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bear

I have killed bear with a shotgun and a bow! I know of people that have used 25-06, but I think you need to specify what kind of bear and type of hunting! I would suggest with experience with my bow to not aim directly for there shoulder. Aim slightly behind it.
 
Will it kill it???? Most likely yes. Will you recover it???? That is the question. I've lost too many bears that were hit in the heart lung area, but didn't break a shoulder than I care to recall. I have used a 243 with 100 gr partitions, 25-06 with 115 gr partitions to 30-06 165 cup and core to successfully harvest bears, but I had to anchor them by breaking the shoulder. When hunting bears I now try to use something big enough to make sure I can break them down from all angles.

Scott
 
A Nice Ballistic tip to the lung heart area and there done just like anything else! I personally wouldn't touch anything off in the shoulder or shoulder blade area unless your sporting some serious lead!! If your hunting close range baited bears I would bring a 45-70 or something ridiculous.. My uncle hit a bear in Quebec on the same trip I was on with a 12 gauge at forty yards and rolled it down in a little dried up stream and the bear stood up and ran off.. With the thick fur they have tracking is really pointless cause it takes forever for the blood to start hitting the ground...Bears don't run far missing both lungs and possibly a heart and ribs are not shoulder bones!!! I have personally stuck a bear with a muzzy with my bow at 15 yards and using 73 lbs behind my arrow and the bear ran and snapped it off on a tree on his way out. I never penetrated through the shoulder and after placing the arrow next to my others you could tell about an inch was left in him..Long story short, If I aimed a inch or two back he would have bleed out within a few yards missing both his lungs!!
 
Sled2live said:
Will it kill it???? Most likely yes. Will you recover it???? That is the question. I've lost too many bears that were hit in the heart lung area, but didn't break a shoulder than I care to recall. I have used a 243 with 100 gr partitions, 25-06 with 115 gr partitions to 30-06 165 cup and core to successfully harvest bears, but I had to anchor them by breaking the shoulder. When hunting bears I now try to use something big enough to make sure I can break them down from all angles.

Scott

Very well stated!
 
I helped a wounded warrior frend set up some bear baits this spring. Never asked him what he was going to shoot it with. We had bears hit the first day I went home he hunted 2 days later.
He killed his bear with a 204 ruger in a ar platform! Bear went about 6 yards.
Would I sugjest it NO is it doable yes.
I dont like to track wounded bears blood trails normaly dont hit the ground! But on the underside of brush. Bears dont run to open country!
If you have ever had a mad bear make a run at you you will beleave in ENOUPH GUN!
Hit them right braking the shoulder with enouph bullet it will be a good day.

Just my 2¢
Kevin
 
How is everyone here giving opinions and advice with the extreme lack of info the OP has provided? ??? Especially when he is talking about using a lightweight explosive A-Max bullet in an "unknown" caliber at an "unknown" velocity and "unkown" accuracy or shooting abilty at supposedly long range described only as "way out".

Did anyone mention that a bear's lungs are located up higher behind the shoulder starting almost at the spine for proper shot placement? Or that long hair length has to be accounted for if trying to take a heart shot? Not trying to offend anyone here, but there's no way ETHICAL advice can be given at this point.

I assume he's shooting a 6.5mm caliber of some sort since I believe that is the only caliber hornady makes a 140gr A-Max for, but we have no idea. For all we know he could be planning on using a 6.5 Grendel out of a 14" barrel M4 AR15 and wanting to shoot them at 1000 yards... I hope thats not the case, and probably isn't, but you all know what I'm saying here.
 
No offense taken. 140 a max 6.5 mm correct. 2870 fps. Id never take 1000 yard I don't think. I'm thinking 800 or less. 6.5x 47 Lapua. A maxes go right through coyotes. Had it happen twice. I'm going to buy v maxes tomorrow for that chore.
 
I'm new here but have taken a few black bear, the last one with a 45/70 contender & it went a couple hundred yards thru the thickest, roughest stuff it could thru a stream & up a hill after a shot that took out a good part of his heart. What kind & size bear are we talking? if anything but a black bear I'd say no & even then I'd chose something with a bit more thump at that yardage. JMHO
 
If you shoot the shoulder like some are suggesting I would say no!! I believe anybody that can control them selves and wait for a good shot to present it's self then why not! If you go on a bear hunt using dogs and they tree the bear there not gonna use a big rifle to blow him out of the tree..A treed bear will most likely be taken with a .22 mag so the bear will die and then fall from the tree other wise the bear gets blown out and rips the dogs up!!! I love to Archery hunt and bows don't have have as much killing power as a 6.5 grendal with a 14" barrel and it's all about shot placement..A good hunter is one that knows his limitations.
 
I haven't killed a ton of bear but I have killed them with a bow, shotgun & rifle. Aiming point can best be described as a beer can width behind the shoulder 2/3 of the way up from the bottom of the chest. He won't go far. I have never had an issue with a blood trail on a bear. Quality bullet will do the job even in a small caliber, shot placement trumps horsepower.
 
My bullet of choice over all others would be a Barnes TTSX or their new LRX. Guaranteed dead. Guaranteed penetration even thru shoulders.
 
What is the operating velocity window for the 140 A-Max? What is the velocity of your bullet at your maximum range?

Personally, the 6.5 is my minimum for bear, in theory, of course. I would use a heavy constructed bullet, no farther than 200 yards.

Stay off the shoulder. A quartering away shot would be best. I have seen a black bear shoulder stop a 200g partition from a 300WM @ 400yds. Yea, it broke it all right, but that bear stood there and watched me cover 400 yards on foot to reach my buddy (ran out of ammo), and put the finall round into him. Just so ya know, my buddy, was on the North Texas Drug Task force. He admits, when the bear did not go down after the second shot, he lost his cool, and could not hit $#!√. He said the follow up was like going to a raid on a drug lab. That bear ended up being 6'9" nose to tail, and estimated 3/8" short of making the book(one round broke the cheek bone).
 
I just went looking for 140 berger hunting bullets. I'm partial to bergers and hornadys. Stay away from shoulder? Will try if I even get to shoot. Guys on long range pursuit dropped bear with 6xc and 115 berger hunting bullets.
 

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