Black Bear Rifle
03-06-2007, 07:45 PM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Bradford, Ontario
Posts: 2,205
RE: Black Bear Rifle
Well well now. If you are buying a rifle "just for bears" then a nice .35 cal is hard to beat. I have used the .358 win and .350 rem mag with excellent results. A .35 Whelan is basically the same thing. Nothing sucks the air out blackies like a .35. Now if you will possibly be hunting other large game like moose or elk you might want to consider something like a .300 win or .300 WSM. Little more versatile if you end up doing some longer range shooting at big game. but in the end it also depends on what type of shots you take. If you never shoot past 300 yds then I would definitely go to a .35 cal. The new .338 Federal is also an interesting big game round.
03-07-2007, 05:54 AM
#14
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Texas - BUT NOW in Madison County, NY
Posts: 6,270
RE: Black Bear Rifle
ORIGINAL: Gentlman Hunter
Hello everyone. I am new to the website and forum, but not new to hunting. I hope I am posting my question in the right place.
I will be going black bear hunting this spring in Alberta. While I have taken many deer and wild boar, this is going to be my first bear trip. The outfitter has told me that bears can get quite large this far north.
My question is : What rifle should I buy for this trip? I have read and heard so much on the topic, yet I still don't have a good idea. I have for many years used my trusted 30-30 and it has served me well. However, I have read that it may prove to be slightly less than adequete for some of the larger bears I might encounter. Others have said that the 30-30 loaded with the proper cartridge is more than enough.I would LIKE to buy a new rifle, so I am certainly open to ideas on caliber and specific model. I can comfortably shoot the big bores and have cleared the budget up to about $1k.
Hello everyone. I am new to the website and forum, but not new to hunting. I hope I am posting my question in the right place.
I will be going black bear hunting this spring in Alberta. While I have taken many deer and wild boar, this is going to be my first bear trip. The outfitter has told me that bears can get quite large this far north.
My question is : What rifle should I buy for this trip? I have read and heard so much on the topic, yet I still don't have a good idea. I have for many years used my trusted 30-30 and it has served me well. However, I have read that it may prove to be slightly less than adequete for some of the larger bears I might encounter. Others have said that the 30-30 loaded with the proper cartridge is more than enough.I would LIKE to buy a new rifle, so I am certainly open to ideas on caliber and specific model. I can comfortably shoot the big bores and have cleared the budget up to about $1k.
If you have a .30/30, and are good with it, usea 170-grain Nosler Partition or Barnes X bullet, and it will do fine, IF ranges are no more than 100 yards or so, allowing you to place your shots precisely.
At most, nothing larger than a .30/'06 is plenty. Caribou are as easy to kill as a big mule deer.
If you will later on someday hunt moose, elk, and/or grizzly/brown bear, you can't go wrong with a .338 Win. Mag.
03-07-2007, 05:29 PM
#17
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: LaFollette, Tennessee
Posts: 492
RE: Black Bear Rifle
well with that money aside since you "want" to buy a new gun then its a wonder how a 30-30 could kill a squirrel at 20 yards...so pitiful and underpowered. now. I assume the 30-30 is probably a 336 or model 94 levergun(if not then listen anyways
). If this is correct then you are comfortable with the levergun platform. Now to me i've never in all my days picked up *any* firearm that felt so good to my shoulder as a Marlin leveraction, particularly the 1895 Guide Gun which is what I will recommend first and foremost. As money allows after I get the new 308ME I am going to get a new guide gun since they have the stainless/laminate/trueglo sights just because. And this will probably be my go-to bear gun. I saw that particular one priced for $599 before. If abit longer range I'd lean to a Marlin 444 XLR series, but close up i say the GG. Either way it will leave you money to burn on ammo.
). If this is correct then you are comfortable with the levergun platform. Now to me i've never in all my days picked up *any* firearm that felt so good to my shoulder as a Marlin leveraction, particularly the 1895 Guide Gun which is what I will recommend first and foremost. As money allows after I get the new 308ME I am going to get a new guide gun since they have the stainless/laminate/trueglo sights just because. And this will probably be my go-to bear gun. I saw that particular one priced for $599 before. If abit longer range I'd lean to a Marlin 444 XLR series, but close up i say the GG. Either way it will leave you money to burn on ammo.
03-07-2007, 06:56 PM
#18
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,745
RE: Black Bear Rifle
If your used to your lever action, I would recommend the Marlin 1895 guide gun in .45-70 with a nice 1.5-4X or straight 4X scope provide your shots are inside about 150 yds.
Should you plan on taking shots beyond that you may consider something in a .30-06. Ammo is readily available in a variety of bullet weights to take just about everything except the big nastys. Another choice, if you are not recoil sensitive would be a 300 WSM.
Savage offers several models in both chamberings and are reasonably priced and generally goo shooters. The money you save can go toward a good quality scope to put on it. Good luck
Should you plan on taking shots beyond that you may consider something in a .30-06. Ammo is readily available in a variety of bullet weights to take just about everything except the big nastys. Another choice, if you are not recoil sensitive would be a 300 WSM.
Savage offers several models in both chamberings and are reasonably priced and generally goo shooters. The money you save can go toward a good quality scope to put on it. Good luck
