Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Should I forego Bear season?

Due to an aneurysm in my heart my Dr. has me limited to .223 class rifles. I'm deciding between a .223 or a .22-250 now and expect to purchase one within the next two weeks. Now Bear season is one of my favorite hunting seasons but given my cartridge restrictions should I just forget about it? I really love to go but am not sure of the ethics involved with .22 centerfires and Black Bears.

Well, it's legal in PA. And under the right circumstances it would work.

Having read your other thread.... I would be pushing for more answers/clarification from the doctors. And that would be my main concern over this hunting season.

Your condition could be a ticking time bomb, and deserves your full attention... If you want stick around for long.

As far as a .22 cal for bear, take it and hunt. If you have a shot opportunity, take a good shot. But it's certainly not ideal.

-Jake

Well, my Dr's want me hunting. They agree that physical exercise is crucial for me in staying above terra firma. My one cardiologist even told me to hunt mountains. So I'm cleared to go I just am not allowed to get winded or subject myself to much recoil. Which means I'm free to hunt wherever I want at a reasonable pace but I can't drag anything out.
A revolver is also tempting as I used to hunt with one (it was stolen) and I killed a couple deer with it.

If you have a doctor who is telling you to hunt in the mountains but not get winded I'd get a new doctor. He's telling you to do something he's obviously unfamiliar with. Not a good sign.

black bears are not particularly tough. Any good .22 caliber soft point through the ribs should kill out to a couple hundred yards. I would be very careful with your heart though

I gotta agree....no medical student, but I know this, you have an aneurysm your Dr. is telling you to go ahead and climb mountains but don't shoot a rifle larger than 223????? Again, no medical expert here....but I think it might be "second opinion" time. Stay out of the mountains and use a 243 or 260 would be more like it.

The 22-250 is an excellent round. However, many rifles have 1 in 14 twists and won't stabilize bullets much above 55 gr. There are some with 1 in 8 twists that are better for this job.

How about a .44 rifle? Super mild recoil, lot better bullet choices

I'd not feel horribly undergunned with a 223 loaded with the right bullets for black bears. You like Barnes bullets, right, Mike? Seems like a heavy Barnes in the forward ribs would do the job. Or you could shoot for the head/neck or other CNS. Or you could hunt with a wildcat based on a small case, like the Grendel, or 6.8 SPC, or Blackout. The right bullet in either of those three would be slick and handy.

Get a PAST recoil pad, and wear a couple layers of clothing, and whatever recoil there is will be spread out to the point that it will be negligible. Lots of ways to go. Remember that you will be hunting, which isn't the same as killing. I've done lots of mountain-climbing with guns, hiking with guns, and strolling through the woods with guns. No shooting was required, but I enjoyed it immensely.

I'd have to agree with the posts above. 6.8 SPC in an AR or a 44 magnum carbine would both be good. The 6.8 is about like a 257 Roberts in it's balistics, and the 44 with a hard 250 grain or heavier bullet will exit a bear. I know. I have done it from handguns, so I am certain a rifle will be fine too.

The lever actions kick much harder then you'd think with full power loads but a Ruger Auto would be good. Autos may need full power loads to cycle well

In a Lever Acton there is no reason to need full power loads. If you load with a 250+ hard cast bullet at only 1300 FPS M.V. you will see the gun kicks very little. and the bullet will do all you need on deer and black bear. I have shot 1200 FPS 44s clear through elk from a 4" revolver, so I know that they will work.

That was my cardiologist in NC. My Cardiologist in PA and I are meeting in a couple weeks and hunting season will be the focus of my questions.

Some of the Montana guys have take bear with the .22's, but that hunting is different from the brush in Pa.

10mm, 44 SPL, Mag, 45 LC pistola/revolver would be my suggestion

Good deal. Hope it turns out well.

How about hunting bear with a bow?

Yes I would.

I would hunt and choose shots well ... Barnes makes some bullets that come to mind.

That's the direction I'm leaning.

Your heart can't handle the recoil of a bigger cartridge but can handle the hills?

I doubt a .223 or 22-250 is going to have trouble with a bear.




Dave

That's what they tell me. They want me physically active but not to the point of getting winded.