Poll: 30-06 or .257 Roberts....

[bpl]

...for deer hunting in a location I can legally shoot a black bear if one rambles on bye?

So, I plan to use a 30-06 for the 3 day black bear hunt here in PA. However, during the first week of deer season, I will be hunting at least part of the time in a location where there is an "extended black bear season" and I can legally take a black bear if the opportunity arises. I'm itching to use my new Kimber 84M .257 Roberts for deer hunting this season, should I use it where a bear is a possibility? Its sighted in with factory Hornady 117gr BTSP. My friend's Dad has taken 2 black bear with a .243, and I know many have been taken with a 30-30. What's the concensus?

 

[USMC - Retired]

I've heard lots of stories of folks taking whitetail with a .22.. True or not it don't make it ethical.

Go with the 30-06 to make a good clean kill more likely.

 

[R.W.Dale]

My rule of thumb is that when in doubt always err on the side I too much gun

 

[MCgunner]

.30-06 is way overkill. I've shot over 2 dozen with my .257 over the years, only rifle I had for about 25 years. My grandpa took probably a dozen with it before me. I consider it one of the all time great hunting calibers where game no larger than deer/hog are on the plate. Hand loaded to its potential, it outpaces the 6mms and pushes factory .25-06 for ballistics. My favorite deer load is a 100 grain Sierra Game King over 51 grains of H4831, a compressed load. It pushes 3150 fps and is 3/4 moa accurate. It's also decent with a 117 grain Hornady Interlock at 3050 fps, but the Sierra seems to work better on deer. At least in MY hands, that rifle is deadly. I shot my first deer with it at age 11. I inherited it from my grandpa in the late 60s when he quit hunting. It's an old M722 Remington short action and is the LAST rifle I'd ever sell.

I used my 7 mag (a little more gun than the .30-06, but not much) when I got it. I shot a mulie out in New Mexico with it and 4 whitetail in west Texas with it, but damn, it's way overkill at short range. The .257 will take deer to over 350 yards, anyway, and has. Nothing against the 06, but for Texas deer, it's just excessive. .257 or its brother, the .25-06, is JUST RIGHT IMHO. It didn't take me long to tire of the 7 after hunting with it a few years. I got over my power craze pretty quick and it ain't even fired a shot in 10 years at the range, let alone at game. I have shot a few with one of my current favorites, the .308, though. I ain't gonna knock the .30-06 and it has capability on larger game beyond the quarter bores, but you're certainly NOT undergunned with a Roberts on whitetail. Black bear ain't armor plated, either. The best .30-30 handloads produce 1800 ft lbs and are falling off past 150 yards pretty fast. My .257 packs 2200 ft lbs at the muzzle and puts up 1800 ft lbs at 175 yards. I think if bear were possible, I'd just switch to my 117 Interlock load and live happy. it has GREAT penetration. That's a tough bullet.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I didn't vote in the poll because I don't think you would be limiting yourself with either.

 

[schlockinz]

Either or, I think that patience would be more important if you make a shot on a bruiser of a bear, just give him time to lay down and realize that he's dead before you start tracking.

 

[257WM_CDL-SF]

30-06 either would do but just feel better with a 30-06

 

[shootr]

.257 is a great caliber but in the situation you describe, I like the 06.

Over the years I've gone through a number of calibers from .243 to .35 and killed a bunch of deer in the process. Like them all.

However, it seems I keep coming back to the 06. Even when it's just along as the back up, I have a lot of confidence in the caliber and in the two I own. I've killed a lot of deer with them and as a game-killer, the 06 gets it done. I would be very confident with it were there a bear on the scene. YMMV.

 

[DannySeesUSMC]

If only deer and black bear hunting and if only woods hunting, short range of 200 yards or less - there are some other cartridges you can look at as well.

I would say if you are not going to reload just get the 30-06. If you are going to reload you can get a cartridge with less powder and for those hunting scenarios, will be more than enough.

.260 Rem, 6.5x55, 7-08, 7x57, etc.

 

[Clipper]

Danny, He is obviously deciding between two rifles he already has, not soliciting opinions for buying a new one.

Having both a 7.62X54R (a nice, lightweight sporter, and a pleasure to use), which you might as well call a 30-06, and a .257AI, which I currently shoot Roberts factory loads in, I much prefer the Roberts. We used to be able to shoot a bear on a deer license here, and I would never have hesitated to take one with the Bob if the opportunity arose. Tell the truth, if I was ever to draw an elk tag I'd probably use my Roberts, as I'm most comfortable with that caliber for the past 40 years, and have the utmost confidence in it's abilities and my competence with it.

You know, when Jack O'Connor wasn't raving about the .270, he was praising the Roberts...

 

[Todd1700]

I didn't vote because quite frankly either would be fine. The 30-06 has a little more thump and range than the 257. But if shot distances are in the short to moderate range then no deer or black bear will survive a 117gr Hornady behind the shoulder from a 257 Roberts. I would not feel the least bit handicapped with the 257 out to say 250 yards. And if there was one of them that I was really excited about climbing into a stand with then I'd sling that one over my shoulder in a heartbeat.

I love talking about this stuff as much as the next guy but the simple truth is that on deer or black bear a well placed shot from almost any high powered rifle that slings a bullet 100 grs or bigger will do the job with monotonous regularity.

 

[cerberus65]

The .257 Roberts could no doubt take a bear but I'd rather have the .06 - more options if the bear doesn't present a perfect shot.

 

[Legionnaire]

I like the ought-six for the situation you describe.

 

[MCgunner]

I really don't think the 06 can kill a black bear any deader than the Roberts, myself. Never killed a whitetail any deader, I know that! I've had to blood trail hogs with a bad hit from a 7 mag, so caliber ain't the answer.

 

[CajunBass]

I'd get the Roberts, but mostly because I've already owned a 30/06. Nothing wrong with it, but I'd want something different this time.

Besides, Jack O'Conner spoke highly of it. Of course he did the '06 also.

 

[ArmedBear]

The .30-06 is the American "if in doubt, carry X" cartridge. The 7x57 is the European one.

But... Those who have the .257 really do love it. I'd try that. I already have a .30-06 "if in doubt" jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none rifle.

 

[hayes1966]

Both are decent rounds but I prefer the 30-06.

 

[klcmschlesinger]

I voted 06

I voted for the 30-06 but this is an excellent case for getting both. Both great rounds, both have their place, there is overlap in capability but you absolutely need both.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've got several of both.
I like both, but for Pennsylvania black bears, I can't think of anything better than the little Roberts. I'd just load up some 117gr Hornady BTSP's, and/or 117gr RN's. For thick woods I really.really like the 117RN's. They expand readily, but retain 85%+ weight, and at under 100yds, trajectory/ballistic coefficients are meaningless. I also like the 120gr Sierra BTHP. A friend takes his .25/06 to Penn/WestVa hunting every T'giving weekend. He uses the Sierra over 43.0gr of IMR4320, yeah, 4320.... he gets ~2,900fps, but one-hole three shot groups from his MkX Mauser..... He's taken bear and deer at up to 350yds, so who's to argue with him.......

I've found IMR4831 to be unbeatable in the Roberts with 115-120gr. I'm loading 45.0gr with Federal cases and Win LR primers. I'm getting over 3,000fps and no pressure signs. (+P loads, at same pressures as '06 factory ammo, so go lower if you have ex-military sporter such as '93 or '95 Mauser). I'd always used H4831 or IMR or H4350 or RL22. This is almost a "magic" combination. Can't believe I hadn't stumbled over it years ago.

For an astonishing deer load, try the 115gr Berger VLD-hunting bullet over the IMR4831. It gets 3,050fps from my Ruger M77MkII with 22" bbl, and is under MOA for 5 shots. Turns the inside of the rib-cage of a deer to mush, and exits, too ! Shoots noticebly flatter beyond 300yds than the 115gr Nosler BT also.

I like the '06 a lot, but like my older brother who shoots NRA-Highpower, I lump the '06 in with the magnum '30's. A bit more than you really need east of the Mississippi.