Black Bear vs M-14

A 150 will be fine, but you'd best look into the legalities of you, as opposed to the land ownwer, shooting it. Mind you, hunting and wild life control with a LMG is frowned upon. Not a big deal with an M1A/M305 though.
 
I would say that a black bear would have a better chance getting away from a guy using a bolt acion 30/06 shooting 180gr bullets than a guy using a semi auto .308 using 150gr bullets. Although the most important shot is the first one, you can certainly do a follow up shot alot quicker with a semi auto. Especially one that weighs as much as a M-14 since the recoil is quite tame.
 
Any factory loading I've ever heard of in .308 win will kill a black bear stone dead with one shot. Hell, I bet a 110gr VMAX at about 3300 fps right into the ribcage would lay him over right on the spot.
 
there is no danger to the rifle using 165 gr loads. the M14 family is designed to operate within it's optimum range using 147 gr up to 174gr...... my hunting bullet of choice in .308 for black bear and moose is the 165 gr nosler partition.
for bullet weights outside the designed parameters, shutting off the gas system is adviseable.
here's where it gets interesting...... for those with M1A rifles or chinese rifles with U.S. made gas cylinders(usgi,SAI, SEI ) you can purchase a SADLAK , NM "GROOVED" piston and studies have shown that bullet weights up to 200 gr are now possible..... as this piston allows a specific amount of piston blow by that expends the recoil energy/gasses and prevents damage to the rifles action.
150gr will get the job done...... but an extra 15 gr's wouldn't hurt either.... my vote goes to the 165gr for elk, moose, black bear, cariboo and the 150 gr for deer , antelope and wild boar.
 
rdelliott said:
I misread that as "black bear with M-14". That'd take bear defence threads to the next level.
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I don't see a black bear with an M-14 as too much of a threat. The bear lacks the thumb needed to get the safety off. So that there is one good reason for leaving the stock safety untouched. Now a bear with an M4, that there is a whole different matter........:eek:
 
I agree that the 150 gr is plenty, I am not overly experienced but I dropped an average sized bear with one shot from a .243 95gr nosler ballistic tip. (granted I was only about 25 yrds) I say use what you have.
 
sunray said:
"...a follow up shot..." You'll rarely get a chance for a second shot if you don't hit Yogi with the first one.
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Depending on the foliage. You can definitely get a 2nd shot in but it definitely won't be on a bear standing still for you.


I also vote for 150. It'll take him down fine.
 
M14Doctor said:
there is no danger to the rifle using 165 gr loads. the M14 family is designed to operate within it's optimum range using 147 gr up to 174gr...... my hunting bullet of choice in .308 for black bear and moose is the 165 gr nosler partition.
for bullet weights outside the designed parameters, shutting off the gas system is adviseable.
here's where it gets interesting...... for those with M1A rifles or chinese rifles with U.S. made gas cylinders(usgi,SAI, SEI ) you can purchase a SADLAK , NM "GROOVED" piston and studies have shown that bullet weights up to 200 gr are now possible..... as this piston allows a specific amount of piston blow by that expends the recoil energy/gasses and prevents damage to the rifles action.
150gr will get the job done...... but an extra 15 gr's wouldn't hurt either.... my vote goes to the 165gr for elk, moose, black bear, cariboo and the 150 gr for deer , antelope and wild boar.
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Thanks Doc for seconding. All I shoot for target is 168 gr SMK w/ RL 15 and have never has issues, but for a "fur bound" critter I would always prefer partitions first, and accubonds second.
 
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