I usually go black bear hunting with my father in the spring and i was wondering what you guys think is the best rifle i should use, The one that will knock the bear down the quickest so less tracking is involved. we have a 7mm rem mag with federal 175 grain bullets and A 30-06 with winchester 180 grain soft points?.

which one have you shot the most? How are you hunting them (spot/stalk, dogs)? Where are you hunting? Are you anticipating long shots? Medium shots? Etc... Fill us in there cowboy.

i would be hunting the spot and stalk method with medium to long range shots.

First choise: like was said, what ever one you shoot best.

Second choise: i'd use the 30-06 because IMO 175's are too heavy out of a 7 mag. for an animial as light as a blk. bear.

Where you hit the bear "with a decent bullet" will have more to do with putting the animial down faster, than what cal. your shooting!!

Drilling Man

i think all use 180 grain soft points

I use a 30-06 along with many others,I always use 180's for everything from grouse to Elk,that way I don't have to keep messing with the scope once it is sighted in.
Black Bear are not realy tough to get a bullet in to,I would probaly use 180 core-loks or Federal classic 180 speer-hot core SP.

yeah use a 30-06 and 180 gr trophy bonded bear claw.

Both calibers almost have the same ballistics; pick the rifle which you shoot the best. Good luck.

They may have close to the same balistics, but you have to match the bullet to the game!!!! That's even more important than the balistics, and is over looked all to often!!

175 grain in a 7mm is a tough bullet, and won't expand as fast in a small animial, as it shouldn't, because that weight of bullet is designed for bigger game. Doesn't mean it won't kill an smaller animial, but it does mean that it will expend most of it's energy in the ground after it goes through the animial. In 7mm, 150 grain would be better matched for blk. bear.

Look at all the elephants and cape buffalo that's been killed with a 7x57 mauser, 30-06 ect.. and other smaller cals... How did those guys do that???? Well, they were excelent marksmen AND they "matched the bullet to the animial" they were hunting!!!

Drilling Man

THese guys are getting a little to hitech on you here, both those guns will do perfect for black bear, the 7mm load is good for black bear. I shoot them with my 30-30 with 170 grain federal classic out of the box rounds. the bears don't go anywhere. the last bear I shot, was a big ol brute, took him with the 300 win mag 150 grain round, took one with my 30-06 150gr round
any of those guns will do just fine, know you ranges, know your gun, place your shot good