Some friends and I are thinking of going spring black bear hunting in Manitoba for the first time. Just wondering if there's anyone else here planning the same thing. Also looking for a recommendation on what to carry. I asked my father, who hasn't been bear hunting in 50 years and he said that he typically used a 30-30, and once, back in the day, a .222 . Am I worrying too much about this choice and I should just grab the old deer rifle and go at it, or is there some sort of minimum calibre to consider?
Black Bear Gun
- Thread starter GB1
- Start date
I shot one this fall with a Marlin 336RC in .30-30 Winchester and with 170 grain Winchester Silvertips it performed beautifully.
This is not my 'bear gun' as I was deer hunting, but it sure did the job.
IMHO it's shot placement and using an appropriately constructed bullet that counts.
This is not my 'bear gun' as I was deer hunting, but it sure did the job.
IMHO it's shot placement and using an appropriately constructed bullet that counts.
With the right load (and the right driver) I agree.
I shot mine last year with a 12 ga 1 oz slug at 27 yds. Big hole and big blood trail.
On the other side of the spectrum, a .243 is a great bullet for a black bear, but I've ready stories about hunters losing black bears because their fat layer has plugged up smaller exit holes and thus killed the blood trail.
The dirty thirty will blow out the other side nicely inside 100 yds with a 150 gr round nose.
Good luck.
I shot mine with a 30-06 BUT I took my wife on a bear hunt with a 30-30 and although we didn't get one, I did not feel undergunned whatsoever. We were using Hornady Leverevolution. My buddy got a large spring bear with it this year, they decided to eat the heart that evening but he couldn't find it!
338 win mag, cause Craig Boddington says its the best
Actually, it depends on what type of hunting you plan on doing. Over a bait barrel, you will be shooting 100 yds, at the absolute most. The 30-30 will pack plenty of punch on a relaxed broadside bear.
I fyou are doing the spot and stalk, and you end up pushing a bear out who is a little jacked up from running, or knows you are there, he may already have the adrenaline up a bit and take a bit more convincing to go down. The 338 may not be a bad idea here, as you can never kill them too dead. It will alos allow you plenty of whallop for the further shots down cutlines, etc, if necessary.
This bear was hit with a 338 at about 40 yds, and dropped like a sack of hammers, not even a step. The kind of tracking i prefer. Estimated live weight of 400-450 lbs
Actually, it depends on what type of hunting you plan on doing. Over a bait barrel, you will be shooting 100 yds, at the absolute most. The 30-30 will pack plenty of punch on a relaxed broadside bear.
I fyou are doing the spot and stalk, and you end up pushing a bear out who is a little jacked up from running, or knows you are there, he may already have the adrenaline up a bit and take a bit more convincing to go down. The 338 may not be a bad idea here, as you can never kill them too dead. It will alos allow you plenty of whallop for the further shots down cutlines, etc, if necessary.
This bear was hit with a 338 at about 40 yds, and dropped like a sack of hammers, not even a step. The kind of tracking i prefer. Estimated live weight of 400-450 lbs
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
Craig Boddington is a blowhard regurgitator right in the same ballpark as Chuck The Parrot Hawks.
All I ever Boddington shoot is trees,I emailed and asked him what bark tastes like. No reply............
All I ever Boddington shoot is trees,I emailed and asked him what bark tastes like. No reply............
i have to side with 220 swifty. if the bears undisturbed any resonable calibre works great. if there spooked i like a bigger gun. 300 wsm or 338 06. if they run a large hole with good blood trail beats no or almost non existant leak.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Use the most powerful rifle that you shoot well, if that's a .30-30 then it's the right gun. The lever action Winchesters and Marlins are nice to carry in the thick stuff if you are hunting in SE Manitoba. If you are shooting over bait the range will be short, but if you are hunting along a power line, lake shore, or river bank the .30-30 might be a bit wanting if you get a 250 yard shot, so I would opt for something in the .30-06 class with a low powered scope under those circumstances.
I agree the 30-06 on up is better.
35s are my "go to" bear guns and couldn't be happier with them. With a 250gr solidly constructed bullet my 35Whelens, 356Win, and 350RemMags have all taken bears. Always an exit hole so far for blood trail. Though I've never had one run more than 18yds yet - usually 8 to 12 is typical. Often I get em on the edge of dark and appreciate the relatively heavy thump offered up by my 35s to settle things quickly. Also there are 700lb plus class bears where I hunt (live trapped and weighed by the MNR) so I like to have confidence in my rifle if one that big shows up to play. Some of these "practical" concerns suggest - to me anyway - more than a 30-30 as my "ideal" for bears - though a few times I've used my 30-30 hunting bears but never saw one to shoot (also I often carry a 30-30 Marlin trapper for routine tending baits). However if you don't handload, the 35s are not as great a choice I think because factory ammo choices are slim and usually expensive too. So get a 30-06 - or 338WinMag for more - and use "heavy for calibre" quality bullets for bears.
My2cents.
- Location
- St. Joe's Island, Ont
I'm with him, 35 Rem and 375 Win are great bear medicine for thick forest bear huntin. The way I look at it, the bigger the hole, the better the trail and not so much walking.
troutseeker
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Prince George, BC
Let's face it Gatehouse, the best dang "everything" gun is the .375 ruger! After all it is the King of .375's!!!
I like my .350 Rem mag for bears, although my .300 WM has done me well in the past (I may re-bareel the .300 to .375 ruger...).
troutseeker
I like my .350 Rem mag for bears, although my .300 WM has done me well in the past (I may re-bareel the .300 to .375 ruger...).
troutseeker
Couldn't agree more. That's why although there are a lot of adaquate choices out there the very best choice would actually be a 45/70 or .458 Winchester.
Far better choices then the .375 Ruger.
Almost any deer caliber will suit you just fine. Take the rifle you shoot the best with and pick a heavy bullet. Take you time and aim well. The last thing you want to do is blood track a wounded bear. I've gone after them with everything from a .270 to my .45/70. I never felt poorly equipped.
