Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Black Bear -.30'06 bullet choice?

Thanks very much, gentlemen! That settles the question very nicely. I appreciate the time and thoughts.

Best -
Andy

The average size of GA black bear taken each year is a bit under 200 lbs. Of course there are a few 300-400 lb bear taken from time to time and there have been a few 500+ bear taken.

I killed one that weighed 260 lbs seveal years ago. A 165 gr ballistic tip gave complete penetration and he dropped at the shot, slid downhill for 15-20 yards. Most anything will probably do just fine.

I took one bear with an '06 using the 180 gr. Hornady RN/H414. This is also a favorite deer load. It worked fine.

I wouldn't really fret what bullet your using out of an 06, just put one in the boiler room and you'll have a dead bear, they really are quite easily to kill.

The one and only bear I took was with a 165g Hornady Interlock from an '06. Made a nasty hole and one dead bear.

Do like he said

Those "500 lb bears" usually shrink to about 250 when you put them on scales

I'd load a solid copper bullet and not think twice about it

I'm sure there are a few huge bears out there but on average most bears taken in lower 48 weigh in at 200 lbs or so. 30-06 loaded down to 300 Savage performance will get the job done without too much recoil. 180 grain round nose bullets expand quickly like the faster 150's but have the weight and momentum to smash through heavy bones if needed.

Sherwood

+1

Any bullet you use on deer will work just fine on black bears. A friend of mine loads 100gr hornady sp for his daughters 243 for black bear. She gets her bear every year. Bullet performance is excellent. Not much to a black bear once the hide is off.

I'd say the 168 gr. TTSX. I plan on giving them a try this year myself.

All you have to do is load a 170 grain flat nose to about 2200 fps in his .30-06, most manuals have data for that load.

I would think a Sierra 180 Prohunter flat base would work well for your dad's bear hunt.

lol.....

It's been said (by whom I can't recollect) that the biggest bears are found farthest from a scale.

168 TSX at 2915 worked well for me... Head on shot in the chest. Penetrated right to the bunghole and retained all its original weight. 250 ish pounds. Shot at about 40 yards.

I shot my moose last fall with a 150 ttsx from a 300 wsm at 547 yards. It was quarting towards me and I hit it in the shoulder and the bullet exited behind the ribs on the opposite side. It was on its feet for half a minute or so and then started to trot and went down. You'll probably be fine even dropping down to a 130 ttsx. My 150 went through a lot of moose and exited and I think the impact velocity at that range was around 2300-2400 fps.

Bb