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Author Topic: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?  (Read 16474 times)

Offline Bearhunter308

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What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« on: December 05, 2024, 02:33:09 PM »
I've seen this thread in "Deer Hunting", but not recently in "Bear". Maybe this will give us bear enthusiasts something to talk about.
There are different schools of thought regarding caliber and bullet construction, for various reasons.

I'll start- usually if I'm targeting black bear, I've got my .308, shooting 168 grain Nosler e-tips. I go with the copper mono for penetration, rather than cup and cores, prioritizing pass through shots for better blood trails.
 
When I inevitably choke to death on gummy bears, I’d simply like it said that I was “killed by bears”, and leave it at that

Offline ghosthunter

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2024, 02:51:13 PM »
I am using 7 mm 08.  139 gr.
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Offline CP

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2024, 02:59:40 PM »
My last bear was with a .35 Whelen and a 225g trophy bonded bear claw.  More than a bit of meat loss but it did the job.


Offline Stein

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #3 on: December 05, 2024, 03:02:48 PM »
I have one hunting rifle, so it's the same for any big game I'm going after.  30-06 with a 168 TSX, 55 grains H-4350, Lapua brass and a Federal Match primer.

Offline MeepDog

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #4 on: December 05, 2024, 03:15:06 PM »
Either a 308 shooting the terminal ascent 175gr (excellent bullet)
Or a 270 wsm shooting an 150gr Hornady Interbond or 130 Barnes TTSX.
Whichever I can get to group the best, but preferably the 270 wsm for the energy. Both guns have already killed bears dead though.

Offline Woodchuck

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #5 on: December 05, 2024, 03:18:50 PM »
.338WM, 225gr sst's
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Offline jrebel

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #6 on: December 05, 2024, 03:26:14 PM »
We have killed bear with all of the following:

.270 win with 150 grain partition
6.5 creed with 124 grain HH hammer hunter
300 WSM with 180 grain accubond
300 WSM with 168 grain HHT hammer hunter tipped
.338 lapua with 260 grain hammer hunter. 

Ranges have been 30 yards to 500 yards and all bears died quickly.  I would say we carry the 6.5 creeds and 300 WSM's the most.  Biggest bears have been killed with the 338 lapua and the 300 wsm's. 


Offline str8meat

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #7 on: December 05, 2024, 05:37:16 PM »
300 rum  338 rum
watch yer top knot

Offline brew

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #8 on: December 05, 2024, 05:45:01 PM »
7 mag with 160 gr partitions
beer---it's whats for dinner

Offline jrebel

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #9 on: December 05, 2024, 06:03:34 PM »
7 mag with 160 gr partitions

That's a deadly combination!! :tup: :tup:

Offline HereDuckyDucky

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #10 on: December 05, 2024, 06:03:46 PM »
.338WM with 225 TTSX or 250 Accubond. I like my bears DOA.

RW

Offline D-Rock425

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #11 on: December 05, 2024, 06:40:37 PM »
270wsm.  My browning really shoots the cheap 130 grain winchester deer season rounds well.

Offline wadu1

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #12 on: December 05, 2024, 06:48:32 PM »
I'll be the odd ball here, 9.3X62 286gr Sellier & Bellot or Prvi-Partizan 285gr.
"a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi"

Online Farmer72

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2024, 07:13:02 PM »
I will be an oddball also just a different oddball. 8mm Remington Magnum 180 gr Barnes TSX.

Same thing I use for elk when I am rifle hunting.

Offline Katmai Guy

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Re: What's your black bear caliber/bullet?
« Reply #14 on: December 05, 2024, 07:30:20 PM »
.444 marlin, 240gn. Hoping to use on POW spring of '26.
"Keep shootin, when there's lead in the air, there's hope"

 


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