Best Ontario Black bear caliber for a budget-minded shooter **NOT BEAR DEFENSE**

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Hey guys~I'm not a bear hunter, nor do I have any aspirations to be...but...I've been asked (by a friend, limited $ resources) to recommend a good rifle/caliber for taking a bear out to 100-150 yards. With the availability of ammo...and my VERY limited reading on the subject...I'd be inclined to suggest .308, and maybe a Ruger American Stainless/Synthetic. Savage Axis if the RAR was not available, or a little out of range $-wise.

With the exception of grouse, I only hunt varmints...so 99% of my scope experience is with higher-power optics...so I'd welcome suggestions on an optic as well. I'd assume a robust 3-9x would be sufficient. Used preferred...possibly a Redfield if he had to go new?

His hunt will be next year..so he has a little time to get this together.

I welcome any/all input. Caliber/rifle/bases/scope....heck..even tips on the best knife/technique. I'll be gathering everything you guys post together, and emailing it to him.

All the best, and thanks for taking a moment to reply,

Rob
 
Pick a legal hunting caliber, add gun. On a budget;
Savage axis package
Rem 783 package

If I were him..... A used model 94 in 30-30..... With the irons, should be good to 150y with a little practice.

Black bears aren't all the tough. Im pretty sure a 223 would do the job if the shot placement is correct.

Cheers!
 
If you really want to do it on a budget, get a Mosin 7.62x54 is a good choice that will more than do the job. They can be had under $200.00 tax in. A sporterized 303 LE is another good choice.
 
Awesome guys~thanks for all the quick replies! The slugger~I know a 12ga. is on his "must have" list for sure, so I suggested he get a combo set with a bird barrel and rifle-sighted slug barrel. However, I had assumed he was hunting thick bush all the time, and that his shots wouldn't exceed 75-100 yards. I'm still suggesting that combo as a versatile thing to have, but the area he wants to explore would present shot opportunities past 100. I think a scoped rifle starts to shine past 100, and definitely past 125/150. (thinking trajectory AND energy)
 
For a long time Savage has assembled a rifle, scope, sling and case "package". The big name department store sporting goods retailers carried them. The only drawbacks were the rifle was a bone simple, unadorned gun with the least expensive features they could get away with - ie blind magazine and plastic or bird stock. I remember .270, .308, 30-06 and .300WM were the standard choices.

(If anyone quibbles that these aren't good guns, I know a pair of hunters who bought identical Savage package guns in .300 Win Mag. One guy shot a muley buck that got into the bottom of the Saskatchewan record book with his gun, and the other fellow just missed the minimum score with his. Good choices for any beginning hunter.)
 
Your choice is good, given the budget parameters... a Ruger American in .308 with Winchester 180 grain PSP's is excellent black bear medicine.
 
.22LRGUY said:
Awesome guys~thanks for all the quick replies! The slugger~I know a 12ga. is on his "must have" list for sure, so I suggested he get a combo set with a bird barrel and rifle-sighted slug barrel. However, I had assumed he was hunting thick bush all the time, and that his shots wouldn't exceed 75-100 yards. I'm still suggesting that combo as a versatile thing to have, but the area he wants to explore would present shot opportunities past 100. I think a scoped rifle starts to shine past 100, and definitely past 125/150. (thinking trajectory AND energy)
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At 10 yards or 300, I'd rather have a 308 than a shotgun anyway :)
 
The 30-06 is just as good as the .308 already mentioned but not better for this purpose. And the buyer has a very limited budget, so the cheap military surplus ammo for practise is an important factor in favour of the 308. 22LRguy, you have good instincts!
 
For a guy on a budget a sportered .303 Lee Enfield is good bear medicine. You can pick one up for a reasonable price and the 180 grain .303 factory load will sicken any black bear this side of 300 yards. Even with open sights if a guy can shoot. The Lee Enfield is better built and more reliable than many bargain rifles now made despite what you may read. My 2 cents.
 
Longwalker said:
The 30-06 is just as good as the .308 already mentioned but not better for this purpose. And the buyer has a very limited budget, so the cheap military surplus ammo for practise is an important factor in favour of the 308. 22LRguy, you have good instincts!
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On a side note, if anyone knows where I could find some cheap military surplus ammo in .308, post here or PM me.
It will probably be of an interest to OP as well.
 
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There are so many reasonably priced, good used rifles in calibres that would be good for bear available out there.

Your friend would be well served to look at the Marlin 336 RC 30-30 Win or 336 35 Rem that were built prior to 2007 (the 336 came out in 1948 but I believe its heritage dates to 1893). The recently built versions of those rifles, years 2013/14 and on, are good as well. They can often be picked up used in very good condition for +/- $500.

One piece of advise, some of the 336's made between 2008 and early 2013 are reported to have had some quality control issues. A hands on inspection before purchase would be recommended for those rifles.
 
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lanis said:
On a side note, if anyone knows where I could find some cheap military surplus ammo in .308, post here or PM me.
It will probably be of an interest to OP as well.
Click to expand...

Check out some gun shows, Ive seen 308 available, and the Orangeville show is this Sunday.
 
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