I think anything 150gr plus would be just fine. I have some friends around here that hunt black bear with 30/30 no problem and our WA black bears are pretty big.

 

Lots of dog guys around here use 30-30s on bear and hogs that are bayed solid or treed. You won't need any special ammo for bear. Core lokts 150-170 power points, even the federal power shocks which are the least expensive around here.The most important part is going to be about you. Shoot the gun lots and make sure you shoot it well enough to put on lethal hits. If you're worried about it get the buffalo bore 190 grainers..... If you line them up right you could a few bears at once.:tee:

 

I like Federal Blue Box 170 for all my hunting needs!

 

GaGuideMan I carried 170 in mine till I got my GG.

 

Personally I use the Winchester 170 gr. power point stuff for nearly all my 30 WCF's for deer or bear. Bear around here can get up to and over 600 lbs., ya just never know what size is on the menu until the time comes to pull the trigger. I prefer my .444 with 300 gr. slugs, but it's been done time and again with the 30 WCF so if you're a careful shot it'll do. I just like a heavy slug over a middle weight one in the 30 WCF.

 

I'd go with my favorite 170 grain JSP Core-Lokt.

 

Though I agree with the proponents of the heavier slug for bear, my 30-30 is far more accurate with the 150gr. Remingtons. It gives me much confidence to know that I can put the round where I want it and hence I use the 150's for all of my hunting. Try yours with diffenent loads and use what is most accurate.

 

a few years ago a fella here in Pa killed a 800lb live weight bear in carbon county with his 30/30.what ever grain shoots the best,put it where it needs to go and SHAZAM bear skin rug

 

Thanks folks. You confirmed my thoughts on bear loads for 30-30. That round is such a good all around bullet. Hound-1, I especially like the "Shazam bear skin rug" part.

 

i use a 22 short and aim for the eye

 

Overkill. I'm going out with a pocket knife. And its backup incase my kungfu choke hold is broken.

 

I think you would be just fine using a 30-30 on a Black Bear!!!Ihave heard of some people using a 30-30 on Moose I figured if it would take a Moose it would Dang sure take a Black Bear but I would use the 170 grainers for the Black Bear!!

 

Do you load your own ammo?

Hornady makes one of the tougher 150gr bullets suitable for use in a .30-30. It is quite a bit tougher than Sierra 150's or Speer 150's.

 

I'd use the heavier bullets as well, but like others said its all about where the bullet goes. Get lots of practice and don't take the shot till your sure and you'll do fine. Good luck!

 

The 30/30 does well for black bears in the eastern bush . Just make sure were the vitals are , since they are a bit more forward than you might think . I have seen a few bears walk- after being gut shot or, having been shot on a leg bone which broke ,and they lived . You might then find the animal heading for a water hole or a mud blog to healand stop the bleed .When asked to track a bear so wounded, I go with the 06.

 

I killed this one with a 150 Corelock over 36 grains of Blc2 in a PMC case.

Just make a good shot & its over. I shot her in the neck & she dropped right there never even twitching.

 

When I bought my son his 336Y a few years back it came with 10 boxes of 170gr Federal Blue Box.....

He turned 10yrs old in March 2010 and shot his first black bear with that rifle and ammo in August 2010...They aren't hard to kill, just needs to be a money shot.

 

31 grains of 3031 with a 150g Hornady is more than adequate. Good luck!

 

Man this sure is an information-packed forum. Thanks a bunch for all of the info. Man, I love this site!

 

I would use the Federal 170s just because all my 30-30s are death rays with it...but all 30-30 ammo is quality stuff...they have had 118yrs to get it perfect...That John Wilson video should make a believer out of anyone

 

I killed one about thirteen years ago that stands out. Shot it with Winchester Powerpoint 170 grainer factory loads. Wasn't a huge bear, but it was facing me at fifteen yards and the bullet hit it dead center chest and it folded right there and started sliding back down the mountain. I recovered that bullet back in the hindquarter area. Core and jacket were separated but touching. A buddy shot one with one of my handloads, 170 Sierra FP and 29.4 grains of H-322. When we were skinning it several people thought he'd shot it with a 444 or 45/70. Nope, good old 30/30! Exit wound the size of a quarter.

 

I sure would like to try some black bear hunting somewhere like North Ga, North Carolina, or somewhere in Tenn. Does anyone know of a good place around these areas that I could try? I don't want to encroach on anyone's land or hunting spot. Just want to try my hand at it.

 

GaGuideman, I'll bet there's a few WMA's in south Ga. near you that hold black bear. Check the hunting regs.

 

My friends and I hunt Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. It's pretty rugged but worth the trip. Public land, so it's open to anyone with a valid liscense.

 

Same here and it can be rough country when you get off the beaten path. I use handloads with the 150gr TSX and have never felt undergunned.

 

Have you try Hornady's Leverevolution ammo. If it works well in your rifle it should be a good round for deer and bear.

T:biggrin:NY

 

That area of Tenn. sounds wonderful. Thanks for the tip. I have tried the 160gr. FTX Hornadys. My 336W absolutely loves them.

 

GaGuideman The 160 gr. FTX bullet seems to have it all, right in the middle of the 150 & 170 gr. plus it's really a boat tail hollow point. With the 24" barrel it has the 1000 lb. energy that makes it humanly ethical to harvest deer at 300 yards. With a 20' barrel my guess is 275 to 280 yards.

Factory ammo.

Test Barrel (24") Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle	100	200	300
2400/2046	2150/1643	1916/1304	1699/1025

Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle	100	200	300
-1.50	3.00	0.20	-12.10

Ballistics info. from Hornady #8 manual. Test rifle. Win. 94 30/30 20" barrel.

Firearm type	Rifle	Sight Height	2.0
Bullet Weight (grains)	160	Ballistic Coefficient	0.330
Muzzle Velocity (fps)	2300	Temperature	59
Barometric Pressure (hg)	29.53	Relative Humidity	78%
Zero Range (yards)	200	Wind Speed (mph)	10

336 3030 160 gr., 0.330 B.C. www.hornady.com

Range (yards) Muzzle 50 100 200 300 400 500 Velocity (fps) 2300 2177 2057 1830 1620 1433 1273 Energy (ft.-lb.) 1879 1683 1503 1189 933 729 575 Trajectory (200 yd. zero) -2.0 1.5 3.1 0.0 -13.6 -40.5 -84.4 Wind Drift (inches) 0.0 0.3 1.3 5.6 13.3 25.0 41.2 Come Up in MOA -2.0 -2.8 -3.0 0.0 4.3 9.7 16.1 Wind Drift (moa) 0.00 0.60 1.26 2.67 4.24 5.98 7.88

T:hmmmm:NY