new to bears

[ducmarc]

i've hunted the va. wva. mountians on and off for 30yrs. mostly a meat hunter. this fall had a close incounter with a fairly large black bear i've glassed them but never been in smelling range. i have to say i've never been on edge like that on a hunt in my life. now i'm hooked. i had my270 with 100 grs partitions and was afraid i'd just maim him. so my question is what is a a good caliber and load(i reload) for brushy 150 yrd shots? i have a 3006/270/ and a 6mm rem now but wouldn't mind building a dedicated bear rifle thanks

 

[cowboy]

i've hunted the va. wva. mountians on and off for 30yrs. mostly a meat hunter. this fall had a close incounter with a fairly large black bear i've glassed them but never been in smelling range. i have to say i've never been on edge like that on a hunt in my life. now i'm hooked. i had my270 with 100 grs partitions and was afraid i'd just maim him. so my question is what is a a good caliber and load(i reload) for brushy 150 yrd shots? i have a 3006/270/ and a 6mm rem now but wouldn't mind building a dedicated bear rifle thanks

I've seen them killed with all 3 rifles that you have - don't see a need for anything bigger. With a good bullet and well placed shot you'd be just fine. I personally think the 6mm is a little on the light side but only because of the bullets. Black bears are not as tough as we'd like to think they are.

 

[ducmarc]

thanks for the reply i was thinking that i might need abigger dia. bullet like something in .338 or .35. don't want to back away from building a new rifle.

 

[JOHNNIE WALKER]

Your 270 or your 30/06 will give you more than enough power to put down a bear. Just use a decent bonded bullet.
Remember that bowhunters kill them all the time.

 

[ducmarc]

what would be a good bear bullet for either weight and designi normally use 150gr. nosler on the 3006 think i should go up to 180 the 270 not sure what to use. whats a better bullet for non magnum calibers

 

[dogbuster0006]

If you wanted to shoot the 270 i would personally go with a heavier bullet. Any of the guns you mentioned would do a fine job with a good bullet and correct shot placement. If you want a dedicated bear gun a 35 rem or even a 45-70 lever gun would be a hell of a bear rifle. If you need a reason to buy or build a rifle we are here to help you. You don't "need" a different rifle what you've got will do just fine with the right bullets. Check the barnes tsx or tipped tsx they're a tougher bullet and would probably be right up your alley. I will be hunting blackies here in alaska with a 25-06 and 115 berger vlds, I've got a 7rem mag with barnes tsx for back up just in case a long shot needs to be made and a buddy will be carrying it.

 

[JOHNNIE WALKER]

The fact that that guy is going to use a 25/06 should tell you something. With a good bullet out your rifle you will be fine.

150gr or heavier out of your 30/06
130 or 140gr out of your 270

Hornady interbond or nosler accubond, or something similar.

 

[etisll40]

You could re barrel the 30-06 to 35 whelen or 35 whelen ai. Shoot 20-300 grain bullets, it's just about as lethal as anything under 200 yds or so. It's an incredibly devastating caliber, not much can walk away from it.

 

[rdinak]

Use a heavy for caliber premium bullet and you will be fine. Consider breaking the shoulders instead of the traditional heart lung shots. Tracking a wounded bear through thick brush is no fun...

I have kiiled several bears and the meat is a reflection of what they have been eating. Fall bears eating berries are great. Spring bears coming out of hibernation are very good.

 

[ducmarc]

thanks for all the help

 

[Derek M.]

i've hunted the va. wva. mountians on and off for 30yrs. mostly a meat hunter. this fall had a close incounter with a fairly large black bear i've glassed them but never been in smelling range. i have to say i've never been on edge like that on a hunt in my life. now i'm hooked. i had my270 with 100 grs partitions and was afraid i'd just maim him. so my question is what is a a good caliber and load(i reload) for brushy 150 yrd shots? i have a 3006/270/ and a 6mm rem now but wouldn't mind building a dedicated bear rifle thanks

I was not aware a 100 gr partition was available in .277. Is this new? Regardless, a 270 will work every time on a black bear. I've used my 30.06 on many.

 

[Derek M.]

Next time I rifle hunt for black bear I'm using my 270 with 110 TSX or TTSX.

 

[HARPERC]

You could re barrel the 30-06 to 35 whelen or 35 whelen ai. Shoot 20-300 grain bullets, it's just about as lethal as anything under 200 yds or so. It's an incredibly devastating caliber, not much can walk away from it.

The .35 Whelen is a very effective cartridge within the requested parameters.

The gap between it and the .30-06 narrows a bit with a good 220 grain bullet like the Nosler Partition.

 

[ducmarc]

i'm sorry they were nosler accubonds havent shot it for a while had to go back and look.the 35 whelen is that an 06 case also thinking 338 06