OG-danimal
Well-Known Member
Let's hear it
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What bullet for black bears?
- Thread starter OG-danimal
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Calvin45
Well-Known Member
The hammer or the eldx. Whichever shoots best in your rifle.
Creedmoor shooter
Well-Known Member
This should be good.
If we're talking blackies then your over thinking it. Black bear are not hard to kill. We've never had a bear walk away from a eld-m. We've killed a few with the 140 eld-m.
If we're talking blackies then your over thinking it. Black bear are not hard to kill. We've never had a bear walk away from a eld-m. We've killed a few with the 140 eld-m.
Calvin45
Well-Known Member
Hehehe…I do recall a recent thread about Saskatchewan black bear hunting, guy looking for bullet recommendations for hammer bullets in a .308 Winchester
Turned into a real ugly train wreck with someone getting banned and a ****ing match between rival monolithic bullet manufacturers haha.
People got so heated!
I stated about the same as you…
Just about any hunting bullet out of any "all around" rifle will be fine.
I have no doubt your 140 eldm will kill fine but I will say for any kind of bear I am still a big fan of big exit wounds and match bullets dont inspire as much confidence for those.
I will also say that, just for myself, I'd definitely prefer to get way closer than 500 yards to a bear of any kind, unlike deer and such. Maybe just bias but the stakes inherently feel higher.
But you're right, a black bear is plainly not a hard critter to kill and doesn't present as much danger to you if somehow something goes wrong.
To the OP - might be good if you haven't done this before to really familiarize yourself with bear anatomy - their proportions are different from the ungulates we mostly hunt and the heart and lungs aren't exactly positioned the same way relative to the shoulders and such. And as we've all heard 1000 times, shot placement is always the most important thing.
Creedmoor shooter
Well-Known Member
I saw that thread. That was certainly tragic to say the least. I wasn't saying to use the eld-m specifically. Just saying it doesn't necessarily matter what you use. Treat them like you do whitetail and all will be good. I know what your saying about exits. They have a tendency to plug up pretty quick. Ive only had one eld-m not exit but we always use heavy for caliber at a milder velocity. We kill them with the same archery set up that we use on deer as well.
Buckskinner
Well-Known Member
Same thing you use when deer hunting will suffice.
Calvin45
Well-Known Member
Only eld m I have experience with hunting is the 225 30 cal. I've loved what I've seen.
Darn good point!
Side note, I've a lot of bear killing experience. I want a bullet that will give me 2 holes.
Secondly, and this is just an observation but cut that range to 300 or less and you could well be happy that you did. If...one muffs a shot on a bruin I would bet each and every time on one never recovering the bruin. Just one man's experience and opinion and obviously we all have choices to make
wvbearhunter
Well-Known Member
As stated, they are particularly hard to kill. I use a 357 mag Winchester with a 158 grain projectile at 2200fps
OG-danimal
Well-Known Member
Thanks all. Good info here. I'll decrease my range and stick to my 124 hammer load, shoots lights out.
The bigger entrance hole the better
35 Whelen 338 WM 444 marlin, 45/70 etc
sea2summit
Well-Known Member
AMAX? I've shot a lot of black bears, they don't take a whole lot with well placed rounds/hunting conditions.
ratso000
Member
I shot a large black bear in Vancouver Island at 165 yards with a 375 HH mag..300 grain Nosler partition he went 20 yards.The bigger entrance hole the better
The guide was also carried a 375..exit hole was 2"..
