whats a good rifle caliber for bear

[X-Force]

Whatever your son prefers. If he is comfortable shooting the gun and he is accurate with it 243 on up. Shoot a solid bullet.

[mountainman]

Right bullet in the right place!

[Bango skank]

I really like 7mm's I have a couple 7mm rem mags and a couple 7mm-08's. (snip) . . . If you are hunting the same rifle for years and are comfortable with it your going to make that shot when it counts, I feel that lever guns although very cool are extremely limited in what applications they are good at. 

And yet . . . you can have both!



139 gr. 7mm @ 3100 fps. - Model 88 in .284 Winchester.

Instant flash back and memories.  My first rifle at 15 was a Win Model 88, .308.  My Dad got it while stationed in Turkey for wild boar hunting.  Lost it in a house fire many years ago.  LOVED that rifle!!!!

After shooting multiple different styles of rifle in multiple calibers, thats what i use now.  I have much more expensive modern rifles but my 88 .308s are what i enjoy shooting.  Killed my (dinky) bear last september with one at 350 yards, shooting a friggin core lokt.  Bullseye. 
Not bad for a 60 yr old gun with crap ammo

[carpsniperg2]

7mm-08/308/270 etc all would be fine choices!

[257wbymagkiller]

I really like the 257 wby mag with and good 120 grain bonded bullet.

[Bango skank]

I really like the 257 wby mag

That is SHOCKING!!!

[sagerat1]

I too love my 7mm mag and my 308, and my 45/70 and others. But my grand kids love shooting my 7mmo8. I loaded up 120 gr ttx at 3050 fps and almost no felt recoil and can do the job. Awesome caliber...
Can be loaded to hunt most anything you want....

[Curly]

.250 Savage

 

[CAMPMEAT]

416 Rigby...don't listen to anybody on here...

[xXLojackXx]

7 Dakota (28 Nosler) 190gr at 3100 fps and kicks like a .308 with a good brake.

[Buckmark]

.17 HMR, base of the neck....

[Jonnyjammer]

Black bear?I would say any cal. .243 on up to say a .950 JDJ.Depends on your pref.

[demontang]

See everyone has different experience with bears. I keep hearing people drop them with small cal but the one I shot with my 338 win (heart lung shot) turned and ran at me. And the one I shot with my 44mag turned and ran away. To me anything that can soak up a 225gr bullet and not show signs of being hit has my respect. .02

[CAMPMEAT]

.17 HMR, base of the neck....

......at least you could of chosen the 17WSM......geeze!

[crowinghen]

I just shot my first bear with a Savage 243 youth gun with an upgraded scope. it was about 250-300 lb bear ,  shot it at around 130 yards. he took about 4 steps then piled up and rolled down the hill.
hardly any recoil with this gun- it's the first large animal I've ever shot.  I took my time and waited for THE shot i wanted. if he hadn't given it I was ok with that too.