Whats your Black Bear Caliber?

[tcmers]

I’ve shot bear with 45/70, 30-30 and 30-06. Next spring I’ll be using a 270. I’ll use my 356 Winchester if I get a chance at a second bear.

 

[BRWNBR]

I attempted a BB gun. I shot 7-8 last week with a daisy red Ryder and it has proven ineffective. I think I would recommend skipping that one. It was not effective on brown bear either. We tried.

Any center fire rifle cartridge and I would not hesitate on a blackie. They die easy. You can almost scare them to death.

 

[North Idaho Stickbow]

Hoping my first BB will be with a 6.5 Creed but in my circle this is a sin. Everyone tells me I need "at least a 7 mag"

I guess it depends on your distance, but 6.5 is plenty if you ask me. I’ve only killed one with a rifle, a mild 45-70 hand load, and that killed the bear dead on the spot. All my others have been traditional bow kills and they never went far.

 

[A.baird7]

I’ve shot several bears with a 6.5, no issues yet

 

[Mikeray]

One with a 270 one with a 30 30 and 4 with a 357 pistol with hounds.

 

[30338]

This fall's lineup, 58 cal roundball, 6/45 with 87 vmax, 9.3 with 250 accubond. Have 2 tags. Have used 6.5-06, 7mm mag, 30-06, and 50 caliber conical. I prefer waterhole sits for the close interaction, but a lot have been past 300 yards.

 

[YaakRiver]

2 clients used my 6.5 PRC to kill bears in the last few weeks. Both were shot at sub 200 and both only went 10 yards.

 

[COJoe]

I drew a bear tag this year and I am thinking of taking the old Marlin 30-30 I got from my mom after my dad died. It's the first gun I remember hunting with. But... I also received my dad's .41 Ruger Blackhawk revolver which would be really cool to use or I could use my 300WSM.

Any thoughts on the .41 magnum if it would be a good choice?

 

[Matt5266]

I drew a bear tag this year and I am thinking of taking the old Marlin 30-30 I got from my mom after my dad died. It's the first gun I remember hunting with. But... I also received my dad's .41 Ruger Blackhawk revolver which would be really cool to use or I could use my 300WSM.

Any thoughts on the .41 magnum if it would be a good choice?

All of those will work but...... Depends on your hunt. Over bait? Spot and stalk? What's your predicted range you expect to shoot?

 

[Raghornklr]

I killed one last week with a .22 arc. Previously with 7 rem mag, 30-06, .260 rem,.243 win. Pretty much can use whatever gun you happen to have.

 

[YaakRiver]

I drew a bear tag this year and I am thinking of taking the old Marlin 30-30 I got from my mom after my dad died. It's the first gun I remember hunting with. But... I also received my dad's .41 Ruger Blackhawk revolver which would be really cool to use or I could use my 300WSM.

Any thoughts on the .41 magnum if it would be a good choice?

I had a client come hunt black bear with a .41 mag. When he booked the hunt, I told him that whatever the range was that allowed him to get a quick and accurate follow up shot would be the max range I'd let him shoot on the hunt. He was using the 210gr Core Lokt. When we went to the range, shooting off sticks, he could get decent groups at 75 yards but quick follow up shots were all over the place. When we moved in to 50 yards, his group tightened up and he could get a follow up shot on target in around 3 seconds. I told him 50 yards would have to be the max. We saw plenty of bears but because of his physical limitations, never got into 50 yards. If you set the same limit, and place your shots carefully, the 41 mag will kill a bear and the 210 core-lokt would be my bullet choice.

 

[COJoe]

All of those will work but...... Depends on your hunt. Over bait? Spot and stalk? What's your predicted range you expect to shoot?

It would be spot and stalk or happen chance, either way, if I used the .41, I would limit my range to 50 yds or less. I might carry it and my 30-30 so I could have more range. The old scope on it fell apart internally last time I shot it though so I would need a new scope or just go without it. Kinda hard to find ammo for it too.

 

[COJoe]

had a client come hunt black bear with a .41 mag. When he booked the hunt, I told him that whatever the range was that allowed him to get a quick and accurate follow up shot would be the max range I'd let him shoot on the hunt. He was using the 210gr Core Lokt. When we went to the range, shooting off sticks, he could get decent groups at 75 yards but quick follow up shots were all over the place. When we moved in to 50 yards, his group tightened up and he could get a follow up shot on target in around 3 seconds. I told him 50 yards would have to be the max. We saw plenty of bears but because of his physical limitations, never got into 50 yards. If you set the same limit, and place your shots carefully, the 41 mag will kill a bear and the 210 core-lokt would be my bullet choice.

I need a new scope on it as the old scope from the 70s Bushnell Phantom II fell apart internally last time I shot it. Or I could go open sights but I need to go to the range and see how my groups would look. my dad had bought a number of boxes of Remington 210gr HTP so I have that to use.I will probably take the 30-30 because growing up in PA, it was always considered a great caliber for bear. My grandfather shot a bear in the 60s with a .30-40 Krag. I need to find the picture from it. Thanks for the advice.

 

[mainbeam pursuit2]

I’m using a 6.5 rpm now. Seen them killed with about everything from 243 win on up to 338. They all worked fine.

 

[Matt5266]

It would be spot and stalk or happen chance, either way, if I used the .41, I would limit my range to 50 yds or less. I might carry it and my 30-30 so I could have more range. The old scope on it fell apart internally last time I shot it though so I would need a new scope or just go without it. Kinda hard to find ammo for it too.

I would take the 300 WSM. Maximize your range. I've killed a couple with that cailber. If ya want to take a part of your dad with ya, carry the 41 along too and if the opportunity presents itself use it.

 

[rodney482]

Used my buddies Grandpas 30-06 w 180 gr. Bergers…. Went 20 yds

 

[JPW13]

Used to be 45-70, some 30-06, 300wsm, 7PRC. This spring two fell to the 22CM - I echo what others have said - as long as you get the lungs they die really easily.

 

[YaakRiver]

I need a new scope on it as the old scope from the 70s Bushnell Phantom II fell apart internally last time I shot it. Or I could go open sights but I need to go to the range and see how my groups would look. my dad had bought a number of boxes of Remington 210gr HTP so I have that to use.I will probably take the 30-30 because growing up in PA, it was always considered a great caliber for bear. My grandfather shot a bear in the 60s with a .30-40 Krag. I need to find the picture from it. Thanks for the advice.

If it was me and I really wanted to try to kill a bear with the 41, I'd carry that and the 300 WSM. It would haunt my dreams if I had to pass on a mature boar. The majority of our client's shots are between 150 yards and up.

 

[NorthernZ]

30-06

 

[Bado20]

30-30, 30-06, 280 AI, 338 WM. They all work well, it has seemed like they die quicker with a softer bullet through the lungs vs a monometal.