Ok, so I was at Cabelas last night and heard one of the guys on the floor talking with a customer about the proper bullet for hunting black bear. The employee said "Never use anything except a pointed bullet for bears. You have to get through the hide and fat to get to the vitals, and a flat nose or hollow point will expand to quickly before getting past the fat." This statement made me stop in my tracks and think about the 300gr XTP MAGs that I'm loading up.

I see his point in theory, but I don't see how it is true. Now, I've never taken a bear with a bullet, but have taken two with an arrow. I would think an arrow has a LOT less going for it than a hollow point bullet. But to cover my bases, I'll ask the question...

Is the employee correct??

The only point he has is on the top of his head. I have never seen a pointed bullet in penetration tests go all that straight! Plus, they do minimal tissue damage. Your choice in the 300 grain XTP is a good one. You have no reason to second guess your choice. This is some wild theory based on nothing even remotely scientific or provable.

Haha - right on. With that kind of thinking I'm surprised that guy doesn't have his own TV show.

Sure seemed odd to me. All the research and reviews I found on the MAGs were sure good, even on bears and moose. I find it odd that he suggests a pointed bullet since the regulations in Colorado say you must use an expanding bullet. Not to say a pointed bullet won't expand as I'm sure someone makes one that does. Come to think of it, I guess an FTX would fit the bill there.

Oh well... Least I feel better now.

Yep, opinions are like a-holes, everybody has one. Big box guncounter gurus must have a particularly large one ;-)

Typical store clerk answer. Most think milk comes from a jug not an animal. Pointed bullets are only pointed until they expand, unless of course they are FMJs.

I've used both jacketed and cast bullets on bear. The jacketed brands I've used were Wyoming Bonded Bullet in the 375 Win on my 14 inch contender, 250 gr Hornday XTP in a LAR 45 Win Mag (auto) and the 130 gr Sierra Single Shot Pistol bullet in an Rem XP in 7-08. All did there job but the cast bullets in my revolvers did just as well.

Most bears around here are in the 200 to 250 pound range. So IMO any good deer bullet will do the job.

hit it where you should with that thumper of yours, and you will have rug-steaks!

if you have enough bullet and "umph" behind it, expanding quickly and making a big entrance hole is no problem, especially if it gets full penetration.

I shot a Michigan black bear in 2010 that dressed out at 178 pounds with a 200 gr Barnes xpb copper bullet. Bullet mushroomed perfectly in to six pedals. Hit it broad side at 40 yards from a tree stand. Recovered bullet under the hide of the off side. Shot with a TC Pro Hunter in S&W 460.

Who you going to believe? A Cabela's floor boy who may have never shot a bear or guys on this web site that have killed a bunch. Only pointed bullet I ever used on a bear was a Barnes X in my .500. Started out sort of pointy. Ended up nice and expanded with 4 petals sticking out just like the ad photos. All but one other bear done with gool ol' cast flat points that penetrated in a nice straight line. Only reservation I have with XTPs is that I've pulled several from lowly deer showing lesser penetration than what you'd want on a bear.
I go to Cabela's to buy their products, not for shooting advice.

Yep. You're in good shape with your 300 gr. Mag. XTP.

Yeah I hear ya wvhitman. I didn't go for advice, just overheard the conversation while looking for some reloading supplies myself. I'll believe my research, and stick to it and the choice I have already made.

I wish I had overheard that conversation. Would have had some fun there ;-)

That is interesting that the 200XPB didn't pass all the way through. obviously worked great though

Thats the craziest thing I have ever heard. Reminds me of a clerk in a gun shop one day that had never killed and elk talking a customer out of a sale. I went to another gun shop when I left that one and the man that was just told the kind of rifle he wanted wouldn't kill and elk was buying a rifle at the other store. Your bullet choice is perfect. reflex264

Yeah, I was some what surprised too. That bear didn't go far, about ten yards or so.

Hornady bullets+ R.T"s Encore=dead bear .

HEHE!!! Sure hope so!!! I got one picked out to! He is a blonde one that has been on our property since June. Seen him there a few times, but hoping someone else hasn't gotten him elsewhere. Any idea what kind of range bears cover??

A friend hunting with us a few years back shot a bear, and here in Michigan you're required to check your bear with the DNR. This bear was tagged near Crystal Falls, about 50 miles from where it was harvested.

.45 caliber 300gr Nosler partition at 1600FPS from my FA`s 454 dropped a nice blackie where he stood.....