One day I dream of hunting spring Black bear in BC...

I only have a 30-06 as my biggest rifle.

What bullet(s) would you recommend?

The 30/06 will be fine. I killed a black bear with a 308. I used a 180 Woodleigh Soft.
One shot was all it took from my Single shot K 95 Blaser.

I would recommend a 165 or 180gr premium bullet, so you can take a shot from any angle.

Nosler Partition, Trophy Bonded Bearclaw, if you reload North Fork, etc.

06, is more then enough gun. Black bear tend to die fairly easy. Premium bullets are not required, I personally use Nosler Partitions in the 180gr but I live in heavily populated grizzly country.

Of the many black bears I've taken three were with a 30-06. I've had good luck with 165 gr. Sierra GK's

Thanks folks I appreciate it in knowing it'll do its part if I do mine...SHOT PLACEMENT is everything!

Anyone got a great pic handy on a blackies anatomy by any chance???

I killed several Colorado black bears with my 30/06. I used 180 grain Core-lokt "Round Nose" & Win "Power Point" again in round nose. The shots were close 50 yards over bait barrels back when we could bait. Boars were 6'ers.

quote:

Originally posted by Late-Bloomer:
Thanks folks I appreciate it in knowing it'll do its part if I do mine...SHOT PLACEMENT is everything!

Anyone got a great pic handy on a blackies anatomy by any chance???

I will look around to see what I could find as i have seen a couple good diagrams. Chances are will be with a guide, listen to what he says and shoot straight. The heart and lungs are more in line with the front leg and are closer to the middle then the lower 1/3 as some would think.

quote:

Originally posted by chilcotin hillbilly:

quote:

Originally posted by Late-Bloomer:
Thanks folks I appreciate it in knowing it'll do its part if I do mine...SHOT PLACEMENT is everything!

Anyone got a great pic handy on a blackies anatomy by any chance???

I will look around to see what I could find as i have seen a couple good diagrams. Chances are will be with a guide, listen to what he says and shoot straight. The heart and lungs are more in line with the front leg and are closer to the middle then the lower 1/3 as some would think.

Thank you brother!

I've killed 2 black bears, both around the 6 ft and 300 pound mark. Both were cleanly and quickly dispatched with a 150 grain Ballistic Tip at close range out of a 7RM. A friend of mine has killed a number of bears with a 243 loaded with 100 grainers, he doesn't remember the bullet used but only that they died without a fuss.

A 30/06 loaded with any 150 grainer and up should kill a black bear with authority. In fact, many honey producers kill errant black bears with 30-30 without concern for bullet design.

Bobby B.

Hopefully, this spring my SIL will kill his first bear with his 6.5 Swede loaded with 130 Accubonds.

Bobby, thanks as more folk like you chiming in has given me even more confidence in my weapon of choice

Don't over analize it. Just put it behind the shoulder and sqeeze. This one was taken with an 06 but the photo dosen't tell much about the shot (except that it was in the mountains)and I don't remember. They ar'nt wearing body armor.
Have fun.

Here ya go.

Tony, Thanks I appreciate it

Roland,

Do a Google search for "shot placement bear" and you will find a large number of artcles and charts. The better ones seem to be on bow hunting sites.

quote:

Originally posted by Oday450:
Roland,

Do a Google search for "shot placement bear" and you will find a large number of artcles and charts. The better ones seem to be on bow hunting sites.

Thank you

We will talk more when you phone but i have shot 20 Moose and 20 Black Bear with an 06

quote:

Originally posted by samwise:
We will talk more when you phone but i have shot 20 Moose and 20 Black Bear with an 06

I am looking forward to it Bob...Thanks much

Late Bloomer - I'd use anything from a 130gr. TSX or heavier - 165 normal jacketed, lead core would be fine. You don't need 180gr. for black bear - they die easily - BUT - it is easy to shoot too far back - beware.
A shot through the shoulder usually drops them on the spot and keeps them there. A scapula hit is good as it usually also connects close enough to the spine for instant effect.
Be aware that most any shot will drop a black bear, but a poor shot will result in him gaining his feet and disappearing on you. They are very shock sensitive, it seems, BUT - you need to hit the vitals - a super fast, high energy producing magnum won't kill them with a poor hit. The '06 is more gun than needed so is perfect.
Adult bears are totally different animal than a young 2, 3 or 4 year old. Those little cubs are pretty soft. Go for a 6 to 7 1/2 footer - that's a black bear.
I've seen lots of 6 foot bears - would estimate their weight closer to 225 to 265 pounds. A 7 footer will go 300, maybe a bit better. Most people overstate bear weights - here and abroad.

quote:

Originally posted by Late-Bloomer:
One day I dream of hunting spring Black bear in BC...

Better do it quick! There's a fella on these boards by the username 'Dewey' who says he's doing everything he can to keep Americans from raping BC's wildlife riches. He says 90% of BCer's feel the same way.

Why wreck this chap's polite and currently legal query and hunt with such a foolish post? It seems rather odd to me that you would do this to one of your own........

L-B,
DarylS. and ChilcotinHB have given you sound advice and I would simply say that, to me, the old .06 is THE Black Bear round and I like 180 NPs or the old CIL-Dominion 180 KKSPs as they do not mess up the hides as much as faster rounds may.

If, you are in Grizzly country, which is much of BC, I prefer to carry a .30-06 over any of the faster/smaller bore rounds and have done for many years.

With a .30-06 that you are very familiar with and shoot well plus any decent game bullet, the 180 WW Powerpoint is an excellent Blackie bullet, you are well equipped. I would suggest an extra pre-sighted scope in QD mounts and wax the metal of your rifle, but, with Hawai's wet climate, I am sure you know to do that.

Good luck, shoot a big one!

Dewey,

Thanks I appreciate the advice

IMO, 30-06 is plenty big enough for black bear. I shot a 3 or 4 year old cinnamon-phase black bear with my 7mm08 in the fall of 2008. Cheap 139 grain Hornady bullets, tucked it behind the shoulder, hit both lungs, no second shot needed.

The important things are (1) be familiar with your gun and (2) make the first shot count.

Best wishes.

14 days and counting till grizzly and black bear season.
Lots of snow yet but going fast. Usually don't start seeing bears until mid may but should be earlier this year..
Watson lake.

I use a 6.5 swede with 140`s without problem, so an 06 should be about perfect with 165/180s

I'm going NWT first week of June and my rifle of choice will be a 30-06AI w. 200gr Accubonds. I would have no issue with a 180gr Accubond either or a Sierra GK or a Hornady IB.

Most people way overestimate what is needed to kill a black bear. They die easily, however overkill, if there is such a think, is never a bad thing.
Grizzly, on the other hand, generally require a bigger club - or a lot of luck for the small bore shooter.

I favour the 165 gr bullet for Blackies.
Just go with a 165 Nosler Partition or its equivalent and you are in business.
Get as close as you can and make a good shot placement and presto you got a Bear.
My partner for years only ever used a 06 wth 165gr Hornady Interlock but it killed everything he hit with it without any fuss.
The Interlock is your poor-mans partition and a pretty decent bullet too.
My favorite load for Blackies has been 150 gr bullets out of my 7mm Rem mag... stones em!

Last black bear I shot I used a .223 and a 53gr TSX bullet. One shot kill

quote:

Originally posted by Gatehouse:
Last black bear I shot I used a .223 and a 53gr TSX bullet. One shot kill

Its all about shot placement, my son has taken a couple of nice bears with the 222 rem.

I have killed bears with 308 30-06 416 ect they all died. The 416 one was just plain fun a 350 gr speer dropped him then and there. good shot placement with a decent bullet should = a dead bear.

Thanks for the pics Outdoor Writer (Tom). I wish I had that pic before now!!!!!

I have a 30-06 bear story that is a decent read if anyone wants me to cut and paste here? I don't want to hijack but it is related. I shot a tad low (intentional and a mistake from ignorance of the actual location of the vitals).

chilcotin hillbilly that is a fine bear and an even finer boy there! I am a 223 fan but wouldn't use it as my primary bear gun in PA's bear country. ETA: 222!!!! wow!!!! That had to be a good shot! A 222 is accurate as all getout but it isn't a zit on a 223's butt in the power / range department! Have the kid move up to something a little stouter when his shoulder catches up with his guts!

I killed mine with a .308. No problems.

quote:

Originally posted by chilcotin hillbilly:

quote:

Originally posted by Gatehouse:
Last black bear I shot I used a .223 and a 53gr TSX bullet. One shot kill

Its all about shot placement, my son has taken a couple of nice bears with the 222 rem.

It seems that the BC boys are a little braver than the average

Nice fuzzy bear!

seen dozens of black bears killed while working as a guide and shot a dozen my self. with everything from a 243win to a .450marlin. all the bears with proper shot placement (vitals) never went more then 40yrds. your 30-06 will be plenty. .270win is still my favorite bear gun though