7mm-08 or .308 for black bear

[Mr_Flintstone]

Like the title asks, which would be more appropriate for medium-large (300-500 lb) black bear in wooded areas?

 

[<*(((><]

I would go for the .308 WIN, loaded heavy, since it seems like by your post about being a wooded area your shots will be close. But either would work fine.

 

[nhcruffler]

Either one will work just fine. Black bears are not hard to kill.

 

[whughett]

Unless the black bear on your woods are Grizzly size either round is more than adequate for the job.
More black bear in Maine are taken with the 30/30 or 32 Special, IMO Bruin don’t take anymore killing than a buck whitetail.

 

[troy fairweather]

Both are fine but more a chance I'd be using a 7-08.

 

[Varminterror]

7-08.

 

[FL-NC]

I have seen both used effectively on black bear over bait (close range, thick woods) in Maine. To me, the ideal gun/bullet combo for this purpose would be a lever gun like a Marlin 30-30 or 35, or a pump like a 7600 in 270 or larger, with a 4x scope, as either would allow for a quick follow-up shot. But in reality, most of the locals there use the same bolt action rifle for bear, deer, and moose.

 

[Casefull]

The larger caliber. 45 70 is better yet. Haha

 

[VoodooMountain]

Whichever you prefer.

The bullet construction is what matters.

 

[redneck2]

When I went, we would shoot for the little pink spot at the base of the ear. Makes tracking quite easy. Go to where he was standing, look straight down, and there’s your bear.

I used a .30-30. A .22 Mag would probably be adequate

 

[WestKentucky]

7-08 is pretty sweet at longer ranges and .308 does not have a notable edge in short range, so 7-08 gets the nod (and is on my short list for next rifle after I build a thumper)

 

[d2wing]

I like my 7-08 and would use it but the 308 is fine too. Either is a good choice. A high velocity expanding bullet is always better than a slow bullet like 45-70. That was proven about 120 years ago.

 

[Jim Rau]

I like my 7-08 and would use it but the 308 is fine too. Either is a good choice. A high velocity expanding bullet is always better than a slow bullet like 45-70. That was proven about 120 years ago.

Not necessarily, you can kill little animals with a big gun, but you can't always kill big animals with a little gun!!! In this case the 308 or the 7-08 will both do the job and do it well. Just choose the right bullets.

 

[Legionnaire]

'nother vote for the 7-08, but you can't go wrong with either.

 

[Robbins290]

Both will work good.

I would go 308 my self. Most likely will be in closer range. Can use heavier bullets and cheaper to get ammo for to practice.

 

[someguy2800]

Handloading or reloading? Using it for anything else?

I like both but if you are buying ammo I would do a 308 and specifically I would use a 180 grain federal fusion.

 

[skeeterfogger]

I'd use a 308 mainly because dial ammo capability.

 

[Scooter22]

Either. If you have a 7mm-08 use it with heavy bullets. It's basically a modern 7x57 and that round was used all over the world for game up to elephant. The English hunter Bell used it to brain shoot jumbos for ivory. Seems he didn't know you were suppose have a big double rifle.

 

[mustanger98]

Like the title asks, which would be more appropriate for medium-large (300-500 lb) black bear in wooded areas?

.308Win handloaded with a 150gr RN running ~2500-2600fps. More than adequate for deer, so it'll do for bear too. For wooded areas, I'd zero so it'll bust clay birds on the 100yd berm and call it good.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I'd be more curious about the rifle and ammunition.

They are so similar, as the 7-08 is just a skinny 308

 

[ExAgoradzo]

My first choice would be the 7x57 Mauser because it is cooler and I haven’t killed anything with it yet.

I’d be happy to take my .308 though.

but depending on how far I thought my farthest shot might be, I’d use my .45-70.

as others have noted: 6 of one and 1/2 doz of other.

enjoy!
Greg

 

[DocRock]

Six of one, half a dozen of the other. 500 lbs is a huge black bear! Anything that will kill a deer will kill a black bear. The 30-30 is a great black bear killer. So, 150 grs at .284" or . 308" is neither here nor there. Whichever you have, prefer, or want to use this as an excuse to acquire will be fine. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[GooseGestapo]

Either.
State record black bear in Georgia was 633lbs. (Iirc). Killed in 2002 on National Forrest/WMA in N.Ga with 100gr Remington Corlokt from .243. One shot.

Most bears in Maine are killed with .30/30, .35Rem, or .30/06.
Like another stated, they aren’t particularly hard to kill.
Shot placement X3.

 

[cdb1]

I don’t believe it makes a difference.

 

[cougar1717]

0.024" is a huge difference in bullet diameter. When choosing the right caliber for a bear, you have to take a whole bunch of things into account. The first is how many people are going to look at the thread because it has the word bear in it. The second is how many will post that the two are virtually identical cartridges same OR that one will be better than the other. The third is that if you are still reading, you have been huckleberried by the monthly bear thread.