Bear hunting Q's.....

XArmy55 · 03-13-2005, 09:16 PM

I'm lookin to go bear hunting for the first time up in Canada this summer... (wife is buying me a hunting trip

) So what is the preferred caliber??? I normaly use my 30.06 (for deer) and I load my own ammo... I also have a Marlin .444 lever action (never been shot)... so what would be better, a 180gr .06 or the .444??? If I can, I am going to bow hunt them, but if i have to use a rifle i will... Looking at the balistics, the .06 would be better... Seems odd to me... Unless it is at close range (under 100 yds) then the .444 is better... Which brings me to my next Q... What range are these things usually taken??? On the shows i watch looks like under 50 yrds most times... Is this so??? Any info at all would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks

stubblejumper · 03-13-2005, 09:34 PM

If hunting over bait I prefer a scoped rifle as many of the biggest bears come to the bait at last light.If both are scoped either rifle would be fine as most shots are 20 to 50 yards.

bearklr · 03-14-2005, 06:56 AM

I agree, either would be fine. I would take the one you are most comfortable with. I took my 415 lb boar with a .270 and he dropped like a rock.

DM · 03-14-2005, 07:46 AM

"If" i was you, i'd use the rifle i'm "already" use to hunting with!!!! With any decent 180 grain bullet (i prefer Nosler partitions) in your 30-06 will kill any black bear on the planet!!!

Personally, i'd rather have the 30-06 for all of my hunting anyway!!! Choose the right bullets for it, and it will do just fine on anything we have in the U.S....

Both would work, but i like the 06 better because it will do it all!!

Drilling Man

buleye_2004 · 03-14-2005, 08:54 AM

been guiding fer them critters for the past 15 years up here in canada and seen em shot with many different kinds of loads with many different calibers.....your best bet would be the ought six....seen many a bear taken with the ought six....trick is shot placement...saw many a hunting trip change course real quick on accouint of bad shot placement.....personally had to xcrawl through thickets tracking this bear...not good for the underpants...lol.....i say...go with the ought six...you probably feel more comfortable with that anyhow...hope this helps

Rebel Hog · 03-14-2005, 09:06 AM

XArmy,
Either one of your rifle's will do. In 1995 I shot a Black in Alberta with a Win 94 carbine .35cal
that I bought for $50.
Like Stubblejumper said it's going to be short range.

Western MA Hunter · 03-14-2005, 11:49 AM

I took my last bear with a 180 gr. Remington Core Lokt and my '06. 30 yards. Never took another step.

XArmy55 · 03-14-2005, 02:20 PM

Thanks for all the input... I normaly use 150 grains for deer, so it looks like I'll be loadin up some 180 grainers for the ol .06... I'm glad to hear it will do.. I really wanted to keep my .444 unshot.... (Grandfather gave it to me) Thanks again!!