.25-06 for Black Bear?!?!

[win39]

I find this to be some very interesting reading. From what I've gathered, if you only owned a 25/06 would you use it for Black Bear. My answer would be yes, I would use a heavier constructed bullet. If I was out in the woods and a Black bear charged me and I had my 25/06 I would take my chances with it rather then trying to find a stick to poke it in the eye. If the shot placement is correct and the bullet is constructed strong enough to penetrate and enter the internal organs then I believe the 25/06 is enough gun.

If I could only buy one gun and had a choice, and Bear and varmints were both on my hunting list then the answer would be no I would try to find a more versatile caliber, like the 30/06 only because the bullet weight selection is greater. Even though I don't own a 30/06 I think this is one of the best caliber guns for the person that only has one gun, for whatever reason.

[mtm1]

Originally Posted by samuel

The only part I dispute is anyone that posts that someone else "MUST"use a certain cal.gun to hunt with,especially someone that states they dont believe in ballistics.While I have always believed that heavy bullets were more dependable for 'knock em down and keep em down shots',I also have seen what high velocity small diammeter bullets can do.The hydrostatic shock combined with deeper penetration used correctly can and will be just as effective.I believe that each hunter should have the right to choose his own firearm and method of using it. sam.

I agree that everyone should make up their own mind and use whatever they want. As this thread seems to be sorted out I thought I'd throw in another little incident that my help. My two buddies were Grizzly hunting up the coast. One of them was wadeing down a stream and came to a bend. Just then a 6'6" blacky came out of the bush at very close range, started to come for my buddy. He pulled up his 375 H&H and let one go through the front shoulder slightly quartering. The bear wheeled and bolted as if not hit. It ran 200yds out into thick alders. When they opened it up the 300 grs. Nosler had broken the front shoulder, travelled way back and lodged in the hip. This may not be typical, the next one may drop at the shot but then it might come forward instead of back thats Bear hunting.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by mtm1

I agree that everyone should make up their own mind and use whatever they want. As this thread seems to be sorted out I thought I'd throw in another little incident that my help. My two buddies were Grizzly hunting up the coast. One of them was wadeing down a stream and came to a bend. Just then a 6'6" blacky came out of the bush at very close range, started to come for my buddy. He pulled up his 375 H&H and let one go through the front shoulder slightly quartering. The bear wheeled and bolted as if not hit. It ran 200yds out into thick alders. When they opened it up the 300 grs. Nosler had broken the front shoulder, travelled way back and lodged in the hip. This may not be typical, the next one may drop at the shot but then it might come forward instead of back thats Bear hunting.

If this bear was coming straight after him,how did he get a quartering shot through the shoulder? sam.

[mtm1]

Probably a big rock in the way? If you're questioning if this is true you're a dick.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by mtm1

Probably a big rock in the way? If you're questioning if this is true you're a dick.

I would rather think a big pile of bull sh&& got in the way.Yes I am questioning if this is true.I do not apreciate you trying to draw me down into your catagory,just for asking a sensible question. sam.

[mtm1]

Thanks for confirming what I thought. I question if you've ever actually hunted anything.

[rdale501]

I agree, Sam. And by the way wasn't Mr. Weatherbys' favorite round the .257 weatherby? And he was a man who could pack whatever he wanted.

[VATX Hunter]

Play Nice Boys!

Originally Posted by samuel

If this bear was coming straight after him,how did he get a quartering shot through the shoulder? sam.

Read again he said
"Came out of the bush at very close range, started to come for my buddy"

[mtm1]

Sorry this has gotten out of hand. I was just trying to relate one experience Bear hunting. If you shoot Bears at 30 yds out of a tree stand none of this means anything. My only experience Bear hunting has always been spot and stock on foot. I've seen Bears soak up some serious punishment. As I said before hunt them with whatever you like.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by mtm1

Thanks for confirming what I thought. I question if you've ever actually hunted anything.

No,I never hunted anything,I was always after a specific animal.

Originally Posted by VATX Hunter

Play Nice Boys!




Read again he said
"Came out of the bush at very close range, started to come for my buddy"

That was all I was asking.I missed the part about the bear going after his buddy and couldnt visualise the shot if the bear was coming straight after him.Now I understand how it could happen,with no name calling.I just dont get that out of shape when somebody askes a sensible,reasonable question,I just explain how it happened,without name calling.Thank you for clearing it up. And I have been bear hunting numerous times and never hunted from a stand. sam.

[Brother Bob]

All right guys! Let's knock off the "name calling"! Everyone has their favorite caliber, or a caliber that they believe is capable of dropping various game. On paper, these calibers have the ballistics, BC's, and SD's to do what they're intended for. When I was 25, I'd probably taken a shot at a black bear with a .22 if I thought I could get away with it! I'm now 52 and as I age life becomes more precious to me. Give me a .30-06 for that bruin! I'm not saying that a .25-06 won't kill a black bear! What I'm saying is that I own a .30-06 and I know what it will do! Sam is a plethora of information and he knows his stuff about this hobby. I'm glad he's on this forum to answer questions. He may be opinionated, but he'll be the first one I go to when I have a question. He's an open book. Let's give credit where credit is due. Be nice! Brother Bob

[mtm1]

O.K., O.K., I'm a new guy here but I' m 50 yrs old and have been hunting for 30+ yrs. I've shot most game in B.C. and used pretty much all calibers from varmit rounds to the .460 WBY. I have absolutely no reason to ever post anything false on here. I feel that relating actual hunting experiences on here is a great way to let less experienced hunters make up their own mind as to whats best for them. I get pretty pissed when someone implies I'm full of it. Which he said he did. Credit was given. Lets bury the hatchet on this one.

[Rattle'em up]

This forum is essentially for the purpose to gain informative ideas to put to practical use, and hopefully the info is coming from a reliable source. The idea that john doe is giving info about a particular bullets performance on dangerous game or suggesting that one bullet is better than another without any real life experience is to me completely absurd and gets the dufus award. So to say to someone that "my info" from a ballistic chart proves that the bear hunter in the field with 20 yrs of experience killing bear is "full of crap", should show the rest of the users on this forum that john doe is incompetent in answering any questions about the particular bullets effect on game.

[Brother Bob]

Originally Posted by Rattle'em up

This forum is essentially for the purpose to gain informative ideas to put to practical use, and hopefully the info is coming from a reliable source. The idea that john doe is giving info about a particular bullets performance on dangerous game or suggesting that one bullet is better than another without any real life experience is to me completely absurd and gets the dufus award. So to say to someone that "my info" from a ballistic chart proves that the bear hunter in the field with 20 yrs of experience is "full of crap", should show the rest of the users on this forum that john doe is incompetent in answering any questions about the particular bullets effect on game.

So you've cornered the market in wisdom. Thanks for letting us know, John.

[Rattle'em up]

Originally Posted by Brother Bob

So you've cornered the market in wisdom. Thanks for letting us know, John.

John, your welcome

[pruneemac]

If you go on bear hunting websites the guides usually tell you minimum calibers or broadhead types. you can probably kill a bear with a pellet gun if you do it right but think about this... every guide I've ever bear hunted with recovers bear with a 12 GA. slug gun. thats a .75 cal. slug!!! I think a 30 cal. would be more appropriate.

good luck

[samuel]

As stated,I am opinionated.And it is my opinion that all hunting stories are just that,stories.I believe I have the right to ask for clarification,which I received on the shoulder shot and apreciated.I never saw any proof that a bear was shot once much less three times in the spine with a .243 and wasnt paralised. I seldom tell hunting stories because nobody is really intrested anyway and they are only important to me.It is my opinion that seniority really isnt a good way to judge a hunter.What a hunter brings home seems more important to me.I have 60yrs experience in the field,carrying a gun in pursuit of game,(or other adversaries) and I learn something new about every time out,whether I am after ground squirrels or moose.On a guided hunt,the client is basically using the guides experience to bag game.As far as I can recall I had succesful bear hunts 17 out of 25 or so bear hunts,and even tho I had to hire a guide sometimes,outside of conversation,didnt use one all that much.As to what bullets do and their effect on game,I always tried to gain knowledge of what a certain bullet did,not only from my gun,but numerous other hunters,and I usually took notes.As to guides,most I have talked to tried to verify how well someone could use a gun,not whether they had the biggest.I dont recall ever seeing a guide using a shotgun for backup,but I have seen a .458win used. I also have opinions about B.C..The bear are smaller,the hills are steeper,and the ferns rattle more on the eastern side than on the western side.Would I carry a .243win expressly for bear?Probably not.A .25-06 is a different matter.Either works well for some in the right hands and situation. sam.

[Dickie d]

Lots of interesting arguements. I have a 25-06, would I go after black bear with it, hell no, I may be old but not suicidal. I have passed up numerous opportunities(Ontario & Alberta when I lived in a state of utter taxation) to take a black bear and passed. They don't taste good and are more work after they are downed than they are worth. When I lived in Alberta, I met a lot of people hunting elk that carried a 12ga, in case they had a problem with a bear. Safety first, concern for animal suffering second, bragging rights last. You could probably kill one with a 22lr if you shot it enough, infact I had a neighbour that shot one thru the eye with a 22lr at a dump, a little bigger than a cub. He was not looked at very favorably by his peers. A one shot instant kill should be the goal of every hunter.

[samuel]

Originally Posted by Rattle'em up

This forum is essentially for the purpose to gain informative ideas to put to practical use, and hopefully the info is coming from a reliable source. The idea that john doe is giving info about a particular bullets performance on dangerous game or suggesting that one bullet is better than another without any real life experience is to me completely absurd and gets the dufus award. So to say to someone that "my info" from a ballistic chart proves that the bear hunter in the field with 20 yrs of experience killing bear is "full of crap", should show the rest of the users on this forum that john doe is incompetent in answering any questions about the particular bullets effect on game.

After reviewing your post a second time more closely,if you feel that you are really not qualified and have no real experience in the subject,you are not required to pass on advice you feel is wrong and has no 'real life experience',and you do not have to risk getting the "dufus" award.If you feel you shouldn't post,just dont,but if you want to,even tho you feel it is wrong,please feel free to do so.I myself never sugested one bullet was better than another.You did and I believe that is something a person should be very cautious about. sam.