Caliber of choice for bear kill season?

knowjesus · Post by **knowjesus** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:21 pm

This question may have been beat to death on the previous forum, BUT let's hear some opinions on the best caliber for kill season on black bears.
I am looking at a Ruger redhawk 44 magnum and wonder if you have an opinion on the 44.
Let me know what else is good to use. I just read an article about high velocity rounds and how they often do not expand well at short distances. I've heard that when a bear bays or trees, the shot is often short.
Heard alot of good things on the .35 Remington, 45/70, .444 and the large pistol calibers.
Take Care!

Bearhunter · Post by **Bearhunter** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:33 pm

Go with a rifle,even on treed bear the results are better.No offence,but it takes more experiance and a steadier hand to make"a one shot kill" with a pistol(even if its scoped)than a rifle. Now of coarse Im speaking as a houndsmen,last thing I want to do is have a shooter bring a bear out crippled or god for bid they start poppin off shots with that short gun if the bear bails.Ive seen it happen!! As far as caliber most times we use a 350 marlin with a muzzel brake in a short lever action(have had kids 9 &10 years old use this) We always try for the behind the ear shot(and no it doest "blow a hole") We do have an old hand with a 44 mag back up for when it hits,if there is any hint of life he will put another round in the head(barrel to the head)

Black&TanMan1 · Post by **Black&TanMan1** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 11:40 pm

I got rid of my pistol and I pack a little marlin444 that is just awesome for gettin in the brush with, I did have fiber optic sites put on and surprisinly the sight hood still fight. I killed a bear on the ground with it last fall and my girlfiend used it to kill hers. If I was going back to a pistol, wich I wont ever. I would buy an original 454Cassual. I have shot the Cassual and was very impressed. Ishot a taurus raging bull in the 454Cassual and it sucked. I would always recomened using a short heavy caliber lever action rifle. espessialy when its being shot on the ground in front of my Dogs.

Will M. · Post by **Will M.** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 12:12 am

A good 12 guage slug gun and modern slugs will do the jog better than many magnum rifles at close ranges with bayed up or treed bear.

Hound man · Post by **Hound man** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 3:06 am

Iam with will on this one I like a 12ga slug gun myself

kdrchuck · Post by **kdrchuck** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:57 am

I dumped my pistol as well. I now have a Puma 92 in 454 Casull. (Short lever gun). I've not put it to the test yet but I have confidence in it. eveything else said has been right on with what i think.

houndogger · Post by **houndogger** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:40 am

45/70 Works fine for me.

chris · Post by **chris** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:42 pm

the ol 30/30 or 30.06 for me

WVhillbilly · Post by **WVhillbilly** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 6:25 pm

35 remington here, Puts them quick. One shot on all of mine.

Brian

bearcoons · Post by **bearcoons** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 8:31 pm

if i am the only one or just a couple of us then there is definatly a rifle on my shoulder, or somebody. on the hip i carry my ruger 480 i truely believe the way sam said, we always put one in the head when it comes out of the tree. but if its in the rocks or in the laurel then i like my pistol easier to move if things get touch and go.

easttenngator · Post by **easttenngator** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 10:59 pm

30/30 with lead heads......hard to beat and good old iron sites

southwestwalkers · Post by **southwestwalkers** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 11:40 pm

My Marlin 336 30/30 lever action with iron sites.....

DesertDweller · Post by **DesertDweller** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:51 pm

35 mm for me, not much intrest in killing one, rather chase them the next day!

msgfarleyret · Post by **msgfarleyret** » Sat Jun 30, 2007 10:37 pm

I like a 30-06

corbin · Post by **corbin** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 3:36 pm

the 30-30 has probably killed more bear and hog than any other rifle. but that doesent mean its the best gun of choice for bear or hog hunting. a 44 mag has probly killed just about as much as the 30-30. but that dont mean it is the best choice ether. i have been hunting with people that has caried both and from what i have seen ether will kill a bear. BUT when hunting with hounds i curse both the guns. nether in my opinion have killed a bear fast anouph, THAT I HAVE SEEN. and you are limited to how far you can shoot with them. we have a lot of dogs hurt because the guns wouldent kill the bear fast anouph and anybody that has done a lot of hunting knows what im talkin about. i seen a bear back this past season that got shot while treed by a 30-30 then ran out of the tree and a boy shot it with his 44 8 times after that before the bear finally stoped. luckly no dogs got hurt on that one. so we obviously dont like ether of them guns. then comes the 35. now i have seen that gun drop bear like a bag of dirt out to 20 yards. but past that i watched a boy shoot one about 40 yards and the bear droped then got back up and took a dog to the river and killed it then i shot the bear in the sholder with a 308 at about 60 yards and it droped like dirt. so the 35 would be used as a 15 yd. and under gun if i had to use it. now havin that said. the 308 is what most people cary around here its the menomom. i shoot a 30-06 with 220 grain bullets and have had no trouble with it. it is my gun of choice for bear hutning. but if i had to have something else then i would probly get a 454 but i do like to save meat so i stick with the 30-06 with 220 gr. bullets that is in MY OPINION the best bear gun. for me anyways.