BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
03-25-2008 | 09:01 AM
#2
Fork Horn
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
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.
03-25-2008 | 10:03 AM
#4
Giant Nontypical
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,574
Likes: 0
From: IL
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.....
Use any premium bullet, controlled expansion.....
03-27-2008 | 10:08 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 0
From: S.W. Pa.-- Heart in North Central Pa. mountains-
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.
03-27-2008 | 11:50 AM
#9
Fork Horn
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
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.
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.
03-27-2008 | 12:16 PM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,420
Likes: 0
From: Where the ducks don't come no more
RE: BULLET CHOICE FOR BLACK BEARS
ORIGINAL: TJEN
Don't mean to argee but they are very different espeical noticable when bears get up over 300lbs. The hibernate and have to have more hair, more fat, more bone mass, and more mussle to move it around. Because they live all winter form their fat, muscle,and bones. So even a 200lb bear is pound for pound tougher than a deer but with most cartridges it is the bullet choice that is needed to be concidered. Pick a sturdy bullet not a Billistic tip or light weight boat tail designed for long range. But don't use a 220gr 308 or simular combination when the 180gr round nose would be about perfect.
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.
ORIGINAL: SwampCollie
Same bullet you shoot for whitetails. Black bears are built very similar (bone density, muscle density wise) to whitetails.
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.