Was thinking of buying a cool new toy for next year. I hunt the eastern green tunnel, so shots are between point blank (when I'm tracking blood in the young conifer) and 50yards (for the initial shot)...... maybe 75. What gun, caliber/guage and sight combo?
What is your favorite black bear rifle for hunting over bait?
- Thread starter tommy88
- Start date
Simple bolt .308 in a 22” barrel, topped with a 3-9x40 of choice would do it.
150-180gr TTSX would provide the sleeping pills depending on twist rate.
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Although…having said the above, a lever in 30/30 or 444 Marlin (for the cool factor) could easily find it’s place in my hands as well now that I think about your distances.
150-180gr TTSX would provide the sleeping pills depending on twist rate.
**edited**
Although…having said the above, a lever in 30/30 or 444 Marlin (for the cool factor) could easily find it’s place in my hands as well now that I think about your distances.
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Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
We don’t bait in BC as it’s illegal here, that’s no judgement on where it’s legal. However all black bear hunting is the same ballistics wise, I guided lots of it and did plenty of my own, and my vote is a .308. Sights I’d definitely suggest irons at those ranges if you have average or better eyes, and at most a 1-4x.
The range of cartridges I’ve taken them with goes from 5.6x50 to .505 Gibbs. What I came away with is any legal big game chambering will reliably take black bears. So if you have a sweetheart, use it. Mine’s the .257 Roberts, which I didn’t suggest as it’s not better than my more general and sensible vote above. Just different. Feel free to find your different is my advice… or just use a .308, there’s utterly zero downside for that job.
The range of cartridges I’ve taken them with goes from 5.6x50 to .505 Gibbs. What I came away with is any legal big game chambering will reliably take black bears. So if you have a sweetheart, use it. Mine’s the .257 Roberts, which I didn’t suggest as it’s not better than my more general and sensible vote above. Just different. Feel free to find your different is my advice… or just use a .308, there’s utterly zero downside for that job.
It depends on my stand location. Previously I was set up for about a 30yd shot and carried my Ruger Alaskan in 416 Ruger with irons
The last couple years I’ve been set up in a different location where the distance is about 150yds so I have been using my Howa mini in 450 Bushmaster with a Leupold 2.5-8x36. Pretty much any rifle good for big game will work tho. My personal preference is something that’s a little off the marginal end of things just in case you have to go after a wounded bear. I’d like a little more power in the rare event of a charge or something along those lines.
The last couple years I’ve been set up in a different location where the distance is about 150yds so I have been using my Howa mini in 450 Bushmaster with a Leupold 2.5-8x36. Pretty much any rifle good for big game will work tho. My personal preference is something that’s a little off the marginal end of things just in case you have to go after a wounded bear. I’d like a little more power in the rare event of a charge or something along those lines.
Can't bait here but if I was looking for a 50-75yd gun I'd be looking towards the medium velocity lever actions, largely because the hunting I usually do often presents shot distances where those guns aren't well suited. For no particular reason I've been interested in the 444 marlin for some time, so that gets my vote. But a marlin 336 in 35rem, a Winchester 94 in 30-30, or a 45-70 would all fit the bill too.
If you prefer more tactical looking guns, one of those straight pull ARish platforms, chambered in 350Legend would be cool.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2407666-anybody-here-hunt-with-350-Legend?
If you prefer more tactical looking guns, one of those straight pull ARish platforms, chambered in 350Legend would be cool.
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/2407666-anybody-here-hunt-with-350-Legend?
Rossi 16” 44mag with a red dot and loaded with 240 xtp’s is my go to stand setup for bear/whitetail. The animals taken with this combo haven’t made it out my sight. Used a 257 weatherby with tsx’s this spring bear and the dead run was 40-50yards into a gnarly mossy tag swamp at dusk.
Would like to try a 35 whelen at one point.
Would like to try a 35 whelen at one point.
I wouldn't hunt over bait for any animal, however, I did purchase a special purpose rifle this year for moose and spring black bear. It's a Merkel Model 141 side-by-side double rifle, chambered in the 9.3x74R. I reloaded 250 grain Nosler Accubond which should do the job for both animals.
https://imgur.com/a/dPTG6jR
https://imgur.com/a/dPTG6jR
Nice looking gun track. I was thinking of doing a poor man's double rifle..... basically a coach gun shooting challenger slugs. If you have a way of putting a red dot on and if it would be somewhat regulated, I think it would be pretty cool.
Was also thinking of a ruger american ranch with a 16inch barrel in either 7,62x39 or 308 with a 1-4x on top.
Maybe I'm just hoping to do a dangerous game hunt without having to pay to go to Africa. Lol
All good options guys, keep em coming
Was also thinking of a ruger american ranch with a 16inch barrel in either 7,62x39 or 308 with a 1-4x on top.
Maybe I'm just hoping to do a dangerous game hunt without having to pay to go to Africa. Lol
All good options guys, keep em coming
I'd go 308 personally; if I wanted to use a 7.62x39 at 50-75 yds I'd just hunt with my SKS.
I guess add that to the list! SKS with some sort of optic mount would work fine given the parameters.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I haven't done any bear hunting out here yet, but when I do I want to try to take one with my Model 71. Just feels like the right thing to do.
348win is even more cool than a 444marlin! It would definitely have been on my list above if it was a bit more commonly available.
Does anyone even make a rifle in 348win these days? Even if Marlin isn't making a 444 currently with their change of ownership and all that, there's at least CVA making single shots in 444.
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This spring, I made a Ruger M77 Mark II Stainless bolt action in .450 Marlin for hunting and guiding bears... it works... about like most other choices, but it is a smidgen more refined for the job, with an LPVO mounted, pitching a big heavy slug (bottom rifle in the photo). I also have an M77 Mark II .350 Rem Mag that I am fond of for bears, as well as an M77 Mark II Frontier Carbine .358 Win.
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BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I believe that Pedersoli still offers their 86/71 in 348 but good luck finding one. Probably easier and smarter to spend the money on a real Winchester and just be done with it, or find a Browning 71. I was very lucky and was gifted a friend's Model 71 a few years ago. We traded rifles for a while, I let him play with my Pre-War M70 219 Donaldson Wasp and he let me play with his Model 71. When he moved away from gopher country he sent the Wasp back to me and once he was settled and I asked for his address to ship back the 71 he told me that it made more sense for me to just keep it.
Long story short, I need to shoot something with it.
No doubt! Shoot something then mail your buddy a roast!
