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Thread: Black bear hunting opinions

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Vanisle
    Posts
    48

    Black bear hunting opinions

    It's getting closer to spring black bear season. Curious to see what caliber, bullet type everyone will be using? Also what do you consider the "sweet spot" on a bear to aim for?
    Me I'll be using either 270win/130gr TSX or 300win mag/150gr TTSX. Aiming for behind the shoulder...

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Central Interior of our beautiful british columbia.
    Posts
    6,340

    Re: Black bear hunting opinions

    Its a 9.3x62 with 270 speer handloads, or my recently rebuilt 300 win mag, which hasen't killed in 4 years, with 180gr swift sirocco handloads. I will always try to do an engine room shot on a black bear, aiming from the front shoulder to a couple inches back from there! If really close, i'll shoot for the neck, but usually its a 75-150 yrd shot! Moosin
    "A good day hunting is mud on your truck or blood on your hands"

    “Some people go to church and think about hunting……………others go hunting and think about God!”

    It's actually called the 375 "ouch and ouch"!!

    "Not asking for any spots or anything like that............................................"

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Burnaby
    Posts
    2,228

    Re: Black bear hunting opinions

    My freezer is still full from last year, so I’m taking a relaxed approach and trying for a bear with the bow. Hopefully I can connect with something worthy of a P&Y entry.


    PSE Evo EVL 34 set at 50# and 30” draw. Lobbing a 30.25”, 300-spine, Killin’ Stix Original, total weight is 525gr with a Magnus Stinger 2-blade 125gr fixed-blade broadhead.

    I’ll be aiming for “middle of the middle” and forward 2” or so.
    If it cant be done with one shot, it shouldn't be done.

    "grab large claw hammer - put against butt cheek , pry head out of ass with claws...then go back to school..."

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    1,676

    Re: Black bear hunting opinions

    I tend to shoot bears high in the shoulders to anchor them. Definitely wastes some meat though.

    7mm RM 160gr Partitions this season. Formerly had good success with 160gr TTSX.
    WSSBC
    CCFR

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Chilliwack
    Posts
    227

    Re: Black bear hunting opinions

    7mm Rem mag

    155g Federal premium terminal ascent

    Middle of the middle then 2 inches towards the shoulder.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Northern BC
    Posts
    3,080

    Re: Black bear hunting opinions

    Be the same as the last handful of them probably, if I see a really big one it’ll be a Montec from a Mathews Switchback XT and it’s the middle of the middle.
    Otherwise it’ll be a 75 Amax or 88 ELD from a 223AI. Typically I shoot for shoulders on everything.


  8. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Posts
    4,368

    Re: Black bear hunting opinions

    Thier vitals are farther back then allot of guys think.

    I like to shoot em broadside through both lungs. Imagine a vertical line straight up off the front elbow. At about mid body height, 4 ish inches back will put you right in the center of the lungs with the biggest margine for error. (Or a few inches fwd of middle/middle as stated by savage 10)

    Placing any standard deer bullet/arrow/bolt here will result in a dead bear in very short order.

    Ive used 7mm-08, 303 savage, 30-06, .50 cal muzzle loader. Results were all the same. 2 holes, lots of blood, dead bear.
    Last edited by Ron.C; 02-28-2023 at 01:05 PM.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    kamloops
    Posts
    3,851

    Re: Black bear hunting opinions

    Use the 300 and smash his front shoulders.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Langley
    Posts
    6,032

    Re: Black bear hunting opinions

    I keep it simple. 30-06 150gr and double lung. It's the biggest target and very fatal. Furthest I have had a double lung shot bear go is 15-20 yards. No meat wasted.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2021
    Posts
    37

    Re: Black bear hunting opinions

    I'm going to be using 180gr 30-06 rounds, but i'm wondering if i could use 165gr if im 300 meters or less away...

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