Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Best black bear rifle and cartridge

I would add something, but its all been said.

Just add that the Whelen and the 45/70 guide gun are a waaaay cool.

BMT

I was reading an American Hunter today, from a couple of years ago.

The hunter in the story, was told by his Alaska outfitter that he wanted his black bear hunters, again, black bear not grizzly, to carry a .375 H&H or one of the .416's.

Don't bring a .270,.30-06 or 7MM Remington Magnum he was told. You guys in Alaska must have some super tough black bears!

I've got one that I think might count. Shortly after graduating from university I wanted a new (to me) rifle. Being on a budget I did the usual poor student thing by having only one big game rifle. Most people use their deer rifle for bear hunting. Since I figured I'd have more time for bear hunting than deer hunting due to the length of the seasons here I bought a bear rifle that I would use for everything.

At any rate, what I got was a Remington 700 BDL in .35 Whelen. Currently it has a Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5x20 on it that works well at what I call "bayonet range" on out to 300 yards or more. Other than that, I can say for sure that a 250 grain Hornady Interlock at around 2600 fps hits hard.

I was gonna say, a Browning BLR in .358, although I don't have one, and probably won't ever get one. Still, I think it would be a dandy choice, it sorta seems like a natural pairing.

Apparently the bears I (and many others) happen to be shooting up here haven't read that article yet...

I think that in "normal" country and with "normal" sized black bears - deer calibers work just fine.

I think that with trophy bears, bears that are bigger than the average grizzly, and bears that live in really thick vegitation like BC's coast and Alaska it would be better to shoot them with a larger bore diameter.

I've hunted in country where you could loose a bear that ran 20 yards. They are also frequently hunted just before dark, and they can have thick layers of blood-sealing fat, and thick coats of blood absorbing fur - and when they run through the shin-tangle they don't leave hoof marks of course.

All of which would make me want to put a bigger hole in such a bear. Bigger holes make bigger leaks.

If the ranges are close a 45-70 or something similar would be good I would think, at longer ranges I'd want to use at least a 35 Whelen or bigger, before I considered such a trophy black bear cartridge to be "ideal".

A 30-06 wouldn't be very far off from "ideal" though.

Personally, I think it would be hard to beat the good ol' 45-70 for bear hunting within normal range, that's why I bought mine. The 350gr Hornady FP does quite a job on bears and leaves a fairly large exit wound if it became necessary to track one.

With that being said, last month my buddy was lucky enough to have a 356lb Maine bear approach his bait site at last light. Using an old Rem. 30-06 and a 180gr no frills Corelock bullet he punched a hole clear through the middle of the vitals leaving a good exit wound. The bear ran but left a blood trail that Ray Charles could follow. 50 yards into the brush and there lay his trophy.

So who needs high tech rifles with premium bullets? Certainly not the guys who can put the bullet where it needs to go on the first shot.

I notice lots of cartridges mentioned that probably work well shooting bears out of doughnut drums.........

When I think of a black bear rifle I think of a Remington M7 shooten 250gr Hornady round nose.......

Hey
12 gauge 870 with Breneke KO's or 4570 hard cast LFN"S 405 gr or higher, lever loads min. Your choice of firearm, no long barrels.
Bearbeater

You boys do realize that not all bears are shot whilst eating doughnuts not 20 yards from some dude in a tree, right?

30-06 seems like the perfect black bear, caribou, and spike elk cartridge to me...

Mine really wants to go to Colorado and shoot a muley, but it's going to have to stay in the safe while the new gals get to dance <g>...

Well Sreelhead A response like yours demands a response like mine KISSOFF!!. I thought I would come back to the fire and post again but nothing has changed. I just responded to the question. I am out of here, Ric has a big problem.
Bearbeater
Go ahead and bad mouth me I wont be here to read it.

See ya later Maude.

Talk about thin skinned.

Hence Maude.

There is only one rifle that can kill a black bear and its a 325WSM shooten 180gr TSX. At least that the only bear I have ever seen killed in real life!

really thinken you can kill them with just about any deer rifle...

My experience is with lower 48 bears which are considerably smaller than the critter you have up your way.

If I were hunting in your neck of the woods, I'd probably opt for something heavier, say 9.2x62 or .35 Whelen. Both cartridges will handily dispose of any bear walking planet earth, Black or Brown.

I think bears prefer the jelly filled over plain old cake and powder

I always maintain a safe distance from the doughnuts in case I'm forced to consume a few while waiting for Yogi and BooBoo. 30 yards is good, 40 is ideal.

Rem brass, CCI 250 and 58 grs. of RL-15. No pressure problems in 3 guns shooting this load.