Spring Bear Hunt

[SJB358]

Well, I think Lori and I are headed to Idaho in order to hunt Spring Black Bear. We are in the beginning parts of the planning phase, but I have to work out some rifles for her. She has he 25-06, that I got her for her anniversary. She shoots it pretty well, but she says it kinda beats her up with the 115 BT's at 3250, so I am going to back them down and switch over to 115 PT's at around 3000. Anyone think that is a bad idea for Black Bear. I have never used anything so small for bear, but to me, it mimicks a 270 Winchester with a 130, and I can't see that being too light. She wouldn't be shooting very far at all, max would be about 300 at most.

I am looking at getting my 444 Marlin set up with a scope for her and a lighter 250 grain load. That would probably be her rifle for sitting over baits, cause the ranges should be close and the shots fairly easy.

Anyhow, I am pretty sure the Guide Rifle is going along as is my 338 Win Mag. Those two really need to get some hunting in!

I could also have Lori use our son's 7mm Mauser, I have a promising load with the 160 PT and that rifle is a little lighter, but she shoots it very well. She stated it was easier on her shoulder (140's at 2800 vs 115's at 3250). Anyhow, your thoughts on this would be excellent. She doesn't seem to like recoil much at all. I am going to get her a PAST recoil shield of her own pretty quickly. She threw mine on and commented how it took the recoil right away, so she is telling me something there!

Anyhow, any of you ever taken bears with a 25-06? I know the bullet is up to it without issue and with it being close shots, it shouldn't be much of a hat trick..

 

[gerry]

I would have her use her 25-06 with the lighter kicking loads, if she sticks one in the right place the bear won't go far and besides she needs to blood the new gun anyways. I have known people to use the 25-06 and we have also used the 260 Rem with excellent results. I would be confident in the load and wouldn't look anywhere else.

 

[DrMike]

It is a good plan to avoid the recoil on new and/or lightweight shooters. The 7X57 will work just fine for bears. However, I don't see any reason why the 25-06 wouldn't work quite well for your wife. I think it is really great that you have this opportunity to spend some time afield with your lady. I'm wishing you each every success in tagging out.

 

[gerry]

BTW congrats on the bear hunting spring is one of the very best times to be in the mountains. It is one of my most favorite times to be out hunting, you won't regret it in any way. It will be even better to head out with your wife and share the experience together. Bears aren't nearly as wary as animals you are used to hunting like deer so stalking them isn't hard if you reasonably careful.

 

[sask boy]

Scotty you advised that the 25-06 mimics the 270win with a 130gr. I have shot 2 bear with 130gr pt. and the bear did not travel 10 yards after. The distance was only 30yards and both bear were shot in the boiler-room in fact their hearts were split.
If you & your wife are hunting over baits there should be no trouble connecting with the 25-06.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[SJB358]

Thanks fellers, the sanity check good to have. I know that I wouldn't hesitate to smoke a bear with a 115 PT, but I just wanted to hear it from you all. I have loaded up some 115 PT's with RL19 in hopes of finding a 2900-3000FPS load. I am thinking that should lessen the recoil to about 243 levels and will hammer bears.

 

[IdahoCTD]

I should have my .500 Weatherby done by then Scotty. She can shoot it if she needs more firepower. I sold one of my TAC338 actions to try and get a Cheytac based action. A .500 Cheytac or Snipetac would be perfect bear bait medicine IMO.

We will probably have several baits running if you need help securing a bruin.

 

[257 Ackley]

I would have her shoot that little 7X57 Scott. It will shoot as far as she needs and will be a better option over bait. I think the 358 Win with a nice 200 grain roundnose would be better as well. Not that the 25-06 won't work, but more frontal area and less velocity is always better for even black bear. Besides, I shot my first black bear with an old 7X57 mauser with a 175 grain roundnose that was very effective!

 

[Kodiak]

That 7x57 sounds like the ticket for her, but maybe she can select which one she prefers better that us. Have her try-out an many as you can.

I shot my 1st bear with an old (.348) 71 Winchester shooting the 250 gr. Factory Winchester Silvertip load.
DRT !!!!!!!

 

[DrMike]

That 7x57 sounds like the ticket for her, but maybe she can select which one she prefers better that us. Have her try-out an many as you can.

I shot my 1st bear with an old (.348) 71 Winchester shooting the 250 gr. Factory Winchester Silvertip load.
DRT !!!!!!!

Good advice, that. Plus, that sounds like incentive to buy a Model 71! :twisted:

 

[Guy Miner]

That 7x57 sounds like the ticket for her, but maybe she can select which one she prefers better that us. Have her try-out an many as you can.

Good call.

I happen to have a lot of faith in the .25-06, and I know at least one of our forum members here has taken at least one or two black bears with a .25-06 and I believe, 115 gr Ballistic Tips. My son carried my .25-06 on a bear hunt in 2009, then up-gunned to the .30-06 in 2010.

I hear a lot of stories of bears apparently fairly well hit, that run, and run, and run... And some are lost. I think this is primarily due to the lack of a good blood trail - which can be a consequence of a small exit wound. Partitions tend to make smallish exit wounds, in my experience. Also bears seem able to "plug" entry & exit wounds with fat, fur & mud, minimizing the blood trail.

The .25-06 will probably work fine, and should be excellent for longer-range shots. I wouldn't fear using the Ballistic Tips if you've got a good load for them.

But... personally I'd prefer to make a bigger hole, allowing more blood out and more air in. Wasn't it Keith who stated something like that?

The 7x57 somehow strikes me as a better choice, particularly if she likes shooting it more... Very important point right there I believe.

Don't you have a good .30-30 sitting around too? That would seem an outstanding gun for the over-bait part of the hunt. Cool thing about your .444 is that it can be loaded down to very mild levels and still be effective because of the big hole - all the way through.

I'm glad you two are going on this hunt, and I'm sure somewhere in that arsenal of yours there is a rifle & load that will work great for your wife and her bear!

Really looking forward to seeing the report on this!

Guy

 

[super-7]

Thanks fellers, the sanity check good to have. I know that I wouldn't hesitate to smoke a bear with a 115 PT, but I just wanted to hear it from you all. I have loaded up some 115 PT's with RL19 in hopes of finding a 2900-3000FPS load. I am thinking that should lessen the recoil to about 243 levels and will hammer bears.

This sounds quite reasonable to me, being over bait you should get good shot opportunitys . The slightly quater away shot with the 115 PT , will get the job done.

 

[SJB358]

That 7x57 sounds like the ticket for her, but maybe she can select which one she prefers better that us. Have her try-out an many as you can.

I shot my 1st bear with an old (.348) 71 Winchester shooting the 250 gr. Factory Winchester Silvertip load.
DRT !!!!!!!

Good advice, that. Plus, that sounds like incentive to buy a Model 71! :twisted:

Easy now buddy! That's cuts deep

 

[Elkman]

I can remember one elk falling in front of "that" 7 by, so a 250# bear should be a piece of cake. If she likes that one, it would be the one she should use.

 

[DrMike]

I can remember one elk falling in front of "that" 7 by, so a 250# bear should be a piece of cake. If she likes that one, it would be the one she should use.

This past spring, I worked up a 160 grain load for a fellow shooting 160 grain PTs in his 7X57. He drops a moose each fall with his rifle, and hasn't lost one yet. If a bull moose drops to that load, I have no doubt that a bear will not resist an invitation to join your family for dinner.

 

[Kodiak]

Many folks don't like shooting a rifle "from the bench", as it may be uncomfortable for them, and they think it recoils a lot. But put them in a hunting situation and they never feel the rifle when it is fired.

Sometimes shot-placement is not as we would like it, so saying that , a larger caliber bullet would possibly be desired ... bigger hole, more blood out!