SEE LINK for shot Placement on black bear
Shot Placement On Black Bear
The three rifles are:
#1 Marlin Model 1895 lever action in 45-70, with a Wild West Happy Trigger, and wearing a Bushnell 1.5X5X32 Elite 3200 scope with firefly reticle and Rainguard
#2 Ruger Model 77 bolt action with black synthetic stock, stainless action, trigger job and wearing a Burris Signature African Series LRS 1.75X5X32 illuminated reticle rifle scope on the Ruger rings supplied in .350 Remington Mag caliber (This one did not make the test as the Burris Scope failed after 3 shots at the range / see PHOTO insert / scope is now on the way back to the Burris Repair and warranty shop. I will report on this scope after I hear back from Burris)
#3 Ruger Model Hawkeye bolt action in black synthetic stock and stainless action, including a trigger job and wearing a Bushnell 3X9X40 Elite 3200 rifle scope with rain guard and firefly in .338 Federal persuasion.
Before we get into this, I am well aware that hundreds and perhaps thousands of black bear (big and small) have been neatly dispatched with 30-30's using 150 and 170 grain factory loads such as Winchester Power Points and the classic Remington Core Lokts. On my first baited black bear hunt in Maine, one hunter with an open sighted 30-30 lever action and 170 grain Remington CoreLokts dispatched a 250 pound black bear with one shot. Even lesser calibers and handgun calibers have dispatched numerous black bears. I have read articles of blackie's being taken with 80 grains of black powder and .50 caliber round balls in caplock muzzle loaders. I have read accounts of dozen's of bears taken with the .243 Win. This post is not talking about adequate rifles and loads here. I am talking about very capable loads here. I am talking about having a 350 to 600 pound black bear come in and being able to take a shot from any angle and not worry about if the gun and load are up to the task.
The Marlin Model 1895 45-70 shoots several loads amazingly well and the two I would use for bear in this rifle are the Hornady 325 grain LeverEvolution FTX factory load and the Buffalo Bore 350 Grain Penetrator factory load. The BB 350 Grain Penetrator might get the nod hunting the Canadian provinces where the bigger bears are more common however, both the FTX Hornady load and the BB 350 grainer have taken big bears. Both shoot well, however the Buffalo Bore out penetrates every other bullet tried thus far in my bear bullet water jug penetration tests. (SEE YOU TUBE VIDEOS on this BLOG) Buffalo Bore also makes a 405 grain Expander load that Buffalo Bore's, Tim Sundles recommends specifically for black bear and has apparently used himself with great success. The 350 grain Penetrator load PENETRATES and holds together very well while the 405 grain Expander EXPANDS, but I experienced core and jacket separation in my testing. The FTX Hornady factory load is very accurate and also held together in the water jug testing and showed the classic mushroom. Penetration was on a par with the 405 grain BB expander, but without the core and jacket separation. The 350 grain Buffalo Bore Penetrator load is quite accurate and I have to imagine would give complete penetration on a big black bear from any conceivable shot angle, leaving both an entrance and an exit hole. I would not hesitate to use the BB 350 grain Penetrator load on a brown bear/grizzly hunt within the range and trajectory limitations of the 45-70.
There are numerous other loads from Garret, Grizzly, Double Tap, Buffalo Bore, CorBon and other outlets that would serve as well. Garret's Hammer Head loads are a bit much for black bear, but are certainly capable of taking any creature on planet earth within their trajectory and range limitations.
Next up is Federal's introduction of the first rifle caliber to bear (No pun intended) the Federal name. I am talking about the .338 Federal cartridge. This rifle has 4 separate factory loads, however I am only going to mention (2) of them in regards to black bear hunting. These are the 210 grain Nosler Partition loading and the Federal 200 grain Fusion load. The other two loads are a 180 grain Nosler Accubond load and 185 grain Barnes triple shock loading. The Accubond is intended for CXP2 game (deer class) and the 185 grain Barnes Triple shock would be a good deer/elk hunt loading, however would certainly dispatch a black bear if your rifle shoots it well.
In my .338 Federal, the Fusion load is very accurate and I have had 3 shot groups under an inch at 100 yards. Weight is sufficient in this caliber that one could use this load for everything he would likely hunt with the .338 Federal. The Fusion bullet is also a bonded core bullet and should provide good expansion and penetration. It is certainly more than adequate for any black bear you will encounter. The 210 grain Nosler Partition would be my choice for a baited black bear hunt and should handle any black bear hunting chore with ease. It could also be an interior grizzly gun under 200 yards and with the right backup rifle and guide in a pinch a brown bear gun if the ranges were kept close. There is NO argument that better brown/grizzly bear rifles are available. This rifle with the 210 grain Nosler Partition makes an awesome black bear rifle for bear over bait or still hunting in a spot and stalk situation.
.338 Federal w/210 grain Nosler Partition:
2630/3225 fps/ME
2590/2670 fps/ME 100 yards
2211/2279 fps/ME 200 yards
2130/1820 fps/ME 300 yards
. It also shoots flatter than you think If you set it up to print 2.8 inches high at 100 yards, you are still 1.1 inches high at 200 yards and only 7.8 inches low at 300 yards. The Partition bullet is ideal for CXP2 and CXP3 game or any dangerous game you desire to hunt with the .338 Federal.
Last up, but certainly NOT least is the Ruger .350 Remington Mag. It took me two years of searching to find a brand new in the box Ruger model 77 bolt action .350 Mag. Factory loads at this time are pretty much limited to the original Remington 200 grain PSP Corelokt and a 225 grain Nosler Partition loading. Either would be grand for hunting black bear, although some feel the Corelokt bullet may not be up to the task. The 200 grain Corelokt factory load looks like this:
It leaves the muzzle at 2775fps and produces 3419ME. Set 2.7 inches HIGH at 100 yards, it is 3 inches high at 125, 1.3 inches high at 200 yards and 3 inches LOW at 260 yards, and ends up -7.3 inches low at 300 yards. That is a lot of wallop and I have read about the demise of some very nice black bears with this particular load. As you can see from the trajectory table, it is not exactly a BRUSH GUN as it is often quoted as being. It also shoots very well in my gun, turning in groups of around 3/4 inch at 100 yards. Countless black bears have been taken with both the 30-06 with 180 grain round nose Corelokts and also the .35 Whelen with essentially the same 200 grain factory Corelokt bullet.
The Nosler Partition loading with the 225 grain bullet leaves the muzzle at 2550 fps and has a ME of 3248Ft Lbs. The partition bullet would get the nod from me for grizzly or brown bear hunting with this rifle. I recently read an article in the May issue of "American Hunter Magazine" where a hunter shot a large black bear at 5 yards with a .35 Whelen using the 200 grain Remington Corelokt factory load. He hit the bear in the right front shoulder and found the bullet stopped against the hide on the left hindquarter. The bullet retained 71.7% (143.4 grains) of its original weight and showed evidence of the perfect expansion. For black bear hunting over bait, I feel the Corelokt is up to the task. The ergonomics of the Ruger are such that this can handle all (3) types of black bear hunting to include, bear over bait, spot and stalk and even with hounds. (The Burris scope failed during the range test, and I will report on this later after hearing from Burris) This rifle is also capable of taking grizzly and brown bear hunting with the 225 grain NP load. I realize that better rifles and loads exist for the bigger bears including, but not limited to .338 Win Mag, .375 H&H etc. I also recognize that a LOT of big bears have been taken with the 100 year old plus 30:06. The previously mentioned 45-70 with Garrett Hammer Head loads is MORE than capable within its range limitations.
Attached are photos of the three rifles. These three guns will not disappoint if you are looking for a new addition to your gun safe. If you are a hand loader, then all three of these guns can be made a lot more versatile than with just factory loads. Many baited bear situations use the same bait sites for rifle that bow hunters use, and most have rifle baits placed from 20-50 yards from the tree stand or ground blind. I have however seen some offering rifle stands from 50 to 200 yards. From 75 yards and out, one gains an advantage of being able to get away with limited movement etc. and at the same time, you lose a part of the thrill of seeing a bear up close. There is also the possibility of less than perfect shot placement the farther the stand is from the bait site. ASK your guide in advance about the distance from his stands to the bait site. THEN, sight your rifle in accordingly. If he says 50 yards, then sight your gun in to be able to hit a quarter at 50 yards. If the stand is 25 yards, or 75 yards, your point of impact will not vary over an inch with most center fire rifles. These three rifles are (3) good examples of a rifle set up for bear hunting. You may understandably choose something different. Different strokes for different folks. My suggestion is to use a heavy bullet for the caliber and buy the BEST scope you can afford. For example in .270 Winchester, I would opt for a 150 grain (vs.) a 130 grain bullet. In 30:06, I would go with 180 grain load etc. I would also go for premium bonded core bullets in case you have to take a shot through the shoulders to reach the vitals etc. ( Barnes X, Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame and Hornady Interlock & Interbond etc.) This is not rocket science, however you do not want to shell out $1200 to $2400 for a quality baited bear hunt and then have bullets that are NOT up to the task. Make sure you sight in with your chosen load, and then do not switch at the last minute and bring ammo the gun is not zeroed for.
Range Results for .338 Federal:
210 grain Nosler Partition out of the .338 Federal, when dead on at 25 yards was about 1.5 inches high at 75 yards and produced a 1.25 inch center to center (3) shot group.
200 Grain Fusion shot a 2.75 inch 3 shot group at 75 yards and a 1/2 inch two shot group at 50 yards after zeroing for the Fusion load. Group size may have had to do with a dirty and heated barrel. I have produced sub minute of angle groups with a clean cold barrel out of this rifle.
Range results for the 45-70:
Hornady 325 grain FTX Lever Evolution load 1/2 inch center to center and one inch high at 75 yards, when dead on at 25 yards.
Buffalo Bore 350 Grain Penetrator using same zero as the Hornady Load, also shot a 1/2 inch 75 yard group, although point of impact was 4.5 inches higher and 2.25 inches left of the Hornady Flex Tip load.
Dan
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