Bear Gun

James M. Wagner · July 08, 2015, 03:40:06 PM

I have a question for you bear hunters out there...(I hunt mostly deer and turkey, never bear).

Is .25-06 enough gun or do I need something bigger? I also have a 7.62x39 and an old 8mm Mauser 98k that is dead accurate. I have a variety of ammo types for each. My other rifles may be marginal, at best, and include a Model 700 in 6mm Remington.

A large bear was spotted this morning less than a quarter mile from one of my apiaries. I know I need to put up an electric fence but that gets sort of expensive and I have 3 apiaries at present and bears have now been spotted near each. This is the closest, yet. I do have a trail cam that I am going to put up.

-James

Michael Bush · July 08, 2015, 04:07:19 PM

>Is .25-06 enough gun or do I need something bigger?

I've shot deer, antelope, prairie dogs and elk with a .25-06, but not bear. IF (this is an important "if") you have premium, controlled expansion bullets (Barnes "X", Nosler Partition etc.) it should do fine. If you don't, then it will likely blow a nice pencil hole through the bear and make it very angry or, if you have a very small, light, fast expanding bullet, it may blow up on the surface and REALLY make him mad. but if you have a premium hunting bullet it will do great. I handload. On a deer the run of the mill Sierra and Hornady bullets in the higher weights just pencil hole big game. I'm very fond of the Barnes "X" for absolutely perfectly controlled expansion. With controlled expansion you get the same results on big game from shot to shot and that result is to penetrate to the vitals while doing a lot of damage and expending a large amount of the bullet energy. I haven't kept up with factory ammo (I have never bought any for my .25-06) but I think there are some companies out their loading some of the premium bullets for hunting ammo. I know someone was loading Nosler Partition bullets in them at one time at least. While I like the 6mm Remington, I think it's a bit small for bear. Of course a well aimed shot at a black bear is usually pretty deadly. A well aimed shot at a Grizzly usually just makes them mad at first and kills them later...

ouluman · July 08, 2015, 04:33:08 PM

Well really depends where you hit him. Here in Northern WI we have lots of big bears. 300lbs is not uncommon. I shot a 339lb boar last September with a 30.06 220g bullet. He didn't go 30 yds but the shot was right in the boiler room. If you don't get that kind of shot the 25.06 is only going to make him very very mad. The 8mm dead on would be my choice.

Maggiesdad · July 08, 2015, 07:52:21 PM

+1 on the 8mm...

Mauser for the bruiser.

Eric Bosworth · July 08, 2015, 09:52:09 PM

If you are close enough a 12 gauge slug should do it. I would think if you hit it in the head the .25/06 would kill it.

divemaster1963 · July 08, 2015, 09:55:53 PM

My uncle used black pepper to spread around his yards. He said if it can miss up a bloodhounds nose it ought to do a job on a bear. He had bears around his yards and never had one enter. Just have to reapply after rains. Could set it up on a boobie trap using a security light to activate a blower to shower the area with it.

Over engineering is fun

John

biggraham610 · July 09, 2015, 12:56:18 AM

If the Mauser is dead on, why wonder. That would be my choice from the options. Most Bear Hunters I know prefer the .308. G

Anybrew2 · July 09, 2015, 02:54:00 AM

I 've never shot a Bear in Australia because ours are kinda cute (Koala's) I love my 25/06 but I reckon the 8mm would be my choice if thats the biggest you got mate. I'd rather 300 Win Mag or 45/70.

Wow shooting a Bear is out there man.

Michael Bush · July 09, 2015, 08:28:37 AM

I have an assortment of calibers. My first choice would be a Hornady 160gr round nose in a 6.5x55 Swedish mauser. It expands very reliably and is very deadly. My second would be the .25-06 with premium bullets. I have an 8mm and a .308 and, again with premium bullets, they would probably work fine, but I'm more concerned with accuracy. With premium bullets the hole, the energy etc. will be just as large with the .25-06 as any of the rest.

biggraham610 · July 09, 2015, 10:20:30 AM

Most of the guys here shoot em at close range. Open sights. In a tree or backed up to one trying to kill dogs. That's why they choose the larger caliber I assume. More energy at close range. G

Hops Brewster · July 09, 2015, 01:25:54 PM

Of the calibers you list, 8mm would be the most powerful, and certainly enough for black bear. I would prefer not to use the 7.62X39, but if it's all you had in the truck at the moment and shot placement was right, it would be lethal. In between, your 25-06 and 6mm Rem, with good quality bullets, will also be enough. Black bears are rather thin skinned and really not any harder to kill than mule deer, despite the claws and teeth.

A grizzly, on the other hand, deserves serious weaponry.

All that said, try for deterence first. Pepper, light, noise, etc. all have potential.

Michael Bush · July 09, 2015, 01:47:25 PM

Not a lot of difference in power between these actually:
Cartridge MVel ME(ft lbs)
8x57 JS (150 SP) 2800 2611
.25-06 Rem. (120 Sp) 2990 2382
6mm Rem. (100 Sp) 3100 2573

This one however...
7.62x39 (125 Sp) 2365 1552

Eric Bosworth · July 09, 2015, 02:00:45 PM

Quote from: biggraham610 on July 09, 2015, 10:20:30 AM
Most of the guys here shoot em at close range. Open sights. In a tree or backed up to one trying to kill dogs. That's why they choose the larger caliber I assume. More energy at close range. G

I shot a deer at 120 yards with a rifled 12 gauge 3" sabot slug and open sights I barely missed the heart I did however hit the aorta. The stopping power of a 12 gauge slug is pretty impressive. That said the best thing that Pataki did as governor was allow the use of rifles for deer and bear in NY. Pretty pathetic that the only thing I can think of that he did was that.

MikeyN.C. · July 09, 2015, 05:59:42 PM

When our dogs tree black bear, we always grab the go to .444 marlin lever action,very deadly, if first shot doesn't kill,the 2nd sure will

Eric Bosworth · July 09, 2015, 10:04:47 PM

Quote from: Anybrew2 on July 09, 2015, 02:54:00 AM
I 've never shot a Bear in Australia because ours are kinda cute (Koala's) I love my 25/06 but I reckon the 8mm would be my choice if thats the biggest you got mate. I'd rather 300 Win Mag or 45/70.

Wow shooting a Bear is out there man.

I never thought of koalas... I doubt they would be much threat to bees. My problem with bears is more an issue of being there with the gun when the bear is at my hives. Last year Gunner barked scaring it away but it took a thriving nucs with it.

Edgy · July 09, 2015, 11:22:39 PM

I have shot all three of my black bears with my Savage Stevens .223 Spear 55 gr. Soft point reloads. I take all of my deer with that $300 rifle also. The most important thing is shot placement. Study the anatomy of the animal and know where the vitals are. All my bears dropped within fifty feet of when they were hit with no follow up shot needed. Bears vitals are much higher than a deer's, keep that in mind. Good Luck! Edgy

Anybrew2 · July 10, 2015, 04:47:48 AM

You blokes are Brave, I wouldn't take on a Bear. Do you eat the Honey Thieving Buggers.

Cheers
Steve

Eric Bosworth · July 10, 2015, 06:20:29 AM

Depends... If it is in season yes... If it is to protect my hives then I have to report it to the Department of Environmental Conservation DEC. If they let me keep it then yes... I would also love to make a rug... In NY it is legal to take a bear to protect your hives but you must report it immediately. Then the DEC decides what happens from there.

Anybrew2 · July 10, 2015, 07:06:20 AM

Ok Eric thats fair enough, Bears are a unknown to us Aussie's a bit like Varroa Atm.
All I can think about is a Bear Burger, I'd have a go at that, with a Beer or three of course.

Cheers
Steve

KeyLargoBees · July 10, 2015, 09:21:56 AM

This is one issue I think I can avoid...living in the Florid Keys heat stroke and tourists wandering into my yard toting margaritas and messing with the hives is much more likely LOL