Bullet Recommendation for Black Bear Hunt

[T-roy66]

I just booked my bear hunt for 2020. I'm looking at shooting bear at close range (30 yards or less). I'm wanting to keep the velocity at or around 1500 fps. What bullet would you use to work up a load with? Thinking about a 400 to 500 grain bullet either flat point or hollow point. Whoops I forgot something. Looking at using my Marlin 45-70 with a 1x6 power scope with illuminated dot reticle

[yotethumper]

We might need to know the cartridge or caliber for recommendations

[twosixteens]

Hard to beat a 405 grain bullet. I have never used a rifle on a black bear but shot several with a bow and the thing that I remember most is how little blood they leave and how thick the country they like to live in is.

[T-roy66]

Yea old age. I'm going to use my Marlin 45-70.

[RJH1]

IDK, i would probably go with a 300 jhp and a touch more velocity. If you are keeping the velocity that low, the 405s and 500s will have no expansion and both will shoot right through that bear, so i would lean 405 for less recoil, cause performance on game will be identical. Either the 405 rem bullet or a 405 cast will work fine. Sounds like a fun time :-)

[sierracharlie338]

Something bonded if you can find it.


Sierracharlie out…

[Walker]

Hard cast

[Radar]

[ATTACH]956349[/ATTACH]

I killed this one with a 30-30 using 150gr WW Power Points, I also killed my Mountain Lion with the same rifle and ammo. Only needed to shoot once at each animal. I like my old 30-30, aint even got no optics on it, best gun I got for animals under 75 yards.

I believe that 45-70 and them big old bullets are a little heavy and might be suited for a different kind of bear, but shoot what you want and have a good time at it. Good Luck.

[RJH1]

[ATTACH]956349[/ATTACH]

I killed this one with a 30-30 using 150gr WW Power Points, I also killed my Mountain Lion with the same rifle and ammo. Only needed to shoot once at each animal. I like my old 30-30, aint even got no optics on it, best gun I got for animals under 75 yards.

I believe that 45-70 and them big old bullets are a little heavy and might be suited for a different kind of bear, but shoot what you want and have a good time at it. Good Luck.

This is good advice and exactly why I recommended the 300 and a little more velocity

[T-roy66]

[ATTACH]956349[/ATTACH]

I killed this one with a 30-30 using 150gr WW Power Points, I also killed my Mountain Lion with the same rifle and ammo. Only needed to shoot once at each animal. I like my old 30-30, aint even got no optics on it, best gun I got for animals under 75 yards.

I believe that 45-70 and them big old bullets are a little heavy and might be suited for a different kind of bear, but shoot what you want and have a good time at it. Good Luck.

That is what I'm afraid of punching a small hole through and not getting a good blood trail. I have an old Marlin 30-30 and a Remington 141 pump in 35 rem.

[Radar]

That is what I'm afraid of punching a small hole through and not getting a good blood trail. I have an old Marlin 30-30 and a Remington 141 pump in 35 rem.

If I had a Remington 141 in 35 Remington and it was accurate and reliable it would go on the bear hunt. How many people you know could say they went on a bear hunt with a antique pump action rifle?

Dude that would be so bad azz, and that 35 Remington is a good caliber for under 100 yards.

[TacticalCowboy]

That is what I'm afraid of punching a small hole through and not getting a good blood trail. I have an old Marlin 30-30 and a Remington 141 pump in 35 rem.

One was killed with a 44 mag and a cast bullet. The others were killed with a .40 and a cast bullet.

A metric ***** load of buffalo were killed with a lead bullet out of a 45-70. Black bears aren’t that tough. Go buy a box of 300jhp, 405jhp, or some cast leads, get your gun sighted in, and go whack one!! I’m not sure how we ever killed anything before magnum calibers and bonded bullets

[xman59]

I just booked my bear hunt for 2020. I'm looking at shooting bear at close range (30 yards or less). I'm wanting to keep the velocity at or around 1500 fps. What bullet would you use to work up a load with? Thinking about a 400 to 500 grain bullet either flat point or hollow point. Whoops I forgot something. Looking at using my Marlin 45-70 with a 1x6 power scope with illuminated dot reticle

with the 45-70 and black bears, any bullet will work,,, I am partial to the 300 gr hp for everything

[mrc]

I run a Beatrooth 405 WFN in mine at about 1700 fps, there is nothing I would not shoot with it. The nastiest mess I have ever seen is a big boar shot lengthwise with one at about 110 yards. That and the Barnes Buster are the only bullets I would use. PM me your number and I will send you a few pics of what the pressure wave it pushes in front of it will do.

[oneeye]

I'd go with a hard cast bullet. Imo, 45 caliber makes a large enough hole that you don't need an expanding bullet.