What Gun For Black Bear

[studz223]

I'm going on my first black bear hunt this September.
It will take place in Maine.
I am told buy the guild my longest shot will be 75 yards.
The Calibers and Guns I have to Choise from in my current line up are:
Rem 700 264win mag with 26" barrel.
Rem 7 in 260 rem with 20" barrel.
Marlin 336 in 30/30.
I can handload for all of these but the 30/30 i would just use Lever Rev factory loads.
or do i buy a bigger gun?
If I buy a bigger gun I'm thinking 325WSM.
Any thoughts?

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Even though lots of guys are gonna come on hear and tell you you need a canon, any of those would work. Out of your selection, I would likely choose the .30-30.

 

[MCgunner]

Oh, I LOVE me my M7 in a tight blind. It's a very handy rifle. Mine's in .308, but .260 is just fine on bear. .30-30 is fine and dandy and mighty handy, too, no farther than you're talkin' about shootin'. I'd load with a heavyish bullet for the caliber, say a 160-170 in the .30-30 or a 140 in the .260. Ain't any harder to kill, really, than a deer or hog.

 

[glockky]

I would go with the 30-30 and hornday has a new monoflex bullets which enable you to shoot a monolithic bullets with the flex tips in a 30-30. I hear they pretty much came up with this bullet for the bear hunting with the 30-30.

 

[tahunua001]

for black bear any of the above will do, I hqaven't shot the first 2 but I would definitely trust the 30-30 with black bear

 

[paintballdude902]

we normally use .44 mag rifles when we use dogs to hunt them. i live my .45-70 incase we run into a biggin (600lbs+ isnt very rare back home. we got the 890 record in my county during the 90s )

 

[avs11054]

I am going black bear hunting in October. I will be taking a Winchester Model 70 in .270. I have no doubt that, or any of the calibers you mentioned, will take down a bear.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

For black bear, any of the above will do.
But if you're just dying to buy a .325 WSM, then by all means, go for it and use it.

 

[snakeman]

i would go with the 30/30 or 260 but most likely the 30/30.

 

[BADUNAME37]

As others stated, any of them would suffice.
I would get a premium ammunition, like Barnes Solid Copper X Bullets as they apparently cause the most damage -- weight-for-weight comparison against other pills. If you've ever seen one that hasn't gone all the way through, you would be amazed at the razor-sharp petals that peel back!

 

[Tokarevsrule]

Get an sks. It is a good excuse to own one of these fantastic carbines.

 

[MCgunner]

They make a 160 Nosler partition in .30-30. I think Federal Premium loads it, but you'll have to look that up. Any 170 grain load in .30-30 would be fine. There seems to be a Core lokt following on here. That'd work. Just shoot what's accurate. Bear ain't elephants.

I agree about Barnes bullets, though, work rather well. I handload 'em in .308 for hogs.

 

[jmr40]

Of your choices, 30-30. If I were buying dedicated close range bear gun it would be the lightest bolt action I could find with a 20" barrel to carry in the thick brush and to use in a tree stand. Caliber is less important. I'd use a short action in any chambering I liked from 7mm-08 and up. A 308 or 338 Federal would be my top 2 choices. Personally I'd avoid the magnum chamberings, not needed for black bear. But if that floats your boat, get what you want.

 

[MCgunner]

jmr40, pretty much agree (M7 Remington, ya know). Mine's in .308, OP's is in .260. I think .260 is as capable as 7-08, though. I prefer my .308, but the .260 is plenty of gun. The sectional densities of the bullets are superior to about anything out there, too. I prefer the .308 for a couple of reasons, but practically speaking, on bear, the .260 is just as capable and, well, he's already got one.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Leave the guns at home... just follow this womans example

http://www.freep.com/article/201107...man-recounts-attack-by-400-pound-captive-bear

A woman from Michigan's Upper Peninsula who was mauled by a 400-pound captive black bear says she temporarily incapacitated the animal by putting a water bucket over its head as it attacked.

 

[spclpatrolgroup]

Most deer rifles can double as a black bear gun. I've seen a few taken wtih a .250 savage. I would pick the one you like shooting the best and use that.

 

[JERRY]

we normally use .44 mag rifles when we use dogs to hunt them. i live my .45-70 incase we run into a biggin (600lbs+ isnt very rare back home. we got the 890 record in my county during the 90s )

those are some damn big black bears!!!


of the caliber/guns listed the 30-30 would be fine though id prefer something else.....

 

[dougwx12]

I'd use the M7 .260, but any of the three will work great.

 

[northwoods99]

.264 is a fine choice. But any of your guns will do and the heavy bullet the better. If you get a 75 yard shot up here in Maine it is a long shot. Most of the bear hunting is from stand and have nice shooting lanes. Good Luck with the hunting.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

I would go buy a new 325WSM! ... and bring the 30-30 anyway.

I have no conceivable use for it, but a Browning BLR in 325 WSM has caught my eye more than once - if I had a good excuse like you do, I would put one on order.

 

[DesertFox]

If it was me, I'd take the 30-30 and some premium (hand)loads or premium factory ammo if you don't reload.

 

[a-sheepdog]

I would probably use the model 7 in .260 with good bonded bullets.

 

[tt549]

maine has a lot of cover and bears DO NOT bleed ( not till you put them in the back of the car ) I use a 375 ruger so far they drop in less than 10 feet

 

[30-30shooter]

use the 30-30, the hornadys will work fine but if your really worried about power buy these loads:

http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=222

 

[DM~]

With the right loads, all would work just fine, but i'd probably use the 30-30 loaded with Federals 170NP's.

DM