Which rifle cartridge for black bear?

[tonymiller7]

Don't buy a new gun, just put quality ammo in your .308 and you'll put a bear down.  Killed an elk with mine shotting 180 grain Nosler Partitions and he traveled a whopping 15 feet.  A well placed quality bullet will do the job every time. 

[justaguy]

I just got home from the local gun shop with a new 50 BMG. Now I can take black bear or small tanks from over a mile away... naw, just kidding.   

I really appreciate everyone's advise on this one. There are good points from everybody.

Right now, I'm strongly leaning toward the 308 with some type of 175-180 grn bullet and keeping the shots within a couple of hundred yards when/ if the time comes to let one fly. I can practice longer shots, so a 200yd will be a walk in the park. The ammo's cheaper and i can find it everywhere. Between work and other obligations, I think spending the time getting every shot on the money would be more efficient than overcoming a bad habit. That'll give me more time for boots on the ground, too.

From everyone's comments, it sounds like I'm at the start of a pretty cool adventure no matter what round I choose.

 

[jackmaster]

Another great way to practice is to walk around old clearcuts and shoot stumps at unknown distances, it will really get you use to the rifle, good luck to ya sir

[bobcat]

I would go with a 150 grain bullet for the higher velocity. Just be sure to use a good bullet that won't lose much weight. Any of the bonded bullets would work well, or a 100% copper bullet like the Barnes or the Nosler etip.

A 150 will also hurt your shoulder a lot less than a 180.

[mountainman]

There was a reason I chose the 308 for my guide gun while in the business - just about anyone shoots it well and it flat out hammers bear!  And elk and deer and coyotes and bobcats...   It's performance throughout the available bullet choices is very consistant.  So just about every bullet choice works well out of that velocity...except perhaps Barnes which really perform better at a bit higher velocity.  Anything from 150 grain on up has busted shoulders and broken them down well.  Though I rarely ever approved a hunter shooting more than 250 yards on a bear.

I can only remember tracking one bear shot with the 308.  That bear was shot twice in the spine at 20 yards.  Once above the diaphragm and once just in from of the hip.  Not sure a faster 30 cal would have made much of a difference there.  Bear was recovered after I put a 45 slug in his boiler room at 20' while the dog held him down.

I've probably tracked more bear shot with the 338wm than any other gun cartridge.  Though I don't remember ever tracking a bear shot through the heart/lungs.  Most just don't handle the big magnums well.  Especially under stress.

One of the biggest problems I had with guys shooting magnum cartridges is that they always wanted to take that 400 yard shot.  Bear heart/lung is a dang small target.  And it's not where most think it is.  Guys with a bit smaller cartridge seemed more apt to take shot within their effective range (99% that's under 200 yards).  No cartridge is a bear stopper with improper bullet placement.  And they all are good bear medicine when bullets end up where they are suppose to.  Bear are easier to kill than deer when bullets strike the right spot.  And they are as tough as any elk when those bullets don't hit the right spot.

I'd happily shoot any black bear on earth with either of those cartridge choices.  They are both good medicine as long as you shoot them both well.

Well said Rad! I too have seen and heard of not so accurate bullet placement by some with the bigger "hammering" to the shoulder guns!

[Mxracer532]

Been on over 450 bear kills... shoot the gun that you can handle. 30 Cal is great, I used a 350 mag as a back up gun and never needed more, but then the only "touchy" issue I was ever in I used a 44 mag revolver to stop the bear, 1st shot in jaw, second in top of head- full out charge on one of the bigger bears we ever got, just a tad over 300 lbs... stopped him at 4 yds from me.... Fun!!!!
I believe Ralph Flowers shot a .270 more than anything else- great read.
Guide in Canada, one of my best friends uses a .338 and is happy, again what can you shoot the most accurate is what I would say you should focus on....
My cousin has literally killed countless boars in CA. with 243 with 85 grain bullets (shame on him for not using enough gun) yeah, right... trying telling him that.....
Anyways, its always fun debating....

If I draw my caliber of choice will be my SR-71 shooting Slick Trick 100gn. If thats just not panning out my Gordy Gritters Custom .243 will come out shooting 95gn Berger VLDs at 3136fps. Shame on me for being under gunned. haha

[ghostshell]

What bullets do you want to shoot?
How does a .308 shoot 180 grain bullets? Is that a consideration? Seems I've seen lots of threads on here in the past about how bears don't bleed or are hard to track. I want to sling as much lead into one as possible. I'd work through the flinch and shoot the .300 win mag and some 180 accubonds.

.308 shoots 180's..... 1/10 barrel will send them.

[Damnimissed]

300 wm all the way. Don't worry about recoil, because you won't feel it anyway while shooting at a live bear.

[deaner]

What bullets do you want to shoot?
How does a .308 shoot 180 grain bullets? Is that a consideration? Seems I've seen lots of threads on here in the past about how bears don't bleed or are hard to track. I want to sling as much lead into one as possible. I'd work through the flinch and shoot the .300 win mag and some 180 accubonds.

my .308 likes 180 grain bullets    
never shot it outside of 100 yards tho, may not perform right beyond that, but for 100 yards or less, which is what i have it for, the 180s are the ticket. 
1 : 12 twist, older gun
and its what i will be using for bear this year.  hopefully in april rather than september

[xXLojackXx]

What bullets do you want to shoot?
How does a .308 shoot 180 grain bullets? Is that a consideration? Seems I've seen lots of threads on here in the past about how bears don't bleed or are hard to track. I want to sling as much lead into one as possible. I'd work through the flinch and shoot the .300 win mag and some 180 accubonds.

my .308 likes 180 grain bullets    
never shot it outside of 100 yards tho, may not perform right beyond that, but for 100 yards or less, which is what i have it for, the 180s are the ticket. 
1 : 12 twist, older gun
and its what i will be using for bear this year.  hopefully in april rather than september

1:12" barrel will like 155's and 168's all day. If you reload, about 44-45gr of Varget does well in almost every rifle I've shot.

[deaner]

What bullets do you want to shoot?
How does a .308 shoot 180 grain bullets? Is that a consideration? Seems I've seen lots of threads on here in the past about how bears don't bleed or are hard to track. I want to sling as much lead into one as possible. I'd work through the flinch and shoot the .300 win mag and some 180 accubonds.

my .308 likes 180 grain bullets    
never shot it outside of 100 yards tho, may not perform right beyond that, but for 100 yards or less, which is what i have it for, the 180s are the ticket. 
1 : 12 twist, older gun
and its what i will be using for bear this year.  hopefully in april rather than september

1:12" barrel will like 155's and 168's all day. If you reload, about 44-45gr of Varget does well in almost every rifle I've shot.

i dont reload, and really dont know jack about guns besides how to use them, but what i do know is that i tried multiple factory rounds, including the lower weights, but when i put the el cheapo 180 grain federals in my rifle my first group of 4 had 3 bullet holes overlapping to almost look like 1, and the fourth was less than 1/4inch away from other 3.  this is from 50 yards with iron sights, no scope.  and following groups, shot both off bench and off my knee leaning against a tree also yielded excellent results.  regardless of what the gun SHOULD like, ill go with results and shoot the 180s.  do appreciate the input though

[hardrichard]

I will agree with Drock425 on this one get the 308 if you can shoot it better SHOT PLACEMENT is everything get a 308 and buy some good ammo like Barnes vor-tx or Nosler trophy-grade or even Winchester xp3 or the never can go wrong with Federal nosler partition and get on the range, know your gun and how it shoots at different ranges and when the time comes make your shot count  and you will be good to go.