.30-30 for black bear, what bullets?

[Cosmoline]

I'm mulling over doing a Roosevelt-Browning black bear hunt this fall (IF I have time and a working truck) or next Spring with the ancient .30 WCF. It's not exactly a popular Alaska cartridge these days, but back before everyone was terrified of giant brown bears it took its share of sitka deer, black bear and moose. And yes, even a fair number of brownies. My target will be plump Chugach Nat'l Forest black bear, shooting a 26" long rifle. The loads I'm looking at are standard 170 SP handloads at about 2,300 fps, 150 grain Barnes X at about 2,400 fps or the 160 grain leverevolutions at 2,350 fps. The 170 SP's are tried and true. The Barnes X I haven't heard much about. The leverevolutions are very new and the only field reports so far have been from the paid press, so I'm not too sure about them.

What do you think I should focus on?

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Having tagged a Blackbear at close range, unfortunately not with lever gun, I wouldn't hesitate with handgun. That said, I believe that at proper distances the 30wcf is more than up to the task. I know, that's not your question... I have friends that swear by the whole line of Barnes bullets, but I've never seen them perform better than good 'ole Winchester Silvertip SP. I know, that specific choice isn't on your list. But the 170 is what I'd choose. -No, not the factory load. I'd deffinately work up an accurate stout load that the rifle could handle. Blackbear bones are not near as fragile as deer. What-ever bullet you choose needs to be one that will hold together, retain mass and expand properly at given velocity.

-Steve

 

[hoghunting]

If they are accurate in your gun, I would use the Barnes. I have read in some posts how the Barnes doesn't expand at slower velocities. I use the Barnes 120 gr X bullet in my T/C 14" Contender 7-30 Waters. I have never had any nonexpansion problems. That have been great bullets and highly recommend them.

 

[MCgunner]

The 140 Barnes X expands well at .30-30 contender velocities. If someone thinks it won't, they must have not tried it. I think it a lever, I'd consider using the Nosler partition or Barnes made for the .30-30. Partitions insure penetration at hard angles through bone and such. Been a lot of bear killed with just ordinary 170 grain flat nose, though.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

The 170 hornady interlocks are very good bullets for the 30-30.

 

[Mannlicher]

blackies are not that hard to kill. Back in the 'Good ole Days', I took several out of North Florida with a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington.

My load for the 30-30 is a 170 grain Speer FP, over 35 grains of IMR4320. From my Savage 170 pump, I chrony 2320 fps, and its very accurate. I have killed a number of hogs with this load, and I have no doubt that it would handle a black bear.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

While I'm a strong supporter of premium bullets when needed, for the .30-30, they aren't needed. A 170 grain bullet at 22-2300 fps is not going to explode on impact -- it's going to expand and penetrate deeply.

I wouldn't hesitate to use a .30-30 on black bear -- with ordinary cup-and-core bullets.

 

[JohnBT]

"blackies are not that hard to kill. Back in the 'Good ole Days', I took several out of North Florida with a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington."

I've always liked that rifle. In 1963 my uncle used one to take the largest bear that year west of the Blue Ridge. That bear skin just about covered one wall in his den.

John

 

[m1aman]

a plain old federal classic load in 170 grains will kill black bears all day long.