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How to kill a bear quickly?

I bet the 06 has put down more bears than any other caliber out there.
Put a 180 grainer in its melon and its lights out. Given the choice, especially with my family around,
I would opt for something pushing a 250-400 grain slug capable of going brain to butt hole.
Whatever you use, get good with it
 
A good friend of mine was a predator hunter and game warden in BC. One summer, he shot 68 bears. His favorite rifle/cartridge combo was a 270 Winchester loaded with 130 grain Winchester Silvertips. These bullets would seldom exit and, since he was often shooting in populated areas, this was important to him. Usually, the bear dropped in its tracks. He and I shot bears with everything. The 12 gauge, with slugs, was one of the worst performers. WH
 
Buddy of mine here in Northern BC had a Grizzly bear draw a few years back and I was supposed to go with him but had no time so he went alone. First day he was walking down a seismic line and low and behold he hears sticks snapping and something coming through the bush. He got down low down and waited and up comes a large inland mountain Grizz sniffing the ground 13 yards from where he was knelt down. Yes when he tells the story he still gets cold sweats. He let him have it dead center in the chest from said 13 yards with a .300 Win mag with a 180 grain bullet and Bear stood straight up roared and took off to the right. If it came towards him he admits he would have been a dead man for sure. Anyway the Grizz took 15 minutes to die from a 13 yard shot with a .300 win mag to the chest. Kill a bear quickly? Not so easy. Bear weighed 850 pounds and made the Boon and Crockett a few years back.
 
One thing when you are hunting the bear. Different if the bear is hunting you. There is no way that I can see a hand gun as the best mode of defense for a newbie having to deal with the immediate stress of being killed by his attacker, bear, wolf, armed human. Odds are he is not going to making a head shot with a pistol.
 
All good advice here. I can only add that you purchase a large bore handgun 10mm-45 caliber - whichever you can handle and shoot well. Have it on your person at all times. A 30-06 leaning in the corner of the barn will do you no good if you are outside. Also purchase a pump shotgun with a riot length barrel. You can load with bean bags as previously mentioned if you want to educate them. Load it with OO if you don't. Not slamming the 30-06 - keep it handy too as mentioned already. Plus teach or get training for your wife. There was a story a while back where a man was killed by a bear while the wife was on the phone - I believe she used a rifle to kill the bear but it was too late.

Hopefully the bears will get educated to avoid the area. Leave nothing edible behind - a black bear broke into my uncle's hunting shack and ate the only food item there - a tin of Crisco.

PS
You didn't say how old your kids were, but teach them a code word or something that they obey unequivically and immediately and GTF out of there and into the barn with no lip and no backtalk.

PSS
Join the NRA and/or SAF and/or GOA.
 
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First, the 30.06 is fine. It has killed lots of bears. Other folks have recommended alternatives including heavy recoiling pistols. Most important is get some fire arms safety training and practice. The first time you experience the recoil of a bear capable gun is not when the bear is charging - you may get eaten. There are venues in your area that offer training. I think Sig Academy is just across the state line in NH. Having grown up in WY where there are lots of BIG bears, I know bear spray works when deployed correctly and in time. Get some.
 
I have NO experience with this, but my worthless two cents would be:

1) If you're going to be outside for any length of time, a sizeable sidearm on your hip would be good.
2) As said above, a riot barrel pump shotgun with 00 buckshot. (or a couple of them..one in the house, one in the garage, one in the barn...etc)

I have reservations about a 30-06 (or similar)....most likely a bolt gun, and the delay for a second (or third) shot could be significant. And the jitters that might accompany being in the presence of an approaching bear might cause a person to 'not be so accurate'. And at that range and needed speed, FORGET the scope, iron sights only. Because of the potential jitters and need for follow up shots...I'd favor the pump shotgun. But you can't walk around all the time with a shotgun, hence the sidearm.

And be aware of what you're doing with food!!
 
I'm not a resident of a state where bears visit my yard or area very often. I have bears around my home in spring and fall. They hit the bird feeders in spring and in the fall they are in my neighbors apple orchard behind my property. Neither places or visits have had me concerned. I walk outside and they run. Period. When I see one in my neighbors orchard, I'm usually in a treestand deer hunting. When they see or smell me, they take off. I won't say that you picked the wrong place to live and call home if bears live close by and you can't deal with them, so I'll say simply deal with it. In your case, I'd say bear spray is something I'd have in the garage, porch and or outside close by where it can be found quickly if a bear wonders in to your yard. Remember they wondered into your yard because there curious or hungry. If curious, bear spray works. If there hungry I'd say do not feed birds or yard animals. Keep dog/cat food indoors. A rifle/shotgun/slugs work for defensive purposes for sure. An 06 will be a good choice with heavy bullets and some good range experience shooting it. Because they infringed on your property rather than you on theirs, makes the scenario a bit less dangerous. The only other scenario that could be more dangerous would be if a Sow and cubs walked into your yard, I'd simply walk away into a safe location. She just won't tolerate human presence when her cubs are around. These are my experiences with bears. Black bears. That's what exists in your state of Vermont. There unpredictable so my suggestions are only what I'd do given my experience with black bears. I've never had to kill one from a bad encounter because they have backed out or ran away. Never trust one with your family. Also call fish and game Everytime you have an encounter. They will many times relocate problem bears if they are called enough from a nuisance bear. Good luck.
 
Jaybray..... I wonder if the results with your buddy's bear being shot at 13 yards would have been different if shot with the 00 buckshot... probably not... unless shot in the head...maybe. It seems like the big question should be..."what will stop a bear in it's tracks" because if it does not do that... you become food. The reason to shoot it is to make it stop it's charge on you. The bullet and the blast is suppose to make it change it's mind. I'm sure that most shots on charging bears are ONLY doing that... making it change it's mind... making it turn away. It can be shot full of holes, yet still have the ability to make your lunch... or at least tear you into bread slices. It seems that just using a caliber that will eventually kill it... if it changes it's mind... but NOT really stopping it in it's tracks is a gamble... and those are HIGH stakes at 13 yds. Good thing it worked out for his buddy. It not sure a load of buckshot in the chest would have produced different results. So if you want to gamble on changing it's mind only, then shoot whatever is in your hands... even a shotgun.... but if you want to stop it, then a head shot is your only option... and that option had better be with a weapon that you can place accurate shots at on a charging bear, while your panties are filling up...LOL.

So i vote for a riot shotgun full of buck shot that can be QUICKLY put into action.

When I bowhunting for Sikka Deer on Kodiak Island with Wade Nolan several years ago.... we all had riot shotguns within quick reach from our backpacks.

It's amazing how many big brown bears on are that Island.

I was glad I came off that Island with clean shorts...LOL.

PS... even David learned that if you want to bring down a Giant... you better hit'em in the head.
 
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...... And.... you need to get down on one knee while shooting, because you have a better chance of hitting straight into the chest... neck... throat... or face. Standing shots will only allow you to hit the head, but mostly across the top side.

But then again... who on earth has the Jewel's to kneel down in front of a charging bear?

Try it if you need too... if it doesn't work... I'll give your money back....LOL.
 
Maybe some day I will get to try my 45-70 with 425 grain flat nose lead bullets. That or a shotgun slug would be my choice. Heavy solid lead in any case.
 
Shot one calf killer a few years ago with a 223 fmj, right thru the ear hole, stone dead right there! Not my first choice but it was the only weapon available, we were there to ship calves.
 
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