what bullet for black bear?
- Thread starter geode
- Start date
Dultimatpredator
Well-known member
There the same as deer...thin skinned game. I'd shoot a coreloct in the heaviest of Remington's offering. The coreloct will brake and pass through shoulder bones.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: geodewill be shooting .270 wsm or 7mm08. My son will actually be doing the shooting. I own the former. Would need to purchase the latter. I'm ok with that! I can reload. Is there a particular bullet that I should lean towards for black bear hunting?
thanks
So what bullet would YOU lean towards if you walked into him in the dark?
I have been at this for many years and can assure you, a premium bullet is a must. I have used Nosler Partition for as long as I can remember, and they have held together well in the worst situations. There are other "heavily" constructed bullets that will work also.
To get a blood trail out of a large bear, the bullet needs to exit after it has expanded. You can't depend on the entrance hole to bleed well if it is a fat bear. It doesn't take a very large bear to be two feet across from outer shoulder to the other side. That's a lot of distance for a bullet to traverse.
Jim
thanks
So what bullet would YOU lean towards if you walked into him in the dark?
I have been at this for many years and can assure you, a premium bullet is a must. I have used Nosler Partition for as long as I can remember, and they have held together well in the worst situations. There are other "heavily" constructed bullets that will work also.
To get a blood trail out of a large bear, the bullet needs to exit after it has expanded. You can't depend on the entrance hole to bleed well if it is a fat bear. It doesn't take a very large bear to be two feet across from outer shoulder to the other side. That's a lot of distance for a bullet to traverse.
Jim
K-22hornet.
New member
A Barnes TTSX in 130gr for the 270wsm or 120gr in the 7-08, would be, and is, my choice.
Tim Neitzke
New member
While many will work, I prefer atleast a bonded bullet. I like Barnes myself for bear. Others I would think about trying... NP, NAB, Fusion. Last bear I shot was 290 dressed and he had 4 holes in him from 1 bullet ! Hit him on edge of the shoulder quartering at me. Exit was far back and entered the second time in the HQ then out. That was a 30 cal 180 MRX.
PLOTTHOUND
New member
I would use a mid to heavy weight bonded bullet.
Bears are not thin skinned animals .A good premium bullet is a must as PDhntr said, I like the swift A frame myself nosler's partition and the barnes are supposed to be good also but have never used them to shoot a bear, I have shot 3 here in PA with the largest at 401 lbs . DONT use any bullet with a plastic tip for bear ,a premium bullet in a semi spritzer , semi flat nose or round nose is what you want.I would use your 270wsm over the 7-08 with the swift A frame in the 150g for shots under 100 yards farther than that I might drop to the 140's to get it a little flatter shooting. Good luck on your bear hunt.
Tim Neitzke
New member
What's wrong with poly tip bullets ?
Originally Posted By: bthomasb1Bears are not thin skinned animals .A good premium bullet is a must as PDhntr said, I like the swift A frame myself nosler's partition and the barnes are supposed to be good also but have never used them to shoot a bear, I have shot 3 here in PA with the largest at 401 lbs . DONT use any bullet with a plastic tip for bear ,a premium bullet in a semi spritzer , semi flat nose or round nose is what you want.I would use your 270wsm over the 7-08 with the swift A frame in the 150g for shots under 100 yards farther than that I might drop to the 140's to get it a little flatter shooting. Good luck on your bear hunt.
So no Barnes TTSX, Nosler AccuBond, Trophy Bonded Tip, Nosler E-Tip, Swift Scirocco, Hornady GMX…?
So no Barnes TTSX, Nosler AccuBond, Trophy Bonded Tip, Nosler E-Tip, Swift Scirocco, Hornady GMX…?
Tim Neitzke
New member
Yep, that's what I was thinking Shane.
My gun shot bears get poly tips..
My gun shot bears get poly tips..
I don't like the poly tipped bullets for bears especially bigger bears. The poly tip on bullets have 2 jobs ,1 retain their shape for ballistics and 2 to push back into the bullet to aid in the start of expansion. My opinion might be a little misguided towards some but here in pa I was taught by several accomplished bear hunters to shoot a bear in the shoulder to break him down so they don't run,if they run they are several times lost to another hunter.I know several it has happened too. Also bad shots happen to good people,I just don't believe in the penetrating abilities of poly tipped bullets when faced with the larger bones from a good sized black bear.Most of the poly tipped bullets are designed for a high b.c. and yes they are bonded core and all that other good stuff, but I just cant trust them for me so I wont recommend them for anyone else I have used the swift scirocco and the nosler accubond on white tails .In PA if you don't know our bears get pretty big we are pushing 900 lbs for the record and we shoot bears over 700 lbs every year.I have 2 that visit my property that are close too or over 600.So I like to be prepared for what I am hunting.
All of the above listed are proved bear shoulder breakers.
There are different types of poly-tipped bullets. Varmint types are meant for rapid expansion. Bonded and tipped are not as rapid, especially on the base. And the mono bullets are controlled expansion. The bullet composition is more to due with bullet performance than the tip itself. The mentality of 'all poly tips explode' if far out dated. Bullets sure have come a long way in the past few decades...
There are different types of poly-tipped bullets. Varmint types are meant for rapid expansion. Bonded and tipped are not as rapid, especially on the base. And the mono bullets are controlled expansion. The bullet composition is more to due with bullet performance than the tip itself. The mentality of 'all poly tips explode' if far out dated. Bullets sure have come a long way in the past few decades...
yes they probably are like I said I have used the swift scirocco and the nosler accubond on deer and was satisfied with the results for deer,but I didn't think the bullets looked like they would hold up like the a frame on bear ,I have shot bear with the swift a frames with very good results a 240 lb and the 401 lb and ,the swifts have an outstanding reputation for weight retention and penetration and I understand why .Maybe come spring I will get a couple boxes of tipped bullets for my 358nm and do some penetration test in ballistic gelatin and bone and maybe that will change my mind.
I will say that PA bear hunting is a bit different than some black bear hunting in some places.
1. We have big bears at times - over 800# seems to happen every year. Not the norm, but they are out there.
2. Most of our bear are shot in the thick laurel mountainous terrain of the state. Usually a flash of black at "short" range is all you get to decide on.
3. Most of our hunting is done in drives which has a tendency to create running shots on alert, determined running bears.
4. We have a HIGH population of hunters - not unusual if you miss or don't knock it down now, the next guy will in a few minutes.
All that said, of the maybe two dozen or so bears I've been on drives that we killed, almost all were killed with factory cup and core lead bullets, few died on the spot, and two holes in 'em (or more if you can) is never a bad thing. Esp. in laurel! I recall a 400# one with a 280 Rem (head shot standing) - bang, flop of course, two 500#'s - two 30-30's and a 7mm Mag respectively - chest shots - all were running and continued to for a bit with multiple kill shots in them, and one 600# with 7mm Mag - standing or walking as I recall - bang, flop pretty much - chest shot broadside - no exit. I'll never tell you to not go bigger cal or heavier or better bullets for bear, but most deer cal's will do it - they're not made of kevlar, but can be determined and tend not to let too much blood out and no hoof print (LOL!) if you do need to track them. Many are killed each year with 30-30's and 243's. Both of your cal's are plenty. Get a good accurate load with a heavier, premium bullet, and you can't do much better. JMHO.
1. We have big bears at times - over 800# seems to happen every year. Not the norm, but they are out there.
2. Most of our bear are shot in the thick laurel mountainous terrain of the state. Usually a flash of black at "short" range is all you get to decide on.
3. Most of our hunting is done in drives which has a tendency to create running shots on alert, determined running bears.
4. We have a HIGH population of hunters - not unusual if you miss or don't knock it down now, the next guy will in a few minutes.
All that said, of the maybe two dozen or so bears I've been on drives that we killed, almost all were killed with factory cup and core lead bullets, few died on the spot, and two holes in 'em (or more if you can) is never a bad thing. Esp. in laurel! I recall a 400# one with a 280 Rem (head shot standing) - bang, flop of course, two 500#'s - two 30-30's and a 7mm Mag respectively - chest shots - all were running and continued to for a bit with multiple kill shots in them, and one 600# with 7mm Mag - standing or walking as I recall - bang, flop pretty much - chest shot broadside - no exit. I'll never tell you to not go bigger cal or heavier or better bullets for bear, but most deer cal's will do it - they're not made of kevlar, but can be determined and tend not to let too much blood out and no hoof print (LOL!) if you do need to track them. Many are killed each year with 30-30's and 243's. Both of your cal's are plenty. Get a good accurate load with a heavier, premium bullet, and you can't do much better. JMHO.
Dultimatpredator
Well-known member
Bear are thin skinned animals. Their skin is no thicker than a whitetail. The only difference is, yes, they have a way thicker shoulder bone. I recommended a remington core loct but if your thinking you want a little more insurance go with an nosler partition. It's what I used on my last bear which if you check my pistol history you''ll see a pic of it. I've seen bear taking with everything from slugs to 300RUMs. I'm a firm believer on using the gun in you safe with the biggest bullet diameter for the best chance of a blood trail since 99%,of black bears shot don't drop on the spot and their fat always seals up the hole your bullet made. I used a scirocco out of my 300 rum that anchored a bear...because I broke both shoulders.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: bthomasb1nosler accubond on deer and was satisfied with the results for deer,but I didn't think the bullets looked like they would hold up like the a frame on bear
I feel like it's the opposite. I think the Nosler Accubond is too much for a whitetail. Personally I use Nosler Ballistic Tips for deer and Accubonds for elk and bear. All the bear and elk I have shot with the Accubonds have penetrated shoulders and anchored them on spot. Just my opinion.
I feel like it's the opposite. I think the Nosler Accubond is too much for a whitetail. Personally I use Nosler Ballistic Tips for deer and Accubonds for elk and bear. All the bear and elk I have shot with the Accubonds have penetrated shoulders and anchored them on spot. Just my opinion.