Best Black Bear 30-30 round

Which ammo for black bear with my 30-30?

  • Hornady 170 grain Interlock

    Votes: 3 14.3%

  • Remington 170 grain cor lokt

    Votes: 9 42.9%

  • Federal fusion 170 grain

    Votes: 2 9.5%

  • Federal with 170 grain Nosler Partition

    Votes: 7 33.3%
  • Total voters
    21
  • Poll closed .
K

klcmschlesinger

New member
I am going on a black bear hunt in August with my Marlin 336 and have been researching what ammo to use. Everything I've found says the 30-30 is a fine choice since shots will be very short. Use 170 grain bullet and place it well. Which one would you use and why?
 
I didn't vote because I'd use the most accurate load out of my .30-30 weather it be 150, 160, or 170. The slow moving .30-30 doesn't need a premium bullet to be effective on black bear.
 
The outfitter said all shots would be under 30 yards and I have checked accuracy on all 4 loads out to 50 yards with iron sights and all are very acceptable. I was hoping to learn some differences and get some experiences about these loads for this hunt.
 
What about Winchester Power Points or Silvertips? In 170 grain loads, they are pretty available as factory ammo. I use Powerpoint bullets to handload other calibers-such as 30-06 and 7mm-08, but it seems that Winchester does not sell 170's as component bullets. Sure wish they did.
 
I like my .30-30 but unfortunately I've never hunted anything with it. I do want to go elk hunting with it some day and figured just to use the 170 grain bullet I could make shoot out of it the best. I have no experience with any of the ammunition that you mentioned. I do know at 30 yards I wouldn't be afraid to use any of it on a black bear.

I've only shot one black bear and I used a 200 grain Nosler Partition out of a .30-06. I've used the Nosler Partition on elk as well in my .270 in 150 grain. I know the Partition will work and has been doing it for quite a few years and it is a great bullet. I'm just not convinced it will do anything better than the other bullets you have tried out of a .30-30.

I do kind of envy you as I wish I had a hunting environment that made the .30-30 the best choice of rifle for hunting. I'd love to take down a big game animal with that classic cartridge and my Win M94 rifle. Search the forum here and you will find quite a few guys who have taken animals with the .30-30.

Good luck on your bear hunt!
 
Black bears aren't hard to kill. There really isn't much to them. Most of the heavy musculature is in the rear. Their bones are light and they are pretty thin over the vitals.

If it were me I'd use the Fusion. I like how it's built. The jacket is applied in a simliar manner as the Gold Dot pistol bullet.
 
Use whatever 170 grain ammo shoots best out of your rifle. 2 to 3 inch groups are ok. Try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best. Then, practice, off hand, at 100 yards, at a 9" pie plate until you can hit it every time. Then you'll be ready to hunt any suitable game. Learn black bear anatomy too. Lots of books and on-line info for shot placement. Behind the shoulder is best.
 
I like your choice of bullet weight. Of all these listed the Rem cor-lokt is a little softer that the other 3. It will give you excellent expansion on a Bear size animal. If a bullet punches all the way through then energy is lost. If it expands enough to stay in the animal then 100% of bullet energy is used on the animal.

Happy bear hunting

Ken
 
I dont recall reading where you are going to be hunting, but the 400-500 pounders in this area expire quickly with a .30-30. I tell ya that from experience. When you get your bear, hang it up by the hind legs and skin it. What you have left is a carcass that looks like a nekkid person. Once ya take the skin and hair off of them, you dont have much left.

Stop at Walmart and buy a box of whatever is cheapest. That is your best cartridge at 30 yards. Chances are, you can get a box of Remington or a box of Winchester Silvertips. Both are proven bear killers.

30 yards? From a stand over bait? That aint a hunting trip. That is a killing trip.
 
I don't know diddly-squat about black bear hunting, but my friend and his dad in Minoqua Wisconsin [near Squirrel Lake and Doc's Place] used 170gr Remington Core-Lokt in their .30-30, and 200gr Core-Lokt in the Marlin 336 .35 Remington with great success. Both loads work well for deer, also

PMC makes an all-copper Barnes X load, Federal still loads a 170gr Nosler Partition for the ol' .30-30, and Hornady makes two fine .30-30 cartridges as well
 
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