The 338 RUM

[jro45]

I'm going Black bear hunting in Aug. up in Canada and will take my 338 RUM. Shooting 210 Partitions. What do you think good choice or not?

[Graybeard]

The .338 RUM is way more gun than needed for black bear but for sure will do the job. I'd be a bit leery of your bullet choice tho. The 210 is a bit light even in the .338 Win. Mag. and more appropriate in the .338 Federal I'd think. It is a tough bullet of course but at the velocity you'll be pushing it and on tough game like bear I think you're choosing the wrong bullet. I'd at least go with the 225 or better yet the 250 in the RUM.

[Luckyducker]

I haven't hunted any bear with my 338RUM but I think if you want to shoot a Black with one it should work.  You may want to do a shoulder shot so the bullets don't punch bore diameter holes through it.  I don't think there is an animal on this continent that won't fall to this caliber, even with that light for caliber bullet.

[nomosendero]

225 & up with the possible exception of the TSX.

[Cabin4]

338 rum is a boat load more gun then you need for black bear. You won't have any problems.

[JD338]

I shot a MI black bear at 30 feet a couple years ago with my 338 RUM and the 210 gr PT. MV is 3200 fps.
The bullet hit the quartering on shoulder and exited the back of the rib cage on the opposite side, exit hole was the size of a golf ball. The bear was dead before he hit the ground.
The 210 gr PT is a very robust bullet.

JD338

[Slowpoke Slim]

I shoot the 225 partitions out of my win mag. Killed a bunch of elk with that bullet, never recovered one, all exited regardless of angle shot from. Never shot a black bear with it, but I imagine it would work fine. Why such a light bullet? Are you just enamoured by the velocity? I would use a 225 or 250, it's not like you don't have the velocity to spare, and you may save meat and pelt distruction. You'll be driving that 210 awfully fast... might have a bigger hole to stitch up on the hide when you're done.