What would your selection be?
 

Want some opinions on what load from the below list would you use for black bear? I will be hunting them in PA where they can easily push 400 lb. I believe the record is somewhere in the 800 lb class. Range will be <100 yds.
OK here are the choices:
.45 cal - 200 gr 40 cal bullet - 80 gr Pyrodex P
50 cal. - 240 gr 44 cal Horn XTP - 90 gr FFFg
50 cal - 275 gr Maxihunter - 100 gr FFFg
50 cal - 320 gr REAL - 90 gr FFFg
54 cal - 230 gr PRB - 80 gr Pyrodex RS

Accuracy is not an issue - all above loads are accurate in their respective rifles.

RE: What would your selection be?
 

bronko22000

From the list above - i think I wold go with the heavier 320 grain real but since it is an all leadbullet I would really want it heavier than that...

If I were making the myself I would go with a .458/300 grain Nosler or Barnes or if they aren not available a .452/300 grain Gold Dot...

RE: What would your selection be?
 

+1. Heavier is better. Big bones in bears. Chap Gleason

RE: What would your selection be?
 

The REAL 320 would be my choice, and I would stay away from the shoulder bone. It might splatter that lead bullet. Slip it behind the shoulder into the vitals and you should be fine. I have a friend that shoots black bear (from a tree) with a .50 caliber roundball and claims he has never had a problem harvesting them. They do run off, but normally not far and then they lay down and start their death moan.

I personally hunted them with 380 grain REAL in my .54 and also roundball. I never had a boar come in and refused to harvest a small one that was a real clown, but I did not feel under gunned. I hunted from both a tree and a ground blind, but when you have a sow and cub 20 feet from the blind, it does get one worried. I also carried a .44 magnum with me just in case.

RE: What would your selection be?
 

I'd scratch the 240 maxihunter off the list and find something else to fill its spot.

Big bear = Bigger bullet the better.

If i were dealing with a BIG bear like that, i would shoot my elk load of 80gr rs and the 405 powerbelt. You can't go wrong with an even bigger bullet. sabot or conical.

There was a post like this on monster muleys and the guy was asking about shooting around a 300lb black bear with a 295 powerbelt.

I'd try it to see how it did but i would use my standard charge of 80gr rs and no more.

RE: What would your selection be?
 

From that list I would have to pick the 320 REAL. The bear I hunt in VA and TN run around the 300lb range and that would be min of what I would use. I bear hunt w/a 300g XTP MAG. The 300g Nosler is an even better option as Sabotloader mentioned. I might use a 460 Bullshop this year though. I've kinda taken to this big chunks of lead shootin':D Bear are a lot tougher than deer. As someone else mentioned, I wouldn't try to shoot through the shoulder if possible.

RE: What would your selection be?
 

Bronko

In all repects to you out of your list it would be the 320gr real . BUT if I were you I would try some 370gr Maxi - balls (or) 350gr Maxi - hunters with a over the powder wad and 80 - 90 gr of powder . In a conical type bullet my min. would be 350gr and I think that is on a little of the lite side , the 370gr maxi - ball would be better as it is known for deep penetration,but that is JMO :)

RE: What would your selection be?
 

TNHagies

The 460 BShop would certainly do the trick - It is an awesome chunk of lead - carries a higher BC than most think and is an accurate projectile in everything I shoot it from...

RE: What would your selection be?
 

I wasn't having much luck with the 54 shooting conicals. But I was using T7. I think I may try FFg and some 435 gr Maxihunters I picked up. I have a couple of 430 Maxiballs left from the last outing.
I'm hoping they shoot good - If not, I will be using the 50.
And much to FG's delight, I may give the Powerbelts a try. What would be a good starting load with that 405 grainer. And is this the 50 cal or 54 cal bullet?

RE: What would your selection be?
 

bronko22000
If that 200gr 40 cal is the Shock Wave then tthat's the way I would go I have used that bullet on several hog and deer and it has been very effective but it keep going out the other side even the hog I shot in the shoulder and out the ham on the other side. I normally use at least 90 gr 777-FF and usually a 100 on what I have taken so far . I will be switching to BH209 thiis year it will shoot good with almost any load of BH but I like 110 gr for about 2100fps. Lee

RE: What would your selection be?
 

I would prefer to be using my .54 caliber flintlock for thatkind of huntso I'd have to go witha .530 ball and 80grs FFF...

Now...If I used my Knight...I'd go with the 300gr Barnes MZ and 100grs Goex FFF...That Barnes all copper is a bad bullet...
That would also be my elk, moose, whatever load, if I had the cash for that kind of hunt...

RE: What would your selection be?
 

oh shucks its a .54?

You missed out big time on the powerbelt deal cabelas was having. 405.444gr powerbelts package of 20 for under $8!

If they make the 405 or 444 for the .54cal, give the 405s a starting point with 70 and work your way up to 80gr 2f pyrodex. I honestly dont feel the need to put any more powder behind that much bullet.

The 444, that thing can be pushed fast! But recoil would be a bit stiff. The deal with the flat point, It Needs to hit heavy bone in order to expand. Perfect for bear IMO.

im using the 405 this november for elk and with 80gr RS i am confident in shots up to 175 yards.

Bear hunting eh? I may have to look into this as i have never thought about hunting bears.

Ahh never mind the stuff about the .54 i misread your post :D

Yes, the loads were with a .50cal

RE: What would your selection be?
 

The 460 BS & 445gr UC Shorts is the only thing I shoot any more ! That is why I'm saleing off all my saboted boolets , BS are very accurate and theres not much that will stop them they just plow on threw.

RE: What would your selection be?
 

So far I've taken 5 bear. IMO they aren't as tenatious as deer. I've shot one with the 300 Win Mag, 1 with the 30-06 and 3 with the 45-70. The farthest any of these went after beng hit was 40 yds. I don't take shoulder shots on deer or bear and always try to put the bullet into the boiler room. I definately want a bullet that is accurate - that's why I gave that list. I know these are plenty accurate in their respective rifles.
I was leaning toward the 320 REAL. But I am going to try a saboted 300 gr XTP or similar as soon as I can get some and some heavier Pbelts in both 50 and 54 cal. I really would like to give the Bullshops 400 gr 504s another try but the shippingis high for just 100. If they worked, I would gladly buy 400 or 500. Then the shipping wouldn't be bad at all.
I really was shying away from the 54 cause I am thinking about selling it. I'm more of a 50 cal fanatic.

RE: What would your selection be?
 

bronko22000

Just my two cents... but I have tried the 400's several times and to tell you the truth I like the 460's better - Better BC and relatively the same velocity. I did talk to UC about his UC shorts but after the discussion I still ended shooting the 460's - think his shorts weigh 445 - but again the BC of the 460 is a bit better and the velocity of two are virtually the same especially down range.

Here is a 25 yard target the project of the shoot was to get velocities to compare with the velocities of the 460's... I was hoping that I would get a significant velocity boost with the 400's - did not happen.

I have a couple of boxes of .504/400 Bull Shops if you are interested...

RE: What would your selection be?
 

Sabot - I believe you had sent me a couple of each to try and the 460s didn't shoot well for me. The 400s made a nice little cluster. And to be honest, I much rather have the more accurate one over 60 gr of weight.

RE: What would your selection be?
 

bronko22000

Totally agree...

RE: What would your selection be?
 

Well I think I may have found a happy medium between weight and accuracy. I just went out and tested some 435 Gr Maxihunters and 430 gr Maxiballs I had on hand. Last time out the Maxiballs shot like crap with Pyrodex RS.
This time however I shot both bullets with Goex FFg and FFFg. Results were much different. 80 gr of FFg produced good results from both bullets at 50 yds.
I boosted the load up to 90 grs and things were not as good.
Tried 80 gr of FFFg and groups were even tighter than the 80 gr with FFg. Maxihunters had 3 bullets in about 1 1/4" and evenly spaced but the Maxiballs had 2 almost in the same hole and another just outside. Probably under an inch.
I moved the target out to 100 yds and using the 80 gr FFFg load shot 3 each. The Maxihunter were wild - about a 12" group, maybe 10" low. The Maxiball produced a 6" group about 8" low.
Made a sight adjustment and things were dead nuts at 100 yds. Moving the target to 50 yds showed a cluster 3" high. I am ready for those bruins now.
I think you guys will agree that the 430 gr Maxihunters and 80 gr of FFFg should do the job??

RE: What would your selection be?
 

YEP that will put a hurtin on one for sure CONGRATS