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

 

[Shooter264]

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.

 

[Shooter264]

In the spring the bears will be where it's green.

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

You must see plenty of bear when you're elk hunting don't you.

 

[HARPERC]

Just got a picture from my daughters father in law via Facebook, apparently a bear break in at their cabin. Cascades lower elevation, snow's melting a bit. We cut a giant bear track in the snow, cat hunting December 22 many years ago. Who can say what a critter will or won't do?

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

I've seen fresh bear tracks in every week of the winter months at one time or another in Southeast ..

 

[Cold Trigger Finger]

In the spring the bears will be where it's green.

I generally agree. They like to do their pro biotic cleanse. But they will gobble up what ever winter kill they can find.

 

[HARPERC]

I generally agree. They like to do their pro biotic cleanse. But they will gobble up what ever winter kill they can find.

Fun to watch them working a snow slide. It must pay off regular enough to keep at it.

 

[Catahoula]

Hey Roy,
Good to hear from you. Hope all goes well with your operation. You just get ahold of me when you are healed up and I will help you all I can.
Thanks, Kirk