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BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
I will be hunting in south east Alaska for black bears with a 270, any suggestions on bullets.
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RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
The 150gr nosler partition is tops in the 270win for black bear moose and caribou. Its in loaded ammo and if you reload consider the 160gr partition as well. Federal loads the 140gr thorphy bonded but I would pick the partition as first choice.
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RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
Same bullet you shoot for whitetails. Black bears are built very similar (bone density, muscle density wise) to whitetails.
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RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
dad shot a big black bear, vancouver island with his .270 with 150 gr nosler partitions loaded by federal, did the job well!
Use any premium bullet, controlled expansion..... |
RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
There's a remington 140 gr safari grade ammo should do good on bear.
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RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
Deer ,bear same bullets..........................Harold
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RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
My choice would be Barnes TSX, Nosler Partition, TBBC or Swift A-framesfor bears in Alaska.
Good Luck |
RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
Pioneer2 and SwampCollie are right. Black bear are just not that hard to kill. If I were you, I'd shoot exactly what your gun likes for deer and not think twice about it.
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RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
ORIGINAL: SwampCollie Same bullet you shoot for whitetails. Black bears are built very similar (bone density, muscle density wise) to whitetails. Standard bullets like the Corelokt, power point work fine but a partition or thophy bonded are super choices. 277 140-150grs 7mm 140-160grs 308 165-180grs 338 200-225grs 358 200-250grs I have seen alot of good sized bears killed with the 170gr 30-30 but a 308win and a 180gr would be better. The 270win is OK just pick a bullet that will punch clean through like the 150gr partition. You want a exit wound so if it dosn't drop right there you have a better chance to have a blood trail to follow. High velocity rounds are not necesary thats why the 30-30win works OK. I prefer 308 bore and up like a 308win, 35rem, 356win, 358win, etc. All mine were taken with a #60 recurve so yes there not hard to kill but the right bullet choice is vital. If you have tracked over twenty wouded bears you would now why. They don't leave much of a trail to follow sometimes just faint depressions in the moss. and don't have the instinct to bed down like white deer dowhen not pursued. And dont be over scoped either most likely you will shot less than 30 yards. |
RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
ORIGINAL: TJEN ORIGINAL: SwampCollie Same bullet you shoot for whitetails. Black bears are built very similar (bone density, muscle density wise) to whitetails. Standard bullets like the Corelokt, power point work fine but a partition or thophy bonded are super choices. 277 140-150grs 7mm 140-160grs 308 165-180grs 338 200-225grs 358 200-250grs I have seen alot of good sized bears killed with the 170gr 30-30 but a 308win and a 180gr would be better. The 270win is OK just pick a bullet that will punch clean through like the 150gr partition. You want a exit wound so if it dosn't drop right there you have a better chance to have a blood trail to follow. High velocity rounds are not necesary thats why the 30-30win works OK. I prefer 308 bore and up like a 308win, 35rem, 356win, 358win, etc. All mine were taken with a #60 recurve so yes there not hard to kill but the right bullet choice is vital. If you have tracked over twenty wouded bears you would now why. They don't leave much of a trail to follow sometimes just faint depressions in the moss. and don't have the instinct to bed down like white deer do when not pursued. And dont be over scoped either most likely you will shot less than 30 yards. Certainly nothing wrong with beefing up a bit. And I do agree that an exit hole is important. Careful is free... foolhardy and wreckless is often not. I do believe though, that if you are using a decently constructed bullet on deer, it will work equally as well for you on bear, given it's placed correctly (it all comes back to placement... always does). Excellent advice on not being "over-scoped" as well. We'll have to agree to disagree on the part of bone and tissue density due to hibernation in black bears... I suppose thats for another thread. |
RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
I've shot bear that have had exit wounds, and I've shot bear that did not. The nasty part about bear is that there is usually so much fat on them that it tends to plug up the wound holes, making it difficult to follow at times. Often it is better to look for blood and fat on the bushes the wounded bear has gone thru than to look for blood on the ground. Sorry about getting off the thread...
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RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
I agree any sign on bushs groung etc.. I have had them walk on blow downs like bridges and sometimes go under them. And if their not leaking sometimes it was just the moss that didn't spring back 100% that gave faint trail to the next blood drop, smare, or even the bear. All post are good advise for a new bear hunter.
My own bears four of them all dropped within 30 yards one good sharp broadhead in the heart/lungs. But even a poorly shot bear with a arrow has a 1.25 inch holes in them. Thats poorly not bad shot huge differance. I might do some more bear hunting and with a gun but will wait for at least a 400 plus pounder. I can watch alot of bears untill then once you pull the trigger its alot of work.And I will have to deside 35rem or 358win? |
RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
Seeing your going to also be in grizzly country a heavier jacketed bullet may be in order just in case......................Harold
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RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
winchester superX 12 gauge slug has more knock power then all those rifles . you just got to get a little closer
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RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
black bear will go down with most deer rounds. the shoulder especially on a big black bear is alot of mass and bone. i wouldnt play games especially in alaska. i would spend a little more and get a premium bullet. federal nosler partitions would be my first choice but barnes and swift a frames are tough bullets.
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RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
not that hard to kill?
I think black bear ala vancouver Island and Alaska are a entirely different story than say a black bear in the lower 48 for the most part.....even most of canada.....and I think they just reclassified them as "coastal bears" because of this, when 7' 400-600lbs is common, I think I even have heard of 8' in Alaska ...... again I'd use any premium 150gr bullet, controlled expansion, or if you handload 160gr... Everyone nowadays seems to make a premium controlled expansion bullet. |
RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
ORIGINAL: TJEN The 150gr nosler partition is tops in the 270win for black bear moose and caribou. Its in loaded ammo and if you reload consider the 160gr partition as well. Federal loads the 140gr thorphy bonded but I would pick the partition as first choice. |
RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
While I agree bears aren't really tough to kill, my opinion is the best/easiest way totrack a bear isdon't or asshort as possible. Using a firearm the shoulder or shoulders should be square in your bullets path leading to less yards after the hit and therefor a slightly better bullet is my suggestion. I base this on many years of guiding bear hunters I am not sure how many bears I have been on but its in the triple digits for sure;). I myself have only shot 2 black bears with a firearm (CF and ML) both of which I sent through the shoulders and didn't have to track either. The other bears (7)I havetaken with archery tackle where I needed some tracking. I personally want an exit hole if I ain't breaking bones. So far have always got one and never regretted havingit either!
I personally haven't found size to be a real factor for how fast a bear goes down, in fact some of the scrappiest of been immature boars. Shot placement is the key, no matter the bullet or tool used if you wing them they ain't a lot of fun to follow up on. |
RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
ORIGINAL: vance I will be hunting in south east Alaska for black bears with a 270, any suggestions on bullets. 'Nuff said............. |
RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
It's been said but for black bear any standard construction bullet will do the job. However, seeing as how your going to griz country I would feel more comfortable witha partition, triple shock or failsafe if you can still find them.
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