The .243 Winchester
04-21-2011, 03:18 PM
#31
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IL
Posts: 6,575
My goodness there are alot of people on here that think black bears are hard to kill. I wouldn't hesitate to use any "deer caliber" including a .243 on a black bear. Of course I've never killed or even seen a 400-500 pounder but the ones I've seen from PA and Maine sure were not wearing Kevlar. Can't comment on Elk as Ive never hunted them but if I did and only had a .243 I would load it up with a heavy, premium bullet and go get em.
But I agree most hunters, most bears, a deer rifle is plenty gun, esp a 270 or 30-06
I took 2 bears in BC, both with a .300win.mag, one dropped dead on the spot, the other soaked up quite a bit of lead, the 1st shot probably killed him, but put a few more rounds in him.
I recently heard these black bears have been reclassified as coastal bears, and have a larger variation from black bears, than grizzlies/browns do.
04-21-2011, 06:16 PM
#33
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: 5a
Posts: 183
Nor did I say anyone said a .243 wouldn't kill a bear. I simply said that it seems people give black bears more credit for being hard to kill than they deserve.
04-22-2011, 04:26 AM
#34
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 970
05-03-2011, 04:46 PM
#35
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Allenton Wis.
Posts: 186
I knew a guy who went to BC where his inlaw lived. He came back and told me he shot 2 bears about 200 lbs each from 250 yds. He shot a cow moose, and a sheep. I asked what caliber? Thinking a 300 win. Just a 243. Surprised look on my face. He said put her in da bread basket and dats all dat matters.
