Favorite bear medicine?

30-06 Tikka Battue with 200gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claws
Seems fitting hunting bears with bear claws.

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270win shooting a 130gr corelokt was what I used last time. Just got a 7mm rem mag that I'm going to load 139gr GMX in, will hopefully get to try that combo in the spring.
 
Butcherbill said:
My no.4 Enfield or my 870 with a rifled barrel, I’ve been mulling over using an sks and SST’s that I’ve got shooting decent 100y groups with irons.
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I would not use sks and ssts on bear. Any off placement you're going to lose the bear, or be tracking g a Wounded one for hours. I speak from experience... 65yards shoulder shot a bear with 139gr ssts in 7mm rem mag going 3100fps.. blood trail petered out 200m away, searched for hours and never found him.
 
Go to load is 7rm 150 gr TSX over 67.5 imr7828ssc. Laid last years down right where he stood, and trimmed meat right up to the hold. Love the TSX.
 
juliansk said:
I would not use sks and ssts on bear. Any off placement you're going to lose the bear, or be tracking g a Wounded one for hours. I speak from experience... 65yards shoulder shot a bear with 139gr ssts in 7mm rem mag going 3100fps.. blood trail petered out 200m away, searched for hours and never found him.
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Well yeah, you used a cup and core bullet at magnum speeds (one that's known to be on the explosive side no less)... That's asking for a shallow wound and a blown up bullet...

With the sks they would be going much slower, where they will be far less likely to fail miserably. Now, I wouldn't pick the sst either due to its tendency to come apart (not to mention the poor sectional density of a 123gr 30cal pill) but there aren't a lot of other options for 310cal bullets. A 311cal 150gr soft point (such as what PRVI makes for 303) would probably make good medicine though assuming you keep range short enough to keep velocity high enough to expand.
 
I have a pair of No.1's that will go to field for bears, a .303 Brit and a .35 Whelen... if the weather is nasty it will be the M77 MKII Stainless .350 Rem Mag with 250 Partitions.
 
juliansk said:
I would not use sks and ssts on bear. Any off placement you're going to lose the bear, or be tracking g a Wounded one for hours. I speak from experience... 65yards shoulder shot a bear with 139gr ssts in 7mm rem mag going 3100fps.. blood trail petered out 200m away, searched for hours and never found him.
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Suther said:
Well yeah, you used a cup and core bullet at magnum speeds (one that's known to be on the explosive side no less)... That's asking for a shallow wound and a blown up bullet...

With the sks they would be going much slower, where they will be far less likely to fail miserably. Now, I wouldn't pick the sst either due to its tendency to come apart (not to mention the poor sectional density of a 123gr 30cal pill) but there aren't a lot of other options for 310cal bullets. A 311cal 150gr soft point (such as what PRVI makes for 303) would probably make good medicine though assuming you keep range short enough to keep velocity high enough to expand.
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Thanks guys, food for thought definitely. This sks also shoots well with PPU and mfs sp, so if the sst isn’t suitable that’s not a big deal. I can’t see range getting any further than 80y in the areas I’ll be hunting bears come spring time. Honestly the slug gun or Enfield will be what I’m using but after getting this sks shooting decently the thought crossed my mind, if I don’t take it bear hunting I’ll go deer hunting with it later in the year.
 
Suther said:
Well yeah, you used a cup and core bullet at magnum speeds (one that's known to be on the explosive side no less)... That's asking for a shallow wound and a blown up bullet...

With the sks they would be going much slower, where they will be far less likely to fail miserably. Now, I wouldn't pick the sst either due to its tendency to come apart (not to mention the poor sectional density of a 123gr 30cal pill) but there aren't a lot of other options for 310cal bullets. A 311cal 150gr soft point (such as what PRVI makes for 303) would probably make good medicine though assuming you keep range short enough to keep velocity high enough to expand.
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Yes, it was definitely a lesson learned on terminal ballistics, bullet selection, and performance envelopes for calibre.
OP has a .303 or 870 or sks for bear. .303 would seem a much better choice than sks. As well you said gotta get close for the sks to be reliable, so might as well use shotgun if you're in tight then. IMO. Love the sks for steel gongs, not so much for game.
 
juliansk said:
Yes, it was definitely a lesson learned on terminal ballistics, bullet selection, and performance envelopes for calibre.
OP has a .303 or 870 or sks for bear. .303 would seem a much better choice than sks. As well you said gotta get close for the sks to be reliable, so might as well use shotgun if you're in tight then. IMO. Love the sks for steel gongs, not so much for game.
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The only reason I wouldn't use the sks (with a proper bullet) would be the limitations I would have to put on myself - I own a 270 and a 7RM for a reason, if I see game at 200 yds I don't want to be forced to pick between closing the gap and not taking the shot... The sks is pretty close to the 30-30 (slightly less powerful, but not enough that it really matters IMO) and the ol dirty thirty takes game cleanly every year.
 
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