What would your selection be?
08-21-2008, 03:23 PM
#1
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,762
What would your selection be?
Want some opinions on what load from the below list would you use for black bear? I will be hunting them in PA where they can easily push 400 lb. I believe the record is somewhere in the 800 lb class. Range will be <100 yds.
OK here are the choices:
.45 cal - 200 gr 40 cal bullet - 80 gr Pyrodex P
50 cal. - 240 gr 44 cal Horn XTP - 90 gr FFFg
50 cal - 275 gr Maxihunter - 100 gr FFFg
50 cal - 320 gr REAL - 90 gr FFFg
54 cal - 230 gr PRB - 80 gr Pyrodex RS
Accuracy is not an issue - all above loads are accurate in their respective rifles.
OK here are the choices:
.45 cal - 200 gr 40 cal bullet - 80 gr Pyrodex P
50 cal. - 240 gr 44 cal Horn XTP - 90 gr FFFg
50 cal - 275 gr Maxihunter - 100 gr FFFg
50 cal - 320 gr REAL - 90 gr FFFg
54 cal - 230 gr PRB - 80 gr Pyrodex RS
Accuracy is not an issue - all above loads are accurate in their respective rifles.
08-21-2008, 03:32 PM
#2
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 11,703
RE: What would your selection be?
bronko22000
From the list above - i think I wold go with the heavier 320 grain real but since it is an all leadbullet I would really want it heavier than that...
If I were making the myself I would go with a .458/300 grain Nosler or Barnes or if they aren not available a .452/300 grain Gold Dot...
.45 cal - 200 gr 40 cal bullet - 80 gr Pyrodex P
50 cal. - 240 gr 44 cal Horn XTP - 90 gr FFFg
50 cal - 275 gr Maxihunter - 100 gr FFFg
50 cal - 320 gr REAL - 90 gr FFFg
54 cal - 230 gr PRB - 80 gr Pyrodex RS
50 cal. - 240 gr 44 cal Horn XTP - 90 gr FFFg
50 cal - 275 gr Maxihunter - 100 gr FFFg
50 cal - 320 gr REAL - 90 gr FFFg
54 cal - 230 gr PRB - 80 gr Pyrodex RS
If I were making the myself I would go with a .458/300 grain Nosler or Barnes or if they aren not available a .452/300 grain Gold Dot...
08-21-2008, 03:37 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location:
Posts: 3,246
RE: What would your selection be?
ORIGINAL: sabotloader
bronko22000
From the list above - i think I wold go with the heavier 320 grain real but since it is an all leadbullet I would really want it heavier than that...
If I were making the myself I would go with a .458/300 grain Nosler or Barnes or if they aren not available a .452/300 grain Gold Dot...
bronko22000
.45 cal - 200 gr 40 cal bullet - 80 gr Pyrodex P
50 cal. - 240 gr 44 cal Horn XTP - 90 gr FFFg
50 cal - 275 gr Maxihunter - 100 gr FFFg
50 cal - 320 gr REAL - 90 gr FFFg
54 cal - 230 gr PRB - 80 gr Pyrodex RS
50 cal. - 240 gr 44 cal Horn XTP - 90 gr FFFg
50 cal - 275 gr Maxihunter - 100 gr FFFg
50 cal - 320 gr REAL - 90 gr FFFg
54 cal - 230 gr PRB - 80 gr Pyrodex RS
If I were making the myself I would go with a .458/300 grain Nosler or Barnes or if they aren not available a .452/300 grain Gold Dot...
08-21-2008, 03:44 PM
#4
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
RE: What would your selection be?
The REAL 320 would be my choice, and I would stay away from the shoulder bone. It might splatter that lead bullet. Slip it behind the shoulder into the vitals and you should be fine. I have a friend that shoots black bear (from a tree) with a .50 caliber roundball and claims he has never had a problem harvesting them. They do run off, but normally not far and then they lay down and start their death moan.
I personally hunted them with 380 grain REAL in my .54 and also roundball. I never had a boar come in and refused to harvest a small one that was a real clown, but I did not feel under gunned. I hunted from both a tree and a ground blind, but when you have a sow and cub 20 feet from the blind, it does get one worried. I also carried a .44 magnum with me just in case.
I personally hunted them with 380 grain REAL in my .54 and also roundball. I never had a boar come in and refused to harvest a small one that was a real clown, but I did not feel under gunned. I hunted from both a tree and a ground blind, but when you have a sow and cub 20 feet from the blind, it does get one worried. I also carried a .44 magnum with me just in case.
08-21-2008, 04:15 PM
#5
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location:
Posts: 5,180
RE: What would your selection be?
I'd scratch the 240 maxihunter off the list and find something else to fill its spot.
Big bear = Bigger bullet the better.
If i were dealing with a BIG bear like that, i would shoot my elk load of 80gr rs and the 405 powerbelt. You can't go wrong with an even bigger bullet. sabot or conical.
There was a post like this on monster muleys and the guy was asking about shooting around a 300lb black bear with a 295 powerbelt.
I'd try it to see how it did but i would use my standard charge of 80gr rs and no more.
Big bear = Bigger bullet the better.
If i were dealing with a BIG bear like that, i would shoot my elk load of 80gr rs and the 405 powerbelt. You can't go wrong with an even bigger bullet. sabot or conical.
There was a post like this on monster muleys and the guy was asking about shooting around a 300lb black bear with a 295 powerbelt.
I'd try it to see how it did but i would use my standard charge of 80gr rs and no more.
08-21-2008, 05:17 PM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 1,607
RE: What would your selection be?
From that list I would have to pick the 320 REAL. The bear I hunt in VA and TN run around the 300lb range and that would be min of what I would use. I bear hunt w/a 300g XTP MAG. The 300g Nosler is an even better option as Sabotloader mentioned. I might use a 460 Bullshop this year though. I've kinda taken to this big chunks of lead shootin'
Bear are a lot tougher than deer. As someone else mentioned, I wouldn't try to shoot through the shoulder if possible.
Bear are a lot tougher than deer. As someone else mentioned, I wouldn't try to shoot through the shoulder if possible.
08-21-2008, 05:19 PM
#7
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,009
RE: What would your selection be?
Bronko
In all repects to you out of your list it would be the 320gr real . BUT if I were you I would try some 370gr Maxi - balls (or) 350gr Maxi - hunters with a over the powder wad and 80 - 90 gr of powder . In a conical type bullet my min. would be 350gr and I think that is on a little of the lite side , the 370gr maxi - ball would be better as it is known for deep penetration,but that is JMO
In all repects to you out of your list it would be the 320gr real . BUT if I were you I would try some 370gr Maxi - balls (or) 350gr Maxi - hunters with a over the powder wad and 80 - 90 gr of powder . In a conical type bullet my min. would be 350gr and I think that is on a little of the lite side , the 370gr maxi - ball would be better as it is known for deep penetration,but that is JMO
08-21-2008, 06:04 PM
#8
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 11,703
RE: What would your selection be?
TNHagies
The 460 BShop would certainly do the trick - It is an awesome chunk of lead - carries a higher BC than most think and is an accurate projectile in everything I shoot it from...
The 460 BShop would certainly do the trick - It is an awesome chunk of lead - carries a higher BC than most think and is an accurate projectile in everything I shoot it from...
08-21-2008, 06:27 PM
#9
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,762
RE: What would your selection be?
I wasn't having much luck with the 54 shooting conicals. But I was using T7. I think I may try FFg and some 435 gr Maxihunters I picked up. I have a couple of 430 Maxiballs left from the last outing.
I'm hoping they shoot good - If not, I will be using the 50.
And much to FG's delight, I may give the Powerbelts a try. What would be a good starting load with that 405 grainer. And is this the 50 cal or 54 cal bullet?
I'm hoping they shoot good - If not, I will be using the 50.
And much to FG's delight, I may give the Powerbelts a try. What would be a good starting load with that 405 grainer. And is this the 50 cal or 54 cal bullet?
08-21-2008, 06:28 PM
#10
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,585
RE: What would your selection be?
bronko22000
If that 200gr 40 cal is the Shock Wave then tthat's the way I would go I have used that bullet on several hog and deer and it has been very effective but it keep going out the other side even the hog I shot in the shoulder and out the ham on the other side. I normally use at least 90 gr 777-FF and usually a 100 on what I have taken so far . I will be switching to BH209 thiis year it will shoot good with almost any load of BH but I like 110 gr for about 2100fps. Lee
If that 200gr 40 cal is the Shock Wave then tthat's the way I would go I have used that bullet on several hog and deer and it has been very effective but it keep going out the other side even the hog I shot in the shoulder and out the ham on the other side. I normally use at least 90 gr 777-FF and usually a 100 on what I have taken so far . I will be switching to BH209 thiis year it will shoot good with almost any load of BH but I like 110 gr for about 2100fps. Lee