00 buckshot for black bear

[Sav .250]

If legal ......yes.

But to me it sounds like your more interested in a multi load as opposed to a slug.

Which is be far the better selection. IMO.

 

[xXxplosive]

Have hunted and killed a few Black bear over the years...most with CF Rifle.
Penetration is the number one concern with bear...have had a few skinned out where slugs lodged under the skin have just fallen out with the removal of the hide...never penetrated. Most were pistol rounds..IMO.
Buckshot will do the job up close....slugs will do a better job. Keep in mind, any bear hit anywhere on the body has a tendency to go down immediately...but then spring up just as fast mowing down what's ever in their escape route, including you......CF Rifle is best.

 

[TimSr]

Forget the buckshot. Even at very close range slugs will be much more effective. Wait for the side shot, and break a shoulder or both of them.

 

[T.R.]

00 buckshot should be limited to archery distances. A slug is better choice in my opinion.

TR

 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive don't it and it works. Ive also seen quite a few other bear harvested by buckshot at 30 yards or less and they all were meat on the table. Two many opinions by people who have not experience with it. At 20 yards NOTHING will slam a deer like a load of 12 guage double ought. Contray to what some walter mitty types thing a black bear is no harder to kill then a deer unless maybe if your talking 500lb black bear. Ive taken MANY bear through the years with bow, handgun, rifle and shotgun and in my experience a well hit bear doesn't go anywhere and I sure cant say that about deer. Would it be my first choice for bear hunting? Nope, not even in the top 5 but it sure would get it done if it was all I had in my hands.

 

[judgedelta]

Since the OP doesn't own a rifle, it might be presumed that he hasn't hunted large game before, or even shot a high powered rifle. The best advice might to be to find a local in the area who would be able to assist him in the pursuit of this creature. My bear hunting experience is only slightly greater than that of the OP and I don't think your first bear hunt is really a DIY project. I understand that a large bear can be sensitive at times and easily offended.