Good Bear Rifle/Round

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Ridgerunner I'll take your word on that, but I would still be a little hesitant to drop the hammer on ne of those loads. At least we both like leverguns I see:D Actually I'm infected with a very contaigus disease called Marlinitis, and my funds can't keep up with my addiction:) I also concur with Ridgerunner on the .35 Rem. It is a great cartridge that gets overlooked a lot, yet it has a lot to offer.
 
Like 336A says, any deer rifle and load will be fine.
What rifles do you have now? However, if you just want a new rifle, go right ahead and buy one. What kind/make of rifle do you want? Forget a magnum of any kind. Magnums aren't needed, ammo's expensive and they aren't fun to shoot when sighting in.
 
336A, I can tell you from experince that the buf bore 405grain hard cast loads take all the fun out of shooting my guide gun. The regular off the shelf 300g loads are not bad at all and probably plenty for just about any black bear out there. I don't consider myself to be overly recoil sensitive but I admit it took a few range sessions to sight in the guide gun with the Buf Bore rounds. A hand full of those things off the bench is about all I want to shoot in a week.
 
bear.jpg

This photo was taken near a Christian Camp within Pocono Mts. of eastern Pennsylvania. My daughter worked there all summer as a Counselor.

There are many excellent hunting cartridges that will get the job done. Perhaps you can borrow a rifle or two and shoot them to see what you like. 30-06, .308, 300 Savage have long records of success.

Slightly smaller bore diameter cartridges such as 257 Roberts, 25-06, 6.5mm Swede, 7mm-08, 270, and 280 have very good reputations, too.

The once-per-year hunter is likely best served best by a listing above. But the experienced woodsman who is patient and careful can knock over anything that walks in North America with 30-30, 32 Special, or 35 Remington.

Good bruin hunting to you.

TR
 
I recently picked up a Mosin, I think that 7.62x54r will be plenty for a bear.
 
Well I live in Colorado and see about 2-5 bears per year on the property. Some are brown bears and some are black bears. They tend to like getting into trash cans and busting through my wooden gates.

I have both a .375 H&H and a .45-70. I've gone out looking for destructive bears with both and I feel completely confident with either. I'm not going to be shooting more than 50 yards in these bushes so range isn't a worry. The ONLY reason I would choose the .375 H&H over my .45-70 is if it was a grizzly which we don't really have, or the range was over 100 yards. Other than that, both are excellent choices.
 
What max size bear would a .30-30 160-gr LeveRevolution take reliably?

I've been chased by a wounded bear once...that's enough! I was lucky...that one was shot with a .30-06 by another hunter, and the extremely angry beast suddenly showed up at about 10 yards.
 
Adding to the above post: I plan to go on a Canadian black bear hunt next month. The guide says shooting will be within 50-yards in brush...don't use rifle scopes...and they are too big for .30-30s. I plan to use my 6.5-Swede with my handloaded 140-gr Nosler Partitions, with an EoTech red dot reflex sight mounted. And I'm practicing rapid bolt work for that second shot if needed! Like I said, being chased once by a wounded bear at short range is enough!

(An experienced local hunter advises me that one of the best things I can do is to select a hunting partner I can outrun...!!)
 
TOOTAXED:
I have spent alot of years guiding bear hunts. I have tracked many gut shot bears. It is never the caliber used that failed in my opinion, just the shot placement. A .22 caliber size projectile through the heart is still a kill shot. A .30-30 is a great black bear gun inside of 100 yards. They are not that hard to kill. They are not a heavy boned grizzly bear.....which contrary to popular belief are not bullet proof either. Take what you feel comfortable with. My wife has killed 6 bears with her .243....all but one were a one shot kill. The one that was not was due to poor shot placement. A quick follow up shot and it was a done deal.
 
...and they are too big for .30-30s. I plan to use my 6.5-Swede with my handloaded 140-gr Nosler Partitions......
Click to expand...

It is not like the 6,5x55 is in a different power class compared to a 30-30....
 
GUIDING101, I feel as you do...I'm just telling what the guide we'll be using says...:scrutiny:

For what it's worth, all of my shots to date have been one-shot kills. I've never lost a wounded animal, as I don't take a shot unless I feel it'll be a one-shot kill. I've passed up shots...there'll always be others.

I've fired on two Army-level Reserve rifle teams in my career, and currently run Ft. Benning's auxiliary 500-yd rifle range on a part time basis, mentoring shooters with problems. I'm quite comfortable with my weapons...
 
SATURNO_5, the 6.5 x 55mm has long been a favored cartridge in Europe for long range target matches. The .30-30 is rather limited in range and power...definitely not in the same class. I've taken deer at 400+ yards with mine.
 
Tootaxed

At long range I totally agree with you given the excellent BC of the 6.5 bullet.

At short range (100 yards or less) I do not think there is that much of difference.

I would not be surprised if a flat nosed 170 gr. 30 cal bullet fired from a 30-30 would have more short range "smackdown" effects on target than a 140 gr. 6.5 cal spitzer bullet.
 
In close cover, I like my peep-sighted remington 141 pump in .35 rem...Otherwise, I use my scoped .257 Roberts. However, my sporter Mosin-Nagant is my backup rifle.
 
I use my 45-70 for bait hunting and love it. However, it has a trajectory liike a rainbow, and without extensive shooting to be really comfortable at long ranges, (which your shoulder will not like) 200 yard shots are very challenging to say the least. Do you really think you would have open 200 yard shots?
If you have a 30-06, you are well prepared. Go with a 200-220 grain bullet, dont look back.
 
There is a lot of good advice given here. I would use either my 44 mag 94 Winchester or my 45-70 gov Marlin Guide Gun. I would feel comfortable hunting Black Bear withmost centerfire cartridges with at least 44 mag power levels.
 
30-06 minimum for me, probably reach for one of my Magnums. If I have to take a shot at a bear, I want to stop the FN thing in it's tracks. I'm not one of the macho's that say a small caliber and then preach shot placement. I know shot placement is everything but caliber counts sometimes, too. I have no room in my life for a prayin' bear.

LGB
 
Then theres the Mosin Nagant Finned into an M-39 configuration.........with 7.62X54R Czeck LPS, or other loads in commercial guise:D

Accuracy in an affordable, classic rifle will give you more $$ to spend on Ammo, and therefore practise, and therefore skill......and all that follows.....

Works for me, and dozens of Bears....a few with .243W, some to an 8MM Mauser, a Few more to my 30-06, and for ten years + My M-39.

Deliver the projectile to the proper place and all will fall, Grasshopper....
 
Then theres the Mosin Nagant Finned into an M-39 configuration.........with 7.62X54R Czeck LPS, or other loads in commercial guise

Accuracy in an affordable, classic rifle will give you more $$ to spend on Ammo, and therefore practise, and therefore skill......and all that follows.....

Works for me, and dozens of Bears....a few with .243W, some to an 8MM Mauser, a Few more to my 30-06, and for ten years + My M-39.

Deliver the projectile to the proper place and all will fall, Grasshopper....
Click to expand...


Amen brother
 
Referring to posts #34 & 35 above, here's my report on the northern Quebec spring black bear hunt: Seven solo hunters spread more than a mile apart between hunters, seven male bears in three days.

Hunted dense forest and brush with my 6.5 x55 Swedish Mauser, EoTECH reflex red dot sight set rather dim, with Nosler 140-gr Partition bullets handloaded at 2,500 fps. Had a large old black male bear appear suddenly at 50 feet...he turned and walked back the way he came. Standing and offhand, aimed a quartering shot through his heart. The bullet hit a rib, pulverized the heart, and stopped against his far shoulder blade...fell dead within 25 yards. No wasted meat.:D

Wouldn't have made the shot if it hadn't been for the EoTech, as I don't shoot unless I'm sure it'll be a clean kill...it was 8:30 pm and I wouldn't have been able to use iron sights in that dim light and brush. I figure the EoTech gave me about 15 minutes additional shooting time.

After his winter sleep using up most of his fat, that big old dull-toothed bear still weighed over 400-lb.

The second largest bear was taken by a .30-30 using Hornady 160-gr LeveRevolution ammo, one shot.
 
Bear medicine

All calibers listed are great but don't forget about the Marlin 444 with the new hornady ammo; I am seeing good 200 yard groups with this combo at the range; ...:)
 
rcmodel said:
Unless you are hunting 1,200 pound Kodiak's in Alaska, standard weight 45-70 bullets will kill any bear in the country just fine.

Note the "standard" lead bullet loads are down-loaded to be safe in Trapdoor Springfield's and other old guns.

But Winchester, Remington, etc all load premium hunting loads to full power that will do a great job on black bear.

If 200 yards is in the cards, you might check out the Hornady leverevolution pointy tip loads as they improve long range trajectory somewhat.
http://www.hornady.com/store/leverevolution

rc
Click to expand...
Which Remington? The 220 grain 30.06?
 
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