30-06 Loads For Black Bear????


hort

Recommended Posts

I have just bought a Savage 110 in 30-06 Cal. I am planning on doing some early fall black bear hunting in the Adirondack Mts in the end of Sept. I was wondering what brand, cartridge type, and grain everyone would recommend for this hunt? Thanks for your help!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

LH hit that nail on the head. They all eat something different. The cheap Corelokts are a good choice but may not shoot well. I have a Ruger M77 .243 that refuses to shoot Corelokts. Throw in Winchester super x or Hornady hand loads and it will split hairs.

As far as bullet choice, pretty much any good expanding, weight retaining bullet. I know a lot of people that hunt elk with a 180grn load so it should work well with bruins too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Colorado Bob

I've taken 2 black bears----both with 180 grain round nose bullets. 1 was "Core-lokt"---the other was a Win Power-Point. Both worked.

If I were doing it again & the shots were going to be close-----I'd be tempted to try 220 grain round nose. CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually a black bear has less will to live than a whitetail.

Most bears would go less than 50 yards when shot with a killing shot, , where a whitetail,

shot threw the same organs , might stretch it out 2 or 3 times that distance . I would think any deer ammo would be fine for a bear. The thing is accuracy so you hit it where you want. :rolleyes:

too_

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Colorado Bob

Problem I've found with bears-------------They don't leave a good blood trail, seems like the fur clogs up the bullet hole. I usually find good blood at the site & the for the first few yards------then nothing. That's why I like the biggest bullet I can find-----I want to shoot the bear thru the shoulders & anchor him on the spot-----at worst I want an entrance & a BIG exit hole-----get the most blood trail I can. CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Go with a 180 gr. as a minimum. If you get a broadside shot.....a 110 gr. will do. But if you get a less-than-perfect angle, you'll be glad you're shooting a heavy ball. 200 gr. would be even better. ;)

What he said! But I would try a few different brands to see what the gun likes. This is what is nice about the 30-06! Some many bullet choices.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Sounds like a 180 grain bullet is the choice of most of you guys. I think I'll buy a few boxes of different brands and see how each one does in my gun. What recommendations do you have on bullet tips? For example, Winchester has both a ballstistic silvertip and a soft point power point in a 180 grain cartridge. Which would be best for hunting black bear?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

my dad loads his own loads when we go up.im not sure what kinda tip he puts on it.ill ask him tomorrow or sometime caus hes gonna load some next weekend proubally caus i just bought a 30-30 so were gonna get some tips and brass and load some up for my 30-30 and he'll proubually load some for his gun. the early season up there is rifle?caus i looked it up the other day and my dad wasnt sure if the early season was rifle or not but were going up there in regular season which starts like at the end of oct

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Actually a black bear has less will to live than a whitetail.

Most bears would go less than 50 yards when shot with a killing shot, , where a whitetail,

shot threw the same organs , might stretch it out 2 or 3 times that distance . I would think any deer ammo would be fine for a bear. The thing is accuracy so you hit it where you want. :rolleyes:

too_

I have to disagree with you on this one. I think bears have a stronger will to live. Bears will actually perform first aide on themselves if given the opportunity. I hit my bear in the heart and both lungs at 8 yards. My bear went 80-100yards and still had enough breathe to give out the death moan.

As for the question about bullet weight, a good 180gr will get the job done. Plus with that weight you are more likely to break the front shoulder if you happen to hit it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.