Seen a bear today....................

[Catahoula]

Just kidding,
But I am seeing them in my dreams at night because the spring hunt is about 2 months from opening!!!!!!!
Been working up a few new loads for my old 25-06 Remington Classic. That rifle has killed everything from rats to a B&C bison, but not a bear. Hope to change that this year. Also bought a S&W model 629 in 44 mag.
Any advice on what to load in it to whack a bear with?
Thanks Guys, Kirk

[CPGfan]

300 grain cast LBT's work well on fuzzy wuzzy's!!

[ntg]

Hum...black bear I assume. Good luck with it.

[HARPERC]

Most any of them from 275 grains up. I like the Barnes. The hard cast also work well.

[rooster740]

My dog caught a gopher today, so when I saw this thread....Ah ya got me!

[Cold Trigger Finger]

I would go with a mono metal bullet in the 25-06 .
In the 629 the 300 gr is pretty ideal. 20 gr of H110 or 296 with a mag pistol primer.
The Smith isn't built for extreme pressure.
I loaded some 300 gr Speer with 20 gr of 296 for a friends 6" 29 . He shot a 6+' black bear on Prince of Wales Is. From less than 20' in the head. The bullet went thru the skull, totally destroyed over 12" of neck vertibra and part way thru the lungs. Over 18" of straight penetration. .

[royinidaho]

Kirk,

By the time the spring bear season opens I'll probably be healed enough to give it a go. (Kidney removal day after tomorrow.

What's the odds of getting some pointers? Never hunted bear.