|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 839
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 839 |
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.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,189 |
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?
I belong on eroding granite, among the pines.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 584
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 584 |
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.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,771
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,771 |
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
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 839
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 839 |
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
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,841
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,841 |
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.
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,671
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,671 |
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.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,284
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,284 |
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 ?
LIFE NRA , we vote Red up here, Norseman
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,771
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,771 |
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
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,787
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10,787 |
I grab either the .35 Remington or 45-70 depending on my mood. Either does the job admirably.
�Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.�
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 839
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 839 |
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.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,113
Campfire Oracle
|
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,113 |
I grab either the .35 Remington or 45-70 depending on my mood. Either does the job admirably. ^^^^This^^^^
Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard
Ken
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,170
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,170 |
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.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 861
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 861 |
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.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,517
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 26,517 |
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 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.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,899
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,899 |
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.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,771
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,771 |
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
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,924
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,924 |
I love the calibers you mention but loathe the FTX bullets. A good 405 hardcast would be lovely
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,189
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
Pick one. They will all work.
You get out of life what you are willing to accept. If you ain't happy, do something about it!
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,194
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,194 |
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.
But the fruits of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, Gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5: 22&23
|
|
|
|
109 members (01Foreman400, 338Rules, 406_SBC, 1minute, 1_deuce, 18 invisible),
1,614
guests, and
952
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,191,493
Posts18,472,089
Members73,936
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|