I have several bolt guns that I am sure will do the job(.308 Win, 30.06, 7mm-08, 7 mm Rem Mag & 7mm STW), But I keep thinking about these Marlin lever action guns I keep reading about. I have a Win 94 in the .44mag caliber the is my walking gun here on the farm. What do you guys think would make good black bear medicine?

------------------
Good Shooting

This is purely speculation on my part, and i don't pretend it to be anything other, but i had always want a short barreled 444marlin lever gun for just such a job. I once asked one of my uncles who lives in up state ny (he had hunted most game in years past) and he basically confirmed my theory...of course now with 310 grainers, and a nice hot load i think you could put quite a hurting on black bear at close range.

The 44mag is used all the time on black bears here in California but this is over hounds and usually treed bears. If you are going to hunt blackies the conventional way I would opt for any of the rifle cartridges you listed. Shoot premium bullets and you can't go wrong. sure-shot

I'm constantly amused at the opinions on bear calibers on this forum. Some of the same guys who swear that an '06 is too small and risky for black bear will also tell you that a .44 magnum revolver will turn a bear inside out!

I've only hunted black bear once, and that was with a .338. If I had it to to over (and I hope to soon), I would probably take a smaller rifle and be just as comfortable.

Unless ranges are very close (and light is good), you're always better off with a high-velocity scoped rifle than something like an open-sight lever gun. But it's your hunt -- you carry the gun you want to hunt with, and if luck is with you, you can bring home a bruin with your saddle gun.

All the above calibers will do i myself like the 06 but you should use the rifle you shoot best, and are most comfordable with

Of those that you mentioned, I would be most comfortable with the .308. However, the 44mag when fired at rifle velocities is more than adequate for black bears at reasonable range. I prefer a 300gr Hornady XTP at full throttle but there are other good heavy weights around like, Nosler, Barnes & Swift, not to mention the hard cast lead bullets. These bullets will pound through a lot of bear meat. And whitetails.........no problem.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PA_HUNTER:
PA_Hunter,
All of your guns are fine for black bear your biggest consideration is the type of area you hunt and what your average shooting distance will be. If your keen on a lever action Marlin go for the 45-70. I have one with the Ashley rear peep and the standard front sight. The 45-70 in thick bush is dynamic and fast. But if your area requires distance stick with your own guns. Black bears are not hard to knock down. I've taken them with bow and arrow, 25-06 with 100 grain bulets and the 45-70 with 405 Remington bullets. 470 Mbogo

Bears are big boned animals, and unless you have the perfect flank shot, big bores and heavy bullets = bear rounds. A 338, 35, 375, 45/70 etc are the calibers of choice for the big blacks here in MN. Smaller calibers work, but just not as well and not as efficient...

After 20 plus years of hunting these critters, I've settled in with a Ruger #1 in 45/70 with a Leupold 1-4X scope. We hunt over bait stands in MN (no dogs allowed), so shots range under 75yds for most instances...

My bear last year was 304lbs gutted, and was taken with a 350gr RN Hornady bullet at 2300fps muzzle. A quartering shoulder shot broke the front shoulder and caught 1 lung and the top of the heart. Bear went about 5 feet after hit and died quickly. I doubt if a smaller caliber would have done the same job, and I don't like to track a hit bear into the thick underbrush.

I also don't like to drag a big bear to my tarps and cleaning/skinning station any further than necessary -- so, I use the big bore rifles for the work...

Good Luck:

Dead