Opinion Please: Best Sabot and load for 50 Cal Bear Hunting

[BigBossMan]

Just received a Ruger In-Line 50 cal and wish to use it on a Black Bear hunt in NC.  Never hunted with an in-line.

What do you learned gentlemen have for advice on the right sabot bullet and load of powder.  Any any other personal tips on loading the sabot you might wish to share. Like effective distance and so forth.  I will do my chores at the range but need a starting point.

I appreciate your replies and value your judgement.

[Two Bears]

I have taken bears with a bow and have been trying to take one with my inline but have not squeezed the trigger yet but I am using the same set up as I do for deer and that is the Hornady XTP 300 grain bullet pushed by 100 grains of Pyrodex, 777, or BM3 85 grains  all will produce very effective results for bear with the XTP bullet.

****I only use the HARVESTER sabot as they will allow easier loading ***

Here is a link to the bullet that I recovered out of my deer this year and it was pushed by 85 grains of BM3 and the bullet mushrumed perfectly

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=1108

[WylieKy]

I have a Ruger 77/50.  The most accurate load I could find is the Hornady SST in 250 grn over 90grn of Pyrodex powder.  I do not know if this is heavy enough for bear, but it was the most accurate out of my rifle.  I do know it would blow through both shoulders of a whitetail at 120 yards.  I try to keep my ML shots to 150 yrds or less, but there are those here that hunt at much greater distances.
Let us know how the hunt goes.

[BigBossMan]

WylieKy

That is exactly what I have.  I appreaciate all of the advice.  I can't wait to get to the range.  Is there anything else I nned to know about the 77/50?

[WylieKy]

A capper will come in handy if it is scoped.  There isn't a whole lot of room to get the cap on the nipple, especially if you have big hands, forget it with gloves.  This is, however, a common problem with bolt inline design.  It's not a big deal at the range or going in, but when bear hunting, I would think that the ability to get the cap on the nipple without fumbling around so you can make a (relatively) quick followup shot will be important.

[simonkenton]

I know of a guy who killed a 1,100 pound buffalo with the 250 SST. The bullet went through the big shoulder bone, and then took out both lungs.
Now, this was from a Savage at around 2,400 fps.
Still, I believe this slug would work well on the black bear on top of 90 gr of Pyrodex.

[coop2564]

285gr spitfire by barnes with 100 gr T7 3F. It will kill anything in North America.   :grin:

[herb40]

285gr spitfire by barnes with 100 gr T7 3F. It will kill any
 
  +1

[Sabothunter]

285gr spitfire by barnes with 100 gr T7 3F. It will kill anything in North America.   :grin:

I'll second on that......