I will be hunting black bear over bait this fall. I have a 300 Win mag, 500 Jeffery and a 12 gauge. I am not going to use the 500 so that leaves the 300 and the 12.
I am leaning toward the 12 gauge but is it enough for a 50 yard shot at a black bear? What do some of you more experienced hunters think?
Thanks, Kent
Posts: 116 | Location: Cleves, IA | Registered: 14 July 2003
Kent, I have a few freinds that have successfully used 12's with slugs for bears over bait. The distances were closer than 50 yards, but neither bear knew what hit them. TTS
Posts: 84 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: 18 December 2001
Kent, Why aren't you going to use the 500 Jefferys?It would be fun as hell and would make a great story.
Out of the other two,I'd take the 300 Winchester.The 12 guage,even with good slugs,is asking for trouble on bear at 50 yards,espically a large bodied specimen.The 300 Winny loaded with any good bullet over 165 grains or so ought to work just fine.
------------------ I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!
I'm with Big Stick on this, leave the scattergun for quackers (although I am sure it would work just fine up close) In my opinion I would much prefer the 300.
Have a great hunt!
"GET TO THE HILL"
Dog
Posts: 879 | Location: Bozeman,Montana USA | Registered: 31 October 2001
Thanks for the input. I guess the reason I was leaning toward the shotgun was the advice of a friend of mine who has shot several black bears with 12 gauge slugs over the years and he swears by it. I know at less than 50 yards the 12 gauge is an awesome performer on white tails. Besides that my 870 is a little more compact and easier to climb into the tree stand with.
Has anyone got any actual experience with the 12 gauge on black bears?
Kent
Posts: 116 | Location: Cleves, IA | Registered: 14 July 2003
I understand what you are saying about the 12 guage, it would be fine. HOWEVER, it would be marginal on either very large bears or like you say bears over 75 yards. If you go through all of the trouble getting in position for this shot you might as well use something you don't have to worry about limitations on. Your 300 will not only do the same job close up but also at 4 times the range, hard to go wrong with it. HOWEVER, lots of hunters have taken bears with a 300 but now how many have taken them with a 500 Jeffery? That is what I would use, maybe not for the second bear but definately for the first one!
Posts: 7776 | Location: Between 2 rivers, Middle USA | Registered: 19 August 2000
Either of the rifles will be just the ticket. The 300 will be plenty of juice. The Jeffrey would be a real hoot. You shouldn't have to track him very far with the 500. I tend to follow Elmer Keith. The bigger bore is what I usually use. I like 375 H&H for deer and 416 for nilgai and such. Good hunting and post us some pictures. "D"
Posts: 1701 | Location: Western NC | Registered: 28 June 2000
I guess it doesn't matter. If you hunt bears like a real man (hiking,glassing) then you need to be able to shoot a little ways, the .300 wins hands down. But, if you're just going to sit in your Lazyboy and wait for a bear to come for dinner, then what difference does it make what you shoot?~lokey
Kent, I hope you were kidding about climbing a tree (or into a tree stand) with your rifle. Unload it, put it into a light wgt travel sleeve and tie a stout string to it. Climb the tree, unraveling string as you go. Once you're up and comfortable, tie the loose end of the string to a limb and reel the rifle up. When you are ready to get down, reverse the process. Leaving the string tied in the tree; that way you're ready for next time. FYI, don't you just love these "if you don't hunt like I do, then I'm macho and you're a wimp" guys. Usually they're so full of shit their eyes are brown.
Posts: 2037 | Location: frametown west virginia usa | Registered: 14 October 2001
Kent, I hope you were kidding about climbing a tree (or into a tree stand) with your rifle. Unload it, put it into a light wgt travel sleeve and tie a stout string to it. Climb the tree, unraveling string as you go. Once you're up and comfortable, tie the loose end of the string to a limb and reel the rifle up. When you are ready to get down, reverse the process. Leaving the string tied in the tree; that way you're ready for next time. FYI, don't you just love these "if you don't hunt like I do, then I'm macho and you're a wimp" guys. Usually they're so full of shit their eyes are brown.
Posts: 2037 | Location: frametown west virginia usa | Registered: 14 October 2001
quote:Originally posted by Kent in IA: Taking the 500 Jeffery is tempting. I know that you guys really just want to hear how I fell out of the tree stand though.
Kent
Is not that the reason they make those safety belts? Go for it! What a story! We will absolutely demand pictures when you are done with the hunt! best, bhtr
Interesting how many people answered with how inadequate the 12 gauge is but no one answered when asked how many people have experience with the 12 gauge and black bear.
Yes, I have indeed shot a black bear with a 12 Ga. Savage mod 210 w/ fully rifled bbl. Rem 3" copper solids. First shot about 1" behind shoulder on broadside shot. Range 19 paces. Second shot not needed. Bear took exactly 11 steps and fell, dead. Weight approx. 225 lbs. At ranges under 25 yds. or so, I don't think the 12 Ga. is too small for anything. (My PH carried one when we went after a really pissed Leopard that I had screwed up a shot on.) Hope that this is some help to you
------------------ Jay "For God and Country"
Posts: 282 | Location: Mid-Hudson Valley, NY | Registered: 26 July 2001
I youse former military gun, 7,62 russian. I shot one beer witt it. Good. Former we wer just allow to youse shotgun witt one bullet. slugger you call it. They is very good too.
I have little use for a shotgun and big game, I have seen slugs fail miserably on ma game, on on a man one time..I prefer buckshot if I have to use one..
I would use the 300 with 200 gr. Noslers or 220 gr. Noslers...or the 500 Jefferys would be a great bear gun and leave a real blood trail...bear fur sucks up blood like a sponge so I want a hole on both sides.
I'm willing to bet Johnny Ringo is or was a houndsman. I could be wrong though. The weapons he uses are fine over hounds or bait, they use both weapons all the time here in Californie, nothing wrong with em under these conditions. sure-shot
Sure-shot, yes, I used the guns over bait, If I were hunting spot and stalk, my choices would definitely be different.
Howver, the fellow asking the question said he was shooting at less than 50 yards.
Either will do. The .300 is probably the smarter choice. When I used the single shot 12 on that bear, I was only 15, and young guys like to to try silly things. But there is no doubt it worked .
quote:Originally posted by Howard: but no one answered when asked how many people have experience with the 12 gauge and black bear.
The 12 works just fine on Black Bear but the slugs leave big holes. I used it as a backup when doing Mineral Exploration in bear country. If I was to hunt for a rug and the freezer, I would use the 300 mag.
Posts: 562 | Location: Northern Wisconsin, USA | Registered: 22 May 2002
If you actually were taking the black on at flyswatting range, the 12 might be a good choice. I presume that you will try to avoid that, in which case the 300 wins in my book hands down. I don't believe that blacks take that much to put down, shoot what you are most accurate with at the range you are planning to hunt. Just have a good time and share a pic if possible.
------------------ Good Shooting!
Posts: 1944 | Location: Moses Lake, WA | Registered: 06 November 2001
I must be getting old, or stupid, or something! The people I hunt with, have hunted with, or have known to have hunted bear, have bragged on thier 30-30's, 30/40 krags, 300 savages, 270's, 308's, 30-06's, 357 mag handguns, etc. for bear guns. I just don't understand this magnumitus thing--its where you hit them that counts. I can only assume that a lot of you have never even seen a black bear and read way to many books or articles. They are not THAT hard to kill! Once again, I find that I am out of touch---
I've shot black bears with 12g slugs (cheapo's) , buck shot, & ringed #6 shot all ARE devastating at that range. If your comfortable with the gun use it!! Not voteing 12g over 300mag just saying both will do the job.
Most bear here are shot treed or bayed in front of dogs. Some are killed at crossings by stand hunters. Most folks use their regular deer rifles. Some bear specialists do indeed favor the shotgun, as well as the .44 mag in carbine or revolver. 50 yards would be a tremendous longshot dog hunting. Still (stand) hunting might require a 2 to 3 hundred yard shot. The largest black bear on record from North Carolina (1998 state record) was killed about an hour East of here with single barrel 12 gauge loaded with buckshot, in front of a pack of Plott hounds. It weighed 880 pounds.
