.30-30 strong enough?

Adirondack Hunter · 09-26-2007, 07:33 PM

is a .30-30 150gr strong enough to take downa bear around 300lbs, if i have to i can hit it in te head out to 25yds(as far as shots get this time of year)

i have my browning bar .30-06, but its pretty heavy and a pain in the neck to carry through the thick woods. thats why i bought the winchester.

Clinty Poo · 09-26-2007, 07:37 PM

why on gods green earth would you want to shoot a bear in the head? You know absolutely nothing about bears I'm assuming.. Shot it broadside right behind the shoulder. a 30-30 packs plenty of power to kill that sucka.

RackLuster · 09-26-2007, 08:14 PM

I wondered the same thing about the .30-30. I haven't sighted in my .270 yet.

Adirondack Hunter · 09-26-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Clinty Poo

why on gods green earth would you want to shoot a bear in the head? You know absolutely nothing about bears I'm assuming.. Shot it broadside right behind the shoulder. a 30-30 packs plenty of power to kill that sucka.

fyi pal i said i would if i had to, and i know quite a bit about bears, just not what guns will take them cleanly.

Clinty Poo · 09-27-2007, 09:50 AM

FYI PAL, if you shoot a bear in the head you have much more of a chance to have the bullet glance or lodge in the skull of the bear as it is by far the strongest part on the animal. It would be a bad move on your behalf and as a sportsman to take that kind of shot. Wait for a broadside shot, there is absolutely no reason that you should ever have to try to shoot a bear in the head unless it is charging you.

game4lunch · 09-27-2007, 09:15 PM

All right you two! Don't make me pull over! (lol)

We're all on the same side here. 30-30 would be ample round at close quarters (100 yards or under). I'd go with the 170 grain.
If you're in think stuff like you say, maybe a deer slug in one of your 12 gauges? But I agree with "Clinty Poo"(?), a head shot would be absolute last resoret. I mean, I'd try and shoot through a tree to hit boiler room rather than a head shot. The deer slug might part his hair though!

Phil from Maine · 09-28-2007, 03:42 AM

There is a lot of bear hunting up this way and as others stated shooting for the headshot is simply put, a dumb move. A 30-30 will take down a bear but, you need to be selective in your shot. I had a friend that once shot a big bear here with a 30-30 and on the last shot the bear fell at his feet. So make your shot count and be carefull!!

ccm352 · 09-28-2007, 06:30 AM

My grandfather shot 3 of his 4 black bears with a .30-30. The last one he shot with a .308. He never had any problems dropping them.

NH306 · 09-28-2007, 04:52 PM

AHHH The Therty Therty is a fine choice A! Put it on the boiler room and they all go down!

StillHunter90 · 09-28-2007, 07:25 PM

The 30-30 is a good cartridge and I know quite a few people who have taken bears cleanly with it. They also have the new lever revolutionammo for it which I have heard good things about.