Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: DavidL on July 14, 2019, 08:50:02 PM

Title: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: DavidL on July 14, 2019, 08:50:02 PM: I have a new 30-06 that I will be using on an upcoming bear hunt (my first) and wanted to get suggestions on the best bullet for bear (and elk). I've been pointed toward Nosler partitions and accubond, or Barnes TTSX. What are most of you using with success?
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: Stein on July 14, 2019, 09:07:35 PM: I shoot the 168 tsx from my 30-06 for everything.
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: dilleytech on July 14, 2019, 10:07:58 PM: I have killed a few with nosler ballistic tips from a .308. It’s a rapid expanding bullet and the damage was devastating rolling them in there tracks. Aim 2-4” or so behind the shoulder through the lungs and your golden.
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: duckmen1 on July 15, 2019, 01:51:22 AM: Although I'm a reloader I used to shoot 150 grain fusion bullets out of my 270. Dropped 3 bears with that load. None made it more then 25 yards. All frontal shots. And have seen others taken with fusions. Those bullets have been deadly for us and if I was to go back to factory rounds I'd go for those.
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: headshot5 on July 15, 2019, 05:25:47 AM: I use 165 grain accubonds in my 30-06. Accubonds are my favorite bullet, followed by Partitions for elk.

Regular cup and core bullets work for bear.
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: tgomez on July 17, 2019, 11:20:59 AM: I use Remington Core-Lokt PSP in 180 grain and they work just fine. I did use Hordany Superformance SST in 165 grain on my biggest bear which was 326 lbs. Either one, I have never had to shoot more than once.
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: wheels on July 18, 2019, 02:49:01 PM: out of my 06 i use 165 hornady interlock for everything
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: WSU on July 18, 2019, 02:54:22 PM: Any of those will work great.
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: buckfvr on July 18, 2019, 03:05:09 PM: Might ought to shoot a few of them to see which one your rifle prefers.......
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: KFhunter on July 18, 2019, 03:08:10 PM: Quote from: wheels on July 18, 2019, 02:49:01 PM
out of my 06 i use 165 hornady interlock for everything

ya.........that's not very sexy :chuckle:

( works though don't it ;) )

I even choot it out my tikka
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: beauhunter on August 07, 2019, 02:30:22 PM: I reload Barnes and federal trophy bonded tips both 180 grain the Barnes is a ttsx, never had a animal make it out of sight, that is if they didn't drop in their tracks
Title: Re: Best bullet for bear?
Post by: Okanagan on August 07, 2019, 03:48:41 PM: IME most black bears are not particularly hard to kill, but they can be super hard to find. Therefore adding an exit hole gives more chance of a blood trail, even though fat often plugs both holes to keep blood from leaking out. Medium to heavy TSX, GMX, Partitions, Swift A-frame bullets are among those that will exit in 06. Pick one and use it if it shoots well in your rifle.

This codger's formula: Try to break the bear down with your first shot, using a bullet that will exit at any angle, and shoot again if he gets up. Along that line, many black bears drop when touched by a bullet, even one I saw that dropped like dead from a knick on his paw. Then they get up and run off if their running gear still functions.

My one bullet in 06 is 180 grain Swift A-frame, the most consistent bullet I've seen used on game. I like 165 bullets in 06 but I got better accuracy and almost identical velocity from my 180 Swift reloads so went with the 180.

Pick a bullet to put it down and make it leak. Black bear in coastal brush is one of the scenarios where a ton of overkill beats an ounce of underkill. :)