I'm debating loading up some solids to use on follow up shots on bears, but havent seen any folks referencing their use on bears. Am I missing something? Where I hunt bears (both black and browns) in the spring, it is fairly common for a bear to take a few strides and be back in the thick woods. I just thought if one was forced to follow up a first shot as a bear was going away in a hurry, that a solid would be a smart option - raking from stem to stern, as it were.

I thought about posting this on the African forum since the folks there have a great deal of experience with the use of solids, but didnt want to irritate.

personally depending on the caliber a premeium soft(swift a frame,barns-x,woodleigh) would be much better for bears than a solid

what caliber are you shooting.

700, I have two 375s and a 416 Rem, but will be shooting the 416 this spring. I plan on shooting the 370gr Northfork.

Antlers, I don't think you are missing anything. Besides the fact that a solid would not be legal, a soft point will cause more internal damage than a solid, albeit with reduced penetration.
By the way, you can not find a more perfect bullet than the North Fork.

Antlers
I agree with your logic. I have done some tests and solids do penetrate better through brush. Heck they will shoot through trees bigger around than I am! And a solid that hits the bear is better than a soft that can't get through the brush. However solids do not have near the effect on a bear as a proper soft point. A good compromise would be to load a "stouter" soft like a Barns X, or a Failsafe, or maybe a Swift A Frame. This way you have the best of both worlds.

I would use a flat nose solid like the Bridger on a bear in a 375 and up without hesitation and I think your idea is a good one...I have used the solids enough to know how they work and they satisfy me in that configuration on anything..I have shot Impala, Eland, Kudu and other plainsgame with the GS Flatnose and they work as well as a tough soft point bullet. I have also used and witnessed the use of Keith simi wad cutters in the 41 and 44 magnums and they sure do perform well on most game up to elk at close range.

Most folks that condem the solid, have not used them and are passing on information that they have read and the rumor spreads the yellow journalism..I am always tempted to ask just what have you shot sir, with a solid..

The bottom line is:

1.Is it legal?

2.Is it "better" than a softpoint? I'd say no a soft is better unless you are backing up a hunter and expect a going away shot then the flat nose solid would be my choice on bear or anything over 300 lbs....

I would like a good flat nosed solid in 7mm for a coyote load. Should knock them flat without ruining the pelt.

Solids are for deep penetration through heavy bone. North American bears are not thick skinned and do not have especially heavy bone. Any good qluality soft should do the trick and cause much more damage to vitals than a solid.

Ray, I can find no prohibition of solids in the Alaska regulations, but will confirm that with Fish and Game. Funny you should mention Bridger solids cuz that was the solid I was contemplating. The scenario you describe is one of two I'm referring to - backup shots at bears going away and follow up shots with bears going away. I was only considering using solids on bears that had already been hit by a good soft.

500Grains, I've always heard that bears were not thick skinned and I can believe that. But I snuck up on a Brown last spring that was probably over 1000lbs and I cant believe he was not heavy boned - looked like a tank. Now I will readily accept that nearly all the black bears could be raked through with my North Fork softs, but there is a major difference between a 450lb Black and 1200lb Brown. I assumed that a quick follow up at a large bear that was screaming back to the brush might be ideal for a solid.

[ 11-25-2003, 08:46: Message edited by: Antlers ]

Antlers, if a bear is charging you, how much flesh will your bullet have to go through to hit the vitals? I am no bear expert but my guess is not more than 12 to 18 inches.

Absent a spine or brain shot, an animal shot with solids tends to die slowly, which may not be desirable for a charging bear.

500 grs.,
I suspect that you have not used a flat nose solid and are baseing your experience on the ole round nose solid, in which case you are correct but I have found the GS and Bridger flat nose to kill much like a tough soft point such as the old A Square dead tuff bullet or the Barnes X at low velocity...

I'm not saying a solid is the best bullet for bear, just that it would probably work fine under the circumstances he is referring to in his post....

Is it needed? No, probably not on a soft animal like a bear....A good heavy for caliber Nosler or a good monolithic HP, would do a better job perhaps...I wouldn't say for sure as I have yet to shoot a bear up the dingas with a solid....