Good caliber for black bear hunting?

[Ebrueckmann]

I recently found out that my father wants to take me on a black bear hunting trip in northern canada. He asked me to find him a marlin 45-70 for him to use on the trip which got me thinking about what new toy I want for the trip. Any ideas? I was thinking about building an AR with a .458 upper.

 

[Squirt239]

300 win mag...I've also heard 338 win mag is good for them too.

 

[kludge]

.45-70 is fine, as are most other big game calibers. What does he already have?

 

[DragonGunner]

Any high caliber....or a good shotgun with slugs...depends on the range you think you would be shooting. Friend of mine used a 30/06 for 2 bears, right under his stand. The outfitter he was with said he always used a .12 ga. with slugs, even for Grizzly.

 

[Dirty Steve]

Before you go and build an AR, you might want to look at the regulations on bringing a firearm into Canada. Barrel length may be an issue as well as mag capacity. If I recall, 18.75" is the minimum. There are some issues also with overall length and "how it left the factory" with regards to it being prohibited. It's been several years since I went through the process to hunt in Canada, so you'll need to check into the restrictions thoroughly. DO NOT show up at the border with a restricted weapon or one even close and have to explain your way through.

Dirty Steve

 

[Ebrueckmann]

Oh he has plenty of guns he could use, like a 300 wsm that he bout for elk hunting but hasn't used, but I think he is using this trip as an excuse to get a new toy. I also have a 30-06 I could use but like him I'd rather get something new.

 

[rdg]

300 win mag. Lots of power, flat shooter and manageable recoil

 

[Spike Jones 5 2002]

The biggest you can accurately it him with.

 

[roadrunner681]

you don't need as much as you think, 308, 30-06 will be plenty, i would take a 44mag rifle(with the right load) all of these will take a black bear down fine as long as you do your part

 

[Bennettjh]

Oh he has plenty of guns he could use, like a 300 wsm that he bout for elk hunting but hasn't used, but I think he is using this trip as an excuse to get a new toy. I also have a 30-06 I could use but like him I'd rather get something new.

to getting a new gun for the trip. That's what I would do too. LOL.

I would go as big as they (Canada) would let me.

 

[cwillour]

If you are going to have overkill, you might as well go with something fun. I would be tempted to pick up a Ruger #1, CZ 550, T/C Encore, or Ruger 77 in: .375 Ruger, .416 Rigby, .375 H&H, .458 Win Mag or a similar chamber.

 

[Mgderf]

I have a 5-shot Raging Bull in .454 Casull that I would LOVE to take on such a hunt.

I would also like to take it on a hog hunt someday.

 

[SEMI-AK]

I would go for the Ruger guide gun in 338 win mag...it is a longer barrel higher caliber gunsite scout looking rifle...or a lever 45/70....either way you can not go wrong....

 

[LionWeight]

30.06 is what I used. Plenty of rifle and plenaty of loads for alot of uses.

 

[Mgderf]

Quite some years ago now I had a DVD that was a promotional video for a swiveling tree seat. The video featured the actor Marshall Teague and he went on a black bear hunt using the above mentioned seat.
Marshall Teague used a 12' SPEAR to take a black bear from above a bait barrel.

 

[Ebrueckmann]

Interesting idea with the encore, he already has the lower... A .375 HH mag could be a fun new toy

 

[church]

.460 rowland

 

[1911ly]

My cousin killed his with a 300 win mag. But I think 45-70 would be sweet.

 

[church]

My cousin killed his with a 300 win mag. But I think 45-70 would be sweet.

Man, you're on a 45-70 craze right now! lol.

 

[mayor al]

I second the comment about checking CLOSELY the Canadian Hunting Regs. It has been years since we have been up to the " GREAT WHITE NORTH", but even then they had caliber and mag limits, and some strong restrictions on semi-auto, and even ammo limits... I doubt that these have been simplified since the 80's when we hunted in Ontario.

A heavy load 30-06 or 308 would be the easiest caliber to work with, but I have a Ruger .338 Win Mag that I would love to test on a Canadian Bear.