I'm getting to start black bear hunting this year. Any suggestions for a bullet type/weight to use for a .30-06?

[rudyglove27]

150 to 180 grain bullets.

[rudyglove27]

Agreed with Del in KS and + 1 for you sir!!!

[rudyglove27]

Agreed with Del in KS and + 1 for you sir!!!

[rocky d bashaw]

i agree with mr. cooper, 165-180 [30-06] and bullet placement will kill anything

[Big O]

Shoot straight, study the animals(vitals) anatomy for shot placment. Good luck and Good hunting.

[hunterboy56]

Thanks all. Is there anything else i need to know before this season?

[Del in KS]

I agree 220 in 30 cal is too much bullet. Any good 150-180 grain bullet will do the job. Clay, Sierra made their bones with target bullets. They a 2nd rate for big game. Good low priced bullets are Rem core lokt, Speer hot core, Hornady interlock and a few others.

[prairieghost]

.180 will do fine with a well-placed shot.

[idahooutdoors]

If you plan on shooting longer ranges where a flatter trajectory may help with accuracy then go with a good solid bonded core 150 grainer. If you are hunting off a bait or in short range conditions I would go with a good solid bonded core 180 grainer.

[bonnier-admin_2]

O'Brother

If you need a 220 out of a 30-06 for a Black Bear, what do you think you need for a Brown Bear?

A 700 NITRO EXPRESS!

I’ve backed up a many hunters in Alaska shooting Black Bears and a 150 out of a 30-30 works fantastic too!

Dead is dead!

Brother ken.mcloud said it best!

“So, I think that the superior killing power of larger rounds is largely in our heads.(likely testosterone induced) A flat-shooting round that you can accurately place will produce as many if not more "bang-flop" kills as a heavy caliber round.”

[bonnier-admin_2]

hunt_fish_sleep

I can see using a 180 but a 220?

Good grief Charley Brown!

220’s are way too heavy, too slow in velocity and don’t start working until it’s exiting the other side leaving a very small wound channel!

[bonnier-admin_2]

AMEN BROTHER 007 on the Hornaday interlocks!


For the 4 years in Alaska, there is not a single person I know of ever had a problem with Hornady interlocks. I always hunted with my 338 Win Mag with 225 grain Hornady interlocks and shot a lot of game and all of them bang flop. Friend Mike was carrying a 270 on Taylor Mountain near chicken Alaska and wanted to take a Monster Grizz so I let him barrow my 338 Win Mag. Dropped that bruin in its tracks blowing both sides of the shoulders clean out at 250 yards. I carried 250 grain Nosler Partitions and never used them on any game because the 225 were doing such a devastating job. At 700 yards on Caribou, the 225’s still blew thru leaving bloodshot (grease) between the hide and ribs 2/3 of the rib area. Due to hydrostatic shock.

I used Sierra 250 grain one time and the bullet core separated from its jacket and later found out this was the norm. Sierra is not on my list!

[hunt_fish_sleep]

180 or 220 grain core lokt.

[007]

If you handload, you can't beat Hornaday interlocks. Assuming your rifle shoots them well, 150 to 180 grain bullets. Shoot them and see what your rifle prefers. Don't know if they're available in factory ammo as we roll our own. Good luck and good hunting.

[Christian Emter]

Hey me too buddy. My dad and I just got our bear camp set up.

I would use at lease a 225 grain to make a clean kill.