“trophy bonded bear claw”

If you’re someone who desires low recoil, be it from necessity or preference, or simply a hunter who’s keen on AR platforms, this little bullet can get the job done on small- to medium-sized game at close to moderate ranges. Again, don’t shoot the messenger. Get the right load—the Federal Premium Vital-Shok 62-grain .223 Rem. Trophy Bonded Tip is a great choice—and shoot a deer instead.

In hunting there are the rifles you choose to make sure you take an animal humanely; and then, there are the rifles you choose to make sure the animal doesn’t take you. A choice for a black bear rifle lends itself to the latter.

Is this the be all, end all list? Here are Philip Massaro's top centerfire rifle cartridges of all time.

“Only accurate rifles are interesting.” So goes the quote from Col. Townsend Whelen, and he was right.

You’ve probably heard that African dangerous game can absorb five hits from an Abrams tank and keep on charging. You’ve probably heard that kudu, eland, wildebeest and even impala are so tough from evading lions and leopards they’ll soak up bullets that would floor a North American brown bear. Nonsense.

Federal Premium has announced that it will be offering its Trophy Bonded Tip as a component bullet for handloading. The line will be available in six popular caliber and weight options.

The .470 Nitro Express has proven itself as a perfect choice for truly large game for more than a century now, and it won't be going away anytime soon.

Remington’s 7mm Mag. came on the scene and won the hearts of many hunters looking to use a bullet of less than .30 caliber, and quickly overtook the .264 Win. Mag., forcing it into near-obscurity. And, in spite of the myriad attempts to produce a 7mm Mag. that will better the performance of the Remington version, it still maintains its seat at the head of table.

Contributor Philip Massaro shares some of his favorite rifles and loads for different bear hunting scenarios.