"last ditch"black bear loads in 30/30 and 30/06?

[hans g./UpS]

I've got two combination guns ,one with a 30/30/12ga,1 with 30-06/12ga.
When I'm in the northern part of the state,it's possible to encounter black bear.
As a"last ditch"option[i.e. within 30 yards],any suggested rifle loads [30/30 and 30/06]?I realize a 12ga will/can be bad news up close,but I need load data for the rifle tubes.
Thanks.

[Lawdog]

hans g./UpS,

By a "As a"last ditch"option[i.e. within 30 yards]" I am guessing you mean the bear has decided to have you for dinner and not as a guest.  The 12 ga. will do ok if you have a slug in the barrel.  I wouldn't bet my life on buckshot, no matter what the size of the shot.  A good slug like the Brenneke is my first choice.  As for the .30-30 or the .30-06 I would want a good heavy bullet in the 180 gr. or better class.  No fast opening, polymer tipped bullets just one that gives maximum penetration.  In a factory load I would go with Federal Premium using Partition bullets.  Reloads I would still stay with Nosler Partitions in a load that suited me.  But seeing that usually at times like this you never have what you would like to have so just go with what you are using and pray for the best.  Save the shotgun for the last as reloading isn't going to be an option.  At 30 yards you are only going to have time for the shots you in your barrel.  A bear is going to cover that yardage in less than 4 seconds anyway.  Lawdog

[hans g./UpS]

Lawdog,
I agree with you re the Brenneke slug,my other choice[if I had it] would a 2oz turkey load of BBs.
In 30/06 would a 180gr be a better choice than a 200[or 220]grain?
I wonder for this use,in a 30/30,whether a 180gr[or stout 165gr] could be handloaded?

[Lawdog]

hans g./UpS,

Seeing that you are shooting basically a single shot you can load whatever type of bullet you want in your .30-30, pointed/spitzer/round nose.  The reason I chose the 180 gr. is I took it for granted that you would be hunting game like deer at the time.  Sometimes 200 or 220 gr. .30 cal. bullets don't open sufficiently on deer size game to give quick kills, at least in the slower .30-30 cartridge.  I have shot Mule Deer with a .30-06 using a 200 gr. Partition and the exit wound wasn't much bigger than the entry wound.  I wouldn't go much heavier than 180 gr. for just that reason.  I would hate to have to start cleaning all the bears killed with 180 gr. .30 cal. loads.  It has more than enough punch to penetrate a bears skull, neck/spine or shoulder.

If you are thinking that a BB load would blind a bear DON'T, this is a bad idea.  Also BB shot lacks the punch to penetrate a bears skull.  Shot size that works well on a human body doesn't work near as well on a heavily muscled body such as a bear's.  I know a sheep herder that used a 12 ga. 3" magnum 000 buckshot load on a 370 lb. Black Bear that was after some sheep he was holding in a corral.  The bear was busy with the herder dogs when he shot the bear in the chest at less than 10 yards.  The bear ran off to be tracked down the next day.  We used dogs to track it down and the bear was still very much alive when we shot him.  I helped examined the bear to see what damaged the buckshot had done and to find out why the bear went for the sheep.  Only a few pieces of buckshot had penetrated past the ribs and then they had not done hit any vital organs.  As for why the bear went after the sheep we could not find out.  The bear had no injuries that we could find that would cause the attack.  We figured he just wanted lamb chops for dinner.  Unless your bird hunting keep a slug in the shotgun barrel.  Lawdog

[BIG JAKE]

I've taken 3 black bears at close range driving swamps (less then 10 yds.) with a Winchester 94 in 30/30 using 170gr silvertips from Winchester and they went down hard. Winchester no longer produces that load but I wouldn't feel undergunned with federal premium 170 nolser partitions. THE guys I hunted with were hard core bear hunters most used 30/30's and they stoked ther guns 170 REM corelokts, 170 power points from winchester and federal 170gr high shok. All seamed to work well, tracking wounded animals was next to nil. All dropped  either instantly or within 25 feet. BUT MY OPINION I WOULD WANT SOMETING OTHER THAN A SINGLE SHOT WHEN FACING A CHARGING BEAR AFTER FEELING THE RUSH IT'S THE SAME EVERY TIME AND THEY WEREN'T TRYING TO EAT ME! Hope this helps? :wink:  :wink:  :wink: