoot it with a .22 if that's all I had and it was attacking. I just wouldn't go looking to do it.:D

[30-06 lover]

Thank you all for the replies...Glad to hear that the 150's will be all I need. I went to the range today and shot a clover leaf group with the fusion ammo, so my confidence in the ammo has gone significantly up (never tried it before). Thank you all again for the replies...they really reassured me and my confidence is where it needs to be again.
-Mike

Post Script: If successful, I'll post some pix for you all.

[koja48]

30-go-06 with 150s will do just fine . . . unless you bust a shoulder, just don't expect it to drop with a shot through the rib cage, however . . . it may go a piece. Heart is low, somewhat behind the shoulder & fairly well-protected. I'm chasing bears this weekend with my 270 & it's accounted for "a few." Good luck!

[testar77]

A buddy of mine dropped a 350lb black bear pretty much in it's tracks with a 30-06 and a 150gr Remington Corelokt

[22-rimfire]

30-06 with 150 gr Fusion ammo should be fine. They are tough critters but they are made of flesh and blood.

[30-06 lover]

I went up hunting bear, but no luck. I didn't see much bear sign at all, and think I am going to a different area next time. I was also hunting deer, and almost scored twice, both times it was my fault. The first my dad said there was a deer, but I wasn't thinking and then he said good buck the one in front is a good buck. I didn't even have my gun ready...don't ask me why. I grabed for my gun, but the buck was getting out of there at a dead run and out of sight before I could get my gun up. The second, me and my dad see a deer in the middle of the logging road. I looked at the deer and thought to myself buck, but again I just sat there lookin at the deer, then my dad says it's is a good buck wack him...again I wan't even close to ready, but this time the buck just stood there. I get my gun up, take a fast seat, get the buck in my scope, and just as I was about to squeeze off, he steps out of sight. I am not kidding when I say if I had literally half a second more, I would have killed that buck. Well there is always next time. Take care and be safe.
-Mike

[eliphalet]

Mike,
Get a nice 22 and go shoot a buncha ground squirrels and the next time a buck is in your sights you will, without thinking much except bullet placement, take him home. I understand you, maybe, I was slow the first one or two also. Good luck.

[30-06 lover]

Thanks for the advise eliphalet...I have killed many deer in my life, I just haven't gone in about five years, so I am just rusty. This weekend me and my wife will be going, so I'll give another report when we get back.
-Mike

[mustanger98]

Sometimes, despite even your best effort to line up the shot, it's not to be had. BTDT. Maybe those two bucks, being they were "good bucks", needed to be there another year. And like I say of my own hunting, "I'll either take a trophy buck or I'll improve the gene pool one cull buck at a time." Good luck on next time, Mike.