Thinking about a dedicated black bear rifle, thoughts?

[Silver Hand]

45-70 lever

In the 1960s, A friend shot a huge four point White tail in the back side with a Marlin in 45/70s the hole in the ham was wide enough for him to put his fist into, must have been the exit wound and he had small hands but it went in up to his wrist.

Lol, or flies at 150 yards.. I used to have a .243 and man was that thing accurate.

Three holes touching never any change @100 yards. Darn nice rifle.

 

[Silver Hand]

45-70 lever

In the 1960s, A friend shot a huge four point White tail in the back side with a Marlin in 45/70s the hole in the ham was wide enough for him to put his fist into, must have been the exit wound and he had small hands but it went in up to his wrist.

 

[cigars]

The rifle you get for your black bear is less important than the length of pull in the stock. Bear arms are not as long as ours and although we have a constitutional right to bear arms, I'm not sure it extends to arming bears.

If you have to, I'd go with a lever action with the enlarged lever.

Good luck with your strange request!

I couldn't have said that better myself? But i'm not sure that I would have wanted to. Now i'm confused.

 

[bsa1917hunter]

From my experience, the good old 30-06 with a 200gr. Nosler partition is hard to beat:

 

[eightyeight mag]

308 win, 30-06, and 300 winny are all great rounds. I'm a bolt action fan myself.
Or if you can't handle recoil, u can always jump on the 6.5 Creedmoor bandwagon.

 

[No_Regerts]

I do have a Winchester Model 70 in 30-06 I had thought about rebarrelling into a .35 Whelen to shoot elk/bears with at the coast but it seems like it would be more money then I was wanting to spend on a project currently.

Its a waste of money. 30 caliber with a decent bullet is far more versatile than a 35, especially when factoring in twist rates.

 

[djharteloo]

I already have two 30-06's, a .308, and a 30-30, I wanna do something different.

 

[KKG]

I already have two 30-06's, a .308, and a 30-30, I wanna do something different.

Good for you!!!

 

[djharteloo]

Good for you!!!

Something unique, 338-06 a squared, some kind of 8mm-308 based cartridge, something different that I can look at and say "Yep, thats my weird bear shooter"

 

[eightyeight mag]

.338 win mag

 

[No_Regerts]

Something unique, 338-06 a squared, some kind of 8mm-308 based cartridge, something different that I can look at and say "Yep, thats my weird bear shooter"

Id go 8 or 338 over a 35 unless you got a custom barrel. 35s tend to be twisted slow. Maybe a 9.3x62?

 

[djharteloo]

Id go 8 or 338 over a 35 unless you got a custom barrel. 35s tend to be twisted slow. Maybe a 9.3x62?

That would also be pretty unique. And I think CZ makes their 550 in it?

 

[Certaindeaf]

Something unique, 338-06 a squared, some kind of 8mm-308 based cartridge, something different that I can look at and say "Yep, thats my weird bear shooter"

Alright then it's settled.. a double in 9.3x74R.

 

[No_Regerts]

That would also be pretty unique. And I think CZ makes their 550 in it?

There are CZs, some Sakos, and Ruger has chambered it in their Hawkeye African rifles.

If in this situation, I might try to find a used M70, rebarrel to 8x57/8mm-06/338-06/9.3x62, and bed it in a McMillan Edge.

 

[Member 34319]

4570auto.

 

[Silver Hand]

.

Its a waste of money. 30 caliber with a decent bullet is far more versatile than a 35, especially when factoring in twist rates.

A .30 caliber bullet with fairly high velocity is a good choice for a general hunting rifle.

 

[Silver Hand]

Working in the brush with a short rifle and a heavy projectile at close range on bear, works just as well on deer and Elk.
That 250 grain spire point slug fitted to that .350 Rem. Mag. has killed all of the above game, at close range. I still and always will consider it the best bear gun and cartridge, I have ever handled wile hunting bear with dogs. Those were some of the most exciting times of my life. Hunting that is!
The rifle should be light, short and fast, packing a wallop you feel confident enough to bet your life on.
Silver Hand

 

[Mark W.]

For those thinking along the lines of a Lever do not rule out Marlins NASTY .444 in my dads group in the late 60's that was a go to round for Black bears.

 

[bsa1917hunter]

That would also be pretty unique. And I think CZ makes their 550 in it?

You think?



If you already have a couple 30-06's and just have to have "something different", try the 9.3x62mm. I did...

 

[bsa1917hunter]

I do have a Winchester Model 70 in 30-06 I had thought about rebarrelling into a .35 Whelen to shoot elk/bears with at the coast but it seems like it would be more money then I was wanting to spend on a project currently.

Hasn't anyone here heard of JES? They can re-bore your 30-06 to 35 whelen or 9.3x62mm no problemo and they do damn good work. Here in state (Cottage Grove) and are known all over the united states. I talk to guys in Texas, Oklahoma, Pensylvania etc, that have had JES do re-bores for them. Always great reports. Cost's about $250.00. May be something you should look into...