I am headed to Alaska for my first Black Bear hunt in May.

I am wondering bullet choices. I normally shoot a Federal Fusion 150gr. I am wondering if I should go to a 180gr Nosler Partition?

Suggestions please......

Personally, I would go to a heavier bullet. Bears aren't that tough to kill but I would prefer a heavier bullet. I have killed them with a Rem xp-100 in a 7mm-08 and a 139 bullet and what you are using will probably be just fine but for me, out of a rifle, I would prefer a heavier bullet.

I totally agree; black bears are not hard to kill but are hard to anchor and you don't want them running off into the bush. Which is why I have used 9.3x74R on one and hot loaded 45-70s for another. Don't really need premiums but weight is good, for me.

I killed my biggest black bear bear, and my wife killed her biggest black bear with a 180gr Nosler Partition in a 300 WBY mag.

The 180 Nosler Partition would be an excellent bullet, as would a North Fork 180gr

We have been using 200gr Nosler Accubonds in our 300 mags. and they also would be excellent bear medicine.

If I were in your shoes, I'd opt for the 180 gr NP over the 150 gr bullet.

I've shot three black bears and two with a 300 WM. I used the 200 NP and it just seemed to anchor them on the spot. If your looking at factory ammo I think the 180 NP load would work very nicely.

Mark

Over bait, spot & stalk or what? I like heavier bullets like others mentioned. In .30 caliber 180 or 200 grain would be my choice.

Have fun, I'm going to northern Alberta in May for black bear.

Black Bear are very easy to kill. However the 150 in a 300 wmag is too light a bullet for most hunting situations to my way of thinking. Heck I normally use a 160 in a 7mm. I bet if you run the numbers a heavier bullet will probably even shoot flatter.

Thanks for all of the info. I have been thinking heavier is better myself. I had some local guys tell me that 150 was fine, but I want to anchor it where stands.

We will be in the Ketchikan area and will be hunting spot and stalk from skiffs. It is a DIY hunt that me and a friend are taking our Dad's on. It is one of those trips that we are looking forward to as we dont have all that much time to hunt with our Dad's anymore. It will be a great time. We are pretty novice at Bears and Alaska.

I am still trying to pick the best boots and rain gear too...so any suggestions there are appreciated as well.

For inland/mountain black bears I'd say use whatever ammunition is in your gun drawer. But coastal blacks can be pretty big if they're getting a diet of fish and lush sedges, so the advice to pick up some Nosler 180s isn't a bad idea.

For the 30 cal stuff, I go with things this way.
308 Win, the best balanced bullet is in the 165 grain weight.
The 30-06 is perfect for 180 grain weights, and the 300 Win is best with 190-up 220 grain bullets.
If you have the extra room for the added horsepower, use it.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
I've shot three black bears and two with a 300 WM. I used the 200 NP and it just seemed to anchor them on the spot. If your looking at factory ammo I think the 180 NP load would work very nicely.

Mark

What Mark said.

I would vote for the 200 grain Partitions. Never shot a bear with them but they really smoke an elk out of a 300 Win.

quote:

Originally posted by graybird:
If I were in your shoes, I'd opt for the 180 gr NP over the 150 gr bullet.

I agree, 180 is a much better choice.

I use the 200 gr. Nosler in my 300 H&H at 2900 to 3005 FPS and it blows a hole "through" them, I like that with bear as the hair (fur) sucks up blood trails very well indeed...so I like two holes in'em..BTW, I use that load on about anything from deer to Brown Bear, Kudu, Eland or Giraffe..Its definately a killer. 30 caliber Noslers open quickly doing a lot of damage and they penetrate as well as most any bullet.

About any deer rifle will kill a bear, but again I like something that puts a large hole in them in the event of a lung shot and a long or short run, then I have a blood trail.

Thanks so much everyone for your suggestions!

My only bear was with a 300WBY and 180 grain protected point loaded to a modest 3050fps. The shot caught him between the shoulder and neck and came out a basketball sized hole where his whole belly should have been. 60 yard shot. it flipped him on his back where he layed for 15 seconds pawing through his intestines which were out to 10 feet behind him. He then rolled over and got up on all fours, wobbled, and fell over dead. 260 pounds dressed. What a f*%$#*g mess. I think if I do it again it will be with a 260 and 125 grain partition.

Definitely go with the 180. He can't be too dead.

As has been pointed out, all of the standard weights "will do". A little extra weight will help if things aren't exactly right.