Mosin Nagant for black bear hunt ?

Kondor

Kondor

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Barrie Area 705
So the spring bear hunt is almost upon us, almost time to set up my camera, but unfortunately i cannot practice with my bow due to a cyst on my tendon in my left wrist, so i do not feel comfortable hunting with it until fall when that injury is resolved. I have a very nice mosin nagant and some 203GR SP ammo from MFS, i was wondering if anyone has experience or an opinion to hunting black bear with a Mosin ? I do have a 12GA with slug's just incase it is not good enough but i am alot more accurate with my Mosin as i have had a good amount of practice with that ammo and great grouping. I also have a very nice .270WIN savage but i have heard more bad than good about the .270Win for black bear. Thanks for your opinion
 
I do not have the experience, but the rifle and ammo you would be using is more than capable. Shot placement is key and if you are good with the Mosin go for it. Remember we like pics from your hunt. Good luck!!
 
What kind of ranges are you looking at? If you'll be sticking to those bow ranges, personally I would use the 12 gauge because I like to use as much gun as I have available. Nothing wrong at all with your other options though. If you're using the 270, I would recommend some 150gr round nosed bullets, as lighter ammo might be going to fast to get much expansion at closer range.
 
A friend shot a 350 pound with his crossbow and she was a dry sow and she dropped within 30 yards. All your firearms will kill a bear if you do your part.
 
tokguy said:
It's the Russian version of a 30-06 is it not? No-one would dare suggest that a 30-06 isn't up to it would they?
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I think its closer to a 308 than an '06, but nobody would argue with a 308 for black bear either.

There is nothing wrong with the 270 either. The only thing I wouldn't feel comfortable hunting with mine is grizzly.
 
I've killed several bears with a MN rifle shooting vintage Norma 180 grain bullet loads.
 
the spank said:
Everything you spoke of will kill a bear DEAD!! You aren't hunting Cape Buffalo, it's a Black Bear. The Mosin, your 270 Win and your 12 ga will all kill any big game in North America.
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Good call, and it's not as big as a brown or grizzly. I unforunitely have barley shot any of my rifles :( sad trying to get into a range, but i have shot the mosin the most out of my hunting rifle selection and i have got some pretty good groups using the MFS SP 203Gr ammo, as i wasn't able to shoot alot of ammo or steel core so i can save my 100 rounds of Surplus until i find more lol
 
Kondor said:
Good call, and it's not as big as a brown or grizzly. I unforunitely have barley shot any of my rifles :( sad trying to get into a range, but i have shot the mosin the most out of my hunting rifle selection and i have got some pretty good groups using the MFS SP 203Gr ammo, as i wasn't able to shoot alot of ammo or steel core so i can save my 100 rounds of Surplus until i find more lol
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You may want to check out SFRC as they have 880 rounds @ $400 of 7.62x54r, seems to be Bulgarian made, which is supposed to be the best surplus.
 
The caliber is more than enough for bear. I thought about using mine for hunting but the safety on the mosin as you know doubt are aware is basically unusable.
 
Suther said:
I think its closer to a 308 than an '06, but nobody would argue with a 308 for black bear either.
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Not that '06 and .308 are that far apart, but the case capacity numbers I've seen put the x54R notably closer to .30-06 than to .308. For loaded ammunition, you have to compare the specific loads. I've seen the LVE and MFS 200/203gr loads chronographed from around 2250fps to more than 2400fps depending on barrel length and bore condition, and YouTube videos where ballistic gelatin penetration ranged from something like 24" to more than 32" (exited the blocks). For comparison, the Remington 220gr RN Core-Lokt load has a nominal MV of 2410fps (but I haven't seen penetration tests for it).

Regards,
Joel
 
Mikeyman said:
The caliber is more than enough for bear. I thought about using mine for hunting but the safety on the mosin as you know doubt are aware is basically unusable.
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I've never had a problem using the technique where you put the butt in the crook of your elbow and use your fingers to pull & rotate the cocking piece, but I will acknowledge that it is no where near as convenient as something under your thumb with your hand on the grip. But then, I tend to be paranoid and carry anything with the chamber empty and bolt/action closed unless I'm anticipating rapid action, or sometimes sometimes with the bolt open for quicker response. When I'm sitting, the firearm state varies with the circumstances.

Regards,
Joel
 
The cartridge is fine but the rifle is garbage. It's not a hunting rifle, it's a relic. You have an actual hunting rifle, that would be my choice. I've got milsurp rifles and they would be my last choice of hunting rifles. I enjoy them but have no illusions about what they are.

Now where is my Nomex onesie?
 
Absolutely nothing wrong with collecting milsurp ,or getting one for cheap shooting surplus ammo but there's milsurp and then there's milsurp....no way is a clunky Russian milsurp in the same catagory as a finely crafted Swiss or Norwegian 'milsurp'( the 'jewels of the crown') with an action smooth as butter,superbly accurate and in a chambering that has lasted over 100 years...
 
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