Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Bear Rifle

Trying to narrow down my rifle choice for Black Bear over Bait. So far Marlin 1895 45/70 I have 325 gr FTX or Grizzly 405gr Hard Cast, Marlin 35 Rem, 200 Rem Round nose or 200 gr FTX, 16" AR-10 with 165 gr Gamekings. Maybe 308 BLR with 165 gr Gamekings. This i just the ammo I have on hand now. I have shot 2 Bears Bothe with Rem 760 30-06 180 Partitions. I have many more rifles and calibers but these are the ones I am thinking about taking.

I don't think there are any bad or marginal choices that you've listed. I'm prone to pick the 45-70 with cast bullet, but they all sound fun and effective. How big do the bears get there?

All would work, I would be tempted to pick by caliber starting with the largest and would probably stop at the 45-70. The 45-70 is limited in other situations but would be about ideal for this scenario. On bear I like the ideal of a mid to larger caliber that will exit reliably just in case a blood trail is needed. I think I would lean more towards the 405 hard cast as that is what I have experience with. The FTX may be slightly softer so not certain for an exit but I have not used it and only seen two deer taken with them and it did exit.

The 35 Rem. is sort of a classic, the AR would feel out of place to me, the BLR would be like an old friend I have shot many deer and hogs with a 308 BLR. But I have had mixed results with Sierras so might choose a different bullet like a Partition or Barnes. All this is based on my personal biases.

Killed a bunch of bears with a few over 350lb (dressed) with 7-08, 44 mag, 35 rem and 45-70. They aren’t that hard to kill. Biggest one was just shy of 500lbs. Marlin 336 35 rem 150 gr corelok traveled thru 3’ of bear and ended up in the offside skin. Perfect mushroom and 40 yard easy tracking job. I prefer a soft point bullet. Having two holes is always preferable but bullet placement trumps all. Take whatever you feel comfortable with and have fun. good luck on the hunt

I have never hunted this Outfitter before. They killed one 450 last year. It is NW Minnesota. I have shot 2 Bears in about the same area Both in the 275LB range. Like i said that is just the ammo that I have now. Heard good things about the Barnes 45/70 load. I also can reload all but the 45/70 right now. Really leaning toward the 35 Rem Texan

I've shot a couple with the 45-70 over bait. The guys I used to hunt with all used 45-70. Hard cast lead, 400 gr Speers, and Rem 405 all worked well.

Which one has the best glass on it? When i was baiting bears----they seemed to come in just before dark----last possible legal shooting light.

I own plenty rifles too have in the past shot bears with my bow, but this year just for fun trying decide what rifle ? what caliber ? what cartridge ?

I use buffalo Bore 405gn soft points in my 45-70. I believe it’s the same bullet Remington uses just loaded faster. I’ve killed a few bears and a couple Canadian white tails with it. Only bullets I’ve recovered were dug out of the ground.

Colorado Bob makes a great point. Usually the shooting is at the very last light. I hunt in Maine and those woods get dark 1/2hr before legal shooting time ends. Usually I get out to the road and it’s still light enough to not need a light to see

I grab either the .35 Remington or 45-70 depending on my mood. Either does the job admirably.

The 35 Rem has a Redfield Ghost ring sight on it. 45/70 is VX3i 2.5-8x36 as is the BLR. AR*10 is VXR Firedot. Low light is a slight problem with the 35. Both Bears I shot previous where in good Light. However if I have the 35 you know it will be last light. Murphy's Law is strong for me! That's why I like the AR-10. It is my Pig gun witch is often Black Pigs and low light. That Firedot really draws your eye right to it.

^^^^This^^^^

How far are the stands from the barrel? If it’s we’re talking 25-30 yard shots maybe handgun one just to say you did.

The FTX load produced giant exit holes on the bears I saw them used on, one had 3” holes in the off side. Good for trailing, bad for rugs. I’d be inclined to use the 35 out of your options, just because I like them and know it will work.

Any decent bullet and put it in a vital. Last one i got was a bit over 300 lb in the fall. It was in heavy timbered steep country at very close range and incedental and not over a bait, i just happened to stumble across him. A 160gr Hornady Leverevolution from my 30-30 Marlin made short work of it. FTX bullet.

I have read enough about those FTX bullets to make me a little leary of them. I'd take a Game King over an FTX, but I am not in love with the construction of that bullet either. If I had Partitions I'd use them if it was possible to encounter a really large bear.

I like partitions also and doesn't have to be a cannon but I favor 30 cal or bigger and 180s or bigger. Lots of people say bears are not hard to kill, and if you heart shot or double lung one he's yours.............but hit one lung or shoulder shoot one, all bets are off, at least that's my experience having been in bear camp many times over the years.

My experiences with FTX bullets weren’t ideal. Shot a couple deer with them and they acted like a varmint bullet when they hit bone. No exits. I prefer 2 holes especially when dealing with bears and blood tracking. I bought and trained a blood tracking dog after seeing so many unrecovered bears while on trips including one a friend shot

I love the calibers you mention but loathe the FTX bullets. A good 405 hardcast would be lovely

Pick one. They will all work.

As for me, I am going to shoot my next bear with a large caliber rifle, instead of my .270 Win. The reason is , cause I had one run off on my . I shot it through both lungs and it went 125 yds. The real problem was there was very little blood trail in a very thick green woods. It was very hard to track this bear . I did find it just before dark though. I need more blood trail than that. My son got one 206 lb gutted . It was with his .270 Win., shot through the front shoulders with a Hornady 150 gr. It went 20 ft. so they do stop bears fast if shot in the shoulders properly.