Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Has anyone used the 243 for black bear?

I'm just curious if anyone has used the 243, with good or bad results, for black bear. I know that there may be better choices, but with a good bullet like a TSX, I don't see it having any issues with a black bear. The main reason I'm asking is I had a guy claim that 6mm and .257 caliber cartridges are good for only "stinging" bears. It's obvious he is clueless on the .25 cal stuff, as I've seen plenty here prove otherwise. I don't have a dog in this fight, just would like some feedback from those much more experienced than myself.

So, anyone who has used the 243 on blackies, your input would be greatly appreciated.

I haven't used the .243 myself on a black bear, but know several people that have, or used similar cartridges. One New York friend killed a nice black bear in the Adirondacks with a .250 Savage and the 100-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, which a lot of people wouldn't consider a bear bullet. One shot in the heart-lung area put it down pronto though.

The problem is not that it won't kill a bear, it will. The biggest problem is that bears don't always go down on the spot and are difficult to track without a good blood trail. Their soft feet really don't stir things up much so unless there is snow it's hard to follow foot prints. They have very long hair and a lot of fat which clogs up the bullet wound quickly. In short: big diameter bullet equals good blood trail, small diameter bullet equals difficult if not impossible tracking situation. Make sense?

I've shot two Idaho black bears with a .243 using the Barnes 85 gr. X bullet. Both were one shot kills, both bullets passed through the front shoulders on relatively close shots. Neither bear traveled very far but the one rolled a fair number of feet down a steep grade.

One bear was fairly young, I'm not very good at judging bears. The second was aged as a 13 year old dry sow.

I believe a .243 is too light for bear hunting. I was carrying the .243 while hunting varmints and stumbled upon the blackies, waited for a perfect broadside and too the shot from a rest.

The 243 will kill black bears and sting the big dangerous bears.

Maybe this guy got his bears mixed up??

The 243 with a good bullet, is a very capable black bear killer. The 25s even more so.

Next time you see this guy, make a gentlemenly wager to him that your 243 (if you have one), or your 25 cal, will kill black bears with one well placed shot everytime. Say a grand or two per black bear?

If I were using a 243 on a wager for the black bears and someone were betting against me, I`d load me up some "classified super secret" 115 gr Berger hunting VLDs and then double the bet!!!

I`d really like to see the blackies walk away from those with that kind of,,,,,, "stinging only?",,,,, wound channel.

bigsqueeze,

If I were a betting man, and had a 243 I might make such a wager. Like I said, I've really no dog in this fight, as I normally hunt a 260, 7mm-08, or 280. Was just curious if some of the guys here had used it on black bears.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

Oh! I forgot to mention that I do have a friend who owns a 243, whom on more than one occasion has used it on the blackies with very good results.

However, I have never personally used a 243 for B/Bears.

are you nuts?

My cousin killed one that was about 250# with a 100 gr Sierra. It worked very well on that sample of 1.

.......You bet! I`m really nuts!........Don`t have a 243, so I just put up with a 300 WSM for my black bear use.

I've seen some taken with the various 6's from 243 to 6/06. And I've seen some taken with the 22/250 and Swifto.

All will work just fine as long as the nutt behind the butt does his/her job.

As far as blood trails goes, I've seen bruins taken with the 22's to the 375's and to date the bestest blood trail I've ever seen was from a 22/250 and a 55 NSB.

Dober

Thanks Dober, I figured you'd chime in. If you recall offhand, what bullets were the various 6mm's using?

I've never done it, but I'd have no qualms about putting a 100 gr. Partition in a black bear with a .243 Win.

No 243 experience (except when my friends cousin shot a decoy with one), but I've seen the .257 in action on black bear and elk. Worked just fine.

I had a highschool science teacher/basketball coach that came from southern Oregon said he used the 243 for bears. Then a few years later (1973 or4) my Dad killed a bear while elk hunting with his 243. Also have a logger friend that made two trips to Wisconsin for bear first time he took his 30-30 and ended up with a shot bear that wasn't found, next trip took his 243, later on his exwife laid claim to the bearrug.....

Scorpion,
I know of two guys who tried it and next year went to a much bigger rifle.
Another guy says if you are in a stand shooting down into the spine it works well.
Another guy used a 204 Ruger. The bear went 100 yds. gut shot.
Lots of guys use bow and arrow.
Flip a coin.
whelennut

Shot one with the .243...100 gr. Hornady...in the ear...worked great....boolit didn't exit!!
Ingwe

My buddy shot a 200lb boar 2 years ago 3 times with his. The bear died but it wasn't quick and there was very little blood. He now uses a 300wsm or a 12ga.

NO but...I shot a couple with a 6.5 which is only half a mill bigger!!!

When I was younger I did almost all my big game hunting with a .220 swift. And I've used .243s on and off over the years as well....hunt with the rifle you have the most confidence in. I've always believed accuracy trumps power. Black bears are no harder to kill than a deer IMO. The above bear was killed with one well placed shot from a .220 swift.