Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: Jordanskylery on August 07, 2012, 10:03:12 AM

Title: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: Jordanskylery on August 07, 2012, 10:03:12 AM: I have hunted deer for some time and am familiar with my limitations but am going after bear for the first time. I know many out there use a large caliber only to take down bear but I am limited in weapon selection to my .308. I feel my accuracy is best with this low recoil and still retains good knockdown power.

I am hunting with a top quality 168 grain .308 out of a bolt action, and I am an accurate shot with it. I know they are much different in ways of anatomy, less chance of blood trail due to fat blockage and a slower heart beat which can allow further travel.

What would be the recommended max effective range to kill a bear with a low chance of them running off a great distance or mortally wounding them? Also at longer ranges does the choice of shot placement change?
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: Woodchuck on August 07, 2012, 10:16:58 AM: I will probably get flamed for this but here goes. If an animal is downrange, any animal, I try to put it right on the shoulder and break em down. Most times you will get the heart and or lungs at the same time and they don't run so good on two legs. :twocents:
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on August 07, 2012, 10:19:23 AM: Bears are tough critters. I shot mine at less than 25 yards with a .45/70 and a 405 grain bullet. In the chest, through the heart and took out a shoulder on exit. Bear still managed to go 50+ yards!

I would say, try to get an angle to take out the shoulders. Search on here, there are some threads on bear anatomy that are very helpful.

Your .308 should have plenty of power for one of our bears, as far as range goes, my personal opinion is to always try and get as close as possible. That said, I would have no problem reaching out 200 yards or so, as long as I have a clear shot, and know that I can put the round on the target where I want it to be. For me, that is hitting a one gallon sized plastic milk jugs every shot.

Good luck, can't wait to see some pics and hear a good story!!
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: h20hunter on August 07, 2012, 10:27:19 AM: So far I agree with the above. The one bear I help haul out last year was not a big fella. Small boar that took a .30-06 through a shoulder and a second shot through the spine between the shoulder blades and out the arm pit. From the description of the first shot and the results it sounded like the bear would have kept going and going without that second shot. For how long....who knows. Tough critter indeed.
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 07, 2012, 10:53:01 AM: I've shot and killed 5 bears with my 7mm-08 and 140 grain bullet. Pick your shots and hit them good and it a dead bear.
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: h20hunter on August 07, 2012, 10:56:03 AM: D-Rock knows the bear I'm talking about. He was a tough little guy.
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 07, 2012, 10:58:10 AM: I watched the whole thing. Coached the kid right through it all. I wish i had a coach last Saturday :bash:
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: h20hunter on August 07, 2012, 10:59:05 AM: gonna bring that up are you?
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: shedkid on August 07, 2012, 11:07:09 AM: I have killed three bears-one with a 243 when i was eight at 364yards and killed it with one shot-second bear i killed with 7mm08 at 150 yards when i was ten-third bear was with 270short mag at 300 yards. to me it doesnt matter what hunting caliber you use as long as its bigger than a .223, to me its all about shot placement, my advice is shoot them right through the front shoulders and dont stop shooting unless its dead or its gone.Bears are very tough animals,i hoonestly think there tougher than elk.
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 07, 2012, 11:08:43 AM: Quote from: h20hunter on August 07, 2012, 10:59:05 AM
gonna bring that up are you?
nope leaving it at that.
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: h20hunter on August 07, 2012, 11:14:39 AM: Got it D...

Shedkid....you know a guy goes by Bildo?
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: shedkid on August 07, 2012, 11:18:41 AM: nope,why?
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: h20hunter on August 07, 2012, 11:20:03 AM: Just asking, no worries, I agree on shot placement.
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: deleted BGS on August 07, 2012, 11:22:05 AM: whats with that bildo character?
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: shedkid on August 07, 2012, 11:27:14 AM: no why
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: demontang on August 07, 2012, 11:51:56 AM: I agree with the others bears are tough animals and the one I shot took a 338win round though the heart and lunges and still ran. I would break them down with a shot though the shoulder especially if theres a lot of cover around. My bear didnt leave a drop of blood anywhere either
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: BULLBLASTER on August 07, 2012, 12:08:30 PM: Quote from: D-Rock425 on August 07, 2012, 11:08:43 AM
Quote from: h20hunter on August 07, 2012, 10:59:05 AM
gonna bring that up are you?
nope leaving it at that.
oh come on... can't leave us hanging! You been posting about your bears for a while now. Got me ready to see pics and all... :chuckle:
anyways I hope it works better for you next time.
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: deerslyr on August 07, 2012, 01:18:13 PM: Quote from: h20hunter on August 07, 2012, 11:14:39 AM

Shedkid....you know a guy goes by Bildo?

:chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: h20hunter on August 07, 2012, 01:21:34 PM: Sshhhhh.....
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: Bofire on August 07, 2012, 04:01:05 PM: :) killed 17 so far, I do not think they are any tougher than a deer. Make a good shot they die, bad one they do not. Ralph Flowers killed his first with a 22 rim fire. Yer 308 is fine at any range you can hit a 6 inch target EVERYTIME. I use a 300WM cause that is what I hunt with. I have seen many more than 17 killed. BTKR uses a 270 he has killed many. I do not use the shoulder shot, I shoot for heart lungs, trailed a few, most died in their tracks.
Carl
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: shedkid on August 08, 2012, 09:24:08 AM: I agree Ralf Flowers knows what he was talking about and he has some great books on bear hunting.
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: rasbo on August 13, 2012, 12:47:42 PM: here is my go to gun on the wetside for bear,.308 bolt action carbine open sites 150 grain core-lokt does just fine :tup:
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: CAMPMEAT on August 13, 2012, 02:12:38 PM: Quote from: Woodchuck on August 07, 2012, 10:16:58 AM
I will probably get flamed for this but here goes. If an animal is downrange, any animal, I try to put it right on the shoulder and break em down. Most times you will get the heart and or lungs at the same time and they don't run so good on two legs. :twocents:

I'll get flammed too then. That's what I was gonna say exactly.
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: johnr060 on August 14, 2012, 12:03:53 PM: I killed my first bear with a .308 at 140 yards. Aimed for the shoulder and dropped it in its tracks. That same year my best friend shot his bear in the same area with my .270 wsm. The bear was at 304 yards and we put two shots in him. He dropped like a rock, the second shot was just for good measure. In my opinion all it takes is a good shot and they are no different than deer. Other than the fact if your tracking a wounded one they are gonna have some bad anger management. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: threedwizard on August 14, 2012, 01:12:40 PM: I agree with all the posts on shoulder shots. While heart and double lungs are dead animals, bears tend not to leave good blood trails. A good double shoulder should lung them and slow them down from running too far and hours of tracking.
Title: Re: Caliber and effective humane range
Post by: Wazukie on August 14, 2012, 01:25:12 PM: 2010 bear I used a 25-06 117grn bullet. No problem with blood trail. Dropped dead within 10 yards. 2011 bear with a .243 87 grn bullet and again no problem with blood trail. it dropped dead in its tracks. As far as I'm concerned its all about shot placement. If you want to spoil the front quarters, go for the shoulder, me hunt for the meat and like the front shoulder meat.