minimum for GA Black bear

...When choosing a 30 caliber projectile for bear hunting, I'd think it common sense to go with bullets of enough weight to insure a sectional density that will provide adequate penetration EVEN IF HEAVY BONE IS STRUCK. The 7.62X39 is marginal at best when such consideration is factored in. When using light for game cartridges, like the 243 for medium game like whitetail deer, it is WISE to use the heavier bullets with better sectional density (100 gr for example rather than the lighter 243 weight bullets). This applies to the use of the 7.62X39 for black bear, and the better constructed, heavier bullets just aren't there. AGAIN it will certainly kill a bear, but there are MANY better, and wiser, choices. It is legal and the odds are in your favor over the bear when you are in the possession of a 7.62X39, but then when gambling one's own nether parts, moving up to more punch is only wise insurance against mishaps and bad memories.

Kaizer, Good fortune to you! If you bag your bear, don't forget to report back to us! The Georgia biologists say the bear will be at higher altitudes this year because of the drought conditions, and more importantly, the late frost last winter/spring damaged the acorn crop at lower elevations. They say find a good white oak stand above 1500 feet, or a bit more, and you'll have a good chance at seeing bear or boar..

kaizer, See my location in the sidebar; I'm up here in bear country. Cooper Creek WMA has bear-proof garbage cans in the campground. I expect Rock Creek WMA has 'em too. I hear there's bear along Old HWY 76... that's private property along there and folks have told of black bears following them as they walked the roads. There's bear back through Gum Log and again, that's private property... folks over there tell how bears destroy their corn crops. The bears just go in, wallow a patch down and sit there tearin' the ears off the corn and eating it. And bird feeders... forget the squirrels; the bears tear 'em up around here.

kaizer, there is no limit on magazine capacity in Georgia for rifles. It is not in the hunting regulations nor on the DNR website. Just to be sure I just got off the phone with my local game warden. He tells me the confusion comes from a couple of sources

#1 The regulations do specifically state that shotguns are limited to 5 rounds for hunting deer, bear, and feral hogs. 3 rounds for everything else. Many people assume this applies to rifles as well but it does not.

#2 He also tells me that he encounters lots of hunters using SKS rifles who are using FMJ ammo and are ticketed. Georgia law requires softpoint or expanding ammo when hunting big game. Apparently this as led many to think they are being ticketed because of the rifle.

When talking to some of my hunting buddies about this over the last few days it does appear that some game wardens are not clear on the law. Apparently some have been ticketed for having more than 5 rounds in their rifles. At least one took his case to court and the case was dismissed when the Judge could find no such law on the books.

Winchester makes a 7.62x39 load in CXP2 that seems to be good on deer.