I have an oportunity to do some black bear hunting. Never been before but looking foward to it. I plan on using my 300 Weatherby.
I hand load and was just wondering what bullet you all like the best? partion, TSX, etc....

Any and all input welcom and apreciated
Thanks
Anthony

I would recommend 200gr Northforks or Partitions.

Partitions in medium weight range for the respective caliber.

I used round nose 'Core-lokts' out of my 30/06 for black bears here in Colorado-- 180 grain


With you using a 300 Wby----I'd probably go with "Partitions". Uncle Roy pushes those plain jane bullets a little too fast. I'd also up it to 200 grains. CB

I agree with colorado bob if your going to put the upper vel end I better bullet is needed.

Only place black bear are hard to kill is on the internet.
A 165-180gr Barnes, Nosler AB or Part will get the job done. Shot placement is everything.
Phil

Personally I would use the 165 Barnes TTSX, it won't kick near as hard as the 200 grainers, and is going to lose about 5 to 10% of its weight compared to a partitions 65%.

You dang sure don't need 200 grains for a blackie, even in a partition or a Scirroco 150 to 165 grains will do wonders and not kick your molars loose.
Darn sure not saying that a 200 grain partition won't kill one,, but do you need that much bullet? I doubt it.

I like the 200 grain partition. I've only killed one bear and did it with that bullet it worked fine, but I used a slow poke .30-06 to get the job done. Sure a lighter bullet probably would have worked but the heavy one worked well too.

Have only taken one bear but a 225 gr Swift A-Frame in 350 Rem Mag took it down quickly with a complete pass through.

Thanks for the input. I got to looking at the average size bear round here and they is small. Think I'm going with what I already have 180grn Partions at around 3000fps.

If you would have said 30-06, 308, 7.5x55, 8x57, or a 300 Win, WSM, RSAUM, H&H, or Norma I would have agreed on the Partition, as our little hunting family has used it very well on lots of Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska bears, and quite a few piggies of similar size.

However, with your rifle pushing the brink of the Partition pretty hard. I would not personally want to shoot a Partition into a black bear at Maine shooting ranges from a 300 Weatherby.

I would use a Barnex TSX or Swift Scirocco, but I am a far gone rifle crank and would spend days agonizing over the bullet.

I shoot an 8mm Remington Magnum, and of course they have similar bullet velocitys and power with the same bullet weights.

I asked the same question a few years ago here on AR before my first bear hunt which took place in Maine.

Since then, I've bear hunted every year and is some years both spring and fall and have now taken quite a few.

I've used the TTSX, Swift Scirocco, Berger VLD, and Nosler Accubond. All worked.

The only bullet I've recovered was a 225 AB from a 338 WM.

The 180 Swift Scirocco from my 30.06 has been a gem from less than 10 yards to much further.

With your big magnum, I'd shoot a big bullet as slow as possible, probably a 200 grain whatever but as slow as I could get it.

I used a 270 grain Gold Dot .44 magnum. 1 shot, DRT.

I shot a big black bear here in Colorado a couple of seasons ago using a .300 RUM with Swift Sciroccos. Long story, but last three shots were at very close range and the Sciroccos completely failed to expand. They passed through the chest leaving pencil sized exit holes and the bear seemed unimpressed. Based on that experience I would definitely recommend a quality bullet that will expand reliably at high velocities.

I thought bears were easy to kill too until this one. Try leaving one lung intact in a 7'4" bear and see what happens.

I've used premium bullets and cup and core bullets. It is hard to beat the effect of Sierra's and/or Speer's on black bear (or grizzly for that matter). The Partition works quite well. Some bears just object to being shot and stretch out the dying process, no matter where they are shot or what bullet is used. The advice that was given to use a slow bullet is good. Mass and lower velocity seems to do more damage and put the animal down quickly. Finally, shot placement is probably more important than the bullet itself. It is awesome how far a double lunged bear can run. It is equally amazing how quickly a shoulder shot can drop a big animal.

quote:

Originally posted by philny1:
Only place black bear are hard to kill is on the internet.

Phil

Amen!!!

Shot a northbound blackie in the southern end in 2006 from 50 yards. I got 5 1/2 - 6 feet of penetration on him. Crushed him on the spot. Please don't wake him up and tell him it was a Sierra Game King that did it. He'd be so humiliated to find it was not a premium, controlled-expansion bullet.

Remington Core-lokt or Nosler Partition.