Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: oneshotkill on May 15, 2008, 04:18:56 PM

Title: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: oneshotkill on May 15, 2008, 04:18:56 PM: Which of these bullets do you think would be best for Black bears and what grain weight? I will be using my 30-06 and shots could be as long as 300yards. thanks

Nosler Partition
Nosler Accubond
Sierra GameKing
Sierra MatchKing
Hornady InterBond
Any other bullet you recommend.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: WDFW-SUX on May 15, 2008, 04:59:42 PM: Barnes TSX 168
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: CP on May 15, 2008, 05:52:13 PM: I’ve never hunted bear but I’m considering it. I’d probably go with a good old 180 gr soft point, like a Federal PowerShok. Not too sexy but they’ve never let me down.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: Curly on May 15, 2008, 07:14:23 PM: Quote from: Passion on May 15, 2008, 04:59:42 PM
Barnes TSX 168

:yeah:
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: MountainWalk on May 15, 2008, 09:18:27 PM: many folks will poo poo all over its trajectory, but man its pretty tough to beat speer hot cor 220 grainers.. they will plow thru anything short of an abrams tank.. and they dont cost an arm an a leg like premium bullets.. my first choice are fail safes, but they sadly are all gone..
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: Snowman on May 15, 2008, 10:46:35 PM: Have a buddy who shots the 140gr accutips I think. They are winchester. they're one step better than the balilistic silver tips, which are also a good one too. Not to exspensive either.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: GoldTip on May 16, 2008, 06:47:42 AM: Of those listed, the Accubond or the Partition would both be fine bullets for bears. Have killed a couple bears with an '06 simply shooting remington core lokts. As said above, not gonna get anyone hot and bothered over those bullets, but they kill stuff dead.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: snohohunter on May 16, 2008, 07:00:01 AM: There are so many bullets on the market, and I'm sure they all have their differences...but I've just always bought "nothing special" Remington 165 grain for my .06 and they've always killed what I was aiming for.

While sitting there looking at all the different types on the market, I always wondered what's so good about the $50 box over the $20 box. I always seem to go for the $20 - $30 box....but that's just me.

Not to hijack a thread, but maybe someone could throw around info on the differences in the ammo out there. I'm more than happy to spend more for better ammo, but I just couldn't justify the differences....other than the sales guy behind the counter telling me...."oh man, this is the best new ammo on the market, you gotta try it out."
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: Bofire on May 16, 2008, 07:03:49 AM: Any 150 or 180 or in between bullet is fine in your 06, bears aint that tough. If it kills deer well it will kill bears well, dont worry about it.
Just hit em where they live.
Carl
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: snohohunter on May 16, 2008, 07:06:53 AM: That's always been my thought....but it's always interesting to hear everyones opinion on ammo. If they have it on the shelves...someone must be buying it.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: bowpredator on May 16, 2008, 07:18:17 AM: I have shot 5 bears from 10 to 300 yrds with 175gr Remmington Cor-Loks, all have been 1 shot kills with my 7mm mag. Factory ammo around $20 a box, seems to work just fine.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: Intruder on May 16, 2008, 08:24:28 AM: I like the Barnes TSX too.

However, don't over-think it. All those bullets (maybe w/ the exception of the matchking) are good hunting bullets. Pick the 1 that shoots the best in your gun.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: MountainWalk on May 16, 2008, 09:42:41 PM: i just really dig heavy for caliber bullets cause in part of their length.. like the fellow above with the 175 grainers in the 7's,, they arent the fastest or flattest,, but the bullet is long enough that the jacket peels back with a nice expansion action but with enough core left to keep driving thru... in the 280 ross or 7x57, w.m. bell killed pert near 1000 jumbo with em,, hemingway killed lots of stuff with 220 grainers,, all slow heavy bullets..i only use super bullets for elk. on the subject, i would love to find some factory loaded 300 grainers for my 338..
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: bobcat on May 16, 2008, 09:50:25 PM: Quote from: oneshotkill on May 15, 2008, 04:18:56 PM
Which of these bullets do you think would be best for Black bears and what grain weight? I will be using my 30-06 and shots could be as long as 300yards. thanks

Nosler Partition
Nosler Accubond
Sierra GameKing
Sierra MatchKing
Hornady InterBond
Any other bullet you recommend.

From your list I would use any of them except the Sierras.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: bobcat on May 16, 2008, 10:10:51 PM: Actually I take that back. The Gameking would be just fine for bear out of a 30-06, especially if it were in the 180 grain variety.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: ICEMAN on May 17, 2008, 07:07:54 AM: :'( No go on the seirra's?

Now I feel all bad, that is all we handloaded for twenty years... :'(
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: Abolt338 on May 17, 2008, 07:12:12 AM: I first started hunting bear with an .06, and I almost exclusively shot 165gr Nosler Partitions.

These guys are correct that most any jacketed bullet will do the job on bear coming out of a sufficient caliber (energy coefficient) and placed in the boiler room. With that said, however, when you don't hit a perfect shot, certain characteristics can really save your bacon: Weight=Heavy; Penetration instead of Expansion.

Bear have thick fur, though skin, lots of fat, and dense bone. You need a bullet that can penetrate all of that and still do enough damage internally to end the game. And while a Powerpoint or Accutip might do that in the soft tissues around the lungs (behind the shoulder), a partition (or similar bullet) will do its job regardless - for instance if you aim too far forward and crush a shoulder, or too high and smack a spine.

Just my .02

RW
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: bobcat on May 17, 2008, 07:55:37 AM: Quote from: Iceman on May 17, 2008, 07:07:54 AM
:'( No go on the seirra's?

Now I feel all bad, that is all we handloaded for twenty years... :'(

Did you hunt with the match bullets?
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: ICEMAN on May 17, 2008, 09:50:26 AM: Nope. My dad just brought us all up with seirra boat tail handloads. Nothing special...
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: Ridgerunner on May 17, 2008, 02:19:54 PM: Im going to use TSX on my bear this year.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on May 17, 2008, 02:45:42 PM: I use 160 gr Federal premium Trophy Bonded Bear Claws. I had two occassions with bears where my Remington Core Loks disitigrated into countless small pieces. I went to the TB Bear claws and they really hold together, especially when you hit bone.
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: LITTLEBUCK on May 17, 2008, 04:36:39 PM: I'm with Cowboy on the trophy bonded bear claws. I also use the federal premium with the nosler partition. The only difference for me is bigger is better, 180 grain all the time,bear, elk and deer. my :twocents:
Title: Re: Bear Hunting Bullets
Post by: cascademountainhunter on May 22, 2008, 08:32:47 PM: BARNS SOLID COPPER