303 brit for bear ???

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I am starting to plan a bear hunt in SK but before I get too carried away is it expecting too much of my brit 303 to do properly? I am considering a used 30-30, would it work better? Any suggestions would be great.

p.s. I've never hunted bear before. So any pointers there would be great also.
Thanks
 
.303 British has accounted for a large % of the black bears killed in Canada. Use it with confidence at ranges where your skill level allows you place your shot well.

If you can find +200 grain soft points then all the beter.
 
Black bears are very easy to kill, just about any hunting bullet in either 303 or 30 30 will do the trick. As long as you have an accurate round it will kill bear dead. I have used bullets as light as 120 grains to effectively shoot bear. I'm not sure why people recommend the heavy bullets? Not even an option with the 303 unless you reload, most factory ammo is either 150 or 180, possibly 174 in IVI soft point surplus if you can find some, I only have one box of those left.
 
My first Black Bear i took with a 1909 Parkerized # 3.
Took him through the front brisket into the heart at 50 yards with a 180 grain winchester Super X bullet, back about 20 years ago.

It killed that black bear than I am sure it would do the same now, plus you have better bullets to work with!
 
I think in Saskabush you can use bait. In that case you would set your own preffered distance and shoot with a rest at a stationary bear. If it was me, I would take whichever rifle was closest to the door I was going out of. The 30-30 is a good bear killer, too. And, as has already been said, bears are easy to kill.
 
I like the Remington 180 gr. Core-lokt SP in my 303 . They seem to hold together well on bear . Federal Premium 30-30 with a 170 gr, Nosler Partition a are good as well . Out to 150 yards both will work , with the nod going to the 303 out to 250 yds.
 
I've heard that the British used to shoot elephants with the 303! Surely if it'll drop an elephant a bear won't handle it, but I've never shot one so take all that with a grain of salt. :)
 
The 303 Brit is plenty of gun for Black Bear. My first and only Black Bear was dispatched with a 303 British .... the exact same rifle my Grandmother bagged a big Blackie some many years earlier. I used handloaded 150 grain bullets, but I was only a teen and didn't know better. Nowdays, I'm a big fan of heavy bullets, even if they do go slower, so I'd recommend the 200+ grain bullets for the 303 Brit.
 
If you handload, I'm confident that the new Barnes 150-grain Tripleshock would be almost ideal for any big game hunting in North America with a .303 British.
 
p-17 said:
If you handload, I'm confident that the new Barnes 150-grain Tripleshock would be almost ideal for any big game hunting in North America with a .303 British.
Click to expand...

Can't wait to try these in the Brit. Love Barnes bullets, awesome performance! I killed my moose last year with a 140 grain XLC, I have never seen an animal fold so fast it was amazing. Bang-Flop...
 
Thanks to all for you affirmation. The rifle I am going to use was my dads. He just recently gave it to me along with my grandfathers brand new (there is some discussion as to whether or not he ever evenshot it) 20ga. shotgun, and my dads first .22. I am looking forward to putting these to use. My son is becoming very excited to go hunting with me and using grandpa's gun to shoot gophers.
Thanks for everyones input.
 
Certainly the the .30-30 and .303 are fine for black bear. Just don't expect to drop them on the spot. Bears can go far even when they are shot in the heart/lung area. Be sure you learn bear anatomy and place your shots carefully for a clean kill because many bears come to bait at the very end of the day and shooting light. Tracking a wounded bear by flashlight isn't my idea of fun.
 
Either one will work fine if you do your part, and there is the crunch.
You said you have never hunted before.
Don't just start blazing away with your rifle, no matter what cartridge it fires. AIM!!
Place the shot in the Heart lung area, and your bear will give little trouble.
Shoot a bear in the ass, or in the guts, and be prepared for a big problem with an angry bruin.
 
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