.30-30 for black bear?
 

My fiance and I have a chance to go on a bear hunt in the mountains of North Carolina in the next few months. A good friend will be "guiding" us so we won't just be a few bumbling idiots on a hillside. I will be taking my 7mm Rem. Mag. and my future spouse wishes to take the .30-30 that she has become very comfortable with over the last year and a half; the only other choice would be my .45-70 which is a little stout for her. My buddy says that the .30-30 isn't going to be enough and that she needs to bring "more gun." Neither she nor I believe this but he is rather adamant about it, he says that there aren't many shots over 50yds and nothing over 100yds. My opinion is with good bullets and the practice she has put into this gun, she should be more than capable of cleanly taking a good sized black bear at those distances if the opportunity presents itself, but goober-head doesn't think so...

What opinions do most of you share on such? I certainly appreciate any feedback to this one guys.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

The thutty thutty is as good as it ever was and has accounted for a helluva lotta black bears. It'll account for one more I assure you. At those ranges it's a fine cartridge for a black bruin.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Ditto what Vapodog said. At 100 yards and less the 30-30 is just fine for black bears. If you can't kill it with that then you can't kill it.

Federal loads a 170 grain nosler partition at 2200 fps that would make an excelent bear round.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

is this guy the type that would use a .50cal slug on a squirrel? ;)

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Vapo is right on the money !!!

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Goober-Head is kind.

A 30-30 is plenty inside from 100yds and in. Tell him he's a moron. LOL

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

A 30-30 with a 170 Nosler load will be a good combo for any black bear at those ranges. The best part is, it's what she "really" wants to use!!! That's half the battle right there!! And, the more practise the better!!

Drilling Man

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

30-30 good! Friend bad!

Great cartridge, Flat up to 150 yards, with enough energy to kill.
I carry it for bear protection while hiking. People tell me it is
not enough - everyone is entitled to their opinion I guess.
Give me a freaking break. If I get eaten it's my fault not the
guns.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Darby, if you get eaten, can I have your Leupold scope?

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

It's all yours, after you pick it out of the berry infested
shat.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Technicalities. I'll give it a good squirt of Gun scrubber. Hey wait a minute....To heck with the scope, can I have Tracy?;)

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

I will trade her for a new custom left hand rifle in .243 with a Kahles
3-9. and your car. You don't need a women anyway you have your
own - don't get greedy.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Hmmmm, At that range, caliber and grain of bullet, IMHO as long as she is very familier with the rifle, and has lots of practice...it should/could be a great outcome. Good Luck to her!! Personally I would not use anything but my .06 Not because I am not confident, but I want a dead and not wounded bear...that is just me though. If she feels good with her shot placement, she should be just fine. :)

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

The 30-30 will do just fine.Have killed several big black bears with one,when I was a kid.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

I am from NC, I can tell you this, your shots will be well over 50 yds on any black bear your planning on hunting.
You cannot bait in anyway in NC, so yes, you WILL be sitting on the side of a mountian looking dumb.
That is how you can tell a Bear hunter in NC, they all look the same, 3 guys sitting playing cards waiting for a bear to walk near them. No joke, been there done that, and every single bear I ever saw in NC in the 2 State Parks (that you can hunt in legally) were well OVER 200 yds away.
But that's just me, born and raised 1 hour from where you will be.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Thanks guys, I certainly appreciate the feedback. I was pretty confident of the caliber's capabilities but I just wanted reassurance to make sure I wasn't running a mad fever or something of the like.

Thanks

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Natural selection at its finest.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

"ANY GUN GOOD, SHOOT'UM GOOD!" The .30-30 is adequate for black bear. I know several Canadians who had to kill grizzlies with a .30-30, because it was the ONLY rifle they had. It worked!! I would choose 170-grain bullets for this task, and of course, it is essential to place the bullets through the heart-lung area, just as it is with ANY gun, big or small.

As a matter of fact, I concur with BigBulls' ammo choice-a 170-grain Nosler Partition!

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

I too live in NC, and have killed 2 bears with a 30-30. It is more than enough gun for your needs. The biggest bears in western NC weigh no more than 400 lbs. A scoped 30-30 with 170 gr bullet will give you all the pop you need out to 150 yds. No need for the 45-70 in this case because although it has more power, it's trajectory limits it's range to about 150 yds too.

Shots beyond 100 yds are possible under certain conditions, but the majority of bear hunting in Western NC is done with dogs, and 90% of all taken are under 75 yds b/c the woods are so thick.

Shot placement is far more important that calliber. Shoot through the shoulder and into the heart lungs.

Personally, if I were you, I'd bring the 45-70 over your 7 Mag, and load it up with Winchester 300 gr JHP. I shot a 411 lb black bear (dressed) with this load at about 125 yds and it is awesome!!!!!

My favorite black bear loads are: (I hunt both eastern and western NC and have shot at least 1 bear with each)
1) 45-70
2)30-06
3)44 Mag
4)30-30
5)7 Mag

The seven mag is at the bottom is this list b/c it leaves a smaller exit wound than the others and fat and hair seem to stop really hinder blood trails. It is still VERY EFFECTIVE though, I just prefer to have good blood trails in thick woods.

I have also seen bear taken with a 35 Rem, 308, 270 and 243. All work well.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Be very careful here. I think you should let your fiancé use the 30-30. She wants to hunt and loves her 30-30. I would insist she bring it along. The 30-30 is just fine. If he just says for her not to go on the hunt with it then I wouldn’t go on the hunt. It will show her that you support her and also makes for a life time hunting experience with her. Don’t let her get discouraged about her 30-30. Support her on this!

Hornet Man

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Some ammo for the 30-30
These are the best articles I know of on the 30-30. They are a joy to read and one should print then out and save them.

Mic McPherson wrote the article “One Hundred years and still going strong.” It is by far one of the most in depth articles I have ever read. His web site is

http://www.levergun.com/main_index.htm

The 30-30 Articles below.


http://www.levergun.com/articles/3030_Rifle.htm

http://www.sixgunner.com/backissues/paco/3030Again.htm

http://www.sixgunner.com/backissues/...030varmint.htm

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

the 30 30 should do it but i perfer my 300 win mag she droped a nice black bear for me a couple of years back., the bear was about 200 yards away eating the gut pile of the mouse my budy got earlier. the 300 nocked it right off its feet. i wouldnt be trying this with the 30 30.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

30-30's may or may not be satisfactory black bear medicene, but that is not the point at hand.

** If you want your good friend to guide you, then follow the "guides" advice.

** If you want to be "bumbling idiots on the hillside", then go by yourself and take what ever firearms tickle your fancy and have a good time.

Otherwise when in Rome do as the Romans do. If you are not willing to take his advice, then don't take his time.

I've already turned down a passel of deer hunters that have never went elk hunting, but want to go elk hunting with us and insist that they will be bringing along their baby deer rifles. When I discuss a "near 30-06 minimum" I've even had them argue with me about it --- like its their god given right or something. NOT! Well, it is their right, just not under the watch of my group and I.

Is the tail going to wag the dog or the dog wag the tail? Your call.

EKM

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Thanks everybody, EKM, might I say that that was fair advice and a view I have not looked at, sometimes I forget to look at things from the other side of the coin.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

I read your post again.
Your friend said that shots would be close at about 50 yards. The 30-30 can do this just fine and even out to 100 yards. Have her use 170 Grain bullets.

Your future spouse knows her rifle and the two are one. She has practiced with it for 1 ½ years! She is ready. Most folks would agree with this. She is familiar with it and has practiced with it. Have you ever seen the movie “Ghost in the Darkness” Remember the scene where Val Kilmer takes another mans rifle he is not familiar with and goes after a lion. Remember what Michael Douglas says to him. He tells him that he should not have changed guns you are unfamiliar with. That happens in real life!

The 30-30 is just fine as you describe in your post. I use the 30-30 for deer and Black bear as do a lot of my friends. And yes, we have shot and killed Black bear with the 30-30. It works.

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

Just curious, how did things pan out with your friend relative to the 30-30 on this trip? Seems like your viewpoint is not without support; however, it seems like it will need a little "selling".

I'm hoping issue won't be left unattended to so as to become a "surprise to be dealt with upon arrival".

BTW, I would not recommend switching rifles "the night before" (Ghost In The Darkness); however, "months in advance" is quite a different story.

Another consideration, has she shot the 45-70 with standard factory loads (the ones that are safe for the 1880's guns)? From what I've been around them, they are way docile.

EKM

RE: .30-30 for black bear?
 

That is exactly right EKM the remington 45/70 factory loads 405 gr. are about to cowboy load recoil. They still hit hard at 100 yrds tho.