357 mag and a black bear

[wvfarrier]

I took this fella on the first day of bear season this year. I normally bow hunt black bear but I have a pinched nerve in my elbow that makes drawing uncomfortable and unsteady. The shot was just under 25 yards with his back to me. He was standing on his hind legs scraping a tree. He was the meanest bear Ive ever seen, he knew something wasnt right but couldnt smell me. So he began cracking his jaws and marking trees. I shot him at the base of the neck where it meets the shoulders. He dropped in his tracks and never moved.

The rifle was a Winchester Deluxe 1892 357 mag with a 24" octagon barrel. The load was a handloaded 158 grain nosler jsp pushed by a stout load of Lil Gun. My chrono says it has an average fps of 1965 out of the 24" barrel.

The bullet was impressive. It broke his neck, cleanly separating the vertebrae and then turned all the surrounding tissue to mush. His trachea was torn in half and both arteries were ruptured. Zero complaints. My taxidermist said it looked like I hit him with a 308.

Oh, he weighed in at 287#. Not huge but a decent bear who provided lots of burger and sausage.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Congratulations. Nice shooting.

 

[1942bull]

Good clean and humane shot. Excellent.

 

[Bazoo]

Congratulations. Thanks for sharing. Impressive performance from an underrated cartridge.

 

[Patocazador]

Good going!
What state?

 

[wvfarrier]

Good going!
What state?

West (by GOD) Virginia

 

[stillquietvoice]

@wvfarrier welcome to the forum,


Congrats on your bear.

 

[courtgreene]

Congrats, my goal is to get a bear and I was just at the point of giving up as the mountains don't lend themselves to doing so without dogs. You, who live in mountains similar to ours, have given me hope. If you want to lend me some tips I'd be very interested.

 

[JFrank]

West (by GOD) Virginia

Which county are you in back there ?
Very nice Black Bear…

 

[wvfarrier]

Which county are you in back there ?
Very nice Black Bear…

I hunt bear in Nicholas County.

 

[wvfarrier]

Congrats, my goal is to get a bear and I was just at the point of giving up as the mountains don't lend themselves to doing so without dogs. You, who live in mountains similar to ours, have given me hope. If you want to lend me some tips I'd be very interested.

I generally hunt spot and stalk. So, its finding areas where there are bear sign and doing a lot of footwork. Ill also set up cameras in areas where I think they are frequenting so i can try to pattern them. A lot of states allow baiting but its illegal here, so its all about finding sign

 

[JFrank]

Congrats, my goal is to get a bear and I was just at the point of giving up as the mountains don't lend themselves to doing so without dogs. You, who live in mountains similar to ours, have given me hope. If you want to lend me some tips I'd be very interested.

Out here in Montana the berry’s were not as plentiful this year so a lot Blacks are grubbing , it’s fairly easy to notice torn up stumps.
Of course there’s always tracking vvv

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Surprised that 158gr Didn’t bounce off the fur and you had to empty the tube magazine on it. Or the mag tube got bent, or the accuracy was even good enough…..

I’ve read many comments like that.

I’ve been shooting a few 357 carbine rifles. Reload and cast for them.

They are exceptionally great rifles with plenty of sufficient killing powder within the range they are designed for.

If I only had one Cartridge- as Skeeter Skelton stated…. Rifle and Handgun,The 357 mag would be it. Kills Game way out of Proportion to what it is.

I’m a huge fan, nice Bear hunt.

 

[wvfarrier]

Surprised that 158gr Didn’t bounce off the fur and you had to empty the tube magazine on it. Or the mag tube got bent, or the accuracy was even good enough…..

I’ve read many comments like that.

I’ve been shooting a few 357 carbine rifles. Reload and cast for them.

They are exceptionally great rifles with plenty of sufficient killing powder within the range they are designed for.

If I only had one Rifle/Cartridge- as Skeeter Skelton stated. The 357 mag would be it. Kills Game way out of Proportion to what it is.

I’m a huge fan, nice Bear hunt.

Agreed. Its quite literally the perfect rifle. Lightweight, accurate, nimble and plenty of power...plus it holds 14 rds

 

[Lnf Crzr]

I needed a Pre lock 686 mountain gun to Go with my Marlin Jm Css. I just Enjoy the 357 that much I needed the combo. Pretty cool you took a bear.

 

[Bazoo]

I didn’t realize you was a new member. Howdy and welcome from Kentucky.

 

[JFrank]

I hunt bear in Nicholas County.

I lived in Logan county with family as a young man

 

[Lnf Crzr]

Amazing how today’s internet outdoorsman has a acute opinion of what is needed for a Deer or Black Bear. Some would laugh at the sheer idea about taking a 357 after such animal… Touting Evidence of hearsay stories and Ft/lbs of being Un ethical or completely insufficient for anything other than ground hogs at 25 yards.

Considering a 357 was used at 1550 fps To Take Grizzly ,Elk, Antelope Out West with a 8” S&W from Doug Wesson. Few shots and long distances documented. Granted it was 1930s … I guess now a days that would be considered A stunt - and Going Tiger hunting with a 357 also would be……….

Yet all of that had been done, successfully. Just funny how some say Deer only, marginal at that and to keep shots under 65 yards with the rifle. Even tho it can produce a 158gr 35 caliber going about 2,000 fps. Plenty more than what many used for Years way back when the 30/30 was a black powder cartridge. If the 357 rifle can be kept under 100 yards, It is a very sufficient Hunting rifle. Beyond that the Bullets do work against it. Everything has its limitations- Yet that 357 rifle has so much going for it.

Sorry for rant, yet Justified.

 

[Bazoo]

30-30 was never a black powder cartridge.

 

[Milt1]

Beautiful pelt on that bear!

 

[Lnf Crzr]

You are Correct as the 30-30 was never black powder. I was thinking of 30-30 original ballistics and 38-55 black powder entered thought.

30-30 was never a black powder cartridge.

 

[wvfarrier]

Im thinking of trying to work up loads for the 200 grain hard casr from Cast Performance. I think theyll have to be seated in 38 spl brass to work in the lever gun tho.

 

[Lnf Crzr]

I’ve got the Lyman 358429 173gr mold. Sure would be great to get that working. Tho I’m doubtful it will happen