Bear Caliber?

It doesn't take a cannon to kill a Black Bear.
I have laid many, many blackies low with chamberings starting at the 6mm Remington right up to the 338 Win Mag.
Personally, If I was going after a specific big blackie, I would probably grab my 8x57JS, using that great 200 Accubond.
I have shot a couple with this combo, and one with the 8mm - 180 Ballistic Tip, a pretty tough bullet in 8mm.
All were passthroughs, and all were dead within 30 meters.
Obviously the 270, 7mm's, and any reasonable 30 cal is plenty of medicine for them.
Eagleye.
 
Well I will be going after some bears in a few weeks from a stand over bait with shots no further than 60 yards. I don't feel undergunned at all with my 30-30.

Hell I was even considering the .243 but just don't need to take the chance of losing one.

At the distances we are talking shot placement should not be an issue, and the 30-30 has taken every game animal in NA successfully for years.
 
I would not hesitate to take a black bear with a 762x39mm. As long as it was chambered in a bolt gun (which 2 of mine are) and I was using a 150gn bullet.
I watched my father for years shoot them with a Win Model 94 .30-30, and my brother used a Savage in .30-30. They never felt undergunned. My first 3 bears were with my .303 and 180gn bullets (only because that's all the store sold). Later 3 were with 150gn bullets. There was never much looking for them. They were always right there. Always had plenty of time to aim and shoot over the bait or in the snare.
Now if you want to justify buying a new rifle, then that's different. You need a .30-06.
 
Im hoping to take one with a sks this fall, so i'll let you know how it works out. As long as a good bullet is used i think i'll do just fine. My barrel is only 30 yards , so its not a far shot
 
Bought a new MXLR in .444 especially for bear hunting. Unfortunately I didn't have much time to hunt this spring and passed on some smaller bears. Now it looks like the fall season is toast since they've closed all the back country in eastern Manitoba due to the dry conditions. Looks like I'll be waiting until next spring to try it out.
 
Big Game said:
Bought a new MXLR in .444 especially for bear hunting. Unfortunately I didn't have much time to hunt this spring and passed on some smaller bears. Now it looks like the fall season is toast since they've closed all the back country in eastern Manitoba due to the dry conditions. Looks like I'll be waiting until next spring to try it out.
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When you do, I guarantee it'll slam the blackie with more authority than you'd imagine. I only took one bear with my.444, but impressive wouldn't be the right word to use to describe how hard he got thumped. Good choice.
 
I'm taking my 45-70 sxs and my 25-06 this year. Over bait ill use the double and walking clearcuts and gravel pits ill use the 2506. I got a 5 shot 2" group at 200 yards with 120gr bullets so I know I can drill a bears lungs with it. Maybe next year ill take one with a 50cal muzzleloader
 
Pretty much everything has been covered. FWIW my buddy who runs a couple of BMA's with 30+ baits, as well as running hounds, uses nothing but 12 guage slugs.
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I'm also a fan of big holes in and out - especially when you shoot often at or near last light - DRT is the best. Medium to heavy bullets moving not too fast work well. As mentioned this would iclude 45-70, 444 and the like.

Not covered yet are my personal favs (and many other bear hunters) the middle weight 35s with "heavy-for-calibre" bullets in the 250gr and up category - 35 Whelen, 350RemMag, 358Win, 356Win. Using conventional 250s at 2100 - 2400MV seems ideal - you get a big hole in and out but little blood shot meat beyond it - good meat right up to the hole. If you don't want to handload stay with the 35Whelen - though handloading gives more options for it also. So far I've never had a bear run further than 18yds.

Recently I experimented with my lowest power 35 - the 35Rem. Using it with 200gr corelokts at 2050 - 2100MV I killed a 275 lb bear which ran only five feet. I didn't get my usual exit but the combo worked well. However it's about the bottom rung in swat for me considering 500 lb and bigger specimens are in my woods - but it's very capable. If you don't handload, 35Rem factory with 200gr corelokts would be good. Oh and lots of Maine guides recommend it too I'm told :)

All above IMHO.
 
I shot my bear a few years ago with a .300win mag. Now I usually care .308, 45-70 or .35 whalen. .308 is a good all round caliber. Personally I would keep your eye open for a gun you like and that fits you. Don't worry too much about caliber. As long as its .243 or bigger your good to go.
 
Ive never had any interest in shooting bears, prolly cause theres none around here.

I have heard through hunting friends, that guides request the biggest cal in the hunters arsenal... the bigger the bullet the better.

12 ga slug would do quite nicely but if I were to ever go for bear, the 45-70 is the pick.:D
 
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