I have seen quite a few bears taken with a 30/30, it is probably the most common cartridge after the 30/06 around here where bears are shot over bait. I've registered bears over 400# that were shot with a 30/30 and it seemed to do the job. I saw very few taken with slugs but those I did see were usually taken with the Brenneke style slugs. I have only seen a handful of bears taken with sabots, of those I haven't been overly impressed. By reports, they did not seem to be as effective as the normal Fosters and much less than the Brenekke. There may be some today that are better but I still wouldn't trust them as they have been mainly designed and marketed for deer and for considering the range used, the accuracy improvements are not needed. I have heard stories and helped track a few bears that were not so successfully taken with both rounds, poor shot placement was invariably the reason for the poor performance. With either, do not shoot for the shoulder, try to put the bullet just behind that area into the lungs, just like you were using archery equipment. This will easily reach the vitals and will most likely exit helping to leave a blood trail to follow. Hits to the guts need no explanation but shooting the shoulders of larger bears is not a great idea as these bones are very thick, dense, and angles which regularly defeat more powerful rifle rounds. Even if the slug or bullet get through the shoulder, the odds of an exit hole are greatly diminished. This is extremely important if over bait and you are shooting down; the entrance hole will be high on the animal and what little blood may come out will be quickly sopped up by the fur. An exit hole, being lower and hopefully larger, will be better able to leave a blood trail for follow up. For ammo, I would use either one of the standard 170 gr bullets like a Core-Lokt (my favorite) or Federal Fusion or splurge and buy some Federal Premium Vital Shock with the Partition bullets. Thee are some of the tougher bullets out there and should be able to handle the larger, more muscular bear. I would hold off with the Hornady LeveRevolution as the higher velocity might decrease the close penetration due to greater expansion if hunting over bait. If it is a spot and stalk typehunt, I might go with them. Best of luck.

 

It's been several since we could take a Bear, but back when it was legal We took several. All were killed with a 30/30. I think I remember one taken with a 44mag carbine.

Down here we use dogs, so the shots are always close for a rifle. About 20 yards or so. At that range a 30/30 is more than enough gun.

 

Well, if you have money for a guided hunt, then you ought to have money for a new rifle, not that the 30/30 won't do the job, or the 12ga, but some times bears are taken in low light and not always standing still, plus you blood pressure may be elevated a little if you havn't been close to a bear before.

Personally, IMHO, now would be a good time to purchase a new rifle, in .308 win, 30-06, or even 45/70 or 450 Marlin. If you like leveractions, the 308 or even the 30-06 can be had in a Browning BLR, of course Marlin makes good big bore levers. Add a low powered scope of no bigger then 2X7 variable and you got a heck of a black bear gun.

 

for a bear, I would say that bigger would be better. Definitely stay away from using the 12 ga, and get atleast a 30.06. My $0.02.

 

Black bears can be hunted and taken quite sucessfully with a bow, and or a shotgun. Over in my neck of the woods is probally the most knowlegble bow hunter I ever met Fred Lutger. He owns Freddie Bear Sports in Tinley Park, IL. He hunts black bear with a bow. He's somewhat of a legend around the Midwest and is contributing editor to Outdoor Notebook and Midwest Sports. He takes black bear all the time. Myself, I'm not a bow hunter and if I were going to hunt black bear, I'd personally use my 45/70 Marlin and have my 44 mag Redhawk as backup.

Don't know how far he is from you, but if you're interested in black bear, he'd be the guy I'd talk to. Here's one of many links to his site:
http://www.bowhunting.net/Hunts/Bear/Fr ... efault.htm

 

hey,i'v read of a 12 year old boy took down a bull moose with one shot from a 30-30.i'mnot sure if he used the leverevelution ammo or not.i would use a 30-30.

 

Myself I would take the .30-30 Winchester.

 

I did a similar hunt several years back. The bag of donuts was about 20 yds in front of me so I think the 12 ga would shine.Im gonna try for another this year w/ mine in NY. Nothing wrong w/ the Marlin 30/30 though as a bears ribs are about the size of a deers. Bring a very good seat cushion w/ you to Maine , my guide's stands were hard as a rock, butt still hurts.

 

I've taken bear with my Mauser carbine in 8x57 without a problem.

 

I did a similar hunt several years back. The bag of donuts was about 20 yds in front of me so I think the 12 ga would shine.Im gonna try for another this year w/ mine in NY. Nothing wrong w/ the Marlin 30/30 though as a bears ribs are about the size of a deers. Bring a very good seat cushion w/ you to Maine , my guide's stands were hard as a rock, butt still hurts.

Yep Bag of doughnuts and then pour Strawberry Jelly/Jam all over them. Black bears love strawberries.

 

I wouldn't have an issue using either of those on black bear - especially with the new ammo available for the 30 - 30. And I've read about fishing guides carrying 12 gauge slugs for protection from grizzley's in Alaska. Over bait - I think you're fine with either choice.

 

I would go with 12 ga. using dixie products!!! If they are shooting Afraican game it surely is able to handle any North American game, can NOT understand why someone would even put a 30-30 in the same question, my opinion it is not adiquite for white-tail let alone any bear!!

 

I did a similar hunt several years back. The bag of donuts was about 20 yds in front of me so I think the 12 ga would shine.Im gonna try for another this year w/ mine in NY. Nothing wrong w/ the Marlin 30/30 though as a bears ribs are about the size of a deers. Bring a very good seat cushion w/ you to Maine , my guide's stands were hard as a rock, butt still hurts.

You guys are kidding right? A bears ribs and a deers ribs are about the same size?????????????
no. no, no, no.
An animal wieghing in at 300# is going to have bones nearly twice as thick as a 150# animal. There is a huuuuuuuuuuuge difference.
A 30-30 would be at the absolute low end of humane hunting round for black bear, and in early winter with an extra 4 inches of padded fat reserves, its really approaching the realm of "inadequate"

Ive read a work of non-fiction where a young greenhorn pops a moose with a .22. Sure it can be done, but should it ibe done is the question.

No gunshop owner in his right mind would sell you a 30-30 for black bear, look at a 30-06, even a .270 if you want to stay on the light side of things. Better to have the extra punch and not need it than to need the punch and not have it.

 

I can believe a 150# deer and a 150# black bear will have similar sized ribs but there the similarities end. A fall black bear in this weight class is most likely a 2 year old and most often not a mature animal. In the spring it could be an adult female as they seldom pass 250# in the fall or maybe even a 3 year old spring boar, still not mature yet. In any case, the bone density will be much more dense in the bear and with equal sized chunks of each, the bear will weigh more. Get into the 300# class and the bear's will be much heavier, I've had both to compare.
I also beg to differ on the appropriateness of a 30/30 for bear, at least over bait. With the 170 gr bullets so commonly used locally, few bears hit in the vitals do much more than die; even those in the 400# range succumb rapidly. The few that didn't die quickly were invariably found to have been shot in the scapula which defeated the bullet. At the close (<20 yards) ranges bears are shot over bait, it places a lot of demands on a bullet and it is often suggested to use a premium controlled expansion bullet in these situations regardless of bear size. In the 30/30 there is only Nosler who produces this type of bullet but the 170 grainers work well enough. The only problem is that on a large (350#+) bear the bullet may not exit or won't leave a large exit hole which makes the tracking job harder as there is no or little blood trail. Many gunshop owners suggest a 30/30 as it is definitely an adequate cartridge for black bears with proper ammo and with its light recoil and cheap ammo, one is much more likely to not be afraid to pull the trigger and do a little practicing with it. That beats any rifle that the hunter has seldom shot and can't bring themselves to pop a cap.

 

In the state where I live, I remember a game warden telling me that all of the old farmers, woodsmen, locals, that lived in the area around where the bears had become a nusance before we started having a regular bearseason years ago, shot them with .22 rimfires. Of course no one should hunt bear with a .22 but has been done a lot.

I remember one year, in our bear camp, we had a youngman take a pretty big black with a beat up old model 94 30/30. It did the job. A cool shot with a 30/30 can kill about anything in north america, but they better not mess up, and make a bad shot. Unfortunately, if they make a bad shot with a 375 HH Mag, the results might be no better, but I would still rather have at least a 45/70 or 30-06 for even black bear.

But I got to admitt, I have an old Browning A5 with rifle sights, that I would not hesitate to use for a 20 yard shot at a bear with slugs.

 

Anybody ever try Remington Buckhammer on black bears? 600 grains, .73 caliber, over 3,000 ft-lbs muzzle energy. Ought to get the job done. :twisted: If I have time one of these years I'm gonna go for it. That round in a Remington 870 is what I have planned to use, if I ever get time in August/September to establish a bait station "up north."

-Dave

 

I have killed bears with everything from 243, to 7.62 Russian, 30-06 and 300 Winchester magnum.

We're not allowed to bait here. (Don't have to) Shots range from 15 feet to over 200 yards and most bears I've killed have been in the 10 to 80 yard range.

I'd rather have a slightly more powerful gun than a 30-30, but many many black bears have been killed with a 30-30 so if you can't get anothr rifle for the trip, take it.

I don't know what your guides will recommend, but on heart-lung shots here, black bears can run quite a ways so most guys go for a shoulder shot.

Get some premium ammo and practice.

 

Nonsense! None of you know what you are talking about! I have taken a 400lb Black Bear with a .22 target pistol at 5 yards. I shot him through the eye and it exited his azzhole. You all should have been there!

 

I would opt with the 12 gauge at baiting distances, using an 870 with a rifled barrel with rifle sights and dixie slugs/buckhammers/hastings mags. Nothing I know of would be a better option at 30 yards or less.

 

Has anyone ever hunted black bear?

I have recently booked a guided hunt in Maine and after speaking with the guide, I'm pretty torn on which firearm to use.

The guide says that 30-30 is the smallest cartridge they want you to use.

Probably because they've dealt with a lot of people who can't shoot, and they want them to have something big and powerful hoping it will make up for a lack in marksmanship.

The .30-30 has killed everything in North America. I wouldn't to go looking for large brown bears with it, or try to shoot something 300 yards away. But practice, pratice, practice, and limit your shots to ranges in which you are confident in your abilities, and the .30-30 will do the business.

Michael

 

I would go with 12 ga. using dixie products!!! If they are shooting Afraican game it surely is able to handle any North American game, can NOT understand why someone would even put a 30-30 in the same question, my opinion it is not adiquite for white-tail let alone any bear!!

150 or 170 grain .30 cal bullet traveling over 2000 fps not enough for deer? You must have some tough deer in your corner of our state. My .25-35 and I better stick to NW PA.

Michael

 

Good Lord!!!

The area of PA that I grew up in had about jesusbazillion blackbear, and they were taken with just about any size round you can think of. A girl that lived 2 houses up the street from me took a #300 black bear with a .243. I think that the main issue is going to be shot placement. If you take a nice departing shot at a bear, a .22-250 should get the job done. Either a 12g or a 30-30 should be more than enough. I think that a 30-30 would give you more options in the long run.
I have done my share of bear hunting with everything from a .270 to my greatgrandfathers .348 (DAMN nice gun, btw if you ever see one buy it and as much ammo as you can find.) to a bow over bait in Quebec. The only time I ever actually harvested one was with a .300 Winmag, and at 30 yards, it was overkill.
Where I live now in New Mexico, a legal sporting arm for a bear is a 28g with a single slug and any centerfire rifle. Bears aren't indestructable. And btw, most alaskan fishing guides with any SENSE carry a big honkin tube of pepper spray for grizzleys. That's what pepper spray was speciffically designed for. If you unload a 12g or even a 460 or some huge bore weapon into a grizzley, it can still take some time for it to actually expire, more time than it will for you to once it catches your butt at 45 mph. Spraying that sensitive nose with a load of pepper spray will make it turn in it's tracks and run for the hills.

 

My Buddy and myself went to Quebec last year for a black bear hunt and we both took 12g's. I used 3" copper solids from remington and could not have been happier with the performance. Mine dropped like it was hit by lightning, shoulder or slightly behind and it was lights out. His was with similar results but his bear traveled appro. 40 yards after being hit. Shot placement is the key, not that a fella should use a 22 but a 12g. is more than adequate for a close baited situation.

 

Just to get involved with this post, I would like to furnish a bit of experience from the Green Swamp of NC. Full of deer and bear.

My ancestors and uncles that I was reared with some 60 years ago had nothing to use but old double barreled 12 gauges. They used nothing but 00 buckshot. Many is the deer and bear that adorned our table because of these hunters. For some reason, we were far behind the rest of the world in obtaining high powered rifles. It was a far piece from our humble domiciles to civilization. Most of my kindred were illiterate and knew no better but had families to feed. Thus the trusty shotgun that bagged everything from quail to large black bear.

You will note that I am not recommending a shotgun nor a 30/30. I don't have enough experience with bear hunting. Should I decide to dog hunt or bait hunt for bear, I will be using a short, handy, easy to handle 44 Mag like the Ruger Carbine. Since we have found the real world and most of our clan has gone to work outside the confines of the swamps, we have found out that there are other kinds of guns than the 12 gauge double. In fact, I was probably around 30 years old when I saw my first 30/30. It was amazing that a deer could be killed at 200 yds, instead of the 40-50 yard range of the shotgun.

When I went to college, there were no hunters, or so few that I didn't make their acquaintance. Then I went into law enforcement, a college education wasted, but it was the only job available in my end of the world. I wanted to be around my kind, so I left civilization and went back to the Waccamaw River and Green Swamp and got banished from the clan because of my badge. One of my cousins became a game warden and was excommunicated from the vast family, as they hunted year round and wished no interference from the law. Since I went to work with the sheriff's department, their liquid refreshments were of interest to me and they white eyed me and did not invite me into their homes. So, I soon got out of the area and went to another county where there are plenty of big game.

Most of the older ones in my family have gone on to their reward and my peers of the clan have accepted me since I have retired. I am now an old man and have outlived most of my enemies.

Thanks for letting me blow some steam. Happy bear hunting.

 

I just came back from a spring Black Bear hunt in Maine on Tribal Land. This is my second time hunting in Maine over bait. Both times I have used my .300 Weatherby Mag which has done the job both times. Not to say that a 30/30 won't work because it will if you place the shot correctly. That being said my guide was running a 80% shot success rate, however only about a 60% recovery rate on bears. I see to many hunters not bringing the right optics as most big boars are taken at nightfall and most hunters don't go the range enough to practice. I know these are general statements, however I am just sharing my experience. My general rule is you should shoot the biggest caliber that you are comfortable with when hunting Black Bear.