What is your favorite black bear rifle for hunting over bait?

Bigger the hole the better. 12gauge, .45/70, 20 gauge. Any big bore rifle. Punch his lungs and he's dead. Big hole to make the tracking job easy.

I don't like tracking bears, even 100 yard track job in a swamp is hard, especially in low light.
 
I have a Savage 99 chambered 300 Savage for my bait gun. I wanted a lever and that is what I found at the time. I have a low power scope on it but have since found the correct peep sight to mount. As my bait is only a 30 yard shot and any follow up shot would be a similar short distance I'm not concerned about optics. What could be better than a lever with a peep? Found a great shooting load using 165 grain Interlock and RamShot Tac
 
As already mentioned, we cannot bait bears in BC, but when I was across the border in Alberta it is allowed.
Never did end up sitting in a stand over bait though.
Over the years I have taken more bears with my Marlin in 375 Win (6), but have alo used the 30-30, 338-06, 300 WSM, and 338 Win Mag. I have used my BLR in 358 Win with a VX-III 1.5-5x20 frequently when backing up others bear hunting, and assisting when trailing wounded bears. Another great choice! (Just haven't shot a bear of my own with it)
The 375 Win with 200 or 220 gr bullets @ 2200 fps works very well on bears!

Open sights are great for short range work, but as we get older, our eyes may not resolve the irons as thy once did, and a low power scope or red dot may be a better option.
My 375 wore a Leupold M8 2.5 scope w/ heavy duplex for years, and was capable of producing 1" groups @ 100 yards.
I have now put a VX-R 2-7 on my rifle and that illuminated reticle will show up against that black hide in low light or dark timber!
 
I haven't noticed anyone questioning what type of rifle(s) you now own and use. I think that would be a huge deciding factor.

You're shooting at known close ranges and you want a "cool new toy". I am assuming that you already own one or more general-purpose rifles for "typical" hunting ranges, so...if you want something cool...get something cool! To me, that means a lever-action or single-shot centerfire or traditional muzzleloader or an accurate slug shotgun or milsurp or...well, you get the idea. Don't just get another boring bolt-action rifle in another boring do-everything chambering. If I were to ever again shoot a bear over bait, I would have a tough time deciding which rifle to use...but I know that it would not be a bolt-action .308 or .30-06 or equivalent. How is that cool?

I've never understood the compulsion to own a safe full of functionally-identical cookie-cutter rifles. IMHO, if you have a do-it-all rifle or two...why not branch out a bit more for subsequent purchases? Use your imagination! :)

To answer the question: if I were to sit a bear bait tomorrow, I would select either a Brno 9.3x74R O/U double rifle, a Henry .44mag Mare's Leg with full-sized buttstock, or an old Lyman Great Plains Rifle shooting a .54-cal patched round ball...or a Ruger #1S in .45-70...or maybe a Winchester 1886 in .45-70...or possibly......:)
 
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Based on what is in my safe, I would choose in this order:
Rossi 92 in 454 Casull
Win 1895 in 405 win
Ruger #1 in 458 win mag(Just because)
Marlin 1895G in 45-70
 
I use a sxs rifle in 4570 as a baiting and close range gun. Under 50 yards even though it will shoot further. If planning on shooting 20 to 100 yards the 458wm comes out if I'm hunting a stand.
I'm interested in some new cartridges like the 360bhmr and 400 lgnd. I believe they'd be about perfect for bear over bait. A nice light slim single shot for a straight walked rimmed 360 pushing a 200gr bullet 2200fps or a short barreled chassis style bolt rifle in 400 pushing 215gr bullets at 2250. Be perfect for where I hunt.
44mag and 10ga slugs are also on my want to try list

I've use faster cartridges and lighter bullets and found it just ruins more meat and doesn't kill them any deader. A heavy for caliber soft bullet moving at a moderate velocity works well.
 
My last few were with a Kimber Select Grade in 300 WSM with 180 Accubonds. No particular reason; except that I like the gun and it’s an easy carrying, kind of classy little thing that you can forget you’re. carrying until it’s time to plaster one through the shoulders. I don’t like looking for bears; and would rather they drop like a stone. The novelty of shooting something and having to find it again wore off a long time ago.
 
I shot a black bear this year with a 22-250. Head shot. Not my preferred choice of rifle, but it dropped on the spot and no meat loss. I don't have that many rifles to choose from, if i was specifically going for bear, I would likely use the 303 or 6.5x55

Shot placement as always is important...but if you are going for a body shot, you want a big hole and deep penetration. The fat/fur on a bear will often seal up the wound and make tracking much more difficult. Less of a blood trail than on a deer. following a wounded bear into the woods without seeing significant blood would intimidate the hell out of me
 
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