I'm going to take my son on a hunt next fall for bear. He has taken deer with both a .50 cal muzzleloader shooting 80 grains and a .243win. I also own a .270WSM which he has never shot.
He is currently 12 and will be 13 by next fall's hunt. He shoots alot of trap with a 20 gauge, and while I'm not extremely concerned about an adversion to the recoil of the .270WSM, it does pack quite a wallup and he may not enjoy it.
I would think the .243 would be on the light side for a good sized bear if we'd get lucky enough to see one.
I'm thinking this might be a good opportunity to add a rifle! Any recommendations on a caliber adequate for the possibility of a 400# black bear (likely less, but who knows!) that might be reasonable for a young man to shoot, recoil wise?
Off the top of my head, .308 is probably the obvious choice but I am open to something alittle more "exotic" just for the fun factor.
thanks
p.s. I do reload alittle
He is currently 12 and will be 13 by next fall's hunt. He shoots alot of trap with a 20 gauge, and while I'm not extremely concerned about an adversion to the recoil of the .270WSM, it does pack quite a wallup and he may not enjoy it.
I would think the .243 would be on the light side for a good sized bear if we'd get lucky enough to see one.
I'm thinking this might be a good opportunity to add a rifle! Any recommendations on a caliber adequate for the possibility of a 400# black bear (likely less, but who knows!) that might be reasonable for a young man to shoot, recoil wise?
Off the top of my head, .308 is probably the obvious choice but I am open to something alittle more "exotic" just for the fun factor.
thanks
p.s. I do reload alittle