hey guys, its me again with a rookie question. I have a few different rifle with scopes(mosin, 30-06,308). But when I see guys hunting blacks on youtube it seems they are so close when they make a shot a scope might not even be needed, should I just take a .303 jungle carbine and just rely on the peep sights. I can hit within an 6 inch circle at 100 yards with it(at the range) which I know would be different in the bush since the target is moving and the setting is different. The more I watch youtube the more I think I should head out with the old 303 and 180 grains. I will hunting in 100 mile house area so its a mix of heavy forest and open country. I was thinking of taking a scoped .308(150 grain) for shots out to 200 yards. What do the seasoned vets here think?
avg black bear shot distance
- Thread starter olympia
- Start date
I've shot them with an iron sighted Mosin and a 243, scoped 30-06, Mosin, 7mm Mauser and 300 Winchester Magnum too.
You can get shots from 5 yards to 300 but the average for me is about 80. I'd use a scoped rifle and 180 grain bullet but certainly not something like a fixed six power. I use a fixed four.
If you have a variable 3-9X scope leave it on 3 unless you really need to crank it up.
You can get shots from 5 yards to 300 but the average for me is about 80. I'd use a scoped rifle and 180 grain bullet but certainly not something like a fixed six power. I use a fixed four.
If you have a variable 3-9X scope leave it on 3 unless you really need to crank it up.
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Shooting over bait (where legal) the range is very short so a scope is not required unless you are nearly blind. In BC, a 2x7, 3x9 variable or even a fixed 4x will cover 99% of situations. A .308 Win with a 150 grain bullet will nail your bear if you do your part.
Cant wait to nail one this spring with my new .375 Ruger, just to see what the wound channel will be like over my usual .30-06 sized hole. I have shot 4 and the longest shot was 70 yards. None over bait. Just either road hunting or walk and stalk, I've never even seen a bear at a distance of more than 150 yards. I'd personally use a scope just for the off chance you spot one at a longer poke, and stalking closer isn't really an option.
I've shot them from about 5 yards to about 300 yards. I've used a .223 to .375 Ruger and many in between. A scope is no handicap at short range, but it's nice to have at long range. I'd take whateer rifle pleased you the most, and hunt within it's parameters.
I've never shot a bear or seen a bear shot at more than 50 yards. Of course in the logged areas here you could see them a half mile away so I guess its a matter of how close you want to walk!
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- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
Often bears wait till dusk to come out into the open, and hit the bait piles.
A good quality scope sure helps during last shooting light.
A good quality scope sure helps during last shooting light.
A good quality scope sure helps during last shooting light.
Right. For this ^^^ and other reasons my personal feeling is that I wouldn't be caught dead without a scope ("old eyes" are another). With regard to a caliber/gauge I find black bears are not hard to kill. Any 30 cal will be more than enough with either 150gr or 180gr.
Shot my last one "from the hip" at about 5 yards. Came around a corner on a cut line and there he was. 7 mm bullet caught him in the throat as he ran. dropped so fast into the grass I thought I missed. One before that was over a bait, about twice that distance. Never made a shot over a hundred yards at one.
Grizz
Came around a corner on a cut line and there he was. 7 mm bullet caught him in the throat as he ran. dropped so fast into the grass I thought I missed. One before that was over a bait, about twice that distance. Never made a shot over a hundred yards at one. Grizz
I like to get within 50-75 yards if possible for the simple reason that it takes a bit of time for blood to hit the ground through the fat and long hair and they can cover a bit of distance in a hurry before you see it on the ground if you dont anchor it. I hate going into thick bush/devils club at dusk looking for a wounded or pissed off bear or the start of a blood trail.
That shucks I think he was by this tree when he hit the bush and you dont know if your at the correct spot to start looking or not because you shot from 300 yards away and the trees all look the same sucks too.
I try to get close enough to anchor it with the first shot guaranteed, for myself shooting from an unsupported position thats under 75 yards and 50 is better yet.
That shucks I think he was by this tree when he hit the bush and you dont know if your at the correct spot to start looking or not because you shot from 300 yards away and the trees all look the same sucks too.
I try to get close enough to anchor it with the first shot guaranteed, for myself shooting from an unsupported position thats under 75 yards and 50 is better yet.
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Often bears wait till dusk to come out into the open, and hit the bait piles.
A good quality scope sure helps during last shooting light.
We can not use bait for bears in BC.
You can and will stumble across a BB from 15 feet to 300 plus yrds.
Dependent on the size of slash you are working.
Go Big or Stay Home, they are easy to kill and then again there is no substitute for a well placed shot.
When I say Go Big or Stay Home was in jest and not at your choice of firearm.
I used my .300winmag for everything, from clipping the heads of grouse to deer to blackies.
If you are confident with your gun of choice (maybe better than a 6 inch circle) a well placed shot will take the bear down,
but a marginal shot at 80 yrds has already given that bear an 80yrd head start.
Dont take my comments as a negative, this has been my experience in shooting a couple of bears here in BC and having stumbled across
them while Deer or Grouse hunting.
Just make sure that bear doesnt have cubs when you spot it at 80yrds.
Tight Groups,
Rob
Many years ago, I was involved in bear "Control" in orchard country over a 3 year period.
I shot a lot of bears, mostly between 35 and 150 yards, with a couple out past that a bit.
Practically all of them were shot with my 30-06 and the 165 grain Partition.
I did shoot a few with the 7x57 and the 160 partition.
Both rifles wore 6x optics, and I never had any issues with that, although I'm sure 2, 3 or 4x would have been just fine.
Open sights would have sufficed for 70% of the shots taken, but today, with these older eyes, optics are nice.
Also, bears are often active late in the day, so the poorer light makes the optics a nice idea.
Regards, Eagleye.
I shot a lot of bears, mostly between 35 and 150 yards, with a couple out past that a bit.
Practically all of them were shot with my 30-06 and the 165 grain Partition.
I did shoot a few with the 7x57 and the 160 partition.
Both rifles wore 6x optics, and I never had any issues with that, although I'm sure 2, 3 or 4x would have been just fine.
Open sights would have sufficed for 70% of the shots taken, but today, with these older eyes, optics are nice.
Also, bears are often active late in the day, so the poorer light makes the optics a nice idea.
Regards, Eagleye.
