Bear hunting question

[brewer12345]

I have been working with the Speer 180 grain Hot Cor in 35 Rem and have a very accurate load that does a bit over 2100 FPS out of my 16" barrel. I would like to take this rifle black bear hunting in September, as it was my dad's and thus far the only thing I have shot with it is a couple of hogs. The average black bear taken in my state is about 200 pounds and we have no griz. I would keep shots to 150 yards or less. Am I obviously undergunned with this rifle and load?

 

[buck460XVR]

No. Basically not much different than a 30-30 and they have taken many a black bear.

 

[brewer12345]

No. Basically not much different than a 30-30 and they have taken many a black bear.

Kind of what I figured, but what do I know about bear hunting?

 

[JFrank]

Sounds good to me.

 

[.38 Special]

I'd prefer more, but when it comes to things that could potentially eat me, I like to be radically overgunned. Realistically, your combo is just about ideal.

 

[courtgreene]

It will work perfectly fine… probably. The question isn’t really killing power, it’s methods or shot scenario. If the bear is treed, you’re good to go. If you’re shooting close over bait, good there too. Spot and stalk or still hunting? That’s different. If you can get close enough that you can make the shot with that rifle you’re still fine. If not, then you’ll likely want a flatter shooter (or to elect not to shoot). Driving bears is also a method that is used. I think you’re hit or miss in predicting shot distance there.

 

[brewer12345]

It will work perfectly fine… probably. The question isn’t really killing power, it’s methods or shot scenario. If the bear is treed, you’re good to go. If you’re shooting close over bait, good there too. Spot and stalk or still hunting? That’s different. If you can get close enough that you can make the shot with that rifle you’re still fine. If not, then you’ll likely want a flatter shooter (or to elect not to shoot). Driving bears is also a method that is used. I think you’re hit or miss in predicting shot distance there.

Getting or not getting a bear isn't earth shatteringly important to me, so if I can't get close enough to make a shot so be it. If I really wanted to make sure I could take longer shots, I would fish out the 30-06 loaded with Partitions. I like spot and stalk, using terrain to get close etc. and the area I will be hunting is fairly thick, so 150 yards will be OK as a max distance for me. Frankly, my biggest worry is bumping into a bear feeding in the oak brush at close range, so a quick handling lever may be my better choice anyway.

 

[troy fairweather]

Should work great for bear, the 35 looks close to the 30-30 on paper but just seems to kill much better.

 

[Roverguy]

35 Rem is an East Coast black bear favorite! Good luck.

 

[jmorris]

Am I obviously undergunned with this rifle and load?

No, and thank you for one less .223 for deer thread.

 

[jmr40]

That'll kill black bear just as dead as anything else. You're going to have to limit the effective range more than I like. Even 150 yards is pushing it. It's not trajectory, you'll only be about 3" low at 150, but impact velocity will be down to around 1700 fps. That may be too slow to get bullet expansion.

thank you for one less .223 for deer thread.

While I don't recommend it, a friend of mine killed a 200 lb black bear last fall with a 223. I have no doubts about any 30-30 or 35 Rem class cartridge taking any game in the lower 48 if you are willing to live with the range limitations.

 

[JFrank]

Getting or not getting a bear isn't earth shatteringly important to me, so if I can't get close enough to make a shot so be it. If I really wanted to make sure I could take longer shots, I would fish out the 30-06 loaded with Partitions. I like spot and stalk, using terrain to get close etc. and the area I will be hunting is fairly thick, so 150 yards will be OK as a max distance for me. Frankly, my biggest worry is bumping into a bear feeding in the oak brush at close range, so a quick handling lever may be my better choice anyway.

I hunt Black Bear back in this thick stuff with only a 30-30 a knife and a short rope, it’s an absolute rush when I know he’s just up ahead or trying to flank me.

 

[brewer12345]

That'll kill black bear just as dead as anything else. You're going to have to limit the effective range more than I like. Even 150 yards is pushing it. It's not trajectory, you'll only be about 3" low at 150, but impact velocity will be down to around 1700 fps. That may be too slow to get bullet expansion.



While I don't recommend it, a friend of mine killed a 200 lb black bear last fall with a 223. I have no doubts about any 30-30 or 35 Rem class cartridge taking any game in the lower 48 if you are willing to live with the range limitations.

Good point on expansion. I will see if I can get info out of speer on min expansion velocity with this bullet. I only have a vintage 3x scope on this rifle so 150 yards may be pushing it anyway.

I like to stalk close whenever possible. I killed a pronghorn at 75 yards last year by being extremely sneaky and using the terrain. I think it is sporting and more funner, so ideally I will be waiting 100 yards before I take a shot at a bear.

I suppose I could just use Hornady leverevolution for this hunt and call it a day, but I haven't chronod these out of my short barrel and don't know how fast they go.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

..., but what do I know about bear hunting?

An epistemological question that I am sure only you know the answer to in this case, LOL.

With that said, here is a decent read for you...
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.35+Remington.html

This is good, but does not appear to have your particular bullet, but will give you some performance capabilities of various bullets out to 200 yards.
http://www.suitorsgarage.com/gunstuff/35remington/factoryloadpart1.html

Based on what these say, I think I would want to keep my shots inside 100 yards if at all possible. Then again, I don't want to be on the ground inside of 100 yards with a bear I am hunting, LOL.

 

[brewer12345]

An epistemological question that I am sure only you know the answer to in this case, LOL.

With that said, here is a decent read for you...
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.35+Remington.html

This is good, but does not appear to have your particular bullet, but will give you some performance capabilities of various bullets out to 200 yards.
http://www.suitorsgarage.com/gunstuff/35remington/factoryloadpart1.html

Based on what these say, I think I would want to keep my shots inside 100 yards if at all possible. Then again, I don't want to be on the ground inside of 100 yards with a bear I am hunting, LOL.

I will have to see what I see on the ground, I suppose. If I get out there and all the likely spots are long shot propositions, I will switch to something with a lot more reach.

Frankly, I was sort of tempted to try for bear with a 58 muzzleloader, but I think something that can offer a faster follow up shot is probably wise.

 

[troy fairweather]

35 cal and up don't seem to need bullet Expansion as much if it were under 35 cal, I shot a buck at just over 250 with a 200 corlokt factory load bet it wasn't moving to fast. Tho it punched a hole thru the deer like a punch and the deer dropped never moving.

 

[brewer12345]

35 cal and up don't seem to need bullet Expansion as much if it were under 35 cal, I shot a buck at just over 250 with a 200 corlokt factory load bet it wasn't moving to fast. Tho it punched a hole thru the deer like a punch and the deer dropped never moving.

This is in 35 Rem I presume?

Its funny, I have been working on opposite ends of the spectrum for load development: 35 Rem short range thumper and 6.5 grendel for 350 yard deer capability. I bet the 123 grain SST out of the grendel would dump a bear out to 200 yards without effort, but I really would like to hunt with Dad's rifle this year.

 

[troy fairweather]

This is in 35 Rem I presume?

Its funny, I have been working on opposite ends of the spectrum for load development: 35 Rem short range thumper and 6.5 grendel for 350 yard deer capability. I bet the 123 grain SST out of the grendel would dump a bear out to 200 yards without effort, but I really would like to hunt with Dad's rifle this year.

Yes 35 rem

 

[WisBorn]

Good luck with your bear hunt @brewer12345.
I think the 35 Rem falls nicely in that iconic bear cartridge for Black Bears!

What model rifle is it?

 

[brewer12345]

Good luck with your bear hunt @brewer12345.
I think the 35 Rem falls nicely in that iconic bear cartridge for Black Bears!

What model rifle is it?

A Marlin dad bought when he was 18.

 

[FL-NC]

I'm far from an expert on black bears, but the guides I know in Maine told me that anything above a 243 that would be good for a white tail is fine for a bear.

 

[skfullen]

My place is in the deep east Texas piney woods near the Big Thicket NWR and National Forests.

Bear are scarce and protected.

I hunt deer exclusively with a 30-30. Shots on deer and hogs around here usually range from 10 yards to 75 yards. It’s too thick for anything farther than that. Judging from performance on deer and hog, the 30-30 should work perfectly for bear within 100 yards. I also have a 35 Remington in the 336 marlin. I haven’t taken a deer with the .35 simply because I’m more confident and competent with the 30-30.

Both chamberings (30-30 and .35) are CLASSIC for deer and bear in thick brush and at limited ranges - and in the case of the 30-30, have been for well over a century!

 

[troy fairweather]

I'm really hoping ruger makes a marlin 336 stainless in 35rem,

 

[brewer12345]

I'm really hoping ruger makes a marlin 336 stainless in 35rem,

If they do, I won't be able to afford one.

 

[troy fairweather]

If they do, I won't be able to afford one.

They won't be as pricy as the 1895s hoping 600-700 range.