type of bullet for bear

Loading a 168 TSX in my 300 saum this year. It shoots great and I’ve got a bunch of Varget!
 
Just picked up some 160 gr 7 mag Federal for my Idaho Spring hunt on Gunbroker. (I would prefer 168 Nosler ABLR but its nowhere to be found) There was quite a bit of Federal available and I have no concerns in its ability to put a black bear down. As long as you can put the bullet where it needs to be you should be fine on anything over 140
 
130 gr Hornady Interlock for the 270 Win has taken 2 Black Bear and 1 Grizz.
210 gr NP for the 338 Win Mag has taken 1 Black Bear.
 
I plan on using the 151g PVA Cayuga, it did great through ballistics testing with awesome BC and accuracy.

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For many recent years, I hunted black bears in the spring on the snow-slides of a valley up here. I've taken a good number of black bears with a 257WBY...my handloads are a 100grn TSX pushing pretty darn close to 3600fps. Waiting for a good broadside shot and putting that bullet in the heart/lung area has just drilled them. Had one 6.5 footer immediately drop in place when hit and never moved again...it was like someone unplugged him. All of them died with one shot, except a 7+ footer that needed a second shot when I walked up to him...he wanted a piece of me!

I've never recovered a bullet with that load...it penetrates, expands and exits. That was even true for one less than ideal shot...my friend wounded his bear on his first shot, and it immediately took-off, running directly away from us...the only shot I had was right up the ass...the bullet traveled the length of his body, exited his chest and he was DRT.
 
I've killed 6, 2 with a bow, 4 with a rifle.

Honestly, the bow kills didn't go any farther that the rifle.

My last rifle was with an '06, shooting 155 scenars. Dropped him in his tracks.

Guys kill 500lbs+ black bears in PA using 243s.

You're fine.
 
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