kilotanker22
New member
I am going to hunt black bear for the first time this year. I have a 270 wsm shooting 150 grain power point ammo. Do you all think that this is good black bear medicine?
good black bear medicine???
- Thread starter kilotanker22
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kilotanker22
New member
Also any personal experience with this caliber and game are appreciated.
kilotanker22
New member
I am hunting north central Pennsylvania.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Yeah, I'd call it "good to go". The heavier bullet is less likely to blow up and give poor penetration.
The heavy bullet advice that others are giving you is GOOD advice.
Black Bear are easily killed with any good deer gun as long as you get good penetration. Too much velocity causes bullets to 'blow-up' and impedes penetration.
If you handload I'd suggest you use a 160 grain Nosler Partition or any weight of Barnes X bullet from 130-150 grains. They will shoot right through an average black bear and give great wound channels too.
I have a 270 WSM and have only killed a few animals with it, but it chronographs only 100 FPS faster than my 270 Winchester (which has a 25 inch barrel) and I have killed more game than I can count with my other 270s so I know you'll have good luck with those bullets.
Think of the magnum as a standard 270 with an extra 65 yards of range.
The velocity of the WSM at 65 yds is the same as the 270 Win at the muzzle.
Black Bear are easily killed with any good deer gun as long as you get good penetration. Too much velocity causes bullets to 'blow-up' and impedes penetration.
If you handload I'd suggest you use a 160 grain Nosler Partition or any weight of Barnes X bullet from 130-150 grains. They will shoot right through an average black bear and give great wound channels too.
I have a 270 WSM and have only killed a few animals with it, but it chronographs only 100 FPS faster than my 270 Winchester (which has a 25 inch barrel) and I have killed more game than I can count with my other 270s so I know you'll have good luck with those bullets.
Think of the magnum as a standard 270 with an extra 65 yards of range.
The velocity of the WSM at 65 yds is the same as the 270 Win at the muzzle.
kilotanker22
New member
Thanks for the thoughts guys a friend of mine here says it will not penetrate the front shoulder. I figured shoot it right in the shoulder to put it on the ground then a follow up. Or just shoot it in the head.
A .270 wsm will easily penetrate the shoulder of a black bear, especially if you use a good quality bullet. People kill elk and moose with the.270 win and the wsm variety all the time and they are much bigger and tougher than a black bear. I read an article I (don't recall the author) where the author shot kudu and gemsbok with a .270 wsm I believe he used 150 grain premium bullet but I am not certain.
Like any reasonable caliber, it will work if used properly.
Two of my friends who guide for bear in Maine both have complained about 270's, however, having tracked a few bears that seemed to have been hit fairly well with that caliber. They recommend the heaviest bullet available if their hunters insist on .270.
From personal experience having killed a few bears with a few different calibers, I really like the 30.06.
That said, I've killed them with arrows, too. I think bears are a bit different than other game animals. You might encounter an average 150 pound bear which isn't much harder to kill than a whitetail, or you could very well run into a 400 pound monster (PA has some big bears). I'd rather be overgunned for a small bear, than under-gunned for a brute.
Best of luck to you. Bear hunting is some serious, heart-pounding fun.
Two of my friends who guide for bear in Maine both have complained about 270's, however, having tracked a few bears that seemed to have been hit fairly well with that caliber. They recommend the heaviest bullet available if their hunters insist on .270.
From personal experience having killed a few bears with a few different calibers, I really like the 30.06.
That said, I've killed them with arrows, too. I think bears are a bit different than other game animals. You might encounter an average 150 pound bear which isn't much harder to kill than a whitetail, or you could very well run into a 400 pound monster (PA has some big bears). I'd rather be overgunned for a small bear, than under-gunned for a brute.
Best of luck to you. Bear hunting is some serious, heart-pounding fun.
The black bear in the Adirondacks who could open " bear proof containers " has been taken by a hunter .A 20 year old female .I hope she passed on the knowledge to her young ! 
kilotanker22
New member
Well tomorrow is opening day I am so excited probably won't sleep
Jack O'Conner
New member
I'm not a fan of long barreled magnum rifles for hunting the forests of Pennsylvania. But if the 270 MAG is all you have it will work fine if you wait for good shot into the chest organs.
I hunt bears with guys within Mifflin County. Most popular rifle in our group is Remington slide action 30-06. My bear rifle is a Savage lever action in .308 shooting round nose 180 grain bullets.
Good hunting to you.
Jack
I hunt bears with guys within Mifflin County. Most popular rifle in our group is Remington slide action 30-06. My bear rifle is a Savage lever action in .308 shooting round nose 180 grain bullets.
Good hunting to you.
Jack
kilotanker22
New member
jack
I too like a shorter rifle but both of my hunting rifles are win model 70 with 24 inch barrels. One a 270 and the other a 270 ask.
On another note the spot I hunted seems prime for bear found two sets of tracks and multiple scats. One of the piles was not even frozen. Heavy cover and woods right between a river and a very large corn field out in the sticks.
I too like a shorter rifle but both of my hunting rifles are win model 70 with 24 inch barrels. One a 270 and the other a 270 ask.
On another note the spot I hunted seems prime for bear found two sets of tracks and multiple scats. One of the piles was not even frozen. Heavy cover and woods right between a river and a very large corn field out in the sticks.