Black Bear Rifle

[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...