Any experience anybody has with 50 cal round balls in taking black bear? Right now I am hunting with 100 grains of fffg and .490 balls. I am at 30-35 yards up in a tree(yikes) shooting over bait. I worked up this load and its heavier than my deer loads but I am very accurate. i tried the ball-ets this summer and was able to get a good load with those. Question. Is this a good set up for black bears over bait? This will be my first bear with prb if the forest Gods see fit to reward my patience. A rug and fine eating are the end results. I did have this same doubt about prbs in 50 caliber for deer on my first outing but I am a believer today
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Effective bear load
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Mr. Longhunter,
Are you saying your tree stand is 30 to 35yds from the bait or that you are 90 to 105ft in the air? ::
Just curious.
Best Wishes
Are you saying your tree stand is 30 to 35yds from the bait or that you are 90 to 105ft in the air? ::
Just curious.
Best Wishes
Ron LaClair
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sachem, You're load is very adequate. Black bear are not hard to kill if you put the ball where it's supposed to go. Take a broad side shot,not quartering and take both lungs. Your bear won't make 100yd's....listen for the death moan.
If you try for a quarting shot you may only hit one lung and he'll travel much farther.
Good luck. :front:
If you try for a quarting shot you may only hit one lung and he'll travel much farther.
Good luck. :front:
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what NWTF said.....can't be improved upon.
Vic
Vic
It all comes down to shot placement.We all know that.
I've put them down with a .40cal with 60gr of 3f and a 92gr cast round ball,but I don't recommend it.I've settled on 72gr of 3f and a 180gr cast round ball out of my Herschel House .50cal rifle.Personally I like a brain shot,but if you'll bust him through BOTH lungs he won't go anywhere to speak of.Hit him in one lung,however,and you might be looking for him next morning ::.
I've put them down with a .40cal with 60gr of 3f and a 92gr cast round ball,but I don't recommend it.I've settled on 72gr of 3f and a 180gr cast round ball out of my Herschel House .50cal rifle.Personally I like a brain shot,but if you'll bust him through BOTH lungs he won't go anywhere to speak of.Hit him in one lung,however,and you might be looking for him next morning ::.
pennsyltucky
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is a neck shot worth taking on a bear? i am goin bear huntin this year for the first time amd im not real sure of my shots. i will be usin a .62 PRB on 100g 2f. and my backup in my coat will be the 44mag 
is a neck shot worth taking on a bear? i am goin bear huntin this year for the first time amd im not real sure of my shots. i will be usin a .62 PRB on 100g 2f. and my backup in my coat will be the 44mag
IMHO, a neck shot with a .30-06 is one thing...the shock power to the vertebrae / spinal column paralyzes the animal even if the column doesn't get a direct hit...and the animal suffocates before the shock effect wears off the spinal column allowing it's lungs to work again;
IMO, I don't think a round ball gives the kind of shock effect that a .30-06 does, and would require a direct hit on the spinal column...a small skinny target.
With deer I've taken with a PRB, I don't think anything beats a heart shot...and any I've ever heart shot have either fallen basically where they were, or dropped within sight of the stand after a 25-35yd mad dash...a black bear can't be much different than a deer...both mammals, etc...take out the pump and they can't go far...much better than lung shots IMO.
:m2c:
One thing to keep in mind, bear are built a little differently than deer. Everything is a little further forward. At one point somebody had a link to a bear anatomy diagram showing where everthing is located, but for the life of me I can't find it now.
I agree,agree and then very slightly disagree with what you say.
First,Agree.On a bear it's my thoughts (based on experience)that trying to pop the spinal cord with a neck shot is a little risky.With the last bear I shot,round one went in about an inch behind and slightly above the left eye.(I was trying to bust the brain from 42yds).The ball went through the neck not far below the spinal column and went out in the right flank.Round two entered almost in the same hole as round one,maybe 1/4th inch lower,traversed the neck and lodged just about in the anus.Still no damage to the spine,and the bear was still very active.Round three was in the brain,and that wound it up.(I'd moved up to 18-20 yards).
Second,Agree.It seems that if you can turn a deer's heart to jelly,it will pretty well drop in place,but even a good double lung shot and the deer is subject to run some distance,even 100+yds or so.
Third,Slightly Disagree. On a bear I think I've observed that a good double lung shot will drop him in place as well as a direct heart plastering job.Notice that I said "I think I've observed".A few yards running,maybe,but not very far. However,hit just one lung and you better pack a lunch to take looking for him.
Now,if I could figure out how and where to hit a bear and make him run to within a few yards of the truck before dropping... :: :grin.:
First,Agree.On a bear it's my thoughts (based on experience)that trying to pop the spinal cord with a neck shot is a little risky.With the last bear I shot,round one went in about an inch behind and slightly above the left eye.(I was trying to bust the brain from 42yds).The ball went through the neck not far below the spinal column and went out in the right flank.Round two entered almost in the same hole as round one,maybe 1/4th inch lower,traversed the neck and lodged just about in the anus.Still no damage to the spine,and the bear was still very active.Round three was in the brain,and that wound it up.(I'd moved up to 18-20 yards).
Second,Agree.It seems that if you can turn a deer's heart to jelly,it will pretty well drop in place,but even a good double lung shot and the deer is subject to run some distance,even 100+yds or so.
Third,Slightly Disagree. On a bear I think I've observed that a good double lung shot will drop him in place as well as a direct heart plastering job.Notice that I said "I think I've observed".A few yards running,maybe,but not very far. However,hit just one lung and you better pack a lunch to take looking for him.
Now,if I could figure out how and where to hit a bear and make him run to within a few yards of the truck before dropping... :: :grin.:
Guest
I don't like a neck shot on anything....unless it happens when you miss a head shot on a squirrel or rabbit.
If you shoot well with that 62 the last thing you'll need is a 44 mag for a back-up. Just make your first shot count.
Vic
If you shoot well with that 62 the last thing you'll need is a 44 mag for a back-up. Just make your first shot count.
Vic
pennsyltucky
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its not the bear im shootin that im worried about.... the 44 is for the second bear that walks in with the first. i can only get one of em with the .62 and if the other one is mad about his buddy, i want to be able to defend myself a bit :shocking:
so my shot should be at the middle of the chest (vertically) and just back from the shoulder? if it broadside.
so my shot should be at the middle of the chest (vertically) and just back from the shoulder? if it broadside.
pennsyltucky
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the 44 is for the mad one.... haha he doesnt have to be broadside. dont know too many critters that can keep comin through 6 of those pills
Is it legal to carry a modern pistol during muzzleloading season in Pennsylvania? Here in NY it isn't, and believe me you do not want to get caught doing so.A few years ago a guy up here was stopped by a game warden to check on the paperwork for the deer he had shot. He also had a 22 pistol on him. Lost the deer, the rifle, pistol, pistol permit, a new Chevy truck, the right to hunt for 5 years, and got hit with a $1500 fine. I guess that it why game wardens partner with regular police during hunting season.
pennsyltucky
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technically no if it "flintlock season" but im bear hunting. i could use any gun i want. ill be hunting with a bunch of guys with 30-06's and such.
i bet the guy that got pinched for all that because he had a .22 pistol was being an extreme prick to the dcnr ociffer when he was questioned. :shake:
i bet the guy that got pinched for all that because he had a .22 pistol was being an extreme prick to the dcnr ociffer when he was questioned. :shake:
Not necessarily. At the risk of going off topic, I have had personal experience with that particular warden. While standing outside my truck, drinking coffee, he pulls up, pulls his pistol, demands to see my rifle, which was in the back seat, unloaded. I was cuffed and placed in his vehicle before he checked to see if my rifle was loaded. This is a guy who had broken the jaw, pepper sprayed and arrested a retarded kid because the kid was not answering his questions quick enough. That was when he was a local town cop. I am not arguing these guys don't have a tough job to do. They do, and I respect the ones that do it well. But some of these guys in law enforcement go over the edge. Years ago I was a bartender in a place that had a lot of cops come in. The stories I heard about the "games" they played would turn your stomach.
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