30-30 for black bear

[GunnyJohn]

Has any one taken a black bear with a 30-30 using cast? My load is 18 grains of 2400 with a LEE 170 50/50 WW and Pb. Thinking it should work fine for both deer and bear. Just wondering how others have fared.

[Larry Gibson]

I took a treed BB in NE Oregon (LaGrande area) some years back with a M94 30-30 using a 311041 slightly HP'd. They were cast of new COWW (early 1980s) + 4% tin as per the Cast Bullets For Hunting article in #3 Lyman CBH. I pushed them with H4895 to 2025 fps (chronographed). Shot the smallish BB (150 - 160 lbs) twice in the heart/lung area and it dies and fell out of the tree. Did not recover either bullet as they went through and through. Wound channels showed good expansion and damage.

Larry Gibson

[sixshot]

I've taken several black bears with cast although non with the 30/30. I would be very comfortable using one on bears, & I'd use the same slug Larry mentioned, its a dandy in both 30/30 & 308.

Dick