I'll forever be a fan of the 06. I can load her with 220gr accubonds and go to work. I do believe bigger bullets are the key. Just remeber to match up your ammo with type of game you are hunting. We all know that black bear is big game, so get a big game gun and bullet. If .270 is all you hunt with and your going on a bear hunt. get the heaviest bullet and practice practice practice so you can make yourself efficient enough to put the bullet where it count.

I have never black bear hunted but would like to. Does anybody wanna take an ole country boy from arkansas.

Sure alpha anytime man season starts in 12 days here! I am also very fond of the odd 6 but Ive taken bear with my 303 also and it does the job just as good and I dont think Ill use that big of a shell I dont need a 220 for a black bear no matter what size it is. Ill stick to the 180s they do the job everytime, everytime I have shot a bear it went down right where it was or 5 feet from where it was I would think for the bear hunting I do a 220 would just be overkill anything over that is just plain not my style maybe ill try a 220 on elephants or something in that weight range but not for bears. Either way after opening day Ill post pics because I have a feeling thats all its gonna take me this year is one day I should have mine bagged on the first night Ill post the pics then anyways boys good luck on all your hunts this year and I was wondering with those big gr bullets how much meat you guys have ruined?

PS:

Sorry about the quick departure, but I had to go pick up my 13 yr old granddaughter, now to get back to the issue at hand!

Atomkill to continue! The reason a larger bullet is better has nothing to do with the so-called MAGNUM FACTOR, but a heavy bullet, or car, or steel wrecking ball is simply harder to stop, once it gets rooling. Add that to the larger diameter on impact, and the even large diameter when it expands, and you are driveing a slow moveing freight train through the bear.

Anything from a 22hornet, to a 600NE will kill a bear, no mater how big, but killing him and stoping him are two intirely different things. In some of the woods in Ontario along the Nippigon river, if you don't nail him to the ground where he satnds, chances are, eventhough you have killed him you will not find him. The wet moss soaks what blood he drops, and he leaves no tracks. and the chances of that happening, are a lot greater with a small caliber, than with a larger one!

Posted by Alphaman
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I'll forever be a fan of the 06. I can load her with 220gr accubonds and go to work. I do believe bigger bullets are the key. Just remeber to match up your ammo with type of game you are hunting. We all know that black bear is big game, so get a big game gun and bullet. If .270 is all you hunt with and your going on a bear hunt. get the heaviest bullet and practice practice practice so you can make yourself efficient enough to put the bullet where it count.

I have never black bear hunted but would like to. Does anybody wanna take an ole country boy from arkansas.

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Alphaman , you are on the right track, with the heavy for caliber bullets for bear, no matter the chambering. I'm not here to say that any of the calibers mentioned in this thread, will not kill black bear, or infact, any bear, but what I am saying is, small chamberings smaller than 338 are simply not as well suited to bear hunting, as are larger chamberings, and it has nothing to do with ego, it is simply a matter of physics, nothing more. Where Bear are concerned, bigger is better.
I agree! If all you have is a 30-30, fine use it, but you need to use the heaviest, well made bullet you can get, and be very careful where you place that bullet, and by all means follow-up that first shot, with another, or two, then wait with your rifle ready to issue another if needed!

Gentlemen, I'm not putting any good deer rifle down, just stateing the fact they are not the do all, end all, when you get into big tough animals like bear! If you use smaller bullets, you must be willing to accept the lose of a bear if you don't do it right the first shot out of the barrel!

I didnt know the 30-06 was just a deer gun I didnt buy it for deer hunting I mostly hunt moose and bear, once a year I get a week or 2 to do a little deer hunting but the gun I chose was for mainly moose and bear. In my experience with bear hunting and 30 calibre rifles with a 180 placed like I have mentioned in earlier posts should drop it dead first shot sometimes two. Ive seen other friends take em down with 3 but it was stupidity and too far of a shot but if they were in close enough range 100 or less usually they went down and stayed down first shot. I have also witnessed a 308 flip a bear right over with a 180gr bullet.

I prefer the 30-06 myself ..simply because of the load range you can go from a 55 gr to a 220 gr and believe me if he is still standing after being hit with a 220 gr your in deep doodoo ,i have used mine for 30 yrs now and have taken moose , griz , black bears and deer without ever losing an animal , another important thing is to place your shot don't try to be to eager my last ten deer and five bear have all been head shots .good luck with your hunting

I'm sure I'll be using mine till I die.

30 odd six this, 30 odd six that... such a boring cartridge. Why not change yours into a 35 whelen, or a 338-06, or anything with more character? I've got nearly 20 different rifles and calibers and don't have the 30-06 (actually did have a ruger mrk II in a 30-06, but I'm in the process of making it into a 338-06). Of course I'm being hypocritical here because I own two 45/70's ( only two rifles in the same caliber), and it is also a rather cliched cal. In fact, I shot my first mule deer with a 30-06, but putting nostalgia aside, get funky and get something with a little character and more kick than the -06. I understand it's versatility etc., but it's not the best at anything, it's just average at everything else.

I use to have a Remington .30-06. Nice rifle. Incredible trajectory. I shot the 180gr Cor-Lokt out of it. I felt it was more of a long range rifle though. Most of my oppurtunities fell within 50 yds, so I ended up with a brush gun with open sights. I tried getting a Marlin .35 in the 336 model, but ended up with a 45/70. It is a good short range rifle. And yeah, I picked up a 30-30 for deer. My wife isn't happy. Anyway, the .30-06 is a great round, and definately packs enough whallop. Did you see how Marlin was rating there new .32-20 lever for bear! Now that would be a cartridge to argue about.

K well Im sorry but now Im worked up hearing that little story. My 30-06 is the best rifle Ive owned and I own 21 now. Some the same cal some passed in the family and some Ive bought myself but this is the only one I got in this cal and guess what I'll keep it till I pass it too my son it's a damn fine piece of work if you ask me remington made a keeper in making this rifle for sure. Im sure alot of people would agree with me as long as proper gun care is taken this gun will last your lifetime and Im sure a couple more. Its shoots as straight as an arrow and its versatile for all big game. I got my bear 2 mornings ago with it and the bear went 5 feet and done Every bear Ive shot went down one shot and didnt move 180gr remington core lokt. I'm sure Ill have a great moose and deer story to tell you guys this year too.(I hope)

30-06 all the way boys.

Hold on now. Stay cool . I never said it was a bad cartridge. I said its great. I just prefer the lever guns. I enjoy shooting them. I have a ton of respect for remington, that's why I wear the hat.