Bear Rifle 2014, you vote !

[Guy Miner]

Washington's general bear season opens in most of the state on August 1st, less than two months away! It's all spot and stalk here, no bait, no hounds.

My son and I have been doing pretty doggone well on black bear the past few years. He's been using an ancient .30-06 Model of 1917 with a 6x scope and I've been using bear as a great excuse to haul my .375 H&H Ruger Number One afield.

He'll likely stick with that tried & true Model of 1917. I'm thinking it may be time to hunt with something else. Please provide input!

My choices are:

.30-30 Glenfield with 2.5x Leupold & 170 gr Remington bullets handloaded to 2100 fps


.30-06 Remington 700 CDL, with 2-7x Redfield and 165 or 180 gr Nosler bullets


.375 H&H Ruger Number One with 1.5-5x Leupold with 260 or 270 gr Nosler or Hornady bullets


It's been several years since I shot anything other than varmints & targets with my lever action rifle.

The .30-06 is fairly new to me and is not yet blooded.

The .375 does just fine on bear...

Feel free to offer comments and any other suggestions, I'll be happy to hear them, but I'm not buying any new rifles this year!

Thanks, Guy

 

[DrMike]

Any of the rifles you list will work on black bear. The primary limitation on the 30-30 is range; but no one questions that within the limitations of its range it will drop a black bear right smartly. The 30-06 is an excellent choice that has worked very effectively for over a century; there is no reason to imagine that it will cease working now. The 375--well, there was never a question about whether it would work. Yeah, hard choices, Guy. Because it is spot and stalk, I'd lean more toward the 30-06, though either of the other two will impel a bit more of the stalking to ensure you are in range. Great choices of three classics.

 

[LD375]

Well Guy, you have some great choices that's for sure, I would go with that big 375 H&H pal 8)

As for myself, I well be bear hunting the week of Sept 1st, I've been trying to decide myself between my 7mm rem mag or 375 H&H, both well knock the snot outta Mr bear, but I'm going with the 375 H&H with 300gr Partitions or Norma Oryx bullets.
Good luck on your choice, and hunting trip pal :grin:

Lou

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I always preferred a lever action for bear...short, quick, and light...

I've killed about a dozen or so bears I guess...but the last one was quite some time ago (1990 I think).

There are a number of good reasons to use a lever gun for bear in TN, NC, VA...I'd say those same reasons fit for WA too.

Thick underbrush, steep hills..some nearing 7,000 feet, hard....rough....exhausting terrain...

30-30 works fine, 35 Rem even better, 45-70 even better still...

 

[SJB358]

Your 30-06 sounds perfect! Hope it gets a chance on another great bear!

 

[Thebear_78]

Hard to beat that classy 375.

 

[Darkhorse]

If it was me I'd blood that M700. Also you'd be hunting with the classic American cartridge, the Caliber .30, 1906. Spiced up just a little with Nosler bullets and modern powders.
Good combination.

 

[JD338]

Guy,

They all will work well although the 30-30 has limited range over the 30-06 and the 375 H&H.
What about the 375 H&H bolt rifle you bought a while back? Load it up with a 260 gr PT.

Would also be a good reason to get another 1895 45-70. :wink:

JD338

 

[lefty315]

Guy, I think you should challenge yourself and use the old .30-30!!

 

[SJB358]

I think Jim has a good point! Run that old Winchester!

 

[gerry]

I vote for the CDL 30-06 :lol: great gun and round.....

 

[FOTIS]

The 375 of course....Unless you want me to send you my 378 416 or 460 Bee!

 

[DrMike]

The 375 of course....Unless you want me to send you my 378 416 or 460 Bee!

An offer that will be hard to refuse! :grin:

 

[super-7]

Well maybe it's just me but I think Guy or his son, hmm maybe both need a new rifle.. Lol
I'm thinking for all the hiking you both do maybe a Kimber Montana in something fancy like 270 WSM , or something spicey like 6.5-284... Not enabling just thinking out loud.

 

[Elkman]

I would use the .375 or the .06, or maybe the 06 and the 375 as backup. Of course you could handicap yourself and shoot the 06 left handed and use the .375 for backup. My first choice I think would be the 06, hmm,maybe I already covered that one??? What about the .375???

On second thought you could use the 06 0n even numbered days and the .375 on the odd numbered days. Or do it the other way even then odd. I think I am getting confused. !!!

 

[sask boy]

I love the 375 H&H it is one of my all time favourite calibres!! But you did state that you have not yet had a kill with the 06. I really like rifles that have had the experience of a being bloodied :wink:.
So for the first time I will vote 06 but my heart still says 375 H&H :mrgreen:!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[muleman]

Guy,
I vote for the '06; especially loaded with 190LRABs. What about the "Green Machine"?
Scott

 

[1100 Remington Man]

My Vote is 30-06. I have to say I have had a Marlin 336 30-30 Win and in having it for 30 plus years I have never shot it at Big Game, I paid $ 89.00 NIB thinking I would sell it some day just have not done it yet. I have better rifles this is why I have never hunted with it. Remington 700 CDL is a nice Rifle.

 

[Vince]

Depends.
If you're fairly certain that your range won't exceed 200 Yards I'd say go with the Thudy Thudy but the '06 needs bloodied. Me, I'd go with the '06 but that's just me.

Vince

 

[Oldtrader3]

For central Washington Bears, I would use my .338 Federal but you may want to use your .30-06, so may I for that matter.