i've seen a semi load of bear killed with a 30-30 with a good solid 170 grain bullet

I,ve taken four bear weighing between 150lbs for the smallestand 320lbs for the largest, and they have all fallen to a 270 shooting 130gr ballistic silver tips. None of them traveled very far after the shot, between 15 and 70 yards.

I have only killed 1 bear .I was shooting a 7mm mag and the bear never knew he was hit he dropped in his tracks.

My favorite is the 45-70 with the 350 grain Hornady RN. Really does the job well. All of the cartridges mentioned here are pretty good choices. I quess I would stay with the 6.5 caliber and up.

As you can tell every one has there own favorite gun i just got back from a Maine hunting trip i used a 35 marlin with a 200 grain round nose Remington bullet i took a 150 lb black bear he fellwhere he was hit your shots are going to be under 40 yards i like the marlin its easy to care and light also very accurate but the final decision is going to be yours good luck with ever you decide
PaPaBear

whats the best round, everyone has their own preference, guess your just going to have to shoot a round that is heavy enough for bear and one you are comfortable shooting at the ranges you may encounter a bear. Cannot go wrong using a quality bullet, which most out there are today. Just make the shot in the right spot on the animal.

35 Whelen with 250 gr Hornady Interlock handloads worked on this MI bear last Monday. 170# dressed. Shot at 40 yards, he went 30 after the shot (with 2 broken shoulders and some lung problems)

300 ultra mag willalso do the trick

Are you hunting over bait?????????????

A 12 gauge with slugs would work just fine. Most Maine hunters I have met shot bears in close....less than 50 yards.

Just about anything will work above 270. I personally would use a black powder 50 cal , 45-70, or somthing cool, if hunting over bait.

need to decide if it's a spring or fall hunt, a fall hunt extra fat,spring hunt a little less bullet...In the spring griz eat vegatation when come out of hibernation.in the fall,they are goanna kill what they can for hibernation...