Author Topic: If you were to get a guy a bear gun? (Read 2076 times)

teddy12b · « **on:** March 08, 2007, 03:04:29 AM »

Hey everyone,
My cousins husband is going to be hunting black bear this fall with me and it's the first time he's ever been hunting for anything. He's a pretty lucky guy to have his first hunt be a black bear hunt. It's like all the stories of the first time hunter getting some record book bear, but anyway we need to get this guy a gun. His father in law wants to get him his first gun and it'll be a surprise.
My only concern is that I want his gun to be something he can use for deer hunting too. I'm thinking a bolt action 30-06, or a lever 45/70. I'm trying to stick to common calibers where ammo can easily be bought at the middle of nowhere stores that only have a box or two of remington coreloks. Do you all know the kind of stores I'm talking about?
I'm leaning towards the bolt 30-06 for the all around gun for a gun that'll probably only have one gun. Any thoughts?

358jdj · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2007, 08:27:32 AM »

I like the way you think. You can't outgrow a 30-06. The 45/70, even with reduced loads can be a little rough on a novice hunter. Get the 30-06 in a bolt gun and let the hunting for everything begin.

teddy12b · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2007, 09:00:36 AM »

I'm just glad that somebody likes the way I think. I just don't the guy to end up with a gun that he can only use in specific cases instead of all cases.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2007, 09:52:14 AM »

Both will work, but look at the kind of hunting he will do the most. If his shots will never be over 150 yards get the 45-70. If the chance of a longer shot will ever be needed get the 30-06. But whatever you get him, make him practice and get proficient at the ranges he will be shooting at.

Rev Buck · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2007, 02:22:53 PM »

As much as I like both, I would have to agree with 358jdj. The .30-06 would most likely be best for the circumstances you describe. It will be fine for black bear and also great for deer and other game. The .45/70 is great too but would take a little more getting used to. I'd go with the .30-06. Rev

mikedb · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2007, 04:02:26 PM »

3006 for an all around gun. I have two I like them so much.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2007, 12:10:36 AM »

I would get him the 30.06.

There is a big price difference in ammunition between the 45.70 and the 30.06. If low cost ammo and availability are issues, you can't go wrong with the 30.06.......

Casull · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2007, 07:09:10 AM »

Can't go wrong with the 30-06 bolt gun (it is the quintessential American hunting rifle). Plus, you can buy factory loads for hunting anything on the continent from small to big (well, maybe not the big brown bears, but plenty have even done that).

dabigmoose · « **Reply #8 on:** March 10, 2007, 12:18:35 AM »

Yep
Your are thinking right as much as i like the 45-70 The 3006 is the way to go. This should be enoyable to shoot and he will want other guns later naturally LOL.

dabigmoose

oso45-70 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 10, 2007, 08:58:24 AM »

Gentlemen

I also think the 30-06 would be a good choice, With the exception of the brown bear the 06 will work on any thing in the lower 48 and most of the game in Alaska. The choice of ammo. is such you can do it all.

Joe

NONYA · « **Reply #10 on:** March 10, 2007, 02:42:32 PM »

Many brownies have been taken,and will continue to be taken with the -06,with the loads avaliable for it there is no reason it should be ruled out on a brownie hunt.

bearfat · « **Reply #11 on:** March 10, 2007, 04:35:36 PM »

Both these guns are in 30-06. I have the bolt actions too in 30-06. You can pretty much go anywhere and find the ammo. The selection of firearms is pretty wide too in 30-06 which is why I'm showing these two different rifles.

Go over the anantomy of a bear with him. Make sure he understands where the lungs are.

Here's a Minnesota deer camp last fall with three 30-06's out of four rifles.

Ranger J · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2007, 04:43:07 AM »

Get the 30-06 bolt gun you can always find ammo for it. I love my 45/70s but unless you reload the ammo is pricey and that big bullet can bite on both ends in anything other than trapdoor loads.
RJ

corbanzo · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2007, 11:55:32 AM »

Another vote for -06.

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2007, 06:39:05 AM »

how about a 308win? with good load or a lot of load you get the power of the 30/06 in a light kicking rifle. the 30/30 has also kill some black bears.

teddy12b · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2007, 07:20:16 AM »

Not that a 308 wouldn't do the job. But I'm looking for more of the old reliable caliber with ammo everywhere from 110 gr. to 220 gr.

I'm not trying to start any kind of this or that caliber discussion because by the time those are done everyone is a sub MOA shooter with their favorite rifle and only their caliber is the best.

308 and 30/30 certainly qualify as having ammo that can be found in the middle of nowhere but not in the variety of a 30-06. Don't get me wrong I have a 30/30 and I love it, and it's only a matter of time till I get a 308. The 30-06 is still the king for variety of factory loaded ammo and when I go to middle of nowhere places to hunt there's always a box of 180gr core loks laying around somewhere.

351 power · « **Reply #16 on:** March 22, 2007, 04:10:57 AM »

the 30-06 or 308 might be good to start with those reduced loads(Fed) too. if he doesn't have much shooting experience.

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 22, 2007, 07:30:37 AM »

i start with a high power airgun then a 454 ruger. The old man that show me how to shoot says " if you can shoot the big guns then a little gun is no problem" but the 30/06 is king. One there about ammo is were you hunt and live. i can go to walmart and get lots of loads for the 308win but for 30/06 it's 150-165gr loads they have.

Gregory · « **Reply #18 on:** March 23, 2007, 01:23:49 PM »

I'm sure .270 ammo can be found anywhere 30/06 can and it'd be a fine black bear cartridge for a beginner with a bit less recoil than a 30/06. Just another one to consider. It would make a dandy deer gun also.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2007, 03:35:38 PM »

Because I love lever guns I would not be afraid to use my 30-30 or even a .35 Remington, but this year I purchased a Marlin 1895G and we are going to get it bloodied with a spring bear harvest.

Sourdough · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2007, 11:58:20 AM »

By all means the 30-06. Everything else mentioned would be a compromise and not make a good all round gun. Expecially the 30-06s weak brother the .308. The 06 is capable of taking anything in North Americia, yes even the Coastal Brown Bears of Alaska. I would start him out with the reduced recoil loads, they are fully capable of taking a Black Bear. If he never shoots anything but Black Bears and Deer he will have a gun that will last him a lifetime. If he decides to get into hunting in a big way, he will have the gun to do it all. I shoot everything from Cayotes to Moose with a 30-06.

Yes I own a .308, haven't shot it in over 25 years. Good Deer and Black Bear gun, but too weak for Moose and Grizzlies.