Black Bear Rifles

[Guest Herd_Bull]

Whats everyones favorite rifle for bear hunting...i usually like bowhunting black bears, but for rifle my favorite is a .270 w/ open sight...

[Guest Colorado Bob]

I used my 30/06 on the black bears I've killed. They were over bait. But I now have a 444 Marlin------I would love to use it on a black bear. It's topped with a Leupold 1.5 x 4 VarX-II. CB

[njbowhntr]

So far I only have one with the compound bow. My next bear hunt will be in the spring of 2009, using the longbow on that hunt. But if I was going to rifle hunt it would probably be 30-06 or maybe 308 if over bait, spot and stalk would be the 7mm STW.

[mule659]

If I was going to buy a gun just for it I would love to have a guide gun in .45-70 since it will probally be a close shot anyway.

[BR44]

I have a Encore pistol in 460 S&W mag. that I'm thinking on using .

[Strut10]

I'm pretty partial to my 375 Wby. for bears and won't carry any other rifle again.......ever. But anything from a 308/30-06 on up should do just fine in most situations.

[WaCoyote]

Remington model 673 in 350 Rem Mag.

[Guest Trapper243]

I've saw guys use all the above with extremly good results.Last fellow I guided used a 44magnum.

[stevebeilgard]

black bears are not a difficult kill. i shot one with a 44 mag. but browns, now, require a big gun. i'd start with a 300 mag, and go up from there.

[birddog]

In my opinion hunting a bear over bait with a rifle is foolish: Usually the stand is so close that the bullet has no time to expand, the most effective bear killing firearm is a 12 gauge slug: Bears are the best animal to hunt with a bow. They give you all the time you need to take the shot that you are comfortable with. I bought my brother a bow a few years ago just because he wanted to use his rifle on a bear hunt. His first kill (and only) with his bow was a 289# MN black bear! If you choose to use a rifle, make sure you are shooting open sites! As Steve said, bears aren't hard to kill, just take your time and make a good, clean, ethical shot: They give you the opportunity over bait!

[Guest antlerhead]

I Would Use My 300 Win. Mag. Because Thats The Only Big Game Rifle I Own. But Lots Of Calibers Are Capable Of Doing The Job On A Black Bear.

[Guest onesonek]

Not sure about the rifle part;) as from a stand over bait I prefer the Encore in pistol configuration with a .45-70 loaded with 400 gr. Spear flatpoint. Still hunting the edges of meadows or berry patches, I may switch to the rifle barrel in the 9.3x74R 250 gr. Accubond or Partition. As stated, blackies aren't particularly tough to kill. But I always prefer exit wounds. Regardless of what caliber I'm shooting, I tend to go with bullets that have a SD of .260-280 or so. I have found lighter bullets can come apart at close range, more so at rifle velocities than pistol, resulting in poor penetration.

Dave

[coorsdrifter]

Will be taking my 1st bear hunt next May in Idaho.will be using either my 50cal mz or my Ruger 7mmrem mag.