Rifle question for black bear

[Kshusker]

I am planning on taking my daughter (13) bear hunting this year, backpacking into Wyoming. She shoots a .243 very well at whitetail deer, she isn’t hunting bear this year but really wants to go along. My question is what gun should I get for her to use in the future? I am thinking a 7mm-08 for her, would this be enough for a 200 yards shot? Anyone hunted with their kiddos and have a recommendation?

 

[omicron1792]

That 243 sounds just about perfect.

 

[Nine Banger]

Stick with the .243.

 

[PathFinder]

243 and a bullet that upsets fast will do great.

 

[ridgerunnerrron]

243 double lunged.

 

[Blake C]

Almost anything will be fine at 200yds

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’m hoping to shoot one this spring and I’m planning on using a 6.5 creedmoor so your 243 should be fine.

 

[RADunfee]

.243. Bears are easy to kill.

 

[Rat]

You will not regret getting a 7mm-08, my daughter killed a bull elk at 362 yards with Her's shooting a 140 grn bullet.

 

[Jake Larsen]

My preferred bear rifle is a .243….the 6Creed variety, but it’s the same thing for all intents and purposes. I highly suggest a fairly frangible bullet for bear. They’re soft in the middle, so the tougher bullets have a tendency to not open up as well on them. And you want bears to die fast, before they can get back into the thick crap and be difficult to find.


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[coyotekilla]

The 243 will do fine, saw a carcass of a bear that was shot by a 257 roberts, the damage was massive. Stick to a bullet you would hunt whitetail with 85 sierra hpgk on up to the 100 grain soft point well do great.

 

[brancher147]

I would want a bigger cartridge like the 7mm-08 for a bigger bear or less than perfect shot opportunity or less than perfect hit. Sure a 243 will work but more is better if your kid can shoot it IMO

 

[Gooden123]

If you want an excuse to buy her an accurate gun with low recoil and a longer range that won't break the bank, look at Tikka 6.5 PRC. The folks on here talked me into it (in great detail) in this thread:

Thread '.280 AI vs 28 Nosler for All Around?'

Aug 11, 2025

I need the gun experts because I'm an archery hunter through and through. But I want to do some spring bear hunting in Idaho (as well as wolf), mule deer and want a gun that can take an elk or caribou at a reasonable distance, but not explode a whitetail. Seems .28 is will work, just not understanding the difference between a Nosler and Ackley or why one and not the other.

For a price point reference, I was considering the Weatherby Mark V Backcountry 2.0 but learned from here that custom is a better choice in that range. Please give me recommendations. I wouldn't mind hearing budget...

• Gooden123
• Replies: 82
• Forum: Firearms

• 

.243 may have limited range, so I would think that selection is situational based on where you're hunting and method (spot and stalk, or bait). If she shoots it well and you're planning on shorter range..bears go down easy when punched thru the lungs. There are people living in Alaska that use a .243 for everything that walks and flies fwiw.

 

[omicron1792]

If you want an excuse to buy her an accurate gun with low recoil and a longer range that won't break the bank, look at Tikka 6.5 PRC. The folks on here talked me into it (in great detail) in this thread:

Thread '.280 AI vs 28 Nosler for All Around?'

Aug 11, 2025

I need the gun experts because I'm an archery hunter through and through. But I want to do some spring bear hunting in Idaho (as well as wolf), mule deer and want a gun that can take an elk or caribou at a reasonable distance, but not explode a whitetail. Seems .28 is will work, just not understanding the difference between a Nosler and Ackley or why one and not the other.

For a price point reference, I was considering the Weatherby Mark V Backcountry 2.0 but learned from here that custom is a better choice in that range. Please give me recommendations. I wouldn't mind hearing budget...

• Gooden123
• Replies: 82
• Forum: Firearms

• 

.243 may have limited range, so I would think that selection is situational based on where you're hunting and method (spot and stalk, or bait). If she shoots it well and you're planning on shorter range..bears go down easy when punched thru the lungs. There are people living in Alaska that use a .243 for everything that walks and flies fwiw.

Serious question. You would buy a 13yo female a 6.5prc?