Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game .270 for black bears

Hi. I was wondering which bullet to use for black bears. I live in Arizona, and the bears are small. The choices are corelokt, Nosler accubond, and Nosler Partition. I haven't found out which is the most accurate, so that is not a consideration yet. I didn't know if the more expensive nosler bullets were really worth the increase in price in real world situations.

270jrk

I'd try the 140 gr. Accubond of the ones you mentioned, but a 150 or 160 gr. Partition would work well I'd imagine. My choice would be for a 140 gr. Barnes TSX-BT.

Personally, I'd go with the 150 gr Rem CL Round Nose. Especially if cost is a factor. They are a very tough bullet and will do everything you need.


Of course, the other bullets listed are great bullets - not knocking them. IF you can afford any of the bunch, pick the one that shoots best.

Seriously guys -- you're going to spend how much making the hunt????? And, you're worried about an extra $5-10?

If price is the issue, use the accubond. You're limiting yourself already (albeit slightly) with a sub 30 cal round. Depending on the hit, you are less likely to get any blood trail. Combine that with a bullet (CL) that will certainly do the job, but is far less likely to give you an exit and ..........

Use a bullet that is designed to penetrate and shoot to break one or both shoulders. BTW, AZ bears can get quite big!

I agree with Muley Stalker. Ammunition is the lowest cost item on any hunting trip. Take the best ammo you can get. Use a fair amount in practice prior to the hunt. Personally, I load 100 rounds for hunting every year, and shoot what is left the following year in practice. That is not all the shooting I do, but I usually get in about 80 rounds a year with hunting ammo prior to the hunt.

A 270 will kill any bear other than maybe the big northern bears, but I too prefer a 30 calibre. Even though the 270 and 30-06 are quite comparable in many areas, the heavier bullet, larger diameter, and slightly higher velociity, give the '06 the edge in my book. Say you run into the bear of a lifetime at a little longer range, and a less than perfect angle. Will the 270 penetrate deep enough from an obtuse angle to get to the vitals and od the job? Certainly if you are sticking with the 270 use premium bullets, and I suspect that the TSX from Barnes is one of the best. Happy hunting.

Thanks for the replies. I guess you guys are right about the premium bullets. I am new to hunting, so I should not be limiting myself with a questionable bullet. I think that if the partition shoots well enough, I will probably use it. I am not planning on taking long shots, so the high ballistic coefficient of the accubond is not a consideration.

270jrk

I don't know if you have ever shot a bear with a 270, but I have shot plenty in the last forty years, and neither penetration nor blood trail was an issue.



I have seen 130 gr Silvertips, which is a fairly "soft" bullet, penetrate the full length of a medium size, 5 1/2 foot, black bear on a frontal shot and stop under the hide in the rear leg.



Don't recall any 270 bullet staying inside on shots taken from the side. The exit hole is usually about the size of your fist.



I know we read a lot about the need for really big tough bullets for black bear, however most deer cartridges will do just fine. In fact, the lowly 30-30 is one of the best, although not very cool.



Just my experience, no flame intended here at all.

I've killed two Black bears with my .280 Remington, using my handload of 54.0 grs. IMR 4350 and the 160 grain Nosler Partition. One was about 350 pounds, before gutting, and the other about 250 pounds. Both were one shot kills, through-'n-through. One shot was at about 115 yards +/-; the other at about 80 yards. (I've used that same load to kill bull elk, too, and bull elk are a lot bigger than most Black bears.)

Your .270 with the 150 gr. Nosler will do a fine job, so long as you shoot well.

FWIW. L.W.

270:
As others have pointed out, the cost of ammunition is the least expensive part of a hunt. I could never understand the "logic" of using a less than premium bullet on an expensive hunt.
With that written, with the exception of the larger bears,moose hunting & my elk hunting on Afognak Island, my "go to" rifle is my .270. I think it's a terrific caliber for sheep & caribou. If it handles these animals then it'll work fine on your black bear. I'd just use a premium bullet. When I work up a load, it's done with an inexpensive, accurate bullet such as Sierra or Hornaday. I then go from there for final sight in with my hunting bullet. I've always used 150 gr. Partitions but now have gone to Northforks, at least in my .338. I have some 150 gr. Northforks for my .270 but haven't done load work up yet.
I would strongly suggest you go with the most accurate load using a Partition or a Northfork. In my .338, I've found the Northfork even more accurate than the Partition. It's your choice of course. Bear in Fairbanks

I agree cost should never been factored in for the ammo you use on a hunt, compared to all the other dollars spend it makes no sense to skimp at the game end with a poor/cheap bullet.

However that being said Blackie's are not tough to roll over and all the bullets you mentioned will get the job done if placed properly. I say pick the bullet that shoots the best for the situation. A 30 cal isn't required for any black bear, the 270 will handle them just as well. I have only shot 1 bear with a rifle that was a 270 with a 140 gr hornady interlock BTSP, worked perfect on a 400lbs blackie. All the other bears I have shot have come by stick and string, 3 with a recurve shooting zwickey 140 gr blades and 5 with a compound shooting 125-100gr variety of BH's. In most cases my animals where death moaning and piled up before my heartbeat even slowed down, they simply are not built for endurance.

I never considered the Core-lock RN a questionable - or I wouldn't have recommended it. As I said in my post, if you can afford any of the three, shoot the ones that shoots best. If a premium makes you feel more confident - then use it.





I've killed about a dozen bears, with a 30-30 and "standard" bullets, and one with a 12 guage and slugs. That 1oz hunk of lead in the Slugger loads is a far cry from a "premium" bullet, but killed fine.





Your choice, but all will work fine. A buddy of mine left Monday for a spring bear hunt with "only" a .270 and 140 gr Hornady Interlocks. I hope all this talk of toughness, etc hasn't gone to the bear's heads, or he's in a heap of trouble!!

One of my best friends killed his two Wyomimg elk w/140gr Hornadies and the .270!

270jrk is in the right place for some good advice, but let's remember we all had to start somewhere so give the kid a break!

I myself am a die hard partition fan and feel that they handle every aspect of terminal performance very well <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

My .02,

Mike

I've seen more than one black bear go down after receiving a well placed bullet but get right back up with plenty of juice left. The fact they usually are taken near thick cover, have thick fur & fat and have the ability to bite back adds to the pucker factor.

Never thought I would see the day a big blackie would make a 100yd charge towards myself after being wounded by a fellow hunter but it happened. Came mighty close to getting hurt that day but an '06 and 7-08 in rapid fire mode turned the bear away at about 15yds! The bear was full of bullet holes and still managed to tear up the manzanita for another minute or two (probably alot less but it sure seemed like it)

As for endurance, been on a few hounds n' bear hunts where big blacks kept the hounds at bay and refused to tree well over the 8hr mark.

These were all prime fall bears, which are alot tougher than a spring bear who starved all winter and burned off all his fat reserves.

MtnHtr

Thank you all for the help. I did not mean any offense when I called the corelokt a questionable bullet, I was just a little confused. I plan on shooting a lot during the summer months to become a better shot and to find which shoots the best in my rifle. Again, thanks for the replies.

270jrk

Conner killed more game than most of us will see with the 130 gr in .270. BEFORE premium bullets. For what you mentioned, use the one that shoots best. You'll have no problem if you put the bullet where it needs to go.

Don't know if you saw my previous post under the Alaska hunting forum. But this bear was taken using .270 140 accubonds. Went in on the left side of the neck, thru the right shoulder and was found under the hide behind the shoulder. Distance was close to 100 yards and performance looked as good as it gets. Haven't weighed the bullet or got a picture as my son took it home with him. Bear went about 20 yards.



http://community.webshots.com/album/142100571anZgPH

.270jrk,

Let me make one more suggestion for you. It sounds like you don't reload, but want to do alot of shooting this year. Buy a couple brands of the cheaper shells, and find what shoots best. Then buy MORE of the ones that shoot well, and shoot to your hearts content.

Come fall, buy some accubonds or partitions, or whatever tickles your fancy of the pricier bullets, and sight -in and hunt with them. NOTE I said re-sight your rifle to the hunting loads!!

Then, you've had a summer of practice and learning and it hasn't cost you an arm and a leg, and still get the comfort or peace of mind that the premium bullets gives you.

Good luck!

270jrk- The 270 was my main gun for many a year and I used nothing but the 130 grain Nosler for excellant results on Elk and Bear.I have a 130 grain Blackie above my door.I now choose to use the 140 grain Bear Claw as I don't reload my 270 like I used to and Federal makes a great 140 grain High Energy Bear Claw that makes whatever it hits go down if I do my job.It really works wonders on Elk also.

Good luck with your choice....Jayco.

I'd ditto what mauser said..

FInd a bullet that shoots well, and shoot a bear!

I'd pick NP's or Accubonds (never used an ACCBOND but the reports are good)

I like premium bullets for all hunting, but a core-lockt would work fine..

Black bears are not as hellishly dangerous as many like to believe...

Be respectful of them, use your brains, but any deer gun will kill a black bear just fine <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I would shoot a black bear with a 30-30, a 243, or anything bigger..

Thanks for the replies. I am planning on getting a reloading kit, and so I should be able to shoot a little more often. Thanks for all the advice you guys gave.

270jrk