Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Bear Gun?

I don't want to get the dogs torn up!A guy last year hit one perfect with a 7 mag and was pissed when he hit the ground!

I would use a 30-30 you could find a used one for a lot less than a new one.
30-30 isn't a round that gets shot a lot, most times. It'll work just fine. 170 grain bullet. Bingo!

Suppressed 22 mag or 223.

Hunted bear twice with dogs (did not get a bear) and the first time I took a .375 H&H,the second time I took a 9x57.

Have you asked the houndsman for his opinion?

This or any light weight .308.

I have shot a bunch of bears and lions out of trees with a 30 30. Works perfect. Open sights are the best.

I agree. I've hunted Black bears twice behind hounds in very rugged territory. A Marlin 336 or Winchester 94 (or equivalent) .30-30 with 170 grains bullets will effectively kill any Black bear you'll tree. Most shots won't be more than 25/50 yards. I used a .30-30 on one at about 35 yards and a .41 Mag. S&W on another at about 15 yards in a tree. Both dead before they hit the ground.

A light, handy rifle in .30-30 will make your walking, climbing, struggling through brush and Junipers, etc., much easier than trying to lug around a heavy rifle with an overpowered 'scope.

Good luck on your hunt.

L.W.

I've had good luck with my Ruger 96 in 44 MAG. It hits much harder than mere paper charts would suggest.

Sherwood

I've done a fair bit of bear hunting but not alot with dogs. Bears tend to be in cover and shots fairly close - but I've never hunted in Nevada. Heck I've only been there a couple of times. I've carried a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 with 400 gr Speer, 30-06 loaded with 180 Partitions, 280 Rem with 150 Horn, 300 WSM loaded with 180 PT, 35 Whelen loaded with 250 Part, Ruger Bisely 45 colt with 300 gr hard cast. The gist is you don't need a bazooka and light/handy is very nice.

We did do a spring bear hunt last year in Idaho. I took my 300 WSM because we watched a couple of meadows that had possible 200 yard shots. We also ran the dogs a couple days. I carried the 45 colt. We did get one treed and it was shot at a distance of about 30 yards - almost straight up. My brother shot it with a 30-06 with 180 PT that I loaded. I felt absolutely comfortable with the 45 colt under those circumstances.

When I hunt in PA and Canada, I used to carry the 45-70 or 35 Whelen. Both are short and fairly light. It would be tough to beat a 30-06 loaded with 180 Partitions. I also like the 35 cals mentioned. I've never killed a bear with a 35 cal - yet - but have been on the scene when several were introduced to a 250 gr bewlit. They all hated it - alot. A short, light 358 win would be the ticket.

Post pics!

358 BLR has worked well on 3 blackies, none required tracking

Well my dad found the 30/30 I started with when I didn't borrow his 06.He even had 7 or 8 boxes of ammo.
There were a total of 42 tags given out(4 non resident) with a quota of 20 bears which hasn't ever been filled.It should be fun and will post pictures.I have high hopes as nevada has been real good to me the last couple of years.

You absolutely need a Winchester Big Bore in 375 Win

You said you wanted an excuse to buy a rifle. Here is a great lightweight and more than enough for a treed bear rifle

I used to have a Marlin in .375W that was the cat's meow. For a while. I sold it as honeslty just about anything works on treed bear, or cats.

A light rifle or bigger pistol would be my choice. My Model 94 in .30-30 was handy, as was a Rem Mod. 600 in .308W.

You'll do well with it. The group I bear hunted with years ago had a 94 30-30 that was beat to hell but has accounted for countless bears.

Some thing light and compact for running up and down the mountains you can't go wrong with any pump,carbine or compact lever gun".....

For this purpose, a Winchester Model 94, chambered in 32 Winchester Special is called for.

The perfect bear gun; Winchester 1876 in 45-75. If you don't have one, you can get one and when it is all over, you will have a nice picture to remember the hunt with and a gun that will continue to increase in value along with the remembrance of the hunt...

Are you hunting on horses or mules? Just hiking? This matters a lot. I hate chasing bears and lions with a scoped bolt gun in a scabbard. A mod 94 just fits so nice under your leg.

If using it slung, the lightest rifle that you can find that will be adequate. Anything over about 120 grains is adequate in a rifle, in handgun cartridges, I wouldn't go any smaller than a 357 Mag.

I'm voting for a lever gun of your liking with open sights. 30-30 would do more than needed. Hope your hunt is a success and you have a great time.

Winchester Big Bore .375 is a great suggestion.