Post by: skier2480 on August 28, 2010, 10:51:22 AM
Post by: Gutpile on August 28, 2010, 01:58:25 PM
My choice is other. I use a 350 Rem mag.
Post by: Thefisherman83 on August 28, 2010, 02:05:00 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on August 28, 2010, 02:46:28 PM
Post by: D-Rock425 on August 28, 2010, 02:55:18 PM
Post by: alecvg on August 28, 2010, 03:03:06 PM
Post by: Bofire on August 28, 2010, 03:30:22 PM
Carl
Post by: MikeWalking on August 28, 2010, 03:33:55 PM
Post by: bowhunterforever on August 28, 2010, 03:34:31 PM
Post by: C-Money on August 28, 2010, 03:41:07 PM
Post by: skier2480 on August 28, 2010, 03:44:29 PM
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. :)
Post by: Hyde on August 28, 2010, 09:36:41 PM
Post by: Thenewguy on August 28, 2010, 09:46:07 PM
Sako 7mm08
me too
Post by: BLR 243 on August 28, 2010, 10:03:44 PM
Post by: woodman on August 28, 2010, 10:11:01 PM
:) 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.
Post by: skier2480 on August 29, 2010, 04:06:49 AM
:yeah::) 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.
Post by: billythekidrock on August 29, 2010, 05:35:20 AM
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.
Post by: duramax on August 29, 2010, 05:51:53 AM
Post by: grundy53 on August 29, 2010, 06:59:38 AM
Post by: Bofire on August 29, 2010, 09:06:58 AM
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. :IBCOOL: If the 280 was offered I would have no problem with it.
Carl
Post by: superdown on August 29, 2010, 09:10:27 AM
Post by: benhuntin on August 29, 2010, 09:14:50 AM
Post by: Bscman on August 29, 2010, 09:31:31 AM
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.
Post by: Gutpile on August 29, 2010, 10:48:31 AM
:)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. :IBCOOL: 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.
Post by: jackelope on August 29, 2010, 11:35:18 AM
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.
Post by: JBar on August 29, 2010, 11:38:35 AM
Post by: C-Money on August 29, 2010, 11:51:20 AM
Post by: Bscman on August 29, 2010, 12:25:59 PM
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.
Post by: billythekidrock on August 29, 2010, 01:24:49 PM
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.
Post by: runamuk on August 29, 2010, 01:44:57 PM
Post by: grundy53 on August 29, 2010, 01:58:11 PM
Post by: uplandhunter870 on August 29, 2010, 05:17:24 PM
Post by: BlackRidge on August 30, 2010, 12:16:00 PM
.223 is more than enough
For bear? The WDFW would disagree
Post by: Huntboy on August 30, 2010, 12:41:03 PM
Post by: saylean on August 30, 2010, 12:49:18 PM
I think the choices you have listed would work fine...its more about shot placement.
Post by: benhuntin on August 30, 2010, 06:03:55 PM
the wdfw has no say any where other than washington..223 is more than enough
For bear? The WDFW would disagree
we did use a 30-06 yesterday and it worked just fine to :chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: rb2506 on August 30, 2010, 06:27:08 PM
Post by: edmondshunter on August 30, 2010, 06:47:59 PM
All the cals. Listed will do the job. My 2 cents
Post by: jaymark6655 on September 02, 2010, 11:52:27 AM
Post by: D-Rock425 on September 02, 2010, 01:13:57 PM
Post by: brush hunter on September 04, 2010, 08:02:13 AM
But when I hunt black bear I always hunt with my 45/70 BFR 10" barrel
Post by: 180-GRAIN on September 06, 2010, 11:56:02 AM
Post by: ML_Hunter on September 11, 2010, 12:27:26 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on September 11, 2010, 05:51:35 AM
I have only two bears under my belt and dropped both with a 300ultramag... Last years bear left a foot wide blood trail.....
Post by: woodman on September 11, 2010, 06:56:43 AM
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. :twocents:
7MM Ultra mag works well for me, shoots long range just fine, and knocks them down fast.
Post by: BlackRidge on September 23, 2010, 01:15:16 PM
the wdfw has no say any where other than washington..223 is more than enough
For bear? The WDFW would disagree
we did use a 30-06 yesterday and it worked just fine to :chuckle: :chuckle:
D*mnit, is this the Ben from Kentucky? :chuckle:
Post by: dawei on September 23, 2010, 06:29:18 PM
If other, what do you prefer? I personally like the accuracy of the 7mm Rem. Mag.444 Marlin w/300gr Hard Cast Boolits ;) :IBCOOL: