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Post by mullis56 on Oct 14, 2006 21:27:24 GMT -5
Considering going after a BIG and/or color phase bear in Alberta this coming spring. This is after I killed my first bear a mere 2 weeks ago, but I want to get a big one now and a color phase too. Alberta seems like a good place. Anyone ever been there before?
What is a good rifle to hunt with for bears? Thanks!
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Post by shinglemonkey on Oct 14, 2006 22:01:30 GMT -5
A good caliber is one that you shoot the best.
Ive killed 7 bears with a 280 one shot kills.
Dont get hung up on large caliber for black bears.
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Post by steiny on Oct 15, 2006 9:58:59 GMT -5
I'll second what shinglemonkey said.
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Post by jajwrigh on Oct 15, 2006 11:47:48 GMT -5
Think about Jack O'Connor.....did all 28 with a .270. My "bear" calibers are the 6.5x55 swiss, 8mm Mauser, and .30-06. All should be plenty...Hopefully I will find out in the next year or two.
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Post by mullis56 on Oct 15, 2006 17:33:53 GMT -5
.30-06 will work good, a .300 win mag is too big? I used a 300 win mag in NF a few weeks ago, but I think it is too much gun? I'm thinking of going to Alberta this spring and trying to figure everything out.
Thanks!
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Post by schoolmaster on Oct 16, 2006 18:52:19 GMT -5
If you shoot the 300 mag well it will do the job. The 300 mag is one of my favorite cartridges. That being said many of the popular deer cartridges will do the trick. I would use a good premium bullet in case a shoulder has to be broken or a raking shot has to be taken.
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Post by steiny on Oct 16, 2006 20:15:50 GMT -5
Although some 4-500 lb bears are taken every season, that is the exception, not the rule. As an average black bears of any color phase probably average 250lbs or so, which is not all that big of a critter, about the size of a good buck deer.
That said .... anything from .243 to .300 mag will work fine.
Actually, since most of these hunts are short range over bait, I'd think a good old 30-30 with 165 or 180 grain bullets would be about perfect bear medicine.
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Post by pbr on Oct 17, 2006 9:33:09 GMT -5
30.06 with the proper bullet is good for just about everything.
Hunting over bait I'd prefer my bow.
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Post by drs on Oct 17, 2006 10:03:20 GMT -5
I've hunted Black Bear a couple of times out in Washington State. The first time I took along a Ruger .44 Magnum Semi-auto carbine, and the second time a .308. The wooded area is so thick out there, so a heavy bullet would be the thing to use if you are hunting in thick cover.
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Post by bsutravis on Oct 17, 2006 12:44:57 GMT -5
I love my .300 Win Mag.... Never attempted to kill anything with it though.
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Post by Decatur on Oct 17, 2006 13:34:55 GMT -5
Take a slug gun...or buy a new .450! That's what I would do!!
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Post by drs on Oct 17, 2006 14:09:06 GMT -5
Take a slug gun...or buy a new .450! That's what I would do!! A 12 gauge (sabot) bullet would be ideal, but a rifle in .450 Marlin would be my choice of the two. I have a .458 X 2" AMERICAN rifle built on an old Remington Model 722 and it is identical to the .450 Marlin. |
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Post by chicobrownbear on Oct 18, 2006 9:21:53 GMT -5
.35 Remington
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Post by bigugly on Oct 21, 2006 2:44:38 GMT -5
Went to school with a guy who's wifes family runs a bear camp in Quebec and they wish everyone shot a 45-70. May sound like a lot but when you are the one having to track the bear like the do you would prefer it.
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Post by Old Ironsights on Oct 21, 2006 21:57:04 GMT -5
Coming from Alaska, I'm partial to an M1895 Guide Gun or W1896 in .45-70
I generally prefer the 1895 in Stainless though, and you would be hard pressed to beat the new XLRs...especially given the new LeverEvolution ammo, unless it is with a Wild West "CoPilot" modified XLR in .45-70/.457 Alaskan.
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Post by maddog on Nov 5, 2006 9:38:50 GMT -5
First post, but I gotta agree with old iron sights. I took my .45-70 guide gun to Idaho, for a bear hunt in Sept., with my son. I used the new Leverevolution ammo. Rounded a bend on a canyon road, and there was a bear at 40 ft. I hit her 3 times in 5 seconds. All rounds were complete pass throughs, with fist sized exit wounds. Found heart/lung tissue blown 8 ft. from carcass. 3 shots?- My feet hurt and I didn't want to chase her up the side of the canyon wall.
I have taken 5 wild hogs, a javelina, and a black bear with the .45-70 guide gun. Shots were from 40 ft. to 180 yds. Have never recovered a bullet-all pass throughs. Now with the LE ammo, this makes the gun a legitimate 250 yd. rifle. It will settle the hash with any critter I can aford to hunt. Might even take it to south africa in 2 yrs. on a plains game hunt.
Mad Dog
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Post by jajwrigh on Nov 5, 2006 11:13:49 GMT -5
I have considered a stainless steel guide gun in .45-70 before. Its nice to hear a review on the cartridge. How is the recoil?
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Post by steiny on Nov 5, 2006 11:42:12 GMT -5
Why in the heck would you want to shoot game with something that leaves "fist size" exit holes and blows the critter to pieces? Ruins the meat and the trophy.
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Post by maddog on Nov 5, 2006 11:56:30 GMT -5
steiny, no meat was ruined. All three shots were in the heart/lung area. Meat was very usable.
JA recoil is very managable. It doesn't kick as hard as my 12 ga. slug gun. That being said, if you elect to use +p loads from Garrett or Buffalo Bore, they will get your attention, especially from the bench.
Mad Dog
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Post by duster on Dec 16, 2006 11:25:33 GMT -5
30-06 with a good 180 grain bullet will take out any black bear that walks. I prefer Swift A Frames myself. They hold up good with very little if any weight loss even if you hit bone.
You may want to look into the area of Manitoba/Saskatchewan near the town of Swan River for that color phase bear. We did a few hunts up that way and 80% of those taken were bears of a differant color. I have a blond and a chocolate from that area and the other guys did as well with Chocolate, Cinnamon colors. I was the only one to see a blond and they are fairly rare by what we were told. Even a chance at a white one if your in the right place at the right time.
Do a google search for D&O Soloway outfitters they were by far the best outfitter we used. They are located in Pine River Manitoba and hunt the border area more so in spring than fall. Good population of bears and a few big ones are taken each year.
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