6.5 Swede for black bear in California - 06/30/16
Hello Gents,
I just got done reading a fascinating old thread here about 6.5x55 use for hunting grizzly, and it got me wondering. The general consensus from the thread seemed to be that although 6.5x55 (and similar) calibers have been used all over the world for hunting brown bear, it is far from the ideal caliber. That makes total sense to me. I'm a believer in using the right tool for the job.
But then I started thinking about how the Swede would perform on black bears in California. Not to purposely go hunting them, but more as a survival tool. If I take up hunting, my 6.5x55 is likely going to be my go-to rifle (it beats my Tavor). If I were out hunting deer with my California legal 140 grain, lead free Lapua Naturalis, and had to defend myself against a black bear, would it be a poor choice?
My other rifle is a Yugo M48, and a nice, hot 8x57 IS would probably be an outstanding round for black bear, but the rifle itself is far less accurate, weighs more, and has only the horrible v-notch sights.
I understand there is a big difference between a calm, well-placed hunting shot and a self-defense type of adrenalin-filled shot. That's why I'm asking the question. Would the 6.5x55 with a hot 140 grain solid be under-gunned for that scenario?
I just got done reading a fascinating old thread here about 6.5x55 use for hunting grizzly, and it got me wondering. The general consensus from the thread seemed to be that although 6.5x55 (and similar) calibers have been used all over the world for hunting brown bear, it is far from the ideal caliber. That makes total sense to me. I'm a believer in using the right tool for the job.
But then I started thinking about how the Swede would perform on black bears in California. Not to purposely go hunting them, but more as a survival tool. If I take up hunting, my 6.5x55 is likely going to be my go-to rifle (it beats my Tavor). If I were out hunting deer with my California legal 140 grain, lead free Lapua Naturalis, and had to defend myself against a black bear, would it be a poor choice?
My other rifle is a Yugo M48, and a nice, hot 8x57 IS would probably be an outstanding round for black bear, but the rifle itself is far less accurate, weighs more, and has only the horrible v-notch sights.
I understand there is a big difference between a calm, well-placed hunting shot and a self-defense type of adrenalin-filled shot. That's why I'm asking the question. Would the 6.5x55 with a hot 140 grain solid be under-gunned for that scenario?