Black bear in September

[westernrover]

This hunt will be fairly local for me, but I still expect it to be hard. In previous years, the reported success rate was around 25%. It's not that there aren't plenty of bears. Their population keeps going up and up and the state is issuing more bear tags every year.

So I was looking at the last 10 years data for bears trapped (for nuisance or just for tagging) in the zone I'd be hunting. Out of 223 bears trapped just in this one area, the mean weight was 226 lbs. Median weight was 200 lbs. From what I've seen in the field myself, that's about what I expect. The maximum weight was 600 lbs, but five and six hundred pound bears were less than 5% of the data set. 50% of the bears were between 100 and 300 pounds. These are small bears in my mind, but that is what I would expect to encounter.

The terrain is mostly canyons where I would expect shots to be under 200 yards. I suppose ideally I would have a rifle 30 caliber or larger, but I don't.

.243? 25-06? or .264 Winchester?

The Winchester doesn't have an optic because I hardly ever shoot it. It does have irons. It's still bigger, and heavier, and longer than the others, but maybe this will be its purpose. I don't know, I always thought of it as a longer range rifle.

 

[rodwha]

Not that the .243 Win isn’t capable, but I’d prefer a bit more. I’d opt for whatever was better geared for the type of hunting to be done. If you are on foot I’d want lighter. If it’s thick I’d want compact. And if the range is beyond 100-125 yds I’d want a scope or peeps.

 

[LRDGCO]

I agree with Rodwha, the .243 just seems a stretch. I don't have one, so I may be romanticizing it, but I have always fancied a Model 70 in 264 WinMag. No question but that will do the trick.

 

[westernrover]

Yes, it is obviously not underpowered for inland bears or elk but it is overkill for game I'm more likely to hunt frequently like mule deer and even for a 200-pound bear. Mine is also ungainly with a 26" barrel. Compared to a compact rifle, it feels like a goose gun. The .243 with a shorter barrel and action is much handier and would seem to be plenty for a 200-pound bear, but there's always that rare chance I come across one over 500 pounds and then I'll really wish I was better prepared.

I don't think any of the small bores shooting upwards of 3000fps are ideal even for light bears, but I have no personal experience. I haven't shot enough game with a rifle to know whether a light, high-energy bullet is better or a medium-weight, larger caliber bullet at say 2400 fps like a .358 Winchester.

I didn't mention a .357 magnum carbine. It's low on energy but it will shoot a heavier slug than the others. It's no good for distance, but it's the handiest of them all. I'd feel confident at close range with a light bear, but probably not otherwise.

I don't want to buy another gun just for a 25% chance at one bear. The .264 seems the safest bet, but it's missing an optic and it's the only one I don't reload for. It sits in the back of the safe because to put it into action would be a big expense and I normally have no use for it. I'm not willing to sell it because it's one of those guns where you'd have to be an idiot not to realize you'll regret it someday. So it just sits there. Maybe I'll put a Skinner or Lyman peep sight on it, a limb saver because the thin butt plate leaves it short of LoP, and then I'll buy some Nosler factory ammo. That probably won't last long before I get the dies, powder and everything. At least I can probably save on the optic because no scope is better than a cheap scope.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I think the 25-06 would suffice. Find some heavy for caliber premium bullets for increased penetration on a larger specimen of bear.

Those .257 bullets can really sizzle from that huge case.

Partitions or AFrames are my normal choices.

It’s probable that you will only be able to find 100gr bullets factory loaded so the options are expanded for bullets if you roll your own. I like the idea of a 120gr Partition.

 

[FL-NC]

Of what you listed, I would use a 25-06. Will you be stationary, or spot-and-stalk? Over bait? I hunted in Maine over bait. Calibers used by my group included 7-08, 30-06, 308, 30-30, 45-70, 300 WM. The guides assured us they were all capable, and they were. Ask locals or the guides what they recommend.. Another option is to borrow a different rifle from a friend. A note on released nuisance bears- our guides told us that these bears tend to be more difficult to hunt as they are more vigilant, due to previous negative encounters with humans. The area we hunted was a place where these bears were released.

 

[rodwha]

Yes, it is obviously not underpowered for inland bears or elk but it is overkill for game I'm more likely to hunt frequently like mule deer and even for a 200-pound bear. Mine is also ungainly with a 26" barrel. Compared to a compact rifle, it feels like a goose gun. The .243 with a shorter barrel and action is much handier and would seem to be plenty for a 200-pound bear, but there's always that rare chance I come across one over 500 pounds and then I'll really wish I was better prepared.

I don't think any of the small bores shooting upwards of 3000fps are ideal even for light bears, but I have no personal experience. I haven't shot enough game with a rifle to know whether a light, high-energy bullet is better or a medium-weight, larger caliber bullet at say 2400 fps like a .358 Winchester.

I didn't mention a .357 magnum carbine. It's low on energy but it will shoot a heavier slug than the others. It's no good for distance, but it's the handiest of them all. I'd feel confident at close range with a light bear, but probably not otherwise.

I don't want to buy another gun just for a 25% chance at one bear. The .264 seems the safest bet, but it's missing an optic and it's the only one I don't reload for. It sits in the back of the safe because to put it into action would be a big expense and I normally have no use for it. I'm not willing to sell it because it's one of those guns where you'd have to be an idiot not to realize you'll regret it someday. So it just sits there. Maybe I'll put a Skinner or Lyman peep sight on it, a limb saver because the thin butt plate leaves it short of LoP, and then I'll buy some Nosler factory ammo. That probably won't last long before I get the dies, powder and everything. At least I can probably save on the optic because no scope is better than a cheap scope.

Bears have dense bones, laters of fat that can both reduce damage a bit but also seal the wound, a strong will to live, and can do some real harm, which is why I’d always lean towards a larger heavier caliber/bullet.

Sidearm options? I’d opt for some sort of wide meplat bullet. Hard cast is good but a little expansion isn’t bad. Just not a hollow point or anything else designed to expand readily and large. You want penetration. No RN type bullets.

 

[Patocazador]

I've only killed 2 black bears, both with a 7x57 and 140 gr. Nosler Partitions. I would have no qualms about using your .25-06 with 115 or 120 gr. partitions.

 

[LRDGCO]

140 grs Nosler Partitions out of that 264 Win mag will do for any black bear out there, but I can understand if you're leery of it without a scope. Under 100 yards, that 357 Mag carbine loaded with 158 grs hardish SWC would be the best choice. I have great respect for the 25-06, but 120 grs .257 bullet is a stretch on anything bigger than your average whitetail. A boiler room shot and the bear is dead, but a shoulder shot? Not a percentage shot. My experience with black bear is back East, usually under 100 yards, and the 30-30 and 35 Rem were quite effective.