what gun/bullet to use for black bear?

[mcseal2]

I may be heading east to hunt black bear this fall and wondered what would be a better choice of rifle and bullet for them. We will be hunting with hounds in an area baiting isn't allowed. Shots should be fairly close. I realize that it probably won't matter with good shot placement, but I've never shot one and thought I'd get some opinions on what is best. I want to be able to shut the bear down very quickly to keep dogs or people from being injured.

My 2 heaviest rifles at the moment are these.

Browning A-bolt 270WSM with 4.5x14 Leupold shooting 140gr accubonds at 3050fps

Remington 760 in 30-06 with 3x9 Leupold shooting 180gr Sierra gamekings at 2700fps.

The browning is more accurate, but both are plenty accurate for the ranges I'd be looking at. I'm leaning toward the 760 because it shoots a heavier bullet. I may also try to work up a load for the 30-06 with accubonds also for increased penetration. I handload for both and can try other bullets also. What would you use to shut one down fastest?

 

[DrMike]

Either of your cartridges will work quite well for black bear. I wouldn't hesitate to hunt them with either of those cartridge/load combinations. In fact, I have so hunted black bear. The 140 grain AB will be just right for black bear from your 270 WSM, and the 180 grain GK is devastating on black bear from a 30-06. I would recommend that you familiarise yourself with bear anatomy and endeavour to break the near shoulder if at all possible. This will put the animal down quickly, giving you opportunity for a quick follow up. Consequently, don't pause to admire your shot but practise chambering a follow up round as quickly as possible. With bears, I like to keep shooting until they quit moving. I just hate tracking a wounded bear in the bush, and I have had to do so for friends on a few occasions.

 

[JD338]

mcseal2

Black bears are easy to kill if you hit them right. Hunting with hounds will indeed be an up close and personal hunt. You may even be faced with a bad angle and have to drive a bullet whrough a lot of bear to take out the vitals and or heavy bone. For these reasons, go with a Partition.

Your M760 30-06 is perfect for hunting black bears. I would look at the 165 gr or 180 gr PT as a top choice for a bear. FWIW, I shot my first bear many moons ago with a 150 gr PT from a 30-06. Took out the shoulders and a nice exit wound about the size of a quarter.

JD338

 

[skinner313]

You can't go wrong with your 760 in 30-06.Where i'm from in PA 50% of the hunters in the woods in bear season have a pump in 30-06 or .308.

 

[Guy Miner]

I'd grab the 760 in a heartbeat, and consider swapping to a 180 Nosler Partition.

I'd also consider dropping scope power down to a 1-4x or 1.5-5x Leupold. Just a thought. I like the wide field of view for close range shots. I'd zero it for "fairly close" range shooting as well.

Looks like you're in for a great hunt! Please tell us about it after... Photos are much appreciated here too.

Guy

 

[hubcap]

Hmmmm-up close over dogs and hunters. I would consider, no scope with 200 grain partitions running right at 2600 fps in that 760 gun. :idea: :idea: :idea:

 

[JD338]

Guy brings up an excellent point with optics. The VX-3 1.5-5 is an excellent choice for hound hunting bears. You could be faced with a situation of having to thread the needle if the bear is bayed up on the ground or even up in a tree. Surgical shot placement will ensure you have a dead bear when he hits the ground and will keep the dogs safe. An emergengy trip to the vet is ugly and expensive!

JD338

 

[mcseal2]

I've hunted coons and coyotes with dogs before and even little varmints like those can tear up a dog pretty good when cornered or wounded. I am confident in my shooting with either rifle, I just want to put the bear down right away. I will try my load for the 30-06 with the 180gr Noslers. I have a box of 180 accubonds on hand and can pick up some partitions. I was leaning toward the 760 anyway since I do have the quick back-up shots without taking my eye off the target. I will do some more load work and try to get it shooting well with the Noslers.

I happen to have a 1-4x Leupold VX2 on my 22LR, I think when I get my load work done with the 9x scope I will swap it over to the 760. That should be perfect for the close shots while still having a fine enough aim point for a precise one. On 1x I can see the last 3rd of the barrel of my 22. Then it will be time to practice.

Good point also on the anatomy charts for the bear, I will be checking those also. I figured the 30-06 with a good 180gr bullet should be enough for close shoulder shots, but wanted more opinions.

Thanks to those who have posted so far.

 

[Guy Miner]

"I was leaning toward the 760 anyway since I do have the quick back-up shots without taking my eye off the target."

I think that's one of the things that really attracted me to the 760 between your two rifles. It seems the perfect choice for closer range shooting, at bear. Fast handling. Accurate and very quick with follow-up shots.

A bunch of guys here have a lot more bear hunting experience than me. It was telling though last year that my son's bear took a 165 gr Nosler solid base through the lungs at about 150 yards, whirled to run, and took three more hits, two from a 7mm mag, and one from my .375 to drop it. The 165 Nosler would have killed it, but that bear was intent on leaving the area after the first hit! I'm thinking my son would have been better served with a 180 gr Nosler Partition, through the shoulder, instead of the 165 just behind the shoulder.

The other bear went down with a single hit from the .375 rifle & 260 AccuBond. Hey, I like the rifle, and figured bear & elk are good excuses to own a big rifle! :grin:

They're interesting critters and I've had a lot of fun hunting them, but those two were the only ones my son and I have ever taken.

Regards, Guy

 

[mcseal2]

"I was leaning toward the 760 anyway since I do have the quick back-up shots without taking my eye off the target."

I think that's one of the things that really attracted me to the 760 between your two rifles. It seems the perfect choice for closer range shooting, at bear. Fast handling. Accurate and very quick with follow-up shots.

A bunch of guys here have a lot more bear hunting experience than me. It was telling though last year that my son's bear took a 165 gr Nosler solid base through the lungs at about 150 yards, whirled to run, and took three more hits, two from a 7mm mag, and one from my .375 to drop it. The 165 Nosler would have killed it, but that bear was intent on leaving the area after the first hit! I'm thinking my son would have been better served with a 180 gr Nosler Partition, through the shoulder, instead of the 165 just behind the shoulder.

The other bear went down with a single hit from the .375 rifle & 260 AccuBond. Hey, I like the rifle, and figured bear & elk are good excuses to own a big rifle! :grin:

They're interesting critters and I've had a lot of fun hunting them, but those two were the only ones my son and I have ever taken.

Regards, Guy

I have always wanted to get a 375 Ruger in the M77 Hawkeye alaskan since they came out. Between tags, and the custom 6mm and 204 I am building this year though I don't think it is in this year's budget. I thought I'd wait a little while to make sure the round survived but I think it will now. I think one of those with a 2.5x8 Leupold would be a great rifle for anything I think is to big for my current rifles.

 

[DrMike]

I shot a few bears. When they are already alarmed (think bayed by dogs), they don't like to give up the ghost. As with all animals, CNS hits will drop them immediately. However, such shots are risky or they destroy the skull. Shoulder shots usually put the animal down, but they can bounce right back up and run surprisingly fast with a broken shoulder. Be prepared to give more lead to the project to ensure that the animal stays down.

 

[mcseal2]

Good point, I always figured that you should take the time to make your first shot perfect, but once the animal is wounded and still up, get more lead into it. I will try to break the shoulder first and then get more lead into vital areas. If I get the chance that is.

I just got an email back from Timney also for other 760 fans, they offer a kit for the 870 triggers that also works in the 760 rifles. It is supposed to drastically improve the factory trigger pull and smooth it up. I am going to order one now so I can get it installed and shoot it alot before my hunt, that way I can make sure everything is working correctly and get used to it.

 

[super-7]

The 760 and 06 with a 180 PT, if the shooting is close range and fast and furrious, I'd prefer a Partition to the AB. I think the AB may blow right thru at close range where the pt will open and do the collateral damge you want.

 

[mcseal2]

I got the trigger spring kit and a box of 180 partitions ordered today so I can get to work. I am really looking forward to getting the kit installed, I think that rifle is more accurate than I can shoot it with the rough heavy trigger. All the other guns I shoot much, and even most of my pistols and Beretta 390, have good 2-2.5lb triggers. I am so used to them anything more is hard for me to shoot well. This kit claims to drop creep and overtravel greatly and has springs from 2-4lbs. My gunsmith is a good friend and his shop is only a mile away so I will have him put it in , make sure it's safe, and check the pull on his scale. He is a very handy and expensive neighbor to have.

I'll post how the kit turns out for other shooters of the remington pump rifles and shotguns.

 

[JD338]

Sounds like you are well on your way. The 180 gr PT is an excellent choice and will take out the vitals of even a big bear at hard angles.
FWIW, the M760 is typicaly an accurate rifle. I had a M742 Carbine 30-06 that shot under MOA with my hand loads.

JD338

 

[mcseal2]

I've had 5 model 760 or 7600's over the years. The first one I had was a beat up old 760 in 270 win that was all I had at the time. I shot the **** out of it for a few years until the front of the magazine would not stay up far enough to pick up rounds without holding it by hand. I then went to a 7mm bolt gun because everyone told me I needed a magnum. Later in college I came across a beautiful 760 in 30-06 for a great price. I bought it and it was a 1.5" gun with factory 150gr corelockt's, had Leupold rings & bases, a pachmyr pad, and the trigger had been worked over, it was smooth for a pump. I would love to have it now and try handloading for it to see what it would do. I sold it to my roommate after much pestering. He was a lefty and borrowed it to shoot his first deer. He finally talked me into selling it because it's kinda cool to have the rifle you shot your first deer with. He has used and loved it ever since. The next one I got about a year later we named "Daisy" because the stock had been painted and looked like the cheap plastic stocks on BB guns. It was also a 1.5" gun with factory corelokt's and got sold to another roommate who borrowed it for his first deer. Both of them did keep the guns and have used them ever since, so I don't feel to bad about letting them go. The next one was a newer 7600 synthetic in 270 and it never shot as well as the older ones with factory or handloads. This one is a beat up real early model 760 that has lots of character. It didn't even come drilled for a scope base. and has the dovetail rear sight. I won't be surprised if it will shoot under 1" for me with a lighter trigger. I like that it is an older one because the wood on the early ones was my favorite. It will be good to take it out hunting, I've never shot anything with this one other than paper. I'm going to fix this one up and keep it or else I would just end up buying another one in a few years anyway. I seldom hunt anywhere that 200yds is a long shot so I end up using the bolt guns alot, but I've always liked the old pumps.

 

[SJB358]

You will be in fine shape with the 30-06 and 180gr PT's. My old man and I have been to Maine a few times hunting bears over hounds. It is a fun hunt and I had a great time. At that time, I was shooting my old mans Browning BAR with 180's PT's from Federal. Every black bear that has taken a hit from them has crumpled and fallen DEAD outta the tree. If it were me, and I was looking for a cool load for your 30-06, I would try the 220gr PT's at 2400-2500! That would be a cool load that would shoot through a tree get to the bear! The 180's are fine, but it is always fun to tailor load your ammo for a specific purpose and I can't hardly see a better bullet for close in bear thumping! That 1x4 will be perfect. Really, a 30-30 would be a good gun too, most good houndsman will have the dogs tied up before you take the shot, that way when the bear comes outta the tree, it should give you another chance to shoot, if needed. Good luck. Scotty

 

[Mountain Goat]

Good advice given so far, but I think much of it is over-analyzed. A 30-06 with a 180gr bullet is an absolute hammer, and I don't care what bullet it is. If you can work up a load with Partitions or one of the monometals, then do so. If those Gamekings shoot well, then use them with confidence.

 

[SJB358]

Good point MG! I just like to overdo stuff! Scotty

 

[JD338]

One thing to keep in mind is if the hounds run a really big bear, there is a good chance that he will get bayed instead of up a tree. There is no time to tie up the hounds and the shots can be close and fast.

JD338