Smallest caliber you have taken a bear with? (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 8/24/2013 12:59:23 PM EDT
[Last Edit: jukeboxx13][Edited]
|
So like the title says what is the smallest caliber you have taken bear with? .223/5.56 maybe? |
|
Originally Posted By NE450No2:
I have taken bear with the following calibres: 450/400 3 1/4" a few with the 9,3x74R, 300 WBY Mag, 308, and 475 Linebaugh handgun. I would not want to try it with a 223/5.56. What bullet and weight with the .308? Sounds promising... |
"If Walmart had a house band- it WOULD be Nickleback- F*ck them" - Sarahjane
|
Originally Posted By CanNevrHaveEnuffGuns: What bullet and weight with the .308? Sounds promising... Originally Posted By CanNevrHaveEnuffGuns: Originally Posted By NE450No2: I have taken bear with the following calibres: 450/400 3 1/4" a few with the 9,3x74R, 300 WBY Mag, 308, and 475 Linebaugh handgun. I would not want to try it with a 223/5.56. What bullet and weight with the .308? Sounds promising... |
| Not me but years ago when I was a kid my grandfather took ~100lb black bear with a 22lr. We were walking in out woods and a small black bear was getting a little to close and he shot it a few times. It walked around for a few seconds and hit the ground. I wouldn't hesitate taking one with an AR-15 loaded with a nice bonded bullet. You have 30rds. Bears go down easier than people think. |
Before the beginning of great brilliance, there must be chaos.
|
Originally Posted By Powerkicker:
Even the brown kind? Originally Posted By Powerkicker:
Originally Posted By M4_man_223:
I would say anything that will kill a deer is good for bear. Even the brown kind? Not him but black bear absoultly. Grizzly not a chance. |
Before the beginning of great brilliance, there must be chaos.
|
Originally Posted By Powerkicker:
Even the brown kind? Originally Posted By Powerkicker:
Originally Posted By M4_man_223:
I would say anything that will kill a deer is good for bear. Even the brown kind? I guess I assumed black bear. I have killed plenty of deer with a 223 and I would NOT chase a brown bear with a 223. |
Write your reps and join the NRA.... NOW!!
|
Originally Posted By M4_man_223: I got one last week with my bow and it went down quicker than a whitetail. I would say anything that will kill a deer is good for bear. |
|
30-30
And I'm not proud of it. I was young and thought I had enough gun. It took way too many rounds. Several shots to neck/head and behind the shoulder had absolutely no effect. The round that finished him, entered the chest cavity between ribs. I believe that a .308 or bigger would have done the job in a much quicker, safer and more humane way. They are not the same as deer. That is ridiculous. Perhaps an immature small black bear, is somewhat comparable to a trophy buck of similar weight. This 450ish lbs black bear was harder to kill than any deer I've shot with the same gun. Most bullet manufacturers consider deer thin skinned game, black bears medium, and brown bears large. They put dummy labels on ammo accordingly. I think some bears might be so shocked that someone is so stupid that they would even try to use a .22 and die of a heart attack. I seriously doubt a .22 will penetrate the hide of a bear regularly. .22 for bear  is triple derp.
|
|
Originally Posted By Rooster-Cogburn: 30-30 And I'm not proud of it. I was young and thought I had enough gun. It took way too many rounds. Several shots to neck/head and behind the shoulder had absolutely no effect. The round that finished him, entered the chest cavity between ribs. I believe that a .308 or bigger would have done the job in a much quicker, safer and more humane way. They are not the same as deer. That is ridiculous. Perhaps an immature small black bear, is somewhat comparable to a trophy buck of similar weight. This 450ish lbs black bear was harder to kill than any deer I've shot with the same gun. Most bullet manufacturers consider deer thin skinned game, black bears medium, and brown bears large. They put dummy labels on ammo accordingly. I think some bears might be so shocked that someone is so stupid that they would even try to use a .22 and die of a heart attack. I seriously doubt a .22 will penetrate the hide of a bear regularly. .22 for bear is triple derp. |
|
Originally Posted By Rooster-Cogburn:
30-30 And I'm not proud of it. I was young and thought I had enough gun. It took way too many rounds. Several shots to neck/head and behind the shoulder had absolutely no effect. The round that finished him, entered the chest cavity between ribs. I believe that a .308 or bigger would have done the job in a much quicker, safer and more humane way. They are not the same as deer. That is ridiculous. Perhaps an immature small black bear, is somewhat comparable to a trophy buck of similar weight. This 450ish lbs black bear was harder to kill than any deer I've shot with the same gun. Most bullet manufacturers consider deer thin skinned game, black bears medium, and brown bears large. They put dummy labels on ammo accordingly. I think some bears might be so shocked that someone is so stupid that they would even try to use a .22 and die of a heart attack. I seriously doubt a .22 will penetrate the hide of a bear regularly. .22 for bear is triple derp.Maybe you should google it. You will be surprised on how many people have killed a bear with a 22. |
Before the beginning of great brilliance, there must be chaos.
|
Originally Posted By jukeboxx13:
Damn. That's nice of your Dad for giving it away. Originally Posted By jukeboxx13:
Originally Posted By Skrutinizr:
My dad took out a polar bear with a .45acp pistol. 
Purely defensive, and the bear was given to the Eskimos who sold its pelt for $20K He didn't have a choice. The white man is not allowed to keep them if they are killed in a defensive situation. |
|
People over think black bear caliber selection. Most black bears are not 500 LB's. 250-300 LB's is much more common and many shots are in close from a stand. No reason .223 with a good bullet wouldn't do the job. That being said I prefer something like a 30-06.
Now brown bears and Kodiak Grizzly are different story. Minimum I feel comfortable is 30-06 with a well constructed 180 grain bullet, keeping my shots to under 200 yards. I prefer a 300 win mag with a 200 grain pill for long distance work or better yet a 375 Ruger, 270 grain for flatter shooting, 300 grain solids for close in stuff. |
|
My kids have killed quite a few blk bear with our 6.8 stag, 110 grain ttsx, 28 grains H-322. Biggest one was about 325 lbs. None went over 30 yards before they let out their bawl.
The Indians down Ft Yukon killed a polar bear a few years back with an old .556, fmjs to boot. |
|
Me, 7mm mag. I've seen them taken with bow, crossbow, .22 rifle, 7.62x25, 45 acp, .357 mag (hollow points failed to penetrate the fat), 44mag, 223, .243, .270, .308, 7mm mag, 300 win. Mag., and .375 h&h (my other bear). At least that's all I can think of.
ETA: 300 savage and the majority of rifle kills were head shots all were black bear. My dad did kill a large kodiak in 1986. He used a 300 win. Mag. with 220 grain bullets. Shot it 7 times and was wishing for more gun the entire time. Thats why I bought my 375. |
|
Never shot a bear myself. My brother was surprised by a sow black bear one day picking huckleberries. He killed her with a single shot from a .22 pistol (S&W K22 Masterpiece) at very close range.
IIRC, the bear dropped right where he shot her. I wouldn't recommend doing it on purpose though. |
|
I'm sorry, but I think it would be very unethical to even go after a bear using .223. Can it be done? Sure, but when there are a plethora of much more suitable cartridges out there, why chance it. A 5.56 TTSX/TSX/bonded bullet placed well will cleanly kill a bear, even a larger bear. But what if at the split second that bear moves slightly and that tiny little pill nails the shoulder. Then your stuck with a wounded bear. Will it survive? Most likely, but it's still a wounded animal that must now endure suffering.
For all those that say it will penetrate most likely don't have experience. I've taken deer that have previously been shot with small caliber bullets. 1: .223 found expanded against the shoulder (small buck) 2: .22lr found in the neck and .243 against the shoulder (3.5 yr buck) 3: .243 against the shoulder (decent doe) Bears do have heavier bones than whitetail. They do die easier than deer, but if you don't touch vitals, you've accomplished nothing. I personally believe you should start with something around a .25 and work up from there. The .308 family of cases is a great start. I use .308, but .260 & 7mm-08 would be suitable as well as the .338 Federal (I'd like one of these for deer and bear). I don't think you can be over gunned either, especially if going after something larger than black bear. It's pretty much common sense. |
| iirc a member's wife took a blk bear with a mini 14. I vaguely recall seeing the story posted. more or less it all comes down to shot placement. |
6/26/2013 4:49pm
Witness to the precipice.
Callsign: Extractor
Think of it like this you're already dead. You were dead the moment you were born. You accept that and you can accept anything.
Witness to the precipice.
Callsign: Extractor
Think of it like this you're already dead. You were dead the moment you were born. You accept that and you can accept anything.
|
7mm mag. 175 gr. CXP-3, bear was 410lbs at 40 yds. quartering towards me. Bullet traveled between collar bones, across the vitals and between ribs before lodging against the hide on the other side. having never touched a bone, failed to exit.
I had a 500+ bear jump onto my lap many years ago while driving my old CJ-7 up a tram road. He took 3 rounds of 9mm point blank and another 12 inside 10 yds. Not a drop of blood was found...plenty of fur, but no blood. I called in a few buddies to help track him including a local conversationalist. His trail was easy enough to follow for the first half mile, but after that he slowed his gate and quit kicking up as much debris. Never found him. Ethically, the bigger the better. Smackin a big bear 25 times in the same spot to break up ribs and hide enough with a .223 intentionally would pretty much put you on the UN-ethical list in my books. I suppose you find yourself in the position of being cornered by a small juvi-bear in the 2-3 hundred range and thats all you had......gotta do what ya gotta do. Smaller bears are quite a bit easier to kill. I've seen some BIG black bears absorb alot of lead and still run like they weren't hit. Neighbor shot a nice 740 lb black a few years ago with a .338 win mag at about 25 yds. Took all 5 shots through the vitals and ran 500 yds before it laid down and bellowed for an hour |
|
I've killed black bear with the .30-30, .44 Magnum {revolver}, 7.62x54, .303 British, 9.3x57, 9.3x62 and .45-70.
The .44 didn't go so well, but that was with a scrapper that wouldn't tree. I'd give a .223 a whirl, using one of a number of the better bullets. This with bear weighing 100-250 lbs or so. |
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
|
Originally Posted By Combat_Jack:
There's no prize for using a little gun. Just the fact that you did it. I'm in the process of hunting black bear with an AR pistol at pretty close ranges. No luck yet but I will report back if I get one. |
I wish I had more hands, so I could give that ass four thumbs down. - badfish274
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
|
Originally Posted By BoxofRox:
Just the fact that you did it. I'm in the process of hunting black bear with an AR pistol at pretty close ranges. No luck yet but I will report back if I get one. Originally Posted By BoxofRox:
Originally Posted By Combat_Jack:
There's no prize for using a little gun. Just the fact that you did it. I'm in the process of hunting black bear with an AR pistol at pretty close ranges. No luck yet but I will report back if I get one. Pretty much the same as a bow. I have a friend who has been trying to spear a bear for years over bait. Someday he'll connect and we'll get a story out of it! |
What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
|
Originally Posted By EVR:
Pretty much the same as a bow. I have a friend who has been trying to spear a bear for years over bait. Someday he'll connect and we'll get a story out of it! Originally Posted By EVR:
Originally Posted By BoxofRox:
Originally Posted By Combat_Jack:
There's no prize for using a little gun. Just the fact that you did it. I'm in the process of hunting black bear with an AR pistol at pretty close ranges. No luck yet but I will report back if I get one. Pretty much the same as a bow. I have a friend who has been trying to spear a bear for years over bait. Someday he'll connect and we'll get a story out of it! I can confirm that bear skulls are very tough to penetrate. Impact above the top teeth but below the nose, exited at the base of his neck. Brain bucket intact. Took a couple more shots but he went down. Shot him at 40yds and he was about 300lbs. |
I wish I had more hands, so I could give that ass four thumbs down. - badfish274
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
10.5" barrel, handloaded 64gr win pp bullets, shot at 40yds in the face and he rolled down the incline he was on. Got his feet under him and headed back up and took 2 more to the ribcage and rolled down the incline again. Got back up and then went down 150 yds later. |
I wish I had more hands, so I could give that ass four thumbs down. - badfish274
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
|
Originally Posted By beardog30:
Nice...what it dress out at? I have yet to even seen so much as a track over here in western OR. I think it was 240lbs, pretty good size bear. Game guy guessed him to be between 8-12yrs old but the teeth will tell me for sure. We were seeing tons of sign in the area, I have family who owns property up the umatilla river and that is where this bear was taken. |
I wish I had more hands, so I could give that ass four thumbs down. - badfish274
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
|
Originally Posted By BoxofRox:
I think it was 240lbs, pretty good size bear. Game guy guessed him to be between 8-12yrs old but the teeth will tell me for sure. We were seeing tons of sign in the area, I have family who owns property up the umatilla river and that is where this bear was taken. Originally Posted By BoxofRox:
Originally Posted By beardog30:
Nice...what it dress out at? I have yet to even seen so much as a track over here in western OR. I think it was 240lbs, pretty good size bear. Game guy guessed him to be between 8-12yrs old but the teeth will tell me for sure. We were seeing tons of sign in the area, I have family who owns property up the umatilla river and that is where this bear was taken. Color me jealous 
I've been stomping around the MT. Hebo area. Man that is some thick country. I will say it is getting my fat ass in better shape. Congrats on a great bear. |
“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
|
Originally Posted By beardog30:
Color me jealous
I've been stomping around the MT. Hebo area. Man that is some thick country. I will say it is getting my fat ass in better shape. Congrats on a great bear. Originally Posted By beardog30:
Originally Posted By BoxofRox:
Originally Posted By beardog30:
Nice...what it dress out at? I have yet to even seen so much as a track over here in western OR. I think it was 240lbs, pretty good size bear. Game guy guessed him to be between 8-12yrs old but the teeth will tell me for sure. We were seeing tons of sign in the area, I have family who owns property up the umatilla river and that is where this bear was taken. Color me jealous
I've been stomping around the MT. Hebo area. Man that is some thick country. I will say it is getting my fat ass in better shape. Congrats on a great bear. Thanks, I still have a few scrapes from all the thorn bushes in that area. Good luck to you on your hunting. |
I wish I had more hands, so I could give that ass four thumbs down. - badfish274
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
|
Originally Posted By AKSnowRider:
Sweet bear BOR...got any with the hide layed out flat?....Rug or full mount? Thanks. I don't have many more pics after the inital kill. But we did measure from nose to tail best we could and got 5' 6" and the neck was 33" around. I'm getting a rug made, my uncle is a taxidermist and mostly works in the winter. So it'll be a couple months befote I get that done. I do have a pic of the paw next to my hand on my camera. I'll post it when I get home tonight. |
I wish I had more hands, so I could give that ass four thumbs down. - badfish274
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
|
Originally Posted By BoxofRox:
Thanks. I don't have many more pics after the inital kill. But we did measure from nose to tail best we could and got 5' 6" and the neck was 33" around. I'm getting a rug made, my uncle is a taxidermist and mostly works in the winter. So it'll be a couple months befote I get that done. I do have a pic of the paw next to my hand on my camera. I'll post it when I get home tonight. Originally Posted By BoxofRox:
Originally Posted By AKSnowRider:
Sweet bear BOR...got any with the hide layed out flat?....Rug or full mount? Thanks. I don't have many more pics after the inital kill. But we did measure from nose to tail best we could and got 5' 6" and the neck was 33" around. I'm getting a rug made, my uncle is a taxidermist and mostly works in the winter. So it'll be a couple months befote I get that done. I do have a pic of the paw next to my hand on my camera. I'll post it when I get home tonight. Thanks would love seeing it..the way I was told to measure a bear(this by an old friend here who had a tannery) was lay the hide out flat, fur down, you then stretch it out until it looks even(in other words you don't stretch from front to rear as hard as you can, or side to side..but instead a nice even "look" to it(ala natural)). then measure from tip of nose to tip of tail, and then from front edge of largest front palm pad to other largest front palm pad(other front foot) add both these measurements together and divide by 2..that is the size of your hide..most guys stretch it as far as they can one direction/measure, then stretch it as far as possible the other direction/measure, then divide...I got lucky, my first hunt I went with 2 awesome old bear hunters and got lucky enough to spot myself a great bear..bad thing is..I most likely will never be able to top it, but I still enjoy going out with others and helping them get theirs...mine squared 9'2" and when I took it scored # 51 in SCI back in 2000...for grizzly bear..just total luck on my part..My son(22 yr old Marine) took his first this spring with a couple of my close friends(I can't go out in the woods right now due to surgeries)..his is a beautiful blond female with chocolate legs..she went 5'6"..he was so stoked..I will never forget when he got back to the cabin...Thanks for sharing yours..Mike |
|
Originally Posted By AKSnowRider:
Thanks would love seeing it..the way I was told to measure a bear(this by an old friend here who had a tannery) was lay the hide out flat, fur down, you then stretch it out until it looks even(in other words you don't stretch from front to rear as hard as you can, or side to side..but instead a nice even "look" to it(ala natural)). then measure from tip of nose to tip of tail, and then from front edge of largest front palm pad to other largest front palm pad(other front foot) add both these measurements together and divide by 2..that is the size of your hide..most guys stretch it as far as they can one direction/measure, then stretch it as far as possible the other direction/measure, then divide...I got lucky, my first hunt I went with 2 awesome old bear hunters and got lucky enough to spot myself a great bear..bad thing is..I most likely will never be able to top it, but I still enjoy going out with others and helping them get theirs...mine squared 9'2" and when I took it scored # 51 in SCI back in 2000...for grizzly bear..just total luck on my part..My son(22 yr old Marine) took his first this spring with a couple of my close friends(I can't go out in the woods right now due to surgeries)..his is a beautiful blond female with chocolate legs..she went 5'6"..he was so stoked..I will never forget when he got back to the cabin...Thanks for sharing yours..Mike Originally Posted By AKSnowRider:
Originally Posted By BoxofRox:
Originally Posted By AKSnowRider:
Sweet bear BOR...got any with the hide layed out flat?....Rug or full mount? Thanks. I don't have many more pics after the inital kill. But we did measure from nose to tail best we could and got 5' 6" and the neck was 33" around. I'm getting a rug made, my uncle is a taxidermist and mostly works in the winter. So it'll be a couple months befote I get that done. I do have a pic of the paw next to my hand on my camera. I'll post it when I get home tonight. Thanks would love seeing it..the way I was told to measure a bear(this by an old friend here who had a tannery) was lay the hide out flat, fur down, you then stretch it out until it looks even(in other words you don't stretch from front to rear as hard as you can, or side to side..but instead a nice even "look" to it(ala natural)). then measure from tip of nose to tip of tail, and then from front edge of largest front palm pad to other largest front palm pad(other front foot) add both these measurements together and divide by 2..that is the size of your hide..most guys stretch it as far as they can one direction/measure, then stretch it as far as possible the other direction/measure, then divide...I got lucky, my first hunt I went with 2 awesome old bear hunters and got lucky enough to spot myself a great bear..bad thing is..I most likely will never be able to top it, but I still enjoy going out with others and helping them get theirs...mine squared 9'2" and when I took it scored # 51 in SCI back in 2000...for grizzly bear..just total luck on my part..My son(22 yr old Marine) took his first this spring with a couple of my close friends(I can't go out in the woods right now due to surgeries)..his is a beautiful blond female with chocolate legs..she went 5'6"..he was so stoked..I will never forget when he got back to the cabin...Thanks for sharing yours..Mike Didn't know any of that, thanks for sharing. This is my first bear so I'm pretty happy with it. We did that measure while the bear was still wearing his skin, just put his belly down and threw a tape on him. And I won't get the skin back until it's on a rug, I can give it a measure then but I'm sure it'll be a bit stretched out at that point. But 9'2'' is massive, congrats on that, I bet that's wild being in the presence of a bear that size. Here's the paw pic 
|
I wish I had more hands, so I could give that ass four thumbs down. - badfish274
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX
Is that your Weiner? No homo but that's pretty impressive girth you got there. - DanTSX