30-30 ammo for black bear

[MoeFaux]

I'll be hauling my Marlin 336 to Oregon this year in pursuit of a nice color phase boar. I have not shot a bear with a rifle, so I'd like some ammo advice.

The gun in question is fond of Hornady's American Whitetail. That's a 150 grain cup-and-core bullet that's been consistent and sufficient for Michigan deer, but I'm curious if I should carry something that would penetrate a bit better. There's a host of factory options for bonded bullets, heavier bullets, and monos, but some say your setup for deer should be fully adequate for bear.

Thoughts?

 

[Steve300xcw]

Your 150's arent going to bounce off of a bear. I'd run them.

 

[RADunfee]

Great rifle first off! I kill all my bears with a 150 gr core-lokt. My 336, however, just shoots the 170's better. I'd feel fine with either one.

 

[Luke S]

Black bears are not bullet proof. I think any cup and core 30-30 bullet is perfect. I think non lead options would be too tough to fully open on a smaller bear. There ribs are not as thick as you might c think. My only concern would be that a 30-30 might be a bit short ranged for what sounds like a special hunt. A bolt action in a "deer cartridge " (243, 6.5. 308) etc won't kill it deader but could make a 200 or 300 yard shot much easier.

I killed quite a few deer with a 30-30 Marlin with an old 4x scope. It definitely worked fine

 

[Steve300xcw]

No reason he cant get in range for that rifle.

I would read up on where the vitals are though.

 

[Luke S]

Good point

 

[MoeFaux]

No reason he cant get in range for that rifle.

I would read up on where the vitals are though.

I've chased bear with a bow before - definitely did my research to know how to place my shots before those hunts. I found Clay Newcomb's advice the most insightful. The ole middle-of-the-middle advice still stands, but he gives a bit more detail based on necropsies of some of the many, many bears he's harvested.

I'm choosing my 30-30 partly because of its short range. I figure the limited energy at my disposal plus the limited accuracy of my levergun limit me 150 to yards, and stalking into that range and closer is the best part of the hunt! For that reason, the bolt guns stay at home and wait for bigger game and/or more open country.

 

[Pilsner]

Shooting medium to large size game inside of 200 yards quickly and often is basically the reaison d'etra for the .30-30 WIN in a lever gun. Any cup-n-core bullet in the 150 to 170 grain weight range that your rifle shoots well will be perfect.
At .30-30 range, especially with a black critter that likes to stay in the shadows even after last light and before first light, an illuminated LPVO or red dot are the correct choice. I have used both but always have a set of FO peep rear/FO front post iron sights as back up. I don't recall that you said what the rest of your set up was...
The vast number of bear encounters I have had are at bait sites, usually set into out of the way, shaded spots in thick cover, aka low light. Or tracking/recovering bears. The joys of being a one-quarter-a$$ed outfitter for bear hunts. Anyway, my experiences with black critters in low light and long shadows has changed my idea of optics and lights on bear guns. Doubtful that I'd ever hang a tac light on my lever gun for hunting but I'd prolly have it in my pack if I was chasing bears... just in case. Here in the Ozarks I do in fact have a tac light mount from Skinner on my 336 in .30-30 which is the bump in the night gun for our cabin.

EDIT TO ADD: My 336 really like the Hornady LeverEvolution .30-30 ammo and it has worked well for everyone that I know who has used it on bears. 160 grainers if IRC.

 

[Steve300xcw]

You doing a spring or fall hunt?

 

[MoeFaux]

You doing a spring or fall hunt?

YTD - I put in for a spring tag, but without any points, I think my chances of getting that tag are less than 20%. If I get it, there's an outfitter I'm going to try who claims to have good spring bears. If I don't, I'm going back to a different outfitter who I know has good fall bears.

 

[MoeFaux]

Shooting medium to large size game inside of 200 yards quickly and often is basically the reaison d'etra for the .30-30 WIN in a lever gun. Any cup-n-core bullet in the 150 to 170 grain weight range that your rifle shoots well will be perfect.
At .30-30 range, especially with a black critter that likes to stay in the shadows even after last light and before first light, an illuminated LPVO or red dot are the correct choice. I have used both but always have a set of FO peep rear/FO front post iron sights as back up. I don't recall that you said what the rest of your set up was...
The vast number of bear encounters I have had are at bait sites, usually set into out of the way, shaded spots in thick cover, aka low light. Or tracking/recovering bears. The joys of being a one-quarter-a$$ed outfitter for bear hunts. Anyway, my experiences with black critters in low light and long shadows has changed my idea of optics and lights on bear guns. Doubtful that I'd ever hang a tac light on my lever gun for hunting but I'd prolly have it in my pack if I was chasing bears... just in case. Here in the Ozarks I do in fact have a tac light mount from Skinner on my 336 in .30-30 which is the bump in the night gun for our cabin.

EDIT TO ADD: My 336 really like the Hornady LeverEvolution .30-30 ammo and it has worked well for everyone that I know who has used it on bears. 160 grainers if IRC.

It's currently topped with a diamondback 4-14*40, because I couldn't pass up the deal on it. I'm content with the quality of glass for that rifle, but the zoom is obviously excessive. Keeping watch for a fixed 4x or 6x that I think will be a better fit.

No baiting in Oregon, so the hunt style, terrain, and light conditions are a bit different than what you described. Maybe it's because I've not hunted in those conditions, but I've never cared for illuminated reticles.

I would really like to see how that LeverEvo shoots for me. I like the bump in BC and what I've seen for terminal performance. I'll have to grab a box whenever the bug strikes me. . . It's just kinda hard to justify when I'm already stocked up on ammo that I know shoots well.

 

[bigunit]

I killed a good sized bear with the 150 sierra in 30-30. He didnt go far.

 

[WeiserBucks]

I've killed a dozen plus bears and seen a ton more shot with a 30-30, all with cheapo Win, Fed or Rem ammo. All the well placed shots killed great, poor shots don't.

 

[JShe95]

150 you've got will do the trick. 170 grain Core-Lokt would be my choice.