Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 45-70 for black bears?

Hey guys i'm just wondering what your thoughts are on this cartridge for black bears over bait? Shot would be at maximum 60 yards. I just want something that leaves big holes. Thanks

It might work....

All kidding aside it should do just fine, it has been doing pretty decent work for a while.

I loaded up some 300 grain Nosler partitions on top of H335 to use on an Ontario bear hunt a few years back, but took my 35 Whelen instead.

I did see a pretty fat UP black bear that had been shot with a Remington 405 gr. factory load out of an 1886, one shot lung to shoulder, not much tracking up was required...getting that fat bugger out to the two track was where the work came in...

I'd use a 45-70 for blackies if I was to ever hunt them again, I think I get a bigger charge out of watching them than eating them.

Thanks for the advice. I have to agree when you say watching them is great, it sure gets the adrenaline going that's for sure. I watched the one I took last weekend for 25 minutes before I decided to take him.

A .45-70 Marlin worked on a black bear for me, but it is more than you need. Nothing wrong with that, but it is true.

I've taken a bison and two moose with the 45-70 and buffalo bore cartridges. Never taken more than one shot on each. The bison was 150yds and the two moose were both within 75yds.

The 45/70 was one of the original buffalo stompers. 500 grain bullet at 18:1 and blackpowder. Black bears ain't bigger or tougher.

be plenty enough oomph over bait or no bait, sure will leave an obvious hole too. I've used either Kodiak 350's and hardcast in mine yrs. back....sold it, blasted porting was gonna due me in.

I've used the .45-70 on bears for many years... nothing better in my view. I've used both single-shots and Marlins, ALWAYS with handloads.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

I agree that you would have a hard time finding a better cartridge for short range black bear than a .45/70. The only caveat I would add, however, is to avoid the typical 300 gr. JHP "deer" bullets. I shot a doe with a hot loaded 300 JHP out of a Ruger #1 and the bullet fragmented on impact and only penetrated about 4 inches.

The bullets I have personal experience with that would be great choices include the 350 gr. Hornady, 400 Gr. Speer and 405 gr. Remington JSP's.

The Remington 405 grain factory loads or similar reloads will do fine.

Black Bears and bigger!

The 45-70 will knock the stuffins out of any black bear you shoot at, within range. It's a great cartridge.


maddog

I would not reccomend the 300gr hollow pnt for bear. I used it once in my Ruger# 3 loaded full tilt on a big fall fat black bear, at about 20 feet over a bait, it blew up on interring and the fat sealed up the wound. Lucky I had set up a Horndy 350grn round nose for the second shot. Seirra does not reccomend there 300grn HP even for hunting!
Bob

my uncle has used a 45/70 marlin loaded with either SPEER 400 grain or REMINGTON 405 grain bullets over 45 grains of H4198, in a his carbine for at least the last 20 years and its killed a dozen bears in that time in similar conditions to what your describing

You could do worst.

A 45-70 for black bear? In a heartbeat. A 400 to 500 grain cast bullet at 1250 fps will blow through him at any angle and leave a big hole coming out.

One of if not THE best caliber choice, IMO.

It's a awesome combo for such work!

Dober

Thank you everyone for your replies. I just bought the Marlin 1895G 45-70 and I cant wait for fall bear season to start so I can try it out on a bruin.

One exception to that rule would be the Speer UniCor. Other than that, I would agree with you.

My "bear" load is a 425 BB Piledriver at 1650 fps. Low pressure, accurate, and that bullet at that velocity will fully penetrate even large black bear.