180 grain accubonds would work well, but so would a Barnes TSX in the same weight along with swft Sorroco's & A-frames, Remington core-lokts, Hornady interlocks or interbonds, 185 grain Berger VLD's..... there are a lot of good choices out there. Find a premium hunting bullet that shoots well out of your particular rifle and go with that, that's my 2 cents.

For hunting black bear in wooded areas I use 12ga 2 3/4" terminator double slug rounds,the shell fires two 3/4oz holow point slugs.At 30 yards both slugs hit the target at about 2 inches apart,accurate upto 50 yards lots of knock down power but the Load is very hot so you need a shotgun with a recoil barrel such as a browning..otherwise you could damage your receiver,not recomended for single shot or doubble barrel models...For black bears and elk,moose in more open areas I use Hornady's 50 Cal. BMG 750gr.A-Max

If you say so George?

Since the average distance in shooting a Black Bear is within rock throwing range, a 300 WIN MAG is a bit to hot on the velocity side. You'll need a 150-180 grain that will hold together at those velocities.

Nope Mtnhunter
I am 100% serious...when hunting black/brown bear in canada I use my Cobb Model FA50...it uses the 50Cal bmg 660-750gr ammo..
very accurate for close or long range..does massive damage and the animal bleeds out very quickly,for the price of those hunts I wouldnt use anything smaller,especially since canadian black bears can top 750lbs or more,Brown bears even bigger..plus its good for moose,elk ,,,and Polar bear!!! which I havent had the money to go hunt,,not yet anyway.....the Double slug shotgun ammo is a specialty ammo and can be purchased online and in some sporting goods shops...it is rather expensive but works very good...
here is the site..
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/catalog1/index.php/cName/12-gauge-specialt...

they have all kinds of 12ga specialty ammo..12ga Flame thrower, 12ga Armor piercing,12ga door breaching,12ga slug+buck shot,12ga bird bombs,12ga flash bangs....they also have rifle ammo, armor piercing rounds,incindiary rounds,tracer rounds....it is suprising at how much specialty ammo can be used...check local laws before ordering though....

When I carry my .300 Win mag for black bear with dogs, it is loaded with handloaded 180 grain Horandy interlocks ahead of a warm load of IMR4831. Yes, that is overkill for a treed bear at archery distances, but there are also a few open fields that bruin crosses from time to time and on the off chance that there was a problem and we needed to stop the chase NOW, the .300 is the ticket. Having said that, last year I acquired a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington and carried it, stoked with Remington factory 200 grain corelokts. A search of the trucks in our gang will turn up several .35's, a handful of .30-30's, probably a .30-06 or two, and an assortment of handguns in .44 magnum, .480 Ruger, .454 Casull, and .30-30 in a Contender. Hope that helps, good hunting.

I took my last rug with the .300. It was sitting on a limb and looking right at me. I held for the nose and squeezed off. It bounced around on the limb and peeked around the trunk at me. This time, it folded up and out it came. Apparently it turned it's head just as I pulled the trigger on the first shot as the bullet went in on the cheekbone, skipped along under the hide, and came out around the ear, with nothing more than probably a ringing headache. Those sloping skulls must be hog head hard. I also saw that happen at handshaking distance with a .44. Point being, caliber doesn't always dictate instant success.

Jarrod, it is a rush. If you thrill to the sound of hounds in full voice, then this is for you. As to the how-to, there's a bit more. We have a saying, "graveyard dead", when we shoot a treed one and it falls out. We don't want anything going wrong once the bear is on the ground. Therefore we shoot for the head or neck to insure a quick and humane kill, and lighter calibers are acceptable, as there is usually time for a well-placed shot. If the bear is on the ground and you need to stop a fight or protect the dogs or a person, then those light deer calibers should be left at home in favor of the .30-30 and up and greater bullet weight. Therefore, in my case, the .300 Win mag or .35 Remington and the ever-present Super Blackhawk. Talking to one of my bear cronies last night, as he said, when it's not exciting anymore, it's time to stay home. Please don't hesitate if you have more questions. Good hunting!

jwallen, agreed on shot placement. Usually a treed one is taken at rock throwing distances and there is time to pick out a good rest and make a good shot but if it was on the ground, moving, or whatever, no head shots, too much margin for error. Never done spot and stalk but I can imagine. That's like those who say they always shoot a deer in the head or neck to save on meat damage. Not a good idea there either, I've seen deer wandering around with broken lower jaws and starving.

My 338 Federal with 200 grain or 225 grain Hornady Interlocks would make a perfect black bear round. I have seen them killed with just about anything but I think the 338 Federal would do a great job.

George
Do you plan to take on a large grizzly with the double slug Terminator that you refer to.
Has it been proven on large bears in all conditions at all angles? I would be concerned about reliable penetrate through heavy shoulder.
What have you used this stuff on?
Just curious.

Bigger is always better in my book so the 300 Winchester Magnum is a great choice. I would load it with a stout premium bullet in a 180-grain or even 200-grain weight. As always, I prefer Speer Grand Slam or even a non-premium Mag Tip. However, Nosler Partition, Barnes TSX (165 or 180 grain) and Fail Safe boolits.
For me, Mr. Black is worthy of a clubbing from my .338 Win-Mag and 225-grainer.

I agree with crm3006,either a 150 gr or 180 gr Hornady Accubond. Does a fine job in an '06, and a .300 is just a too loud..

add url

I found your blog on Yahoo and I just wanted to say that I think your writing is simply stunning! Thanks again for providing this content for free.
sears parts

the list of guns at my bear camp go as follows- .270 wsm, 30-06, 2 45-70's, .300 win mag, 2 12 gauge slug guns, .500 s&w, and 2 .444's. the guy with the .300 shoots 180 grain somethings. but black bears are pretty light skinned animals, but ill tell you after they get hit, even on a good shot, they can go a loooooooong ways. stick with bullet of your choice in 180 grain to be safe.

just came back from my 1st bear hunt, MI U.P. used Remington 2-3/4 accutip 385 gr sabot in a beretta es 100, nikon 1.65x5 mounted on the rifled slug barrel. 40 yard shot, 1 shot shattered both shoulders and was recovered under pelt on skinning next day, weighed 373 gr on 505 scale upon coming home (have pix!) second shot was placed 2 inches rearward and was clean through and 1" into a bait pile log recovered when i went to get the coat i left behind the night before. slug gun / shotgun combo and a 243 is about all i want in MI. those accutips are easily 3" groups at 100m with my set up. hope it helps..

a very good aim with a marlin 220 works for me.