How about photos of 6 1/2' Blackbear

[littlebuf]

bearpaw, the barnes 168gr ttsx is what i shot a bear with last year. i hit him from 30 yards right in the lungs but i didnt hit the shoulder (just behind and low) i lost that bear, he went 200 yards and off a edge. tried for 8 1/2 hours but i couldn't get to him. thats why im working up the 200gr accubond i think that ttsx just  went through to clean and maybe the softer bullet will open up a little more  . the deer ive shot with it i had great results, drop right there and minimal meat damage i really like the 168 but with that bad experience im wanting to try something different for bear this year 

[bearpaw]

Thanks, that's why I am asking questions about the barnes 168 tsc bullet. I think it is a top choice on any other game from what I have seen, but I have reservations about it on bear, I am worried it may not cause enough damage on bear. However, velocity is a damaging killer in itself regardless of bullet expansion. If a person could compare a 168 tsx and a 200+ tsx side by side, which would actually cause the more damage? There is no doubt the 168 will retain it's weight and go through and it will hit with greater velocity than a 200+. So that is an interesting question.

So what is the best bullet for bear? I think you need a bullet that goes clear through a bear and does as much damage going through as possble. Therefore you need weight retention, quick expansion at close range, and quick expansion at long range, those three requirements are a tough combination to achieve.

I am not sure it matters what bullet is used if you don't get a good combo of vitals and bone. If you hit the lungs, heart, or liver and no bone a bear will most suredly run some distance. If the bullet doesn't leave a big exit hole there will not be much tracking blood due to plugging of the wound by all the fat. That problem in itself results in some bear not being found.

However, weight retention is the reason I am not yet sure if the partition is the best bear bullet. It does an outstanding job, but it does lose a lot of weight and it doesn't always exit.

I have not seen enough stuff shot with accubonds to form an opinion on them. I will have to take a look at them from what you say. Seems I heard Barnes has a new bullet design out, does anyone know about that bullet?

[SHANE(WA)]

Totally agree with a exit wounds on bears. Hear too many people say you dont need the magnums. Well spot and stalk situations may present 300-400 yard shots, getting a bullet to punch thru is critical. As you know Dale its no fun tracking a bear on hands and knees in 15ft high brush down a bear tunnel, I hunt the same hill as you do for bears. I am not a fan of the trophy bonded bear claws 180 gr  out of my .300 win. I shot a bear at 350 yards almost straight down, slight quartering away put the bullet right where I wanted, dropped the bear. Took us about an hour to get down there. Found a little blood ,but not much.About 25 yards away we hear the bear, coughing and busting stuff moving slowly. Thats was it, never saw anymore blood or heard him again, this was friday morning. Come sunday morning I am back sitting in same area, hoping find crows or see the bear.About 30 min into the morning, i hear stuff busting right under me, I am on a 100 ft cliff, its a bear coming across, gets into view almost same shot as friday morning,but much closer, as I find bear in scope, i notice its gimping pretty bad, its the same bear i shot friday, this time the bullet did its job, put down for good. Got to bear, damge was incredible. Hole from first shot was the size of a base ball, shattered shoulder blades, side of the spine was gone, found bullet, did not hold together, didnt go far enough, if it woulda went thru it would passed thru lungs a heart possibly and out the bottom of chest. second did. I no longer use those bullets.I use to shoot 180 gr fail safes, loved these bullets for bears.

[bearpaw]

The fail safe is basically the same thing as the barnes isn't it?

[BC CHASER]

Here is a better picture of the 7' 1/2'' that my buddy killed.

[Bofire]

 

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v446/Bofire/?action=view&current=PDR_0072A.jpg


This one measured 7'2" my biggest
Carl

[SHANE(WA)]

Yeah the same pretty much

[bearpaw]

I saw some stuff shot with the failsafe and they seemed to work really good, what happened...they were the real hot item at first and then seemed to disappear? 

[JackOfAllTrades]

Hear too many people say you dont need the magnums. Well spot and stalk situations may present 300-400 yard shots, getting a bullet to punch thru is critical.

I agree. A well placed 350yd shot on a Bear with 30-06 is exactly why I bought a magnum after I lost a Bear in the woods. I also prefer a bullet that's going to hold together and even go through. I want two bleed wounds no matter what gets hit inside. I don't want a bullet that lodges in the meat/muscle on the far side at all. Heavy bullet that stays in one piece at high velocity that goes through. That's the ticket.

-Steve

[SHANE(WA)]

Yep

[Black Bare]

never measured the lenght but skull was 21 7/16

[bearpaw]

Black Bare that bear has a huge head....where was he taken?

[Black Bare]

bearpaw,

AZ, last April.

BB

[bearpaw]

congrats, that must be one of the largest blackies taken in North America last year...

[Black Bare]

bearpaw,

I doubt that.  It ties for #34 all time in AZ and #446 in north america (and mexico).  Per B & C.

But a good looking bear none the less.