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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,680
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,680 |
Nobody said not to build a new rifle. Heck I'll play along. JMCUBIC posted a rifle here a couple of years ago that I think would work for a short range do it all, take a SA, drop into a nice stock 20-21" barrel and chamber for anything in the 308 family from 7mm-358 caliber, presto here is your bear gun
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 23,319
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 23,319 |
That cartridge has black bear written all over it.  ![[Linked Image]](http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/img/products/original/remington_300_savage_150gr_psp_core_lokt_1269964_1_og.jpg)
"All that the South has ever desired was that the Union, as established by our forefathers, should be preserved, and that the government, as originally organized, should be administered in purity and truth." – Robert E. Lee
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,603
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,603 |
An average sized black bear shot at close range over bait isn't hard to kill. Most any deer caliber will work.
I've shot 2 with a 308, 2 with a 45-70, 1 with an 30-06, 1 with a 30-30, and 3 with a bow.
If I had to pick 1 cal. it would be the 45-70.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,622 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 5,622 Likes: 1 |
Well, thus far, I have been on exactly one black bear hunt (Maine) and killed exactly zero bears. Saw one but it was freakin' D-A-R-K and I couldn't tell what was his head and what was his ass. Way past legal shooting time anyway. During that week, I carried a T/C TCR in .375/06 JDJ and a CZ 9.3x62 and I'm sure either would have worked to perfection if I'd gotten a shot. I'm satisfied that any "deer rifle" will work just fine but to me, bears and hogs just cry out for a stout, medium bore at modest velocity, whether "needed" or not. As we speak, I'm building my idea of the perfect black bear rifle, a 20" barreled all weather Mauser in .376 Steyr. Once it's done, I'm going to have to give the bears another, "shot" (pun intended). Will it kill a black bear deader than a 6mm thru .30? No. Will I enjoy using it more? You betcha!
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,817
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,817 |
I'm looking for an excuse to buy or build a new rifle, use would be for black bear over bait. What do you suggest? .............Lots of cartridges will work fine. If I were you and to use as a good excuse as well, I`d go with a cartridge/caliber that best fills a gap in between with what you have already. That could be anything from a 6mm (imo a minimum caliber preference for the blackies) all the way up to a 45 caliber. Rather than taking opinions on everyone`s favorite b/bear round, go with what caliber best fills in your most needed gap. If its a 243 or 25 cal, then fine. A 260 or 270? Fine.....A 30? That`s ok.....A 338? A good one.....A 35 cal? That`s ok too......Larger?.........Etc and etc. No reason to knock your brains out. Just fill in the gap.
28 Nosler,,,,300WSM,,,,338-378 Wby,,,,375 Ruger
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,430 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,430 Likes: 1 |
I have had good luck with my 35 Whelen (250gr Speer), 348 WCF (250gr Kodiak Bonded, 200gr Silvertip), 30-06 (180gr Hornady Spire Point, 165gr Partition),45-70 (300gr. Partition).
Lot's of good choices.
Semper Fi
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,053
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,053 |
Well, thus far, I have been on exactly one black bear hunt (Maine) and killed exactly zero bears. Saw one but it was freakin' D-A-R-K and I couldn't tell what was his head and what was his ass. Way past legal shooting time anyway. During that week, I carried a T/C TCR in .375/06 JDJ and a CZ 9.3x62 and I'm sure either would have worked to perfection if I'd gotten a shot. I'm satisfied that any "deer rifle" will work just fine but to me, bears and hogs just cry out for a stout, medium bore at modest velocity, whether "needed" or not. As we speak, I'm building my idea of the perfect black bear rifle, a 20" barreled all weather Mauser in .376 Steyr. Once it's done, I'm going to have to give the bears another, "shot" (pun intended). Will it kill a black bear deader than a 6mm thru .30? No. Will I enjoy using it more? You betcha! +6
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,464 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,464 Likes: 2 |
I've killed bears with .308, .300WSM, and. 338 Federal. This year I'm going to carry a. 223.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,898 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,898 Likes: 2 |
I confess that I've never had opportunity to hunt a bear, but how about a 12 GA. slug gun with a rifled barrel, scope, and sabot slugs? That should be flat out deadly up to 125 yards. Anyone's thoughts on that?
"...why, land is the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for,... because it is the only thing that lasts."
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,053
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,053 |
I've killed bears with .308, .300WSM, and. 338 Federal. This year I'm going to carry a. 223. 223?.I usually don't care what someone wants to hunt with but isn't a 223 a little anemic for a blackie? I could see a 22-250 but theres just way too much room for error with a 223. To each his own though. Cory
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 72
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 72 |
As stated, black bears die easy. What shiny new rifle do you want? You're right, I think I'm just trying to justify buying a Ruger No1.
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,612
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,612 |
As stated, black bears die easy. What shiny new rifle do you want? You're right, I think I'm just trying to justify buying a Ruger No1. Like everyone else has said you can kill black bears with almost anything, but this shouldn't stop you from filling some gaps in your line up  From your previous post it appears you have a 243, a couple of 308's and a 30-06, Ruger makes lots of different calibers that would work you just need to decide if you want a short 1 A or 1 S or one of the heavier longer models. I could see a 1 A in 6.5 Creedmoor, 7x57, 303 or 35 Whelen working well for you or a 1 S in 9.3x74, 45-70 or 300 Win mag with the 22" barrel. Lots of great choices out there.
Gerry.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,464 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,464 Likes: 2 |
I've killed bears with .308, .300WSM, and. 338 Federal. This year I'm going to carry a. 223. 223?.I usually don't care what someone wants to hunt with but isn't a 223 a little anemic for a blackie? I could see a 22-250 but theres just way too much room for error with a 223. To each his own though. Cory I've been trying to convince Barnes to make a .17 cal 25gr TSX, with no luck.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,185
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,185 |
Sweet Jesus, you surely don't need over 338 to kill a black bear. I've killed a few with a Whelen and watched a few more killed with them and it surely does work, but no better than a lot of smaller cartridges. As always use a decent bullet If a man can shoot it doesn't matter much what you use, avoiding the extremes, and if you can't shoot it don't matter much either. 250 Savage AI, I didn't tell the bear it weren't a 338... ![[Linked Image]](http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b297/Shoalcove/Bear/May251-1.jpg) Well, if the 250 AI can dump this jug head of a bear the rest of this conversation is moot. Go build a nice rifle if you wish in pick your caliber, make sure it like good bullets, and get to hunting!
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,497
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,497 |
I'm starting a dedicated black bear build in the Spring off of a Sav 99 action I acquired. Leaning towards 358 Win.
What about a slicked up Marlin in 44 Mag? Could be the perfect spot and stalk gun.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 320
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 320 |
I had a friend now deceased who shot 69 black bear. Some in the record books. He tried everything from a 240
Weatherby magnum to the 340 weatherby. His conclusion was that the 30-06 was the best blend of power, recoil and performance.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 828 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 828 Likes: 1 |
On my last trip to Ontario BB hunting, the three bears I remember being killed were with a 260 Rem, 44mag leveraction, and 338WM. The largest, 400lb, was with the 260, the smallest was with the 338WM.
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,406 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 4,406 Likes: 1 |
Favorite cartridge for black bear -- 30-06 Favorite cartridge for deer -- 30-06 Favorite cartridge for moose -- 30-06 Favorite cartridge for timber wolves -- 30-06 I have killed a few sharptail grouse with a -- 30-06 Seein' a pattern here. Glad I read this post. My '06 was starting to give me "tradin' fever". I think I'll be allright now - she'll be staying in the safe! That was just what the Dr. ordered, a strong dose of common sense.
"No good deed shall go unpunished!"
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,136
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,136 |
A 243 or a 30-30 is plenty. Black bears aren't hard to kill
Regards,
Chuck
"There's a saying in prize fighting, everyone's got a plan until they get hit"
Ghost And The Darkness
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,222
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,222 |
never hunted a black bear or any other bear but I think I would use my win mod 54 with 180gr hornady round nose ![[Linked Image]](http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh519/mooshoo801/SDC12314.jpg)
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