Black Bear Rifle

[skier2480]

If other, what do you prefer? I personally like the accuracy of the 7mm Rem. Mag.

[Gutpile]

Are you suggesting that any 7mm is more accurate than any of the calibers you listed? Or are you saying that your 7 is your most accurste rifle? I don't really understand.

My choice is other. I use a 350 Rem mag.

[Thefisherman83]

I use a 30/06 because it is my only big game rifle 

[carpsniperg2]

300 win mag for me

[D-Rock425]

Sako 7mm08

[alecvg]

I use 30/06, but I voted for the .300 because I would say you want something that you know is gonna blow a hell of a hole through the bear, they are tuff tuff animals.

[Bofire]

  any of them, of those the 7mm would be my last choice, bears are not tough, anything that kills a deer will kill a bear.
Carl

[MikeWalking]

I clicked 30-06. It's the only caliber listed that I have....I might prefer my 45-70

[bowhunterforever]

270 win works for me

[C-Money]

I use my 270 win.

[skier2480]

If other, what do you prefer? I personally like the accuracy of the 7mm Rem. Mag.

I like it because it's my only big game rifle.  

[Hyde]

If I were hunting blackies primarily over bait or otherwise up close and personal, the 45/70 would be my choice.  Open country, I would lean towards anything 30 cal and up.  I used my 375 H&H on my Alberta black bear.  Bigger slugs make bigger holes. 

[Thenewguy]

Sako 7mm08

me too

[BLR 243]

BLR 243 100 grain Nosler partition

[woodman]

any of them, of those the 7mm would be my last choice, bears are not tough, anything that kills a deer will kill a bear.
Carl

I am very curious about this answer, why the 7mm would be the last choice? I have taken 4 bears with one, and 1 with a 7mm ultra mag. There are 3 others that should have dropped and didn't for me. I am in the process of getting one of my other guns suited up at the gunsmith right now. I have questioned my 7mm for a while now, that is why I am interested in your opinion.

[skier2480]

any of them, of those the 7mm would be my last choice, bears are not tough, anything that kills a deer will kill a bear.
Carl

I am very curious about this answer, why the 7mm would be the last choice? I have taken 4 bears with one, and 1 with a 7mm ultra mag. There are 3 others that should have dropped and didn't for me. I am in the process of getting one of my other guns suited up at the gunsmith right now. I have questioned my 7mm for a while now, that is why I am interested in your opinion.

[billythekidrock]

I use a .270 and have done pretty good on bears with it (deer and elk too).

Of those listed,  I wouldn't like to see most people using the .243 or the .300. Bears are not particularly tough to kill, but many people are not familiar or accurate with their gear. The .243 is a bit light and a missplaced shot may not anchor it. On the opposite side are those folks that are "scared" of bears or over compensating for something and think the .300 is the ticket. I have met a few guys that think they will kill a bear "where ever it is hit" with the magnums.

Shoot what your comfortable with, know your gear and you will be fine.

[duramax]

300 win mag. for me.

[grundy53]

.300 win mag..... and no I'm not compensating. I'm 6'1 240 shooting a .300  is no big deal for me. And I know I still have to hit the vitals. I figure more lead is better then less lead. Just my personal choice.

[Bofire]

 :)Skier, Do not take me wrong a 7mm bullet in a number of cases will kill bears. I used a 7mm Mag for over 20 years, killed a lot of game with it, including bears.
As I became more knowledgeable and  critical, and as I shot the barrel clear out of that rifle, I had an opportunity to use a chrono a lot with a lot of rifles. I came to the conclusion that the 7mm rem mag is mostly noise and recoil, I know many disagree and I am fine with that. If the 280 was offered I would have no problem with it.
Carl

[superdown]

325wsm

[benhuntin]

.223 is more than enough

[Bscman]

I'd opt for the 300winmag. I'm using a .338winmag myself.
Several reasons, but the major ones are that I do not want to be under-gunned.
Don't laugh. I'm not afraid of the big bad bear, nor am I trying to over-compensate...Here's my reasoning.

I wouldn't feel comfortable enough with a .243 with many of the situations I've been in regarding bear. Yes, it'll take a bear just fine with the proper shot and the proper bullet...but you aren't going to be taking out any shoulders nor do you have the gun to stop a bear in the even you *need* to, and don't have a clean shot.

The 30-06 is plenty of rifle for the recoil-shy, and is a great choice for 95% of the situations you'll get in to in Washington...especially the western side. It'll do the job just fine, and extra ammo is EASY to find if you get in a pinch away from home. If you aren't comfortable at longer ranges, this is the gun I'd choose.

The 7mmMag is a good choice, but ammunition cost and recoil is relative to the .300winMag...and the .300 will leave a larger wound channel, and has more choices when it comes to heavier bullets. I tend to favor heavier bullets with good B.C.'s as they maintain their energy well at longer ranges. I can deal with a slightly less-flat shooting rifle, when it means I have more downrange energy.

When a good 300yd shot presents itself, I don't want to have to question my gear or if the gun I'm packing is enough to do the job. Hence, I'll go bigger every time. I just took my bear last week with a 210gr Barnes TSX at just over 325yds with my .338. Through and through and the bear went 7yds and piled up.
If I had been packing my "other" bear rifle, .270WIN I wouldn't have a cape at the taxidermist or meat in the freezer...I would have had to pass on the shot due to the rifle I was packing and nothing else. I KNEW the .338 would do the job. I know I could make the shot with the .270, but I wouldn't be comfortable with a 140gr bullet doing it's part.

[Gutpile]

:)Skier, Do not take me wrong a 7mm bullet in a number of cases will kill bears. I used a 7mm Mag for over 20 years, killed a lot of game with it, including bears.
As I became more knowledgeable and  critical, and as I shot the barrel clear out of that rifle, I had an opportunity to use a chrono a lot with a lot of rifles. I came to the conclusion that the 7mm rem mag is mostly noise and recoil, I know many disagree and I am fine with that. If the 280 was offered I would have no problem with it.
Carl

Funny you say that. We just chrono'd a friends and it was pretty feeble to say the least. My 260 was faster and he was running reasonably stout reloads.

Don't go flaming on me everyone. Just reporting what I saw with this one rifle and load. Not saying the mighty 7 sucks or anything.

[jackelope]

I use a .270 and have done pretty good on bears with it (deer and elk too).

Of those listed,  I wouldn't like to see most people using the .243 or the .300. Bears are not particularly tough to kill, but many people are not familiar or accurate with their gear. The .243 is a bit light and a missplaced shot may not anchor it. On the opposite side are those folks that are "scared" of bears or over compensating for something and think the .300 is the ticket. I have met a few guys that think they will kill a bear "where ever it is hit" with the magnums.

Shoot what your comfortable with, know your gear and you will be fine.

What is it physically that you don't like about the 300wm or do you think the problem is mental?
How much difference is there really between when a 30-06 hits a bear and a 300wm hits a bear...really...you're shooting the same bullet. Reality is that any of them will kill a bear dead and none will be any more deader than the other. If the chit hits the fan, then you could be shooting a howitzer, if you don't hit them right you're facing an ass-whooping. My friend shot a charging black bear in AK at a really short distance and killed it very dead before it opened up a can of whoopass on him. The fact of the matter is that the bullet hit the right place.

shot placement.

[JBar]

.300 just cause that's my go to gun. I have a 7mm but prefer my 300

[C-Money]

Bscman, I dont know if its even worth saying, but, if it was truly a 300yrd shot, the 270win would have worked just fine. Guess its all in what a guy feels comfortable with.

[Bscman]

Bscman, I dont know if its even worth saying, but, if it was truly a 300yrd shot, the 270win would have worked just fine. Guess its all in what a guy feels comfortable with.

Held 10" over it's back based on my ballistics chart. 

The .270 probably would have done the job, but it's dialed in with a 140gr cup-and-core bullet--which I'm not a big fan of on long shots, or against heavy bone. The rifle alone is accurate enough by all means, but bullet design and energy would be the big concern.

[billythekidrock]

I use a .270 and have done pretty good on bears with it (deer and elk too).

Of those listed,  I wouldn't like to see most people using the .243 or the .300. Bears are not particularly tough to kill, but many people are not familiar or accurate with their gear. The .243 is a bit light and a missplaced shot may not anchor it. On the opposite side are those folks that are "scared" of bears or over compensating for something and think the .300 is the ticket. I have met a few guys that think they will kill a bear "where ever it is hit" with the magnums.

Shoot what your comfortable with, know your gear and you will be fine.

What is it physically that you don't like about the 300wm or do you think the problem is mental?
How much difference is there really between when a 30-06 hits a bear and a 300wm hits a bear...really...you're shooting the same bullet. Reality is that any of them will kill a bear dead and none will be any more deader than the other. If the chit hits the fan, then you could be shooting a howitzer, if you don't hit them right you're facing an ass-whooping. My friend shot a charging black bear in AK at a really short distance and killed it very dead before it opened up a can of whoopass on him. The fact of the matter is that the bullet hit the right place.

shot placement.

I agree, shot placement it key.

I think it is mental and I think it has more to do with their fear of bears. The problem that I have seen in the past is the bigger is better mentality from the "even if I flinch when I shoot it" crowd. Some people are nervous or scared of bears or larger calibers from the gitgo and when people are not comfortable with the situation they can make bad (or take) bad shots. Kinda like buck fever.

Any deer rifle will work on bears, but I would never recommend a real light or real heavy caliber to a newbie. I always recommend that they shoot what they are comfortable with.

[runamuk]

my 7mmoh8 because its all I got  well I suppose I could use the 357 in a pinch but really dont think I want to be THAT close......I dont mind shooting this rifle and thats more important to me than how giant the bullets are bigger isn't better if you are afraid or uncomfortable...

[grundy53]

I use my .300 for deer elk and bear. It's the gun I'm most comfortable with. I agree, I would rather see someone use a .270 and not flinch then a magnum round and flinch/take a poor shot. I'm just personally comfortable with .300 win mags. I have 2 of them and I love shooting them.

[uplandhunter870]

i voted 243 simply because thats the only one of my two legal big game rifles that i currently have set up to hunt and its the rifle that i killed this years bear with. ive killed bears with my 243 and a 300wsm and none of them were any more dead than any other as said before its all about shot placement and with a 243 its also important to shoot the right bullet, i shot mine with a 95gr nosler ballistic tip and it was dead to rights, nice clean kill

[BlackRidge]

.223 is more than enough

For bear? The WDFW would disagree

[Huntboy]

I said other, because I currently shoot a .308.

[saylean]

I use my .300 WSM Tikka T3. But I have a .30 30 lever action I bring for close brush fun. (I voted other, cause I dont have any of those choices...

I think the choices you have listed would work fine...its more about shot placement.

[benhuntin]

.223 is more than enough

For bear? The WDFW would disagree

the wdfw has no say any where other than washington.
we did use a 30-06 yesterday and it worked just fine to

[rb2506]

i voted other 300rum is what i take now, although my 270 win killed my last bear

[edmondshunter]

30-06 packing the 220gr. It'll knock out anything in N.America and then some within 100 yards, plus at that distance accuracy isn't much of an issue. 

All the cals. Listed will do the job. My 2 cents

[jaymark6655]

.308 because that is all I own.  First bear might be with my new bow though, because it is in a firearm restricted area.

[D-Rock425]

Only 5 votes for 7mm mag.  When I buy my next rifle it will most likely be a 7mm mag

[brush hunter]

If I had to choose it would be my .300 mag
But when I hunt black bear I always hunt with my 45/70 BFR 10" barrel

[180-GRAIN]

I prefer the 300 Rem Ultra Mag. Puts a big bear down quick, don't have to worry about tracking or even losing a bear.

[ML_Hunter]

I use an voted for the .30-06 Sprg.  However If i had my choice I would prefer a .270 Win.  Next year I'm going to use a .325 WSM If I'm able to pull it off from layaway from Cabela's and if I can find a good load for it.  I'm planing to use a 200 grain Barns bullet.  For bear I'm looking for a rifle that I can easily take a 300-400 yard shot with. 

[ICEMAN]

From the listed choices I selected 7mm.

I have only two bears under my belt and dropped both with a 300ultramag...  Last years bear left a foot wide blood trail.....

[woodman]

I use an voted for the .30-06 Sprg.  However If i had my choice I would prefer a .270 Win.  Next year I'm going to use a .325 WSM If I'm able to pull it off from layaway from Cabela's and if I can find a good load for it.  I'm planing to use a 200 grain Barns bullet.  For bear I'm looking for a rifle that I can easily take a 300-400 yard shot with. 

7MM Ultra mag works well for me, shoots long range just fine, and knocks them down fast.

[BlackRidge]

.223 is more than enough

For bear? The WDFW would disagree

the wdfw has no say any where other than washington.
we did use a 30-06 yesterday and it worked just fine to

D*mnit, is this the Ben from Kentucky? 

[dawei]

If other, what do you prefer? I personally like the accuracy of the 7mm Rem. Mag.

444 Marlin w/300gr Hard Cast Boolits