What is the most economical Bear Round?

[Driftertank]

Barnaul makes Brown Bear 7.62x54r in a 203gr softpoint. Pretty sure it's not a controlled-expansion round, but i can get it locally for about $10/box.

Think my Mosin M44 stoked with those would beat a pointed stick in griz country. Plus it's got a bayonet!

(No, the bayonet won't stop a charging bear. Maybe stick him with it and hang on, let him wear you like a hood ornament.... Sorry, the mental image cracks me up. I'm retarded....)

 

[hogshead]

I don't know how anyone is still alive in Alaska. What with the bears eating some one every day .

 

[Col]

cruise missile, no worries

 

[Mr Woody]

"What is the most economical Bear Round?"

Umm, how many bear are you going to shoot?

 

[LeonCarr]

12 Gauge Slugs, either Dixie Slugs or Brennekes.

It amazes me how people who don't live in big bear country are the ones asking about bear rounds, and the ones who have almost daily interaction with them use a .30-06 or 7.62x54R when they have to and cleanly kill them, and the "experts" claim those won't work .

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Sav .250]

The way I read your question. You will shoot more rounds at a target then at any given time at a bear.
So I`d say you want a rifle whose rounds are cheap per box, but come in various grain weights big enough for a bear.
Here`s a thought. Buy a used .22 cal for paper punching. Then buy a large
cal rifle for when and if you ever go bear hunting. Problem solved. J s/n.

 

[CarmenSanDiego]

How are you supposed to become proficient with a rifle where the rounds cost 2-3 dollars per? Honestly. I dont want to take out a second mortgage just to practice with my rifle.

 

[buggley]

what kind of bear????? most bear hunters here in WV tree black bear and shoot them out with a .22 mag and even .22L i have seen lots of them cut down the barrel on an sks to make it easier to pack in the brush. 7.62x39 is more than enough for black bear around here. just dont shoot them square in the head. aim for the brisquet and neck or an angled shot from behind the ribs in to the lung. i have never hunted kodiak but i would think even with them a well placed shot with a .308 should do it. if it will kill moose it should be fine for bear

 

[CraigC]

How are you supposed to become proficient with a rifle where the rounds cost 2-3 dollars per?

Same way you become proficient with anything else that isn't a .22LR or 9mm......H-A-N-D-L-O-A-D-!-!-!

 

[Arp32]

My first thought: "holy crap, how many bears is that guy shooting?"

 

[RhinoDefense]

For black bear, a .30-30 is plenty.

What kind of bear are you looking to hunt?

 

[barstoolguru]

two guys come up on a bear. the one guys says to the other "you think we can out run that bear" the second guy says "I don't have to out run the bear; just you"

 

[CarmenSanDiego]

Its not like I am going to go out bear hunting every day, however, I do like to shoot my rifles at least once a month or sometimes once a week. If I bought a piece of field artillery then I wont be using it and if I ever did need to use it, then I wouldnt be familar with it. If I didnt practice with it then how could be certain I would hit anything?

 

[Cosmoline]

Most economical would be .45-70, particularly if you cast and handload. Components are very cheap and easy to find.

Barnaul makes Brown Bear 7.62x54r in a 203gr softpoint. Pretty sure it's not a controlled-expansion round, but i can get it locally for about $10/box.

These feature UNcontrolled expansion. Brassfetcher did some tests with these, and they pretty much detonate. Heck of a wound profile, but not much penetration. Which makes sense because they're very simple softpoints.

 

[wlewisiii]

What kind of bear? In my state, I'd go after bear with a .30-30.

 

[.303]

Same way you become proficient with anything else that isn't a .22LR or 9mm......H-A-N-D-L-O-A-D-!-!-!

CarmenSanDiego, you keep missing it. this is your answer. if you want to become proficient with ANY caliber, be it .50 AK, or .45acp, you simply need to handload. you could easily get those .50 AK rounds under fifty cents a pop. buy virgin brass, and load up if thats the caliber you want!

Personally I would choose a .30-30 or .45-70 levergun. (and handload)

 

[nathan]

Im for the 12 g slugs.

 

[Float Pilot]

I don't know how anyone is still alive in Alaska. What with the bears eating some one every day .

Yeap the discussion comes up with annoying regularity whenever a couple gun-store-commandos get within ear shot of each other.

Of course in real life it almost never happens.

 

[CarmenSanDiego]

What are you guys talking about? I am talking about a good economical round for bear hunting

 

[buggley]

if you want to be sure you will hit the same place, dont drop the gun after it is sighted in. shot till its where yuo are comfy with how you are grouping, try to keep it around the same yardage you will most likly be at the leav it alone. run a quick swab down the barrel and pu it up till you are going out to hunt. the day before the hunt go out and take a shot and double check to make sure you are on. all this can be done in less than 10 rounds giving you half a box to blast your bear with. bear are big and the cinima have made them much harder to kill, but if you can kill a large deer, elk, moose,then you will be more than ok. again for those hunting with dogs in the back woods of W.V. you will see more .22 mags than any thing else. they arent that hard to kill. what is hard is getting a kill shot. black bear can run over 100 yards on a popped lung. that more than enough time for him to turn his sights on you. that is why there is such a stigma about over kill type rounds.

 

[valnar]

I like brown bear, but silver bear is okay too. Both are economical.

 

[Robert]

Lots of good advice so lets end on a highish note.