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I booked a bear hunt up in Maine for this fall and have to decide which 99 to take.

Before I started to give it any real thought, I just assumed I'd take my "R" in .300 Savage and use 180 grain Core-Lokts.

But I have enough options to choose from that I'm getting second thoughts about it. I can't help but think I might want to try for something a little more old-school.

I also have a Ruger #1 S Tropical in 45-70 and a Remington 7600 carbine in 35 Whelen, which I know would be excellent choices but are not 99's so they will probably stay home.

So, this is sort of an informal poll combined with a chance to hear what other's first-hand experiences are with the following calibers on bears, all of which I have.

The 25-35 and 250-3000 probably not contenders but the 38-55 is tempting.

What say you?


25-35 Winchester
38-55 Winchester
.250-3000
.300 Savage
.303 Savage
.308 Winchester
.358 Winchester
.375 Winchester

I’d go with the 308

What type of hunt is it? Hounds or bait.

Bait with shots no more than 50 yards to the baiting area.

45-70 300 gr bullet.

I'd take the 303

I shot first bear with 50 cal black powder.
2nd with 99EG 300 sav.
3rd with Sav 99 in 375.
4th with 100 year old 1899 in 303 Sav.
They all work just fine. The last bear took a 2nd shot cause my neck shot missed the spine by about 1 inch and he got up and took off...

In my woodpile/snowbank tests (highly scientific NASA type schidt) for sheer penetration...the .38-55 hands down, 255 grain cruise missile. But the test was invalid because it was shot with an 1893 Marlin.

The 303 190 grain

The 250 3000 worked on several for me out to 200 yds

The 7600 in .35 Whelen would do nicely! If you wanted to use a 99, I would most likely pick the 99-.358 brush gun. That 99 is the bear rifle!

That's good. Nice and close.
I agree with Fug, .303 190gr is classic and will do nicely.

Some think "bear" and automatically over gun. It's a black bear not a grizzly.

I use archery here in WI. 5 for 5 at ~25'. None got out of sight.

I believe in insurance.

This might be adequate.

I had one and a 116 Weather Warrior SS "Safari" in 375 H&H. The 375 H&H had a CRF system.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/972945400

In reality, a 99 358 is my idea of a bear rifle.

Come on. The .300 Savage. The utilmate Savage round. 150 or 180...........you choose. Maybe not Remington though as the bullet jacket is not quite as strong in the .300 but it will do the job. 180 for sure. If you reload, the possibilities are endless.

I was talking to a Game Warden in Mathias WV about bear, because they started showing up on my place. He said they are not hard to put down, and his bear gun was a 243. He asked what my deer rifle was and I said a 250. He said if he were me, he would use the 250. I'm not making any recommendations, just repeating what he said.

I have hunted and killed bears in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. If it were me, I would take the 358 Win. Like Luv2Safari, I prefer to hunt with a little more than is necessary. I have tracked wounded bears and I don't like it.

T.S.

For what it is worth, my son is going with me and he is intent on using his Browning A-bolt slugger with Lightfield Bears, Bucks and Boars slugs which have a 465 grain 73 caliber sabot round of controlled expansion design.

From Lightfield: "(IDS) Impact Discarding Sabot Series: – The BBB 2 3/4″ 465gr. @ 1600 ft/sec. with a massive 2,643 ft-lbs of energy"

He said he likes the idea of letting the air out of a bear with a hole that you can slip a broomstick through.

They don't make these sabot shells anymore but we have a nice supply of them.

I know this is a Savage thread but lately I can't get the 45-70 out of my mind in spite of what I said above.

At 50 yards any of them will do it with a good bullet and you doing your job.

38-55 would be classy. The 303, 300, 358 or 375 would be other choices.

savage .303 or my custom savage 38-55

Why even own a .358 or 375 if you're not going to take them on a bear hunt??