Black bears and the 30-30

canadaman30

canadaman30

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Any one here have any first hand on the 30-30 for black bears. I've never even shot one until I picked one up on a trade. Ballistic's seem pretty anemic for a 170g bullit????
 
I wouldn't call the .30-30 a 'long range' rifle. But I guess most black bear hunting does not fall into that category either. So ...
 
Within 100 yards, the .30-30 is a fine bear cartridge. Shot placement is what matters the most on a black bear. Be prepared to track a bear regardless of the caliber used to shoot it. Bang-flops are rare in bear hunting unless you get a CNS hit. IMHO bears are just about the toughest animals to kill. They don't leave a good blood trail, & are masters at hiding themselves if wounded. Good luck with your bear hunt!

George
 
Ive taken one with a mod 94 worked wonders. I prefer marlins but were are just speaking in terms of the caliber. Yes works, ammo widely available and is inexpensive. This thread makes me want to find a good price on used 3030 lever now. Great little bush pusher short to med range for me.
 
I've taken several with a 30-30 . The biggest , about 375 and the longest about 125 yards . I've heard good reports on the Leverevolution ammo but haven't tried it myself . Friends say that with that ammo the 30-30 is an honest 200 yard deer gun so bears to 150 should be easily doable . My son just scored a double lung shot on a 200 pound bear with a .308 shooting 180's at 60 yards and with both lungs shredded the bear made it over 100 yards into some really thick bush so like another poster said , the 30-30 is fine but still expect to do some tracking .
 
Witnessed 2 bang/flops, both with win 170gr cheap stuff, both neck shots, one was 80yrds other was 120ish yards... No concerns with shots inside of 200 for me.
 
I shot one with a Marlin 336 in .30-30 back in 2007; was deer hunting at the time and the bear came out to me. One shot with a Winchester 170 grain Silvertip and he went down, anchored with a follow up shot just to be certain. Range was 30 yards.

If you keep within the range limitations and place the shot appropriately it will do just fine.

I certainly second the notion of using Leverevolution ammo.
 
There's more to killing than just velocity. Why is that some would turn their nose up at a .30/30 but not hesitate to take a shot on game at 400 yards with a .300 magnum, where it has exactly the same terminal performance as the thutty-thutty has at 70? Choose the rifle and cartridge that is suitable for the game you hunt and where you hunt it. Black bear hunting in Ontario is typically a short range gig.
 
I'd hunt black bears with a 30-30 at reasonable ranges for sure.

Reports of brutally hit black bears running away a good distance are my experience as well; I've seen 200 lb bears hit broadsides through the boiler with a 300 grain Silvertip from a .375 H&H sprint off 100 yards before tumbling over. However, I have had two DRT on the shot when shot through the front shoulders with a .308 win and 180 grain partitions, and one shot through the front shoulders with a .270 and some manner of 150 grain BT I cannot recall. I think a solid shoulder shot actually transfers hydrostatich shock to the neck and head of a bear, and this is what delivers the instant kill. Obviously two broken front shoulders by itself is not instantly fatal, but those bears were down and dead instantly.
 
I have shot more than my share of Black Bears. [keeping them controlled in orchards]

Most were shot with the 30-06 and either 165 or 180 grain handloads.

However, I also shot about 20 with the 30-30, and another 6 with the 38-55.
These worked very well inside of 120 yards or so, the max distance I usually shot them.

I was always impressed with the effectiveness of the 30-30, despite it's diminuitive size and [on paper] anemic ballistics.

With the new leverevolution ammo & bullets for the reloader, I see no reason why one could not take a Black Bear easily to 150+ yards.

Eagleye.
 
blasted_saber said:
Use Lever evolution ammo to get more out of the cartridge.
Click to expand...

That is going back to talking about paper ballistics again.
I think the jury is still out, as to whether the lever evolution ammunition will get more killing power in the 30-30.
That old 170 grain bullet with lots of lead exposed, which has been used for a hundred plus years, is a great game killer, considering it's power.
It seems to be just the right combination of velocity and bullet construction.
 
I'd have no compunction about dealing with a black bear inside 100 yards with my 3030 and federal (150 grain I think, would need to look) rounds. But I am a firm beleiver in an anchor shot as mentioned.

Now, the black bear's big cousin, the grizzley, that's a different story. Have 30/30s done the job? Absolutely. But IMHO shot placement becomes much more critical.

As an aside, I've heard horror stories of wolverines surviving multiple 30/30 rounds; but I have not seen this myself. I have seen the destruction the lil b@stards are capable of, however.
 
glang1 said:
Within 100 yards, the .30-30 is a fine bear cartridge. Shot placement is what matters the most on a black bear. Be prepared to track a bear regardless of the caliber used to shoot it. Bang-flops are rare in bear hunting unless you get a CNS hit. IMHO bears are just about the toughest animals to kill. They don't leave a good blood trail, & are masters at hiding themselves if wounded. Good luck with your bear hunt!

George
Click to expand...

X2 Give them time to die and go in expecting to have to shoot again. They aren't bullet proof but don't go in half cocked after a bear.
 
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