Best Bear Ammo

If you’re looking to experience a true adventure and hunt an animal sporting sharp claws, a bite force that can crush a skull, and legs that can push speeds up to 35 miles per hour, you’d better be toting the best bear ammo. Currently, black bears can be hunted in dozens of U.S. states and across Canada, and in most areas, populations are on the rise. Check out this guide to choose the best bear ammo for any hunt.

Top Rifle Cartridges For Bears

While shots on bears are typically close, those looking to spot-and-stalk out West might have to stretch their range. That’s where new cartridges like Federal’s 7mm Backcountry come into play. Powered by Peak Alloy case technology, 7mm Backcountry can be loaded to higher chamber pressures than brass case counterparts. As a result, it produces higher muzzle velocities than comparable cartridges, with speeds over 3,000 fps through 20-inch barrels—perfect for western bear ammo. Two great options are the 175-grain Fusion Tipped and the 168-grain Barnes LRX copper.

And if you’re shooting legacy carrtidges, it’s hard to beat bear ammo like a 7mm Rem. Magnum loaded with Federal Premium 155-grain 7mm Rem Magnum Terminal Ascent. Its long, sleek profile offers an extremely high ballistic coefficient, and the Slipstream polymer tip improves accuracy and expansion on long, cross-canyon shots. However, its bonded construction still holds together and penetrates deep if you surprise a bear at close range.

If your plan is a sit-and-wait venture over bait or a well-used water source, bear ammo options are endless. But a go-to is the legendary Federal Fusion 180-grain 30-06 Sprg.. Its molecularly bonded construction gives it the best expansion in its class.

For hunters who like a fast-handling lever gun, feed your 45-70 Govt. the 300-grain HammerDown. Like all HammerDown loads, it’s customized to produce superior ballistics and terminal performance through lever-action barrel lengths. The molecularly bonded soft point bullet has also been adjusted for the best accuracy and expansion at those velocities. The geometry of each round's case, bullet and cartridge ensures flawless cycling through tubular magazine and typical lever-action feeding systems.

Handgun Bear Ammo

So, you want a heavy hide and backstraps, and you want to take them with your handgun? You won’t go wrong with a 44 Rem. Magnum spitting Federal Premium’s Barnes Expander. Featuring all-copper construction, it promises nearly 100 percent weight retention, unparalleled expansion and superb accuracy. At 50 yards, the bullet is traveling at 1,147 fps and hits with a walloping 658 foot-pounds of energy.

Another popular bear ammo option for handgun hunters is Federal Premium’s 357 Magnum Swift A-Frame. The 180-grain bullet retains most of its weight and offers controlled expansion. Its partitioned design and 1,130 fps muzzle velocity allows the front half to expand while the back half remains intact for bone-crushing penetration.

Bear Slugs

If you hunt bears where rifles aren’t allowed—or you just dig slug guns—lean on the 300-grain 12-gauge Freight Train copper sabot. The load's streamlined copper projectile and exclusive sabot design team up to print groups of less than 4 inches at 200 yards through rifled barrels. Federal built the slug off the previous Trophy Copper design, but tweaked the nose to allow for deeper penetration, which comes in clutch for big bears.

Muzzleloader Bullets For Bears

Muzzleloaders are flat fun to shoot and are great tools for bear hunters. The 270-grain Trophy Copper 50-caliber bullet uses the B.O.R. Lock MZ System for incredible accuracy in a non-sabot design. Loading is a breeze and you’ll get consistent seating. It’ll deliver 200-yard performance—if you do your part. Push it with a 120-grain Federal Premium Firestick in a compatible rifle, and you’ll get more consistent velocities and accuracy, as well as more convenient reloading.