375 H&H and black bear?

I would love to use my 375 on black bear, but I always end up using the 416 Remington instead, just love to shoot stuff with it
 
In Nothern Alberta (Grizzly Country) I carry a 458, no such thing as too dead, and no such thing as too much gun on something dangerous
 
Black bears are not particularly tough, but I do like exit holes. Otherwise, blood trails can suck after the fat plugs the hole. This is why I don’t think 375, or another medium bore, is a bad choice.
 
Daughter Carol and I were out deer hunting about 9 years ago. She was packing a .260Rem. I built her and I had a #1 in.218 Bee with 45gr. Barnes X BT's @ 3,400fps. We came across a grizzy's back yard, flattened grass and piles of griz. scat all around a huge bed. We backed out of there, quickly but quietly. I went back to packing my little .458 2" with 400gr. Barnes @2,150fps, whenever out tramping through the bush.
 
Gomer said:
Black bears are not particularly tough, but I do like exit holes. Otherwise, blood trails can suck after the fat plugs the hole. This is why I don’t think 375, or another medium bore, is a bad choice.
Click to expand...
It’s not just the fat, the fur soaks up blood like a sponge. Even with the .416 with a CEB Raptor- slightly larger than .416 exit plus 4 or so petal exits, I didn’t have any blood for the first 15 of the 30 yds it traveled. Only reason I was able to conifirm the hit beyond my own eyeballs was the pieces of lung I found about 5ft behind where the bear was. Had a few drops at 15 make it to the ground and by 25 the fur was saturated enough that is was everywhere for the last 5yds. Bear didn’t have an ounce of fat on him. Was actually shocking how little there was of him under the fur. Probably did it a favor as it would have been a rough winter at best.
 
'Haven't taken the time to review all responses, but I'm assuming you'll be sitting (stands)? IF long walks, I'd choose something else to save heft. Bear near me have been shot in the 650-879 lb range, so a 375 is not overkill (Any decent-shooting 270 SP will more than get the job done. My son favors factory Rem 270s! A TSX or A-Frame aren't going to kill it more, but they'll both do.) I got a 270 TSX going 2770 (IF you want the load data, I'll find it.) Where I live, in the thick wooded swamps we call "Bearland" I like my short Rem 3006 pump (200 NPs), an ultralight weatherproof Wby 338-06, but I have taken out a short, stainless 416 when I knew I was walking on level ground and/or to a particular destination with limited vis (and NO desire to drag 3 others into a thick swamp recovery party at night in poor weather using a smaller gun!!) to sit all day (it has a 1-6 accupoint that's lit all day! I do not recommend black crosshairs on black bear in dim light!!!x10e23 Nicest I ever took was w/ a 300 WM spot/stalking. My son has taken quite a few using a 7 RSAUM mtn rifle, a 300 WM but most w/ a 3006 pump. Never a guide as we live in bear territory-have 'em on trailcam all the time and in my yard weekly. Son also lived in AK for awhile and I think you could hunt 'em year-round? GL Enjoy! Not overbore.
 
I appreciate the in-depth write up! Your response is one that checks all the boxes for questions and concerns I've had. I do have the option of hunting over bait from a stand or from a ground blind. I also have the option of glassing, spot and stalk or just meandering through the woods. The outfitter said any style of hunt is avaliable, just depends what I want.

I'll be taking my Sako Bavarian. It's light weight and maneuverable. Maybe too light for being 375 honestly. However, it shoots extremely well and I trust it wholeheartedly. She's sporting a 1-4 illuminated scope to avoid any issues with a black reticle on black target.

I'm almost certain that I'll be sticking with the Federal Power Shok blue box 270 grain at this point. All the responses thus far seem to conclude that this load is just about perfect for bear and I won't have to worry about too much unnecessary damage.
 
375 is appropriate, if I was going after black bears again, I would use my 270gr tsx load clicking along at 2700 fps. I've killed a fair ## of black bear back in the day, used everything from 300 WM, 375 HH, 416 RM. Dead is dead, quicker the better especially if hunting where the bears are large size.
 
I have been attempting to get some field data on this exact question for the past week or so. No luck yet! I opted for Federal blue box 300gr, echoing the reasoning mentioned elsewhere in this thread that the softer bullet would be more appropriate than A Frames for black bear.
20260910_191754.jpg
 
It’s so interesting how adaptable animals are. In some places, black bears are hunted from stands in the timber. Here, you typically glass canyon walls and it’s all spot and stalk with longer shots. Animals are amazing.
 
schmijar said:
I have been attempting to get some field data on this exact question for the past week or so. No luck yet! I opted for Federal blue box 300gr, echoing the reasoning mentioned elsewhere in this thread that the softer bullet would be more appropriate than A Frames for black bear.View attachment 792774
Click to expand...
Best of luck! Please report back with any findings on the matter. I'm looking forward to some good news of a harvest and some good data collected from it.
 
Gomer said:
It’s so interesting how adaptable animals are. In some places, black bears are hunted from stands in the timber. Here, you typically glass canyon walls and it’s all spot and stalk with longer shots. Animals are amazing.
Click to expand...
I wish we had it like that here but all the woods are so thick, baiting is the only real option other than dogs. There are some places in the northern most part of the state where they wander around on logging roads during the day, where you have a reasonable chance of spot and stalk, but I’m not traveling 8hrs each way to do that for bear- especially since we can’t hunt on Sundays.
 
I think that’s part of the reason we spot and stalk. Baiting and dogs are illegal here. Setting up a stand would require a really good reason for bears to be in the same spot day in and day out. I don’t mess with lowland bears because they get into fish and garbage. So, hunting berry patches up high is the only other way to go.
 
As a plus, I believe they still wax the primers as an added measure of security from the elements! If you have the time, try ALL methods of hunting 'em (spot, then sit, or mix both up based on time of day) then purina bear chow if necessary as time is running out.) GL!
CP392 said:
I appreciate the in-depth write up! Your response is one that checks all the boxes for questions and concerns I've had. I do have the option of hunting over bait from a stand or from a ground blind. I also have the option of glassing, spot and stalk or just meandering through the woods. The outfitter said any style of hunt is avaliable, just depends what I want.

I'll be taking my Sako Bavarian. It's light weight and maneuverable. Maybe too light for being 375 honestly. However, it shoots extremely well and I trust it wholeheartedly. She's sporting a 1-4 illuminated scope to avoid any issues with a black reticle on black target.

I'm almost certain that I'll be sticking with the Federal Power Shok blue box 270 grain at this point. All the responses thus far seem to conclude that this load is just about perfect for bear and I won't have to worry about too much unnecessary damage.
Click to expand...
 
Gomer said:
It’s so interesting how adaptable animals are. In some places, black bears are hunted from stands in the timber. Here, you typically glass canyon walls and it’s all spot and stalk with longer shots. Animals are amazing.
Click to expand...

We are allowed to pre-bait in NJ in but day of, can't be within 100 yds of a pile of bait (if its still there). You couldn't spot and stalk one here if you tried. It's thick and gnarly hardwoods here with thistles and brush all over.

I had a really nasty situation this week going to change camera batteries. I put 3 cubs in a tree 10 yds from me. Mom was pissed, snarling, growling and I couldn't see her because she was in the thick brush in thistles and thorns. That's how thick it gets here.

By the way, we have an insane number of black bears here. And with that, absolute monsters. I know the gentleman who took the 900 lb'r here 2 years ago.

Back to OP's question: 375HH will absolutely flatten a black bear. They are not tough animals at all. If you put the round where it's supposed to go with even a .223, it's a dead animal.

You may want to consider solids vs. something like a soft point or ballistic tip-HP.

I'll be going out in October with my bow, for them.
 
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CP392 said:
I have recently booked a black bear hunt in Northern Ontario for May/June of next year. For sentimental reasons I would like to use my 375 H&H. I understand it's overkill but you can't make things too dead, right?

Obviously I want a quick, clean and ethical kill first and foremost. A very close second is to preserve the bear hide as much as possible in hopes of getting a nice rug made. I'm not set up for reloading, so which commercially avaliable bullet/load would you recommend to give good energy transfer without being too explosive?

My initial thoughts would be a 270 gr TSX or maybe a 300 gr A-Frame. Something heavy duty that will hopefully leave a smaller exit. Any input, guidance or experience is greatly appreciated!
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Greetings CP 392. Your first thoughts are excellent. Both bullets you mentioned are excellent for save skin.
Also, it will stop the bear very effectively.
I wish you a successful hunt
 
schmijar said:
I have been attempting to get some field data on this exact question for the past week or so. No luck yet! I opted for Federal blue box 300gr, echoing the reasoning mentioned elsewhere in this thread that the softer bullet would be more appropriate than A Frames for black bear.
Click to expand...

First, very cool what you're doing.

But 300gr 375HH, 150gr 308, or 100gr mechanical (like I'll be using) it's a dead bear. Not tough animals at all.

With a 375HH or similar big-bore round, the benefit is you can break through the shoulder on a quartering to shot and take out the lungs. Can't quite do that with an arrow or a lower caliber.
 
CP392 said:
I have recently booked a black bear hunt in Northern Ontario for May/June of next year. For sentimental reasons I would like to use my 375 H&H. I understand it's overkill but you can't make things too dead, right?

Obviously I want a quick, clean and ethical kill first and foremost. A very close second is to preserve the bear hide as much as possible in hopes of getting a nice rug made. I'm not set up for reloading, so which commercially avaliable bullet/load would you recommend to give good energy transfer without being too explosive?

My initial thoughts would be a 270 gr TSX or maybe a 300 gr A-Frame. Something heavy duty that will hopefully leave a smaller exit. Any input, guidance or experience is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
IMG_5033.jpeg
 
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