Best ammo for black bear 30.06

[strubedog]

Drew a bear tag this year and using a 30.06. What is the best bullet to put a bear down as fast as possible?

[dbHunterNY]

I haven't hunted bear with a 30-06, so take this for what it is. I think that any 180 grain load will work just fine. I wouldn't go with say 150 grain bullets though.

[scottb]

I've used the 180gr. partition for years. It has never failed me. 20+ years of hunting bears, 13 dead. All taken with the federal premium 180 gr partition bullet. Clean, fast, kills.

[Dakota]

I shoot a .30-06 and will never shoot anything else for my main big game rifle. I've shot deer, antelope, an elk and a bison with a .30-06 and used 150 grain bullet for all except the bison; I crumpled him immediately at 100 yards with a 180 grain Remington Core-Lokt. Here's proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f6lEMY4gOM I'd say you'll only need 150 grain for black bear and I'd go with either Hornady Custom or Remington Core-Lokt. Good luck!

Dakota

[Jeramie]

I am a pretty big fan of Remington's Corelokt. They are a cheap bullet but have great expansion and weight retention.

I know people are hung up on the higher end ammo and there is nothing wrong with that as you will get a great quality bullet. However, If I dont reload it myself I like to pickup a box of Corelokt. They are a good quality bullet at a very cheap price. Black bear are farily light animals. I would think 150 grain to 180 grain would be very effective. With the energy of a .30-06 either will nicely get the job done.

Keeping in mind that rifles like to eat different bullets too! I have a rifle that refuses to shoot corelokt but will shoot winchester ammo incredibly accurate.

[Strut10]

Shoot a heavy-for-caliber, controlled expansion bullet.

A Partition, Barnes TSX or something similar in 180-200 grains should do well.

You can kill a black bear with a broadside rib shot with a .243. If you have to take a quartering shot or wade through bone, you'll be glad you are shooting a good chunk of lead.

[7mmmagdude1989]

I shoot corelock 150 grain shooting white tail deer, the expansion is awesome, I dropped several by shooting the spine, shot my 8pt at 250 yards this season full run and it dropped. Love them but move up in grains.

[Jeramie]

Shoot a heavy-for-caliber, controlled expansion bullet.

Yeah Yeah Yeah..... we get it. Throw as much bullet at it.... as hard as you can throw it. Sheesh...

[Strut10]

Yeah Yeah Yeah..... we get it. Throw as much bullet at it.... as hard as you can throw it. Sheesh...

No.

Throw as much bullet at it as the cartridge you are using (given you are using a round that is suitable for bear) is capable of throwing.

We're talking the '06 here. That's definitely not "as hard as you can throw it". Not by a long shot and not what I'd use personally. But it's definitely adequate with the right hunk of lead.

[colorado bob]

I used 180 grain round nose. Killed them with both "Core-lokt" & Win "PP" out of my 30/06. I shot them over bait in the spring @ 50 yards.

If I could have found a box of 220 grain round nose I would have used them but the sporting goods store didn't have any so I went with the 180's. CB

[Zeeeter]

For all you 180gr. core-lokt fans.

I was extremely disappointed with them on my last bear.

My Bullet stopped dead in the shoulder blade at 150 yards. Zero penetration after that..

Let's just say I wasn't happy about having to chase down a limping bear in the thick brush.

Let him sit for an hour. Hoping he would have bleed out. Nope.

Was very much alive when I finally found him laying there.

Decided a quick kill was best and was able to Put 1 smack Dab in his ear at 10 yards. Unfortunately was expecting some major  pass through..found no pass through at all...Thankfully it  finally dropped him though.

Maybe it was bad luck on that shoulder blade.  But all I know I'll never use Remington core-lokts again on an animal.

 

 

 

[Strut10]

That DOES sound pretty weird...…………..

For the most part, black bears are not bullet proof and any heavy-for-caliber bullet in a .30 cal will do nicely on a broadside shot.  Sounds to me like you had some freak of bad luck.  If it makes you feel better, find a factory loading with a 180 or 200 grain Partition or similar.

[wtnhunt]

On 4/23/2019 at 1:32 AM, Zeeeter said:

For all you 180gr. core-lokt fans.

I was extremely disappointed with them on my last bear.

My Bullet stopped dead in the shoulder blade at 150 yards. Zero penetration after that..

Let's just say I wasn't happy about having to chase down a limping bear in the thick brush.

Let him sit for an hour. Hoping he would have bleed out. Nope.

Was very much alive when I finally found him laying there.

Decided a quick kill was best and was able to Put 1 smack Dab in his ear at 10 yards. Unfortunately was expecting some major  pass through..found no pass through at all...Thankfully it  finally dropped him though.

Maybe it was bad luck on that shoulder blade.  But all I know I'll never use Remington core-lokts again on an animal.

 

 

 

Kinda surprised by the complaint on corelokts.  While I know deer are not the same as a bear, had great results with 150 grain corelokts from a .270 on deer.  Killed a lot of deer with 150 grain corelokts, never lost a single one.  I reload now, but would not be afraid to take my old .270 with 150 grain corelokts for any animal the .270 is suitable for.  

[elkoholic]

Interesting post, even if it is 9 years old, but I think that with any caliber/bullet design you will find tales of bullet "failure".  In my early hunting days the 30-06 was my primary choice because of the huge range of bullets available and reasonable cost.  I mostly used the 180 gr core-lokt and on occasion the 150 gr core-lokt and never had an issue.  I also owned a dozen different Remington 700s and never had one go bang without my finger pressing the trigger.  Guess I'm just lucky.

As for hunting black bear, they are not hard to kill and any bullet suitable for deer will do the trick.  Of course the use of a large caliber firing a heavy premium bullet may come in handy if a 700+ pounder presents a quartering-to shot.  Get within 100 yards (closer is better) and wait for a broadside or quartering-away shot and you will not need a .470 Nitro to get it done.  My answer to the original post would be either the 150 or 180 gr core-lokt or Nosler partition, and going with the one your rifle and you shoots best.

[wtnhunt]

21 hours ago, elkoholic said:

Interesting post, even if it is 9 years old, but I think that with any caliber/bullet design you will find tales of bullet "failure".  In my early hunting days the 30-06 was my primary choice because of the huge range of bullets available and reasonable cost.  I mostly used the 180 gr core-lokt and on occasion the 150 gr core-lokt and never had an issue.  I also owned a dozen different Remington 700s and never had one go bang without my finger pressing the trigger.  Guess I'm just lucky.

As for hunting black bear, they are not hard to kill and any bullet suitable for deer will do the trick.  

When prepping to send my oldest and wife to Alaska to hunt 10 years ago I was assured that the .270 with 150 grain corelokts would be effective on black bear.  Personally have no experience hunting bears but all I have been told and read on them echo what you say here that they are not difficult to kill.  

21 hours ago, elkoholic said:

I also owned a dozen different Remington 700s and never had one go bang without my finger pressing the trigger.  Guess I'm just lucky.

Have had a couple 700's and even done trigger jobs on them and never had a failure here either.  Unfortunately only takes a few idiots to smear a company and risk loss of life by poor choices.

[im your huckleberry]

Yup bears are tough critters, if close range a good 180 and 200 gr bonded or 180 monolithic should do the job, if you shoot the shoulder. Another place is throught the boiler room, if your at further distance, 180 gr  bt or sst would work. Those 2 would go into the ribs and go to work shredding as they expanded .

[russelon]

The 180 grain Nosler Partition will work great.

[russelon]

double post. pls delete.

Edited July 16, 2019 by russelon

[russelon]

double post. pls delete.

Edited July 16, 2019 by russelon

[Elain salamurhaaja]

4Bear are huge here in coastal NC. Bear hunting is a family tradition for over 8 generations. If a flintlock and ball will drop a bear, a 30-06 should have no problem. I've used my 10mm on 2. Solid black shot at 15 yards. Pass through. DRT. Light cinnamon 27 yards in ground blind with a 12 gauge next to me. It was walking and a behind the ear shot DRT. 

.243 on a small 190lb bear. Reload with Speer hot-core 100gr bullet. It went 30ish yards before giving up life.

All others have been with my 06 and a 165gr Speer Hot Core or a Grand Slam loaded at my bench. If I was going to have too use factory ammo, it would be Winchester power max bonded 180gr. You could take a broad side or slightly quartering shot from 1 foot too 400 yards. That load is GREAT on large hogs as well.

I hope your hunt was good and hope future hunts are even better.

P.S. almost all bear carry trichanosis. Cook too a minimum of 145°.