Need Help with best caliber/Grain for Black Bear

[Respen33]

Okay so i have been given the opportunity to possibly hunt black bear in West Virginia. That said i am at a little bit of a quandary. I have read that a .30-30 or .30-06 will work but i need to know what you think the best grain rounds are to achieve maximum. I am bringing the .30-30 lever for Deer but i can always upgrade the round in case i run into a Black Bear.

Oh if i only had a 7.62 AR platform. Maybe next year!

Okay please let me know.

[PegLeg45]

If using the .30-30, I would go with the Hornady LeverEvolution. It is a 160gr load that is 250 FPS faster than standard and delivers 40% more punch.

If using the .30-06 (which is my personal choice) I would go with any premium brand (Nosler, Hornady, Barnes) bonded core bullet in a 180 to 220 grain range.

JMHO


http://www.hornady.com/store/leverevolution

[TAB]

Imo, bigger is always better.

[MikeBjerum]

Let's see ............................

A .30-06 is very common;
I've seen a lot of .30-30;
There is always 12 ga slug;
Maybe a muzzle loader in .45 or .50;
I am hoping to take my S&W 500 Performance Center someday;
The AR10 in .308 would be a very good option;
I could go on and on ....

However, there is always my new favorite

300 WSM 

[Respen33]

Thanks. I'll look at the .39-30 rounds. Though I love to use 30-06 that may obliterate the deer I want to harvest. :-)

Btw I have a cabelas .54 cal percussion hawkin carbine I could bring but I want more then one shot before I draw my .45 in panic.

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

I have my grandpa's old .30-06 that was just passed on to me this past spring.  That gun literally took 100's of deer, white tail and mule, and many other animals.  I wanted to use that gun on this bear, but due to the late hours we hunt I was concerned about the peep sight in low light.  Had I known I would shoot at 6:30pm the 06 would have been the gun in the stand!