Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 25-06 for black bear

I will be going black bear hunting this spring and my 7mm-08 ackley will not be done at the gunsmith so I was wondering if any of you have used the 25-06 for black bears and how did it perform? Would you do it again? I will be shooting 115 grain nosler partitions out of it.

Well this one died to a 250 Savage Ackley Improved, pushing a 110gr bullet at 2900fps.




This one bit it to a 257 Weatherby with a 100gr bullet at 3600fps (only have skinned hide pics)





You'll be right betwixt the two and that's a good place. You will be just fine, assuming you can shoot.

I took a 200(ish) pounder out of the Bitterroot a few years ago with the 120 Grand Slam. While it did the job, The bear bedded a few times and would get up, walk a few feet then bed down again. It was dying fast, but I decided to put another one in the neck to make it faster. He was hit tight behind the shoulder and had lots of bubbly blood. Sample of one, but it ruined my confidence with stout bullets through only lungs on smaller animals.

The partition will be fine, but I am a firm believer that with bears, you need to break shoulder bones to put them down fast. Their hide and fat can also make blood trails faint. I also believe their vitals are a little farther forward than deer/elk.

If God didn't want us to shoot bone, he wouldn't have given critters shoulders..........

x2. I have taken 2 with bow but shots were under 20 yds. I accompanied guys shot bears with 25-06 and 270 and they did not go down immediately. Long tracking job in both cases and hit behind shoulder. Have seen bears shot and lost with 300 mag too. Can be very tough animals. Shot placement well constructed bullet are key.

Good advice need to shoot a bit forward for vitals and break bones.

That first bear is a nice one. Look at the size of its head

Laker take your 25, tis plenty of gun and then some. I've seen a lot of bruins taken over the years and the Swift and the 22/250 with 55's and 63's will do all one needs so your 25/06 will work very well.

Blackies are no diff than most other game, hit em right to begin with and you'll have no issues. Hit em wrong and issues do show up.

Even the biggest of bruins our state has to offer will give it up easily with a good shot to the lungs so load em up and get after them.

Dober

"If God didn't want us to shoot bone, he wouldn't have given critters shoulders.........."

I like that.

My Black Bears this year will be killed by the 155 Scenar. Lungs, which is a change for me.

That's what we'll be running this year as well. Via a 308 and a shorty mag. And we will be doing the lungs as per normal.

Dober

Is it April yet? (grin) Looking forward to seeing some dead bears this year.

Heading over to Montana end of April

Hopefully have some pics to post

I'm hoping to take care of business the first few weeks of April. We've got lots of snow up high still, so I'm not sure that it's going to be a reality.

The most accomplished bear hunter I know uses a .270 w/ an 18" barrel. I can't remember offhand what grain he is using but a 25-06 w/ a heavier ball should be fine. (personally I like a bigger ball)

.25-06 100gr TSX at 3312fps. ~450lbs

.25-06 100gr TSX at 3312fps. ~450lbs

Head shot? Or is that the upper cervix?

Jordan - that's one mighty big bear. I've run the same bullet from my .25-06 at about the same speed, but only on mule deer so far. Where did you hit the bear and at what range? Did he drop quickly?

Holy Chit! Nice bear!

That bruin is an absolute Toad!

Dober