Black bear caliber
- Thread starter bud69
- Start date
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
Cabela's has the 1895 GBL currently on sale for $819.99 -
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/24569/marlin-model-1895-gbl-lever-action-rifle
http://www.cabelas.ca/product/24569/marlin-model-1895-gbl-lever-action-rifle
sharp shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex county (Ontario)
Wow! We must know some of the same people....
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
For a while it was for me too because of the light, handy and accurate rifles available in the 44. I've used a 45-70 more often though on critters for its' ability to toss heavy lead without strain. It be a tad more "perfecter" fer me.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
A .44 magnum refers to a cartridge, or to the chamber of a firearm, where .429" refers to the caliber, and "perfect" is unreasonably optimistic.
All firearm choices are something of a compromise, which seeks perfection, but for which perfection remains elusive. A balance is always sought between portability, trajectory, power, and a degree of useful accuracy. My preference leans towards handy, short, and light bolt action carbines, chambered for what I like to refer to as general purpose hunting cartridges. Not all of my hunting rifles fit that vision, but then not all are intended as general purpose tools. While my definition of a general purpose cartridge may seem arbitrary by some, particularly since it omits the excellent 6mms and quarter bores, I consider high velocity small bores, loaded with light bullets as niche cartridges, rather than among those suitable for all thin skinned game, under all conditions. Therefore my lower limit for a general purpose hunting cartridge are the 6.5 service cartridges, and the upper limit the big case .375s, even though an argument can be made for the .416s. Velocity and accuracy must be sufficient to facilitate 300 yard shots without need of more than a foot of holdover, where a competent marksman can ensure his hits land within 3" of the intended point of impact, or 2 MOA.
In the context of black bear hunting, the general purpose rifle, provides a better chance of success than a rifle or shotgun that's useful only for use across bowhunting ranges. The reason for this is that today's black bear habitat is often impacted by human activity. Thus not only are there the natural openings due to lakes, swamps, muskeg, rivers, and burns, but there are also areas that have been logged, powerlines, and roads built for development purposes, and subsequently abandoned. These areas provide opportunities to see game a greater range than is usually considered. If hunting over bait, almost anything will do, but still hunting requires something with greater reach, that delivers a decisive blow at the limits of its range. As a youngster, I considered this and thought a .350 magnum carbine perfect, but while a viable choice, it did nothing better than any number of similar options; nothing is perfect, but that shouldn't stop us from trying.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Indeed, as is hunting with dogs, but my argument is with the notion that a .44 is perfect. For example, how is a .44 better, or even as good, as a .444? Shooting from a blind doesn't demand an ultralightweight rifle, but chasing after pack of dogs does. But perhaps its just my prejudice against the practice of chambering long guns for pistol cartridges, the idea being that if you can do it with a 3 pound pistol, why do you need to carry a 6 pound rifle? The better argument though is that hunting is a fluid activity; the action might well start within 25 yards, only to end at 250. That's a long poke for a .44, when a rifle of equal bulk could be had in something like 7.62X39, and although the little commie round is no .300 magnum, in a good rifle, a 250 yard shot is within its ballistic potential, assuming a 150 at 2300. Black bears are typically woodland creatures, but exceptions occur; we've occasionally spotted them in the barrens, several miles from the nearest tree line, and they are frequently observed in agricultural areas down south. Even deep in the bush, if you're still hunting and see a bear, chances are its across an opening that allows you to see at a distance. The moral of the story is, when black bear hunting, a short range shot is not assured, and that is why a .44 rifle falls short of perfection.
In BC The entire coast line is a bait station working the low tides wen food is easy to find
Average shot are from 20 yards out 300
I find working the beach it's not hard to get with in 20 yards if you have the patients
They do say bears tend to focus on the sick and injured. ;P
