SML Load for Black Bear?
Sept 24, 2014 8:45:37 GMT -5
Post by northny on Sept 24, 2014 8:45:37 GMT -5
In the area that I hunt deer state game laws did not allow hunting black bears until this year. While hunting I have bumped into one about every third without trying, and the year we planted corn in one food plot we had a bear there quite often. In fact the most productive deer stand we have on the property is called the bear stand due to bear sightings, and a few years back we had to chase one off that appeared interested in the 8 pt my son had shot. I hunt near the Canadian border, and the bears are not in frequent contact with humans. I describe the local bears as shy and polite, if they know you are there, they depart the area.
Although I don't plan to specifically hunt for bear, if I encounter a mature one in the early ML season I plan on taking it. Since we have corn in this year in a few spots, odds of this happening are not bad.
My standard deer load (saboted in a 50 cal Savage) is Hornady SST over 43.0 grains VV N110, traveling at 2300+fps (or shoots Hornady XTP just as accurate)
This has taken 8 or ten deer, most taken at 100 to 175 yards. Only killed one under 100 yards, that was at 85. All of them double lung shots and complete pass through.
Prior to that load I hunted with and killed a few with both 300 grain Barnes Originals and or 300 grain Hornady Hollow Point over 44 grains AA5744. Again all pass throughs. I only left this for flatter trajectory of 250 SSTs as common shots are 150 to 175 yards and I want to reach out 200 yards.
So stipulating that I will only be taking a broadside or full frontal shot) will the 250 SSTs get the job done? (the nature of the fields and food plots they will be in or crossing I will get the broadside shot, if not I will pass.
So for those of you with experience on black bear what load do you use?
Are they much different than deer to kill? (I would estimate the bear on my property that I am interested in killing are 250 to 350+ lbs)
Although I don't plan to specifically hunt for bear, if I encounter a mature one in the early ML season I plan on taking it. Since we have corn in this year in a few spots, odds of this happening are not bad.
My standard deer load (saboted in a 50 cal Savage) is Hornady SST over 43.0 grains VV N110, traveling at 2300+fps (or shoots Hornady XTP just as accurate)
This has taken 8 or ten deer, most taken at 100 to 175 yards. Only killed one under 100 yards, that was at 85. All of them double lung shots and complete pass through.
Prior to that load I hunted with and killed a few with both 300 grain Barnes Originals and or 300 grain Hornady Hollow Point over 44 grains AA5744. Again all pass throughs. I only left this for flatter trajectory of 250 SSTs as common shots are 150 to 175 yards and I want to reach out 200 yards.
So stipulating that I will only be taking a broadside or full frontal shot) will the 250 SSTs get the job done? (the nature of the fields and food plots they will be in or crossing I will get the broadside shot, if not I will pass.
So for those of you with experience on black bear what load do you use?
Are they much different than deer to kill? (I would estimate the bear on my property that I am interested in killing are 250 to 350+ lbs)