Cartridge/bullet, caliber 30-06

A 180 grain Barnes would be an appropriate choice in that cartridge. No bear can be considered a threat if it is 200 yards away.

Pharoan said:

Hello and thanks Aletheia for the response. I concur on the 200 yard threat aspect! But to follow up a hit that stopped a charge is a vaguely conceivable......

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If you get actually charged, the likely hood of a "not so good stopping shot" resulting in a bear running away and needing a follow up is not something to worry about a plan for ahead of time. Bears (more often than gun people will admit) often get shot in self defense because someone is trigger happy and doesn't know how to recognize a dangerous situation, or just wants to be able to tell the story of one. If you are truly charged, and you don't stop the bear with the first shot (which that round can do, along with many others - shot placement is more vital to "stopping" than is the cartridge or bullet) you won't get any second shots at a fleeing bear.

This:



or a Swift A-Frame of comparable weight.

200 yards is too far to be concerned about. But the theory has been tested for close range defense uses. I cannot access the test data any longer, but Finn Aagard (a noted African hunting guide) spent a lot of time testing various cartridges and loads for stopping African game and writing about it. He found that a 200 or 220 gr Nosler Partition fired from either a 30-06 or 300 magnum beat every other cartridge tested until you got to 375 magnum.

The Alaska Fish and Game folks did similar testing to determine the ideal cartridge to stop big bear attacks. They reached the exact same conclusion. A 375 or larger caliber magnum worked best. But a 200 or 220 gr Partition fired from either a 300 magnum or 30-06 tied and bested everything else tested. That included 338 magnum, 35 Whelen and 45-70. Based on most shooters ability to handle recoil they felt 30-06, loaded properly, was a good option.

The 180 TTSX was not tested side by side at the same time as the other examples. While I have no doubt it would probably still be adequate, others who have tested the 180 TTSX have found it doesn't give as much penetration as the heavier Partitions.

I really like the 220 SP in .30-'06. Even the plain old cup-and-core Hornady has given me nearly unbelievable performance. The only real catch is that they don't always feed in a stock rifle - which is something I'd want to check before using them for bear defense!

I wouldn't be concerned at all at 100 yards, if the wind is in my favor, not even at 50 yards.

At 25 or 30 yards I want my 30-06 loaded with 200NP's, but 220NP's would be just fine at close range too.

BTW, I always kept 200NP's in my 30-06 when in brown bear country...

Also, I've had cup/core 220's come apart in caribou when I hit bone, with what I'd call poor penetration, so NONE of those in my 30-06 for bear, please!

DM

200 gr Nosler Partion is a sledge hammer.

If it’s large black bear, any well constructed bullet - even traditional cup and core types - in the 180 grs to 200 grs zone will be effective, subject to shot placement. For brown bears, the Partitions and Barnes monolithics in 200 -225 grs would give me an added sense of effectiveness, again, still subject to shot placement.

Pharoan said:

Hello and thanks for the experienced knowledge. You see no benefit of the 220 over the 200 grain Partition bullets? Just for a thought experiment, will they hold up at closer ranges ( ie. less than 50 yards ) and works properly in your opinion?
Next would be who make good ammo using those nosler bullets. What muzzle velocity would you be "shooting" for?

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I was using 200NP's on bigger big game long before there was a 220NP, and they are the best all around bullet I've ever found for my 30-06's. A bear guide I know and respect, uses 220NP's in his 30-06 and says they are the cats meoooow, I trust his opinion completely.

As for who loads them, no clue, as I haven't shot hardly any factory loads in my hunting guns.

Here's how my loads shot in one of my 30-06's,



DM

Patocazador said:

This:

View attachment 1095669

or a Swift A-Frame of comparable weight.

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Yes, this.^^^ You can expect 2450 fps MV from a 22" barrel. Hammer of Thor. Carried one around the Island Park area in Idaho. There's grizz up there I can tell you.

You would be better off with a hand gun IMO. I carry a 44 mag and a 10mm 1911 when in the woods. I hunt with a 30.06 for big game. I still carry my 44 along with the 30.06. If a bear catches you by surprise and you drop the rifle during an attack. You will have a decent side arm to back you up.

Pharoan said:

Great, thanks for the info and your experiences! So far it's lopsided!!!!

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It's not lopsided for me, the NP has a softer nose than the swift, and that means it expels a LOT of energy after it enters the animal, doing a LOT of damage, then the base keeps going, driving in DEEP, and if needed, busting bone all the way! The Swift drives in deep, but it doesn't unload that "tissue busting" damage soon after entering an animal like the NP does.

That's why the 200NP is such a great all around bullet, it works great on smaller animals too.

DM