I read a book back in the 80's called Killer Bears. The Auther had interviewed bear attack survivors. According to it and a few other sources Black bears have killed more people than Grizzlies or Polar bears. Thats probably because there are more Blackies, and they live closer to people. It also seams that Blacks are more likely carry through with a charge once started instead of just bluffing. Like the quit kid in school that blew up and kicked every boddies butt. But back on subject, i was thinking Federal Vital-Shok 180gr. Nosler Partition or Barnestsx.

Well concidering that blacks are much more wide spread in the lower 48 with obvious higher numbers of them compared to griz., one would expect that thier "attacks" resulting in death would be higher, IF they were the more aggresive bear. BUT that is NOT the case. FACT: As of 2003 there were 50 Brown bear attacks resulting in death and 52 black bear attacks resulting in human death, and 5 polar bear attacks resulting in death that have been reported. Since '03, there have been 7 attacks resulting in death with 3 being brown bear and 4 being black bear.
SO it looks like to me, when you concider the higher numbers and wider spread of blacks, they aren't more aggresive than a brown is! Wifes tale, don't think so!!

I have been in on two search parties looking for children lost in black bear country. In one search we found the remains of an eight year old girl killed and drug off by a black bear. In the other search we never did find anything. Black bears while on average are not real aggressive, can turn that way in a split second. They are not to be taken lightly.

I would try the 180 grain Prtition and the 200 grain Partition to see which shoots best in your gun. Either will do a very good job.

180gr nosler.....and a well placed shot.. will bring bullwinkle home

May first two moose I used 220 Coe-Lokt at 20 and 40 yards and both times got lodged between the far ribs and skin. I took the time to study remmington ballistics. I can't beleive that 180 grain has almost double the energy at farther distances. 180g seam to keep the best speed and energy after the first 100m. I'll try the 180g Core-Lokt Utlra Bond for moose and Caribou this year. After looking at the stats, bigger is not always better.

All bear sencounters should be taken with caution..

If your inexperienced all BEARS SHOULD BE SEEN AS GRIZZLIES...

In the late 80's and early 90's I'd run into Blacks and Grizzlies that have turned and run away...
However times have changed...
Due to POLITICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL issues inBRITISH COLUMBIA/
and lots of RED TAPE Bear populations of both species have been on the rise big time...
With this increase of population comes competition for food and territory...
Now more than ever black bearsare turning on kids and single individuals
who are alone...
If they think they can take you they will...
Its usually the young males that do this too 3-5 year olds...
They are the ones that have the hardest time keeping their food away from bigger stronger animals and keeping their territory...
Same thing with Grizz'snow its the younger males that do this...

Be prepared out there keep these things in mind...
If you run into a hungry bear, it will attack....
If you run into a bear protecting its food, it will attack...
If you run into a Sow with cubs it will attack...
If you see a bear circaling around you presume its a stalk....
I'm not saying this happens every time but the odds are higher it will happen..

Keep safe up there...Choose a bullet that will drop moose but keep in mind a load that will drop a bear as well...

In many areas where the food is not plentiful, a gun shot is like a Dinner Bell to the bears. The danger is when you are guttig a dear or moose.

Yep...
Thats when a discision has to made........
Do you keep that gun loaded while you gutting the game...
And do you pack out your game with your gun loaded......
One author that wrote a book on Bear Attacks suggests just the thing....
He also suggests you take everthing out in one load so you don't havean
encounter with a bear the second time around....
And if impossible to do so, drag it into open country so when you come back the second you can glass around the area of the carcass for evidence of bearsign as you make your approach....
BEAR SPRAY JUST DOESN'T MAKE THE CUT!!!!!!
I'd rather have that bear dead 50yrds infront of me than ontop, grinding its teeth in my skull while I'm trying to spray him in face......

I've never dropped a moose yet but on elk, 180 corelks fly rite and do the job out of my 700. Its a good compromising load as at times I'm in elk and whitetail and mulies at the same time and in griz and black bear country. There is a lot of difference between a brown bear, a griz and a black bear, and out of the 3, I don't want nothing to do with a mountain griz. We loose people up here every year to griz but rarely to a black bear. A black bear is like a dog, some ok, and some others act like a junk yard dog. There all an individual and to be respected. Brown bears catching fish usually pose little threat with a full stomach. But all are to be respected.
Good bear facts Jeff.

Bobby

I have used 150gr. Core-Locs on Hogs and they mushroomed a lot. Normaly i would call that a good thing. BUUUTTT!!. Hogs are not as thick as a moose and i figured that their 180s would be just as soft. I didn't want it to stop before it hit lungs and heart.