.270 win or .30-30 for Vermont black bear?

[SeaBass]

Most shot opportunities would be <100 yds. The guns are a win 94 with stock open sights and a weatherby vanguard with a 4-16x40ao scope.

I'm quite handy with the .30-30 but I think the .270 has alot more energy and would extend my range if needed.

What would be your load recommendations and range limitations for each?

I handload for the .30-30 so cast loads would be an option as well.

Thanks.

I posted this in the bear hunting forum but I think this one is viewed more often.

[anthony passero]

seabass,
             Take your pick. i would prefer the 270 just because i love bolt guns.  A good 140-150 grain bullet.(i love round noses for your application) on top of a stiff dose of h4831 and you are set. But a 30-30 under 100 yards with a good 170 grain bullet will work just as well. are you still hunting or setting a stand?

                                             Good luck, anthony

[huntsman]

The .270 offers several advantages:
 
1. Optics for much better precision shooting, which I would want vs. bear
2. Penetration, especially on shots through tough bone and tissue
3. Significantly more energy, especially at 100+ yards
4. Much better selection of premium bullets, which again I would want vs. bear

Nothing wrong with the .30-30, will do the job with the right bullet within the limited range given. Just that the .270 would outperform the .30-30 in all categories except possibly rapid follow-up shots and overall rifle bulk and weight, two rather minor issues unless you are stalking on foot within short range.

Don't want to recommend specific loads, but something in the high-end range of energy for both would probably be best. I would choose premium bullets (partition, A-frame, core-lokt, bonded, etc.) in heavy-for-caliber weights.

May you soon enjoy a late-night snack by the light of your bear grease candle!

[Ron T.]

I'd recommend the .270 with 150 grain Nosler Partition bullets.

This combination will give you a much more effective, deeper-pentrating, flatter-shooting bear load than any load in a .30/30.

As you probably know, the .270 Winchester uses a .30/06 Springfield cartridge case necked down to .277-inches.  This cartridge has a much greater powder capacity than the relatively small .30/30 Winchester cartridge.  This larger powder capacity driving a ballistically superior spitzer (pointed) bullet results in a much more powerful hunting cartridge compared to a .30/30 cartridge.


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[Sean]

For Vt Black Bears take your pick. It depends really on your type of hunting. If you are running after dogs ditch both rifles for a handgun in .357 or .44. If you are walking and stalking its a toss up the 30-30 would point and shoot quicker for me. In a tree stand watching a corn piece the choice would be the 270.

As you probably know Vt bears don't average that big so a Core-Lokt or Power Point will work very well.

Just please look your bear over before you shoot it. I have already seen an 88lb and a 46lb bear shot this year :roll: Sean

[SeaBass]

Sean,  How big would you consider big enough?  Any tips on estimating how big a bear is?

[Sean]

Well, a bear should at least be big enough that it's not still feeding from MaMa :wink: . Seriously though, I see a lot of bears reported in that are 150lb to 200 lbs. My uncles (who raise, train, and run bear dogs) see a lot of 300lb bears. Whether people want to admit it or not running bears with dogs prevents a lot of mothers with cubs from being shot and also lets a person decide whether the bear they are looking at is big enough to shoot.

In general though, the basic size characteristics to look for are the size of  and distance between the ears, and overall how big the bear looks. If the ears look real close together and too big for the head it's a pretty small bear. My cousin has pictures from a game camera. In the pictures is a 3 gal bucket. The bear that was coming into his apple pile doesn't look much bigger than the 3 gal bucket. Sean