Black bear bullets

[cmillard]

Planning a black bear hunt for next year in Montana. Going to take my BFR .454 but shoot heavy .45 colt loads. How will cast HPs work for black bear or since I will also be in grizzly country, should I pick something else? Right now, I am shooting GT bullets 385 grain cast hollow points at around 1289 fps

[bula]

Sure you know the load you are already shooting equivalent to a full 480 loading ? Think choosing the proper hardness for that 385gr HP the only real question. Aahh...stepped away and googled. A 45/70 bullet and I do believe you'll be ok. Interested in what others will say on this topic. A spot-n-stalk , dogs or bait ? Combo ? Thinking that spot-n-stalk will likely require a longer shot and less choice of angles. Best of luck !

[cmillard]

Thanks. Spot and stalk. I have done some water jug testing with this bullet and it was pretty impressive

[foxtrapper]

Black bears are not hard to kill. Good expanding bullet or cast hollow point will serve you well! Always with a firearm I like to aim for the offside shoulder to break them down. Those fatty fall bears like to plug up bullet holes and make blood trail dry up quick, and along with soft feet leaving little track make it difficult to track. I’d rather anchor them .

[taffin]

Jun 20, 2021 7:55:59 GMT -5 cmillard said:

Planning a black bear hunt for next year in Montana. Going to take my BFR .454 but shoot heavy .45 colt loads. How will cast HPs work for black bear or since I will also be in grizzly country, should I pick something else? Right now, I am shooting GT bullets 385 grain cast hollow points at around 1289 fps

BULLET PLACEMENT-BULLET PLACEMENT-BULLET PLACEMENT WILL TAKE BLACK BEARS. GRIZZLIES ARE FEDERALLY PROTECTED.

[sixshot]

I've taken several bears with a lot less load than that. I think John mentioned bullet placement!!

Dick

[cmillard]

I know that about grizzlies, it's more of a shit his the fan and I have to shoot.

[bigbore5]

Taken a few 400+ pound NC black bears with a 180gr 357mag. Your load will be fine as long as your bullets pass the hammer test.

[cmillard]

Well, I haven't done the hammer test....just gallon jugs of water. I suppose I could take my heavy maul to a bullet today and see how it does

[Ken O'Neill]

My black bear gun is a FA .475 L running a 400 gr. XTP @ 1300 fps. It works.
A bear with a calculator won’t know the difference between that load and yours.

[KRal]

My black bear experience is minimal, so take it with a grain of salt. I’ve killed three and all were in the 200 (+)(-)lb range. The first was taken with a FA M97 5.5” barrel in 45 Colt shooting a 250gr Hornady XTP at 45 yards. Shot was broadside through the shoulders - bear went ten yards and dead. The second one was taken with a FA M83 6” barrel in 44 Mag shooting a 260gr PC Keith bullet at 30 yards. The shot was broadside tucked tight behind the shoulders - bear went 40 yards and dead. The third was taken with a custom Ruger with 6” barrel in 41 mag shooting a 230gr PC Keith bullet - this one was in a tree. The bear was broadside and shot behind the shoulder on the onside and exited in the shoulde on the offside bear fell and was done.

I would think your recipe is some powerful medicine.

P.S - all shots were complete pass through.

[squigz]

I shot my bear with a 480 Ruger with a Speer 325gr JSP around 1300fps. Was only a little 200lb, but it did the job on going through the whole bear, no recovery.

[cmillard]

Thanks for the replies!