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Cartriges for black bear.

john 800

I may be going on a black bear hunt next year with some coworkers. I have never hunted bear, dont know much about it, they hunt with dogs and usually use big bore revolvers, however I don’t have one and honestly I am not a very good shot with handguns anyway. I do have a 357 lever action rifle and 308,270,7 rem mag deer rifles. Sounds like most of their shots are under 50 yards, I don’t really feel like the scoped rifles would be ideal, but the 357 with open sights would be handy, not sure if it would be enough gun or not. What is common? Maybe a 450 bushmaster carbine with a red dot?
Edit: the hunt will be in Wi in heavy timber if it meatters
 
30-30Win will do just all that needs doing for blackies in thicker bush scenarios. 270 or 308 are just fine too, as long as the scope will go down to 4x or less. Nothing wrong with a red dot sight either. Don't need a bigger bore or cartridge, unless of course, you just happen to WANT one. Or maybe just buy a more "suitable" scope for the 308 or 270 if you want to have that option for it, 1-4x, 1-6x, take your pick.
 
209jones said:
30-30Win will do just all that needs doing for blackies in thicker bush scenarios. 270 or 308 are just fine too, as long as the scope will go down to 4x or less. Nothing wrong with a red dot sight either. Don't need a bigger bore or cartridge, unless of course, you just happen to WANT one. Or maybe just buy a more "suitable" scope for the 308 or 270 if you want to have that option for it, 1-4x, 1-6x, take your pick.
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. lot depends on the way you're hunting the bears if over bait close range 450 brushmaster . 45 caliber will put them down!!! . long range most high powered rifles 270 & up 300 win is what i would use .
 
The bigger the bullet & case, the better. .357 in handguns not good. .44 & bigger is better. Bears are not particularly hard to kill, but are a little had to stop. For this reason I use handguns in .325 WSM & .375/.284 on a cornfield farm where I've killed 7 bears last 12 years. Overkill??? Maybe, but none of these bears have gone over 10 yards.
Members of my bear club have taken dozens of bears with .44 Mags & 250 gr. Keith SWC.
 
Put a Red Dot/Holo Sight on your 308.
For those close range shots use a bonded bullet or partition.
FYI A 12ga.slug works pretty darn well too.
 
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Shot placement is key. A broadside double lung shot will put them on the ground in less than 30 yards. I would recommend 30 caliber and above with heavier bullets for full penetration. In handguns, 44 or 45 with hard cast Keith style semi-wadcutter. You have to let the air out of them.
 
I know of people that hunt black bear with a 25-06.

My personal choice is a Ruger 77 MKII in 280 Rem.

Check your game laws before you decide to use a handgun for hunting.
Lots of people here in PA are actually doing it illegally.
You can carry a pistol with your concealed carry in PA. But semi auto pistols are not legal for game.
To hunt, you need a "Sportsman's" permit. And your pistol goes under the same rules as a rifle for vehicles. Meaning that it has to be unloaded.
 
The guy I hunted elk with also did bears, he said that the dogs will tree them and getting to the tree before the bear catches it breath and comes down and whips the dogs and runs for it is the key. I would guess your friends don't want the inconvenience and weight of a rifle while running to get to the tree.
 
Some that use hounds and tree bears use cartridges from 22 Mag on up. Depends on your wants and often what the owner of the hounds would like you to use.
A good 30-30 is a fine choice, in a carbine and with good open/peep sights for treed bear.
Your first bear hunt and if the bear is treed or on the ground, you would be well served with your 308 Win and a low powered scope or even a open sight, that you are used to using.
 
Bill K said:
Some that use hounds and tree bears use cartridges from 22 Mag on up. Depends on your wants and often what the owner of the hounds would like you to use.
A good 30-30 is a fine choice, in a carbine and with good open/peep sights for treed bear.
Your first bear hunt and if the bear is treed or on the ground, you would be well served with your 308 Win and a low powered scope or even a open sight, that you are used to using.
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That`s what I used.Win.Model 70 in .308 barrel cut to 16 1/2 inches B%C stock 1.5-6 power scope with a red dot reticle. Lite and quick when you are chasing.
 
I have heard a number of people using 6.5 Grendel for bear up in Alaska, but I am not sure I would want to have a 6.5 Grendel in a bear situation. Do you have Grizzly or Brown bear in WI?

If I'm going to hunt bear, I want at least a 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. They will take most bear pretty easily. We only have black bear in my area though...
 
Konocti's Wigwam said:
I have heard a number of people using 6.5 Grendel for bear up in Alaska, but I am not sure I would want to have a 6.5 Grendel in a bear situation. Do you have Grizzly or Brown bear in WI?

If I'm going to hunt bear, I want at least a 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. They will take most bear pretty easily. We only have black bear in my area though...
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No grizz or browns, just black bears so pretty much overgrown raccoons
 
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ebb said:
The guy I hunted elk with also did bears, he said that the dogs will tree them and getting to the tree before the bear catches it breath and comes down and whips the dogs and runs for it is the key. I would guess your friends don't want the inconvenience and weight of a rifle while running to get to the tree.
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Hmm I will have to ask them, I cant picture these guys running without anything chasing them, I probably wouldn’t do well either
 
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