Managing A Hunting Rifle – P1

< That was my .340 Wby in hand.

Even a .22LR is used for hunting, as well as a .17 Hornady, so we’ll start there and go all the way up to my favorite, a .458 Winchester Magnum in a Ruger No.1H. There are, of course, some beyond that with which I’ve no experience. But the first “real” firearm I owned, that burnt powder, was a single-shot .22LR, and I currently reserve and use two for hunting and target shooting.

At the top end is my Ruger No.1H in .458 Win Mag. In between those two are about thirty (without counting) other cartridges that have been handloaded for hunting purposes in a variety of rifles – mostly in magnums, mediums and big bores – and in more than a single rifle per cartridge for a majority of them. That doesn’t make me an “expert”, but should reveal that I may have some “expertise” about “Managing A Hunting Rifle”.

Rather than random comments, we’ll break it down this way:

The RIFLE -P1

A – Its Purpose

B – Its Production

C – Its Personality

D – Its Power

The HUNTER – P2

A – His/Her Purpose

B – His/Her Personality

C – His/Her Progress

D – His/Her Power

That’s the carcus that goes into the oven, now for the stuffing…

The HUNTING RIFLE’S PURPOSE

Note the emphasis on HUNTING rifle in contrast with a TARGET rifle or just a “shooting rifle”. Those are distinct purposes. But many who are members at ranges may ascribe all three activities to their generic rifles. My observation: after +30 years as a member of the same range, a majority of those in attendance on a given day are NOT dedicated hunters, but casual to dedicated “shooters” who want to determine how accurate their rifles are in using particular handloads. Those using factory big-game hunting loads don’t show up every week, but a few times yearly and are firing their rifles in practice for an upcoming hunt.

The hunting rifle may be used, and often is, for developing a variety of loads to see what they “can do” under differing circumstances, but usually end up with a “hunting load” for a particular hunt. That’s a handloading-hunter who’s main purpose is to use its best loads for specific animals.

Its PRODUCTION is usually (but not exclusively) made by a particular manufacturer of rifles, such as Winchester, Ruger, Savage, Remington, Browning, etc, including some foreign models. Some hunters are particular about the brand while others are more particular in looking for a certain rifle-cartridge combo with an excellent reputation and readily available components for handloads. Like all manufactured machinery that’s mass produced today, barrels and other rifle parts are turned out on CNC equipment where specs can be both more tightly controlled and consistent. That’s good news as in times past such was the lucky hunter that came home with what he hoped would be both an accurate and a strong rifle. However: In my experience (as recently reported) most NEW in box rifles had to have work performed on them by gunsmith VonAtcheson, or myself, to make them function as intended, or ultimately returned to the dealer who had to do what he had to do… And the only brands spared those comments were Savage, Tikka, Ruger, Traditions (so far) and one .300 Win Mag custom built on a military Mauser 98 action.

Some faults were minor while others were major, and a custom creation wasn’t necessarily “better than” some run-of-the-mill rifles either!

What do such matters have to do with “Managing a Hunting Rifle”? Well, enough that could cause misfires, no-fires, lever-actions refusing to raise cartridges into battery, sights falling off, stocks splitting, bores off center, weak firing springs, trigger pulls of 10+ lbs, poor fit of stock, poor fit of action to stock…. want more?

THE POINT: before going afield to shoot game (of any species) we need to be certain that both AMMO and RIFLE are ready and SAFE to do so! When I was about to unload my CZ 550 in .458 Win Mag at the end of a long day, I pointed it at a gravel/dirt embankment eight feet away, took off the safety and it went BOOM! The safety had to be moved forward to the “off” position in order for the action to be opened!

< No flaws in this one that I’ve owned since 2011. It’s a TIKKA T3 Lite in 9.3 x 62.

Its PERSONALITY

Or character. As with humans, rifles have character or personality. How so? In looks/appearance. Black hunting rifles were anathema not too long ago! But today? I only have two rifles with wood on them. The X-generation and younger have made black military-style rifles popular and functional. Personally speaking, I don’t like the looks of ARs, as I never was in a military uniform. In Canada, enlistment is voluntary and for development of certain skill sets after completion of a number of set years. So I was never exposed to a military environment, though two of my BG rifles have black polymer stocks. Yet they have other redeeming qualities. And wood is as wood does. Over the years I’ve owned several with walnut or birch stocks – some were very attractrive, and others… well, not so!

But character is deeper than external appearances in rifles as well as in humans. “Safe Queens” see the light of day when we want them to impress art lovers. But rarely are they ever “thrown” (or dropped purposely) into the bottom of a canoe or back of a pickup! What are the rifles (or rifle) we gravitate to naturally for a tough or rugged hunt? Character speaks of dependability, toughness, security and compatibility! Artful rifles may have character, but if they are “Safe Queens”, who knows?

Again, as in humans there are “styles”, and names have been given to us: Sanguine, Choleric, Phlegmatic, Melancholy, etc. So also for rifles: “Ole Ugly” as an appearance name for a famous .458 Win Mag belonging to a legend: Phil Shoemaker, Alaskan Master Guide, author, pilot and hunter.

The name chosen for my Ruger No.1H in .458 Win Mag is “Grace”. In appearance that’s it! But don’t let appearances fool you, as in “Ole Ugly”.

< Phil, with “Ole Ugly” in his left hand and a new “Ugly” under his right hand!

But personality, character and style are mostly what we have come to appreciate in the rifles that have “stuck”… we still have ’em! They are like part of the family! They’ll be the last to go, and with regrets. They have become not just a reflection of us, but an extension of us.

We’ve become true companions, and we know how they “feel” in certain environments and under particular circumstances. And… they seems to know how we are feeling in certain situations, and do their best to calm our fears and fulfill our goals.

Those are signals that a rifle has taken on a personality.

Its POWER

From pipsqueaks like the .17 Hornady to armbreakers like the .458 Winchester Magnum, we need to know what niche they are designed to fill and for what reasons we possess them. No one takes a .17 Hornady on safari to shoot warthogs, or a .458 Win Mag as a squirrel gun (though I’m sure it’s been done!). Each rifle cartridge was created for a purpose, even if only to sell more rifles! Many have become obsolete, some obsolescent, but many remain, or are newly created, for serviceable purposes.

Ergo: We need to know what our rifles are best suited for in hunting action. As recently pointed out, some are powerful enough for dangerous bears at relatively close ranges, but lack punch at longer distances for larger game. On the other hand, some sub-mediums, with modern powders and bullets are capable elk cartridges at over 300 yards, but not recommended for dangerous game up close. A 6.5 Creedmoor might be one example.

So we depend on knowledge, experience (of self and/or others), reports, recommendations and commonsense in our decision making process of what rifle-cartridge to use on a particular hunt.

Knowledge: knowing the ballistics of a rifle and load.

Experience: knowing from an objective evaluation.

Reports: Reading, researching.

Recommendations: by those WHOM WE TRUST with knowledge and experience.

Commonsense: don’t try to invent a square wheel!

Generally, there are six classes of game: non-dangerous small, non-dangerous medium, dangerous medium, non-dangerous large, dangerous large and pachyderm. As to suitable cartridges, many are crossovers, and some are not. A crossover is one that can adequately deal with several classes of game, such as: non-dangerous medium, dangerous medium, and non-dangerous large. But we should ALWAYS keep in mind – and therefore be prepared – that most any wild animal (and some domestic ones) can become dangerous under particular circumstances – such as a rabid fox.

AND: there are great variances of range: Short, close, medium, long and far.

Short: in your face, 10 yards or less!

Close: less than 100.

Medium: +100 to about 250.

Long: +300.

Far: 500 to 700, or more.

< A 9.3 x 62 loaded cartridge for my TIKKA T3. The bullets are the 250gr Nosler AccuBond that leave the muzzle of the 22.44″ barrel at 2700 + fps.

It’s my studied opinion (In general, I rarely rely on opinions – even my own as with more time and experience they may change or be modified!) that medium-class cartridges are best as crossovers. That would involve numbers like – but NOT exclusively – the .338 Win Mag, .35 Whelen, .350 Rem Mag, 9.3 x 62 and .375 H&H at the upper end. In other words: capable of ~ 4000 ft-lbs at the muzzle. They can be tempered by handloads or used full force, and the rifles need not be too bulky and heavy for general purpose work.

Attempting to shoot a trophy bull elk (800 lbs) at 250 yards with a good 140gr projectile is one case, and attempting to do the same thing at 600 yards is totally another from the same rifle and load! KEEP SUCH IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS FIRMLY IN MIND WHEN GOING AFIELD for any game! In other words: we need to know our practical limits as well as that of the rifle and load.

Finessing shots is NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE in the real world, and RARELY POSSIBLE for the average hunter. Terminal shots on large game like elk and moose at long range are rarely staged – that’s “rarely”, not never. A hunter who has the time, economics and right equipment, must spend ALL to qualify for pulling the trigger on one at +600 yards! We hear about it, but from only “the few” (who love to reveal their expertise).

Championship shooting of targets by pros at 1000 yards from a rifle capable of +4000 ft-lbs of muzzle energy from a medium to large bore is as uncommon as a new teen driver having just received keys from his daddy to drive the family 2L non-turbo Nissan and the next day qualifying for a LeMans track race! There are reasons for each related to MANAGEMENT or CONTROL of power! There are a rare few, especially trained and experienced .338 Lapua Magnum shooters who can pull it off, but usually have a military background as a sniper… More or less the same idea for a racecar driver who competes at LeMans and wins!

<At the Mosport International Racetrack, 50 km to the south of us, (a 2.5 mile road circuit) multiple types of races are conducted annually, including a 12hr LeMans in which this racecar has participated. Because of its potential speed, it was restricted to about 200 mph. I talked with the manager of the team and he filled me in on the details of it’s construction (European) and motor (supertuned Corvette). It won two races in it’s class.

So is finesse the answer or power… or a certain combination of each?

And whatever the rifle we take afield, it must fully qualify for its task, and we are to manage it without questions or doubts as to its CHARACTER or OUR OWN!

Till the next: The HUNTER and intimacy with his/her rifle.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

REAL BALLISTICS

What are REAL BALLISTICS vs published ballistics or hearsay ballistics – are there any differences that matter? To sum it up, it amounts to the ACTUAL bullet velocity at the rifle’s muzzle till termination at impact, whatever the distance between MV and IV – and this has reference to external ballistics only.

Recorded at 15′ from the muzzle of my former Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT. The bullet was a 350gr TSX – not a max load. Corrected to MV = 2480 fps.

Then the weight (mass) of the projectile at impact determines energy and momentum. Additionally, the true ballistic coefficient (BC) of the bullet – it’s shape and construction are involved in its ultimate effect. And all that’s assuming “the nut behind the butt” does his/her job in aiming, as Phil Shoemaker put a fine point to it.

Real ballistics – NOT fanciful or supposted ballistics – determines the outcome, assuming proper aiming and the right bullet for the job.

To illustrate, let’s do a comparison of “book” or “hearsay ballistics” with ACTUAL ballistics using my .458 Winchester Magnum as a platform to show that there may indeed be a difference that matters. There are still sources of information readily available on the Internet and popular rifle and shooting magazines that reference outdated material, as well as recently published handloads for the .458 Win Mag in Nosler’s #9 that comes short of 2100 fps as a top load for their 500gr soft and solid which leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Then there are hunter/writers like the late Jack Lott (who changed his story several times) who was tossed by a Cape buff, and laid blame on the .458 Cartridge as a justification for his “creation” of the .458 Lott. Also, once again (despite much better ballistics being available), I read a recent article published by a well-known writer-hunter, that the .458 Lott was a better choice for African DG because of much superior ballistics than the .458 Win Mag. He then proceeded to amplify that distiction by saying the Lott has an advantage of 300 fps over the Winchester in shooting 500gr bullets, granting 2300 fps to the Lott and 2000 fps to the .458 Winchester.

So BAD information is still out there, and a shooter/hunter who only reads one source of information might report it as pure gospel on the Internet or to an inquiring mind.

< Recorded by a 500gr Hornady RN in May 2019 at our range. Corrected to MV = 2317 fps/ 5960 ft-lbs. Load: 81 grains of H4895, WLRM primer and Winchester brass. COL = 3.56″. Rifle: Ruger No.1H in .458 Winchester Magnum – 24″ Mag-Na-Ported barrel. (Pic on the header)

In this blog I’ll present my results in sharp contrast, and there are credible others who have experienced the same or moreso.

HEARSAY BALLISTICS

.458 Winchester Magnum

Bullet: 500gr Hornady DGX – bonded; .458-Caliber

SD = .341

BC = .295

COL= 3.34″

MV= 2000 fps/ 4440 ft-lbs

50 = 1878 fps/ 3915 ft-lbs/ +2.7″

100= 1761 fps/ 3443 ft-lbs/ +3.5″

150= 1650 ft-lbs/ 3023 ft-lbs/ +2.9″

200= 1545 ft-lbs/ 2650 ft-lbs/ -2.8″

250= 1447 fps/ -11.1″

300= 1355 fps/ 2039 ft-lbs/ -23.7″ (126 TE) – not a poor result as it trumps even a .375 H&H at that range shooting a 300gr NP at 2600 fps. At 300 yds = 2004 fps/ 2675 ft-lbs = (82 TE).

*******************************************************************

REAL BALLISTICS from my Ruger N0.1H

Handloads

MV= 2300 fps/ 5872 ft-lbs

50 = 2167 fps/ 5215 ft-lbs/ +1.3″ (293 TE)

100= 2040 fps/ 4618 ft-lbs/ +2.4″

150= 1917 fps/ 4071 ft-lbs/ +1.4″

200= 1798 fps/ 3589 ft-lbs/ – 2″

250= 1685 fps/ 3153 ft-lbs/ -8″

300= 1578 fps/ 2765 ft-lbs/ -17.2″ (147 TE)

This is a comparative analysis with any other cartridge at 300 yards. For example: a .300 Wby firing a 200gr NP at 3000 fps MV would have an approximate 2482 fps at 300 yds = 2734 ft-lbs and a 63 TE. While KE is not far behind the .458 at 300 yds, yet the great difference in Terminal Effect is due to a much greater momentum over the 200gr/.308-cal by 59% and 2.23 times more in cross-section-area of the bullet. Surface area of the bullet is a major factor in terminal ballistics, not only in bullet expansion at the front end.

Hornady 500gr DGX bonded factory load:

MV = 2140 fps/5084 ft-lbs (Actual results as tested by Dr Ron Berry that equals Hornady’s promotions)

300 = 1448 fps/ 2377 ft-lbs (135 TE)

NOTES:

• In actual field results, it has been demonstrated too many times that kenetic energy numbers (KE) alone do not correlate across the board in terminal effect with every other cartridge that may produce equal KE at impact. Assuming equal construction in each, and placement, the larger bore bullet will have greater weight and momentum if producing equal KE -or even less in many cases – thus producing a greater TE (Terminal Effect). Entirely apart from other aficionados, I’ve proven that to myself. But that is NOT a significant result from a minor increase in bullet diameter, but a real distinction in the class of cartridges from MEDIUM bores to LARGE bores, or even stepping up from SUB-MEDIUMS to MEDIUMS, all else equal as in bullet construction and placement.
• < From this rifle (Ruger #1 in .45-70 LT), the 500gr Hornady and 450gr AF were making +5000 ft-lbs at the muzzle.

• Some are VERY potifical about such matters and declare that “S.D. has NOTHING to do with terminal results!”. For them the “proof” is that a particular bullet (with a flat tip) of lesser weight can out-penetrate a heavier one of the same caliber that may be producing more momentum and KE at termination. Of course, in such a scenario, they are comparing “apples and oranges” without admitting it! A lighter solid that doesn’t deform at impact may very well “out-penetrate” another from the same rifle that expands and loses some of it’s weigh (or not). Expansion is like “putting on the brakes”, but in the meantime doing a lot more damage than the “solid” that sails on through without creating as large a permanent wound cavity! In my media tests, I’ve seen all that. For example: a 330gr Barnes Banded solid in .458 completely passed through 15.5 inches of very tough media leaving a bullet diameter hole at exit. It may still be going! Compared to a 350gr TSX expanding bullet that was arrested at 15.5 inches at the last panel of box 2 having retained 100% of original weight, total destruction in its path was more than twice that of the 330gr solid with a flat tip that didn’t deform while giving greater penetration. The 330gr solid had slightly less SD at .224 vs .238 of the 350gr TSX and gave greater penetration with far less damage. But it only matters IF we compare apples to apples as in :

A 150gr/.308″/NAB at 3420 fps MV/ 3895 ft-lbs (BC = .435/ SD = .226) from a .300 Win Mag that “correctly impacts” a 1250 lb bull moose at 2160 fps/ 1554 ft-lbs at 500 yds compared to a 200gr/ .308″/ NAB at 2960 fps MV/ 3922 ft-lbs (BC = .588/SD = .301) that “correctly impacts” the same 1250 lb bull moose at 2221 fps/ 2190 ft-lbs at 500 yds.

So…. what just happened there? They started out with nearly the same KE but ended up with the 200gr having gained 61 fps more velocity than the 150gr while starting 429 fps SLOWER, making 636 ft-lbs more energy at 500 yds in the process!

IF SD doesn’t matter, it CANNOT BE EXPLAINED because SD determines BC if bullet profiles have the same form factor. There’s simply no way possible to make a 150gr/ .308 caliber to have an SD of .301 and a BC of .588! But even a 200gr Nosler Partition RN will still have an SD of .301 but a BC of “only” about .351 due to its “form factor” – it’s more “blunt”.

In shooting that 200gr AB from a couple of 24″ Savages in .300 Win Mag – mine and a young friend’s – using 1/2 gr more of RL-22 – they about duplicated Nosler’s results from a 24″ test barrel, so that’s close enough to claim REAL results. Having not fired the 150gr AB, I can only assume that results from my Savage would have been close to those of the Nosler test barrel. But we just can’t pick a load from any manual and assume our results will be the same. We must do the test, and there will be variances based on powder lot and the rifle itself. Some have “tight” bores which create higher pressures/ velocities, and some “loose” barrels that cause less barrel friction, and so reduced psi and MV.

The subject of adding more powder to compensate for “a loose barrel” is another subject for another day. We need to keep in mind these two factors: 1> The professionals setup cannot be duplicated by ours, and 2> Our factory rifles are subject to manufacturing tolerances that may, or may not – mostly “not” – correspond to professional test barrels that usually are on the “tight” side of matters. That could create another obvious problem for the average “Joe”, who may use several manuals that disagree in results (as well as barrel lengths in tests). Then some bullet companies choose to use longer barrels than normal for some data when a “normal” length for most hunting rifles would fall between 22″ – 24″. For example: According to the NOSLER Reloading Guide 9, they used a 26″ Pac-Nor barrel for their .375 RUGER tests. They can do what they want, for whatever their reasons, but there are NO Ruger factory rifles for the .375 Ruger cartridge with a 26″ barrel – they are either 20″ or 23″! So their results from a 26″ Pac-Nor barrel are practically useless! For whom were those results done? Less than a few who would order a custom built .375 Ruger with a 26″ barrel? This point is made only to say “buyer beware” of “fake news”! Production models of a 20″ Ruger .375 will not come close to 2941 fps from handloads of their several 260gr as published in manual 9! Neither 2715 fps from their 300 grainers! Expectations should be in the neighbourhood of a loss of 150 to 180 fps from those published.

The point of all this is that we can only get the best REAL handloaded ballistics from our rifles if we know:

• Their potential from research and experience – lots of data out there that needs intelligent and careful analysis by making comparisons between sources.

• The barrel length. There are expected differences if the barrel is 20″, 22″, 24″ or 26″. Claimed results vary depending on several factors such as: the barrel itself – some are “tight” and others are “loose”. A tight barrel bore will create more friction on the bullet, hence higher pressure resulting in greater velocity, and so on.

• The powder: some new powders and bullets are game changers – we need to keep up!

For a couple examples: a 180gr from a 22″ barrel in .30-06 is capable of 2800 fps using some of today’s powders. According to Nosler, a 24″ H-S Precision barrel gave 2819 fps for any of their 180’s using 62 grains of RL-22 – their most accurate and fastest load. RL-22 has always been the best powder in my .300 magnums – giving highest velocity and best accuracy. There may even be a newer powder that improves on that.

From my .35 Whelen, I’m getting 2850 fps/ 4057 ft-lbs for the 225 Nosler AB using CFE 223, and into sub-moa. That’s from a 22″ Traditions G3 barrel. Remington factory ammo for their 200gr is still advertised at 2675 fps/ 3177 ft-lbs, and 2400 fps from their 250gr from a 24″ barrel, while it’s possible with some “knowhow” – from some powders – to extract 3000 fps from 200s and 2700 from 250s. Even in early June, 2010, my Chrony recorded 2984 and 2982 fps (avg. 2983) for the 200gr Hornady SP from my H&R .35 Whelen with a 22″ barrel at 10 ft from the Chrony. Corrected to MV = 3017 fps/ 4042 ft-lbs – and that from H4895, which has been around for a long time…. with all “signs” indicating safe pressure. Yup, REAL ballistics – nothing phony about that!

So, do you think that an additional 342 fps/ 865 ft-lbs from a 200gr in the Whelen might be a game changer for some game under extraordinary conditions?

<The H&R .35 Whelen… note the stout 22″ barrel.

And so on…

Till the next…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

BLACK BEAR Hunting over Bait – P5

Have you done a solo hunt for black bear, or with a partner or guide? If none of these, what would be your preference?

In this space I’ll share some of my experience and insights from all three models, preferences, positive lessons/advantages and any negatives.

UNIQUE SITUATIONS

Since there are unique conditions that characterize any individual’s life, no two hunter’s situation will be identical. Hence, my purpose in sharing will be to highlight certain principles related to safety, confidence and relationships.

As I’ve aforementioned on numerous occasions, my first eight bear hunts of thirty-five were with the same outfitter/guide in the vast semi-wilderness areas of NE Ontario, SE of Algonquin Park. Since that time, I began the baiting process on my own, closer to home, in the Haliburton Highlands on Crown Land. From time to time I’ve had different apprentice partners (no former experience in bear hunting) but a couple with some wilderness and/or hunting experience.

But those initial eight successive seasons with the same outfitter/guide in the same type of wilderness were like a degree course on bear habitat and culture. After that, I was very confident in continueing on my own in similar habitat. Instinctively, I knew what to look for in type of terrain, natural growth forest and bush, and water sources. In addition, I’d had some experience in deer hunting that area, only an hour’s drive NNE from my house.

Then, of course, the curriculum on black bears, their habits, habitat, characteristics, etc, has no end and continues till this day…

< At 8 o’clock one morning in early spring as I was lugging two buckets of bait – one in each hand – I cleared the brush and trees and came into an opening and looked up and ahead to the blind that was a relatively new piece of indoor-outdoor green carpeting. It was torn down with a good size black bear standing broadside on top of it. He fixed me with a stare that said “This is my turf, don’t mess with me!” I didn’t have a rifle in hand, so I dropped the buckets of bait, backed out to my van and waited awhile before returning with rifle in hand. The pic above was taken the next year in October with a dominant bruin still in the area and attempting to intimidate. The day of this pic I was alone and the bear snuck in behind my seat to within 3 yds. I stood to take this pic without knowing he was there. When I started to return to my seat (out of picture to right in thick bush) he took off like some sort of logging machinery, crashing through bush and young conifers like they weren’t there!

< A tight shooting lane from blind to bait barrel at exactly 100 yds downhill from the side of a ridge.

HUNTING SOLO – it’s ideal (for me)

Hunting styles may legitimately differ: some like still hunting, others prefer spot and stock, etc, but as I’ve already stated in a former piece in this series, those styles rarely work in thick bush, remote wilderness areas or rugged timber terrain – without a very unusual degree of luck! In deer or moose hunting those types of terrain, it’s possible to run into a bear or see one… but if you’re hunting bear in those conditions without bait… “Good Luck!”

So the baiting process is best! And if doing so alone, you need very careful planning for a food (bait) source, transportation of it from vehicle to site, etc. Believe me on this one… that alone is a LOT of work! Then, the finding, field dressing and retrieval of the carcus to your vehicle is ponderous as well.

The point I’m making is that a SOLO hunt for bear has obvious dangers associated! One needs to be physically fit and capable. That’s apart from the inherent danger of pursuing DG anyway – especially on your own!

Having said that, it’s still my preferred method.

Why?

Because one has to be self-reliant, independant and confident! It challenges your self-respect and fears! It also means one has to master knowledge of all that’s required for safety and success. It means you will not have someone else to lean on and tell you how to find your pickup in darkness…. and so on.

Before venturing alone we are FORCED to acknowledge the potential dangers, such as a bad fall, a knife cut, a sprained ankle, etc., so we then KNOW we must be well prepared in advance, and proceed with great caution under particular physical constraints, such as crossing a stream or climbing a steep, rough ridge.

It also means we need basic survival skills and equipment! I’ll not detail all of that here, but I think you understand what’s being emphasized!

At my present age, I’m less inclined to tackle BG hunts solo, but a “modified” version I’ll undertake come spring. As always, we inform others of where we will be, AND carry a WORKING cell phone.

But my nature is still loving SOLO hunting! But I’m never alone…. “My help comes from above, the Maker of heaven and earth” -so wrote the Shephard-King of Israel.

WITH A PARTNER(S) – it’s practical

Some partners are truly a blessing, others may become a burden.

Those who become “a burden” aren’t necessarily apprentices, but mostly those who think they know more than you do – but don’t! I find that type a “burden” because they like to talk but don’t listen! They’re often “undoing” what’s been “done”, claiming they’re improving a situation revealing a lack of respect for the leader. It’s a “one-upmanship” attitude that destroys healthy relationships.

But… thankfully, I’ve had few of those, and most have been genuinely “a partner” who listens and helps not only with physical tasks but shares valuable knowledge and insights. Such partners are invaluable!

< The same two amigos were a great help in my 2015 fall hunt – Brian (a sheep farmer and hunter – in red T-shirt above; and Ken, a long-time partner (in camo) and a retired CO.

Some recommendations:

1> Decide who is the senior partner of a duo of trio. That may be obvious or not. Usually one will emerge as the leader of the pack. Though quite often with a friend it’s shared work and responsibilities, with one tending to some matters and the other to different matters. That’s when the two get along well and have been friends for a number of years.

2> Otherwise, if it’s your hunt and you’d prefer to have a helper-partner, then the rules change. You’re in charge and must carry the heavy end of the load.

3> Have a clear understanding as to what may be required of your partner, and he/she needs to be made aware of what you will assume as your responsibilities.

4> Also, depending on whether you will be hunting over the same bait, or separate locations, there should be a verbal or non-verbal understanding as to who has any priorities.

WITH AN OUTFITTER

As stated, I learned “bear hunting over bait” from a master. He was a woodsman who worked as a scaler for a large lumber company, and during summer months he became a sport fishing guide for a lot of American sportsmen. Some wanted to see black bears so he took them to a local dump where they saw some that went over 500 lbs! They asked about shooting them! So a year later he got a guide’s license and started a side business to his work at the lumber mill. And he also was a deer and moose hunter who knew the area well SE of Algonquin Park because that’s where he lived. When I first met him he’d already been written up in some American sports magazines by some of their staff writers. But I didn’t know any of that… I only had heard of him through a young man at a local gunsmith’s shop while there on business. That young man was so enthusiastic about his experience with “The Bear Man” in NE Ontario, I asked for the telephone number of this outfitter, and the following spring I had my first attempt to “catch a bear”. That led to seven more with a few bears in between. Then… on my own since 1997.

My first bear was with an outfitter named “Norm, the Bear Man”. And the rug.

As related here and in several prior blogs, eight seasons with Norm as outfitter and guide (he had two additional guides), and never in the same location – each was distinct and different – and inviting me along to check baits and service my own (he had 85 bait locations in a 3000 sq-mile area), was like earning a university degree in bear habitat and culture. Then, I also had the privilege of sitting at breakfast with several American hunters who, on the most part, had hunted with Norm previously (for several of them every year) and had stories to share.

One American hunter, who had previously hunted that area with Norm, presented a video of his chosen morning hunt that evening after supper in the lodge where we were staying. I didn’t see the video but was told about it the following morning at breakfast. This American hunter was a pro videographer who published some of his material. Anyway, during his early morning hunt, a cow moose passed under his tree stand, stopped and gave birth to her calf! She got it up and going in a hurry because she was being followed by a black bear – the hunter got it all on his camera, plus the bear that he ended up shooting!

So there are many things to learn from an outfitter-guide, in that kind of environment that’s all inclusive in the cost!

Plus – of course the benefits of many hands helping with chores. I was involved not only in the baiting process, but also in the finding and retrieving of a big black bear in pitch darkness that the hunter wouldn’t search for after he’d shot it – and rightfully so! And I “barked orders” to the other voluteers (about six of us) to “bring A rifle” (NOT “rifles”!) with a commanding tone as none had thought of it, probably because of the law which says: “All rifles must be encased at sundown”! But you don’t go looking for a wounded or even a dead black bear without a light AND a firearm! And we don’t need or even want a “crowd” searching for a wounded or dead black bear in blackness! The bear was found dead under low lying branches of a fir tree, but safety mandates that no more than three are doing the search: One aims the light beam, another holds a firearm and the third is there as a helper/guide.

So whatever our choice in hunting a black bear – solo, with a partner or outfitter, we should only do so with some awareness of the potential positives and negatives of our choice, based on thorough research and recommendations of others with adequate experience.

Hoping this has been of some benifit to inquiring minds…

Till the next…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

BLACK BEAR hunting over Bait – P4

This section discusses RIFLES and their CARTRIDGES for BEAR HUNTING using baits. Of course, I’m aware of other methods and means: Shotguns, hand guns, BP, bows, and if one has Tarzan in their ancestry, even spears. But for my purposes, I’ve always employed centerfire rifles, so I’ll stick with that. Anything else in my view is both less versatile and effective. That of course depends on the situation and goals. For instance, if someone wants to us a BP rifle then they are choosing a less effective range, a slow second shot and the resultant smoke limiting vision of the immediate reaction of the bear. I was involved with a partner who used his BP and we ended up on a one-and-one-half-hour search in the wrong direction for a wounded bear! I didn’t witness the shot as I was in a different locaton, but I heard it and in meeting up with the shooter he said he couldn’t see where the bear went but thought it was in “that direction” which turned out to be 180* from where the bear actually went!

A powerful handgun (where legal) means limits from stand to bait. Same with a bow or crossbow as well as in using a shotgun. A few times I’ve brought a 12ga along, loaded with slugs as a backup, but never as my primary weapon.

Hence RIFLES and their CARTRIDGES as the best overall choice.

Internet forums aren’t the best source of information for this subject as everyone has an opinion, and often they can be contradictory and confusing. But, nonetheless, the Internet may still be a good source for finding books, videos and articles on the theme. For myself it’s been learning on the job type of thing, and having a very good professional guide/outfitter for the first eight seasons, known as “The Bear Man”. There’s really no good substitute for a good and experienced teacher. So, what I share in the following paragraphs will be from personal experience and observation of others dating back to a spring hunt in 1989 in NE Ontario, my home province, and every year since with the exception of a couple.

The RIFLE: There are several common types and they will all serve us well if we are familiar with the one we choose, and it agrees with us.

< My first bear and my 1st .45-70 firing handloads of the 400gr Speer at 1865 fps.

BOLT ACTION: This is perhaps the most common. In bear-worthy cartridges under all conditiions something may be found that is suitable for the hunter and the conditions of the hunt.

Their advantages are: familiarity, a simple mechanical device, accuracy, available at reasonable cost, built for scope accommodation, and suited to any power level.

Potential disadvantages:

1) If a lefty it may be near impossible to find the one you’d like in a left-hand action.

2) Or, the one you’d like doesn’t have iron sights as backup.

3) Location of and type of safety – personally, on any type action I prefer a tang safety.

4) And there may be other nuances about certain bolt-action rifles in the cartridge of preference that just don’t agree together as a well tuned unit, including the price!

For example, about a year ago I looked at a Savage chambered in .375 Ruger. The price was right, it had a laminate stock, 23″ barrel, muzzle brake, stainless action and barrel, but was too heavy, especially with a variable scope, and loaded it would make over 10 lbs – good for a .458 Win but not for a .375 H&H type ballistics. Then the store had neither factory ammo nor brass for reloads. So it was a pass. That’s just an example of a good idea that came short on adaptability for the type of hunts I’ve done from close quarter tree stands overlooking bear baits at +/-100 yards. Then not the most handy for close ranges in brush work in scouting bear sign. I had a similar Remington rifle in 350 Rem Mag with a short action but was just way too heavy for the conditions I’ve just described – so after about a year’s use it “went down the road”.

The point is: The rifle must fit and be comfortable to tote and shoot after a day’s hike in rough terrain, or sitting in a blind or treestand when, without notice, it is forced into immediate action without complaint or rebellion!

<My former CZ550 in .458 Win Mag. Yes, it got bloodied on a bear firing a 350gr TSX at 2750 fps.

And even if it’s a bolt-action, we make no excuses for it!

Ditto for semis, levers, doubles and singles!

SUITABLE CARTRIDGES

Because of great differences in the sizes and attitudes of bears, as well as their habitats, I want a STOPPING cartridge for the first well-placed shot, no matter it’s host… be that a bolt-action, semi, lever-action, double or single. In a bad situation we’ll get a single shot and it better hit where a bear’s life comes from! Don’t count on multiple hits! If the cartridge is more than capable to begin with, and the rifle fits like it has been your only for the past millennia, ten more in a clip will be of no help if a bear charges from 20 yards!

In black bear hunting I started with an 1895 Marlin in .45-70, and I took my first bear ever with that rifle! Yep, and I also had a Sako FS in .338 Win Mag in the locker… but the Marlin took that first hunt and the second that gave me a trophy bruin! If you reflect a half-minute on what I just said… that will tell you about all you need to know about my mindset, experiences and attitude. After thirty-five black bear hunts – the majority over baits – I have some rather fixed opinions on rifle catridges. And I don’t go into Ontario’s wildernesses looking for a 2-year old, but with expectatons that anything, even the “worst thing”, could happen! It’s called “being fully equiped AND prepared” for “whatever”!

No bear – including brown bears – are dangerous at 300 yards, though they could close that distance in less than a minute if for a reason known only to them they choose to do so. Or if they put a sneak on the unwary through thick brush! A female in particular with cubs may sneak away if unseen, OR she may charge the unwary from less than twenty yards! A mature sow or boar bear can cover that distance in three seconds – that’s 3 not 10! It may take most of that time if not all of it to get over the initial shock, let alone aim carefully at a 30mph charging ball of teeth, claws and muscle! Recenty, I’ve watched several videos of attacks on men and women by sow bears with cubs that was unprovoked. A few had near-death experiences, but as in many human experiences, the survivors later expressed the thought, “They were only doing what was natural for them”. So, in a sense there was empathy expressed for the bears! But many murderers also are only doing “what is natural for them”!

Without preaching here, we must resist, with any means available to us, anyone or thing that is making a deliberate attempt to harm or kill us. THAT is NOT the time to be merciful! And being fearful will not cause a Putin, or a bear, to be merciful to you! If you are bare-handed, punch the bear with all your might right on the end of its nose! With thumbs, goudge out its eyes! HAVE NO MERCY! But best of all, carry a firearm that you are very familiar with an use it! Save your empathy for your family, if you have one, or at the very least for your own skin! A 150 lb sow bear can do you a lot of harm, let alone a 300 lb hungry male!

In bear country I always tote a powerful rifle loaded with bullets that will work… every time! We must test bullets in tough media, or verify their credentials from trustworthy reports. I do a lot of testing… and will do more this spring, God willing.

I have confidence in the three big-game rifles that I still own, and have developed very effective handloads for each. A new bullet has arrived from Santa this Christmas for the .35 Whelen. Five have been loaded for testing of accuracy and MV. Later on in tough test media.They are the 180gr TTSX’s. Expectations from a full load of CFE 223 is around 3050 fps – 3100 fps, in the realm of a .300 Win Mag. And I’ll be loading up some 300gr TSX’s for my .458 Win Mag at somewhere between 2750 and 2950 fps. A bear hunt for the spring is being worked on.

Depending on expections, regions and seasons, some popular bear cartridges can be found from the .270 Win to the .375 H&H. Personally, I like powerful mediums (.338 – .375) in the magnums, but with the addition of my two favorites: the .35 Whelen and 9.3 x 62, they have replaced all others in that class. I consider “MEDIUMS” as starting at 4000 ft-lbs of kinetic energy at the muzzle using midweight to heavyweight premium projectiles. Then, of course, my favorite of favorites is .458-caliber in .45-70s and the mighty .458 Winchester Magnum. But the choice of bullets is critical.

< 350gr.458-cal fired from my Ruger No.1 LT at ~2500 fps at a 100 yard target and retrieved from the backstop: sand, gravel and mother earth, plus untold thousands of bullets and fragments buried therein. That is a tough test for any bear-worthy bullet!

In a hazardous encounter with a bear, elephant, hippo or wolf pack, the most lethal weapon we have is not in our hands but what’s in our head… the story of the native girl who killed the record book grizzly with her little .22LR single-shot rifle comes to mind.

A BLACK BEAR’S PSYCHOLOGY

How smart are they…? But, “How crafty and cunning?” might be a more apt question in a series on BAITING BEAR for Hunting…

Suburban bears can open the door of your Cadillac SUV, enter, steal your lunch, and leave after closing the door without you ever knowing what happened to your lunch! They can do the same at your cottage! But they can wreck havoc at both if they find some kind of evil pleasure for driving you mad and away from their comfortable and familiar settings! They have been tested and proven to be able to figure out solutions to problems, and considered near the top in animal intelligence – much more so than the moose or even the wolf! Maybe they could play chess with a chimpanzee and win! How do I know that? They’ve played chess with me more than once… and won! And I’ve played a lot of “chess” in my day…

Seriously…

There’s a correlation that exists between the bullet (it’s weight and caliber), its velocity at impact and its effectivness – assuming good construction and POI. It’s logical (logistics): bigger, tougher and more dangerous animals demand bigger, tougher and more dangerous bullets fired from cartridges and rifles with precision. It’s not “Pray and spray!”, but “Practice and prayer”!

Till the next…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

Black BEAR HUNTING over Bait – P3

So far in our current series, in P1 and P2, I’ve discussed my personal history in this type of hunting, why hunt black bears using bait, what bait works best, chosing locations and why, time of baiting, securing site, and spring or fall- which is best?

P3’s theme concerns: SETUP of bait and specific location, and WHEN to hunt – time of day and weather conditions.

After the general location has been settled: Private land or Public (Crown Land), it’s VERY important as to where the bait is located on that piece of God’s earth:

SETUP:

It was previously mentioned that on CROWN Land several stands could be placed at various angles to the bait SETUP with it still in view. The main reasons being: direction of sun (if visible) and wind, and to confuse bears. Bears can quite easily discern the exact location of a hunter if he/she is at the same spot each hour and/or day of the hunt. So the SETUP of the bait is critical for that reason alone as well as others.

1) It should allow the bear (you want to shoot) a sense of security in approaching the bait. They will be cautious anyway, especially the more mature ones. And if other bears of less maturity are attending the bait without harm, they will take note of that as an important indication of safety. But that alone is rarely sufficient for the one you may want to shoot to turn up during “rush hour”. Mature bears are independant and NEVER enjoy “crowds”! So they will choose the timing of their approach, and it may be after midnight!

So, I’m NOT talking of a commercial type setup like a “supermarket” for multiple bears, but rather a low-key single owner of a small corner store that sells the likes of chewing gum as you enter or are leaving the store. A “niche” store, if you will… The same idea for locating a bear bait in a niche in the bush or trees – unobtrusive and partially hidden where bears have to pick a “dark street” to find what and where their noses leads them to. A “crowd” will not be found there fighting for scrapes on Black Friday, but it’s a “store” where adults will go down that dark alley to find what’s “forbidden”!

Did you catch an image of what’s intended?

<This is 100 yards (lazered) downhill from my blind. Bears approached the barrel from behind-right, over the deadfall. In scouting out the area, I got to know where the bears were coming from. Yep, it worked!

2) Your stand should NEVER allow smell or sense to give you away! That means: The further your location is from that SETUP the better! Of course your hideout should be as hidden as the bait setup! And the more distance – that’s still reasonable within the confines of the chosen location – the better. In practice of that principle, 150 yards is much better that 50 yards. At 50 yards, the bear you may want to shoot will know your presence (whereabouts) long before he emerges into daylight. At 150 (minimum) he may feel safe anyway unless he’s previously been wounded or fired at by a hunter.

3) And a tree stand is better than a ground blind (where possible) under most conditions as it gets human scent above ground level, especially if several persons are involved in your hunt. And it gives a better view of the surrounding area.

Yet, in a DIY hunt, bears become accustomed to your smell and associate it with groceries being delivered. So I didn’t even try to camouflage my smell or be quite because those sounds made in the delivery of the goods was like a dinner bell!

The best TIME of DAY for hunting:

Actually, there isn’t! When they feel safe – and they’re smart and know when we’re in our blind or stand – we avoid those times if it’s too regular. So vary your timing! Once I started using trail cams, that was a mega lesson on when I should be in my stand… Variably!

And, if possible, have alternate geographical locations – for a bait setup on the same property or distinct properties – so as to give bears as much trouble as possible in getting to know your system. My two locations were too far apart (one Crown and the other private) for that idea to be practical, but what I did do was vary my days and timing at the same location. I might even skip a whole week of hunting or baiting to keep bears guessing – sometimes losing some but gaining others. In other words, vary your technique and practices within the confines of the timing of the hunt, whether that is for a week or whenever you can during the season.

<This blind has lots of very interesting stories to tell if it could speak. So I’ll just mention a few here and others in the next blogs. This is Crown Land in Haliburton Highlands, about an hour’s drive NNE of where we live. I purchased it new as a remnant piece of indoor-outdoor carpeting that might be used on a patio or deck. The artwork – bites and tears – was by a large male black bear that I hunted, off and on, for a couple years. It’s near the top of a ridge, facing west, with the bait setup 100 yards downhill. It was late October with a skiff of snow on the ground. The most prevalent wind direction was from SW, so scent was carried off toward the NE which was basically a crosswind. Stormy weather usually had easterly winds from which we were protected by the ridge still raising behind us, and thick woods.

That’s all for now but that’s my former, most beloved rifle in a Ruger No.1 .45-70 LT (long throat) with the fixed 4x Burris that had a 5.5″ eye relief (It’s now on my oldest son’s Winchester M94 in .356 Winchester). But the story to be told here is that I could leave this setup and sneak away for a walk, scouting or for food/drink/warmth in my van without being detected by a bear at or near the bait. The trail to this blind was distinct from the one below for bringing in food to the bait site.

Just something to consider in doing your own.

Here’s something interesting: Two boar bears showing up at private land bait sites, separated by two years and forty miles at the exact same time on the clock. Both are good males that could have been shot if the hunter had been in his stand!

And both images from my trail cam.

Till the next… RIFLES and CARTRIDGES for a bear hunt over bait… Plus a bear’s psychology.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

BLACK BEAR Hunting Over Bait – P2

In P1, I gave some background of personal experience and a plan for dividing this theme into various logical sub-topics – hence:

In P2 we’ll have a look at: CHOOSING a Suitable and Secure LOCATION, and the TIMING of placing baits.

<The owner of this old farm was into heavy equipment, so it was no longer in use as a farm. But a neighbour had permission to put his cattle here for pasture, and we had to deal with that one season. But the property was divided into several fields and pastures by tree lines and natural bush. In addition there were four resident horses. A partner and I started hunting here in 2006 and with the exception of one year I hunted this property until 2015 – often alone and sometimes with a partner. As recorded by my trail cam, in 2015 I counted eleven distinct bears that were attending this single bait. A couple were nocturnal, two were sows with cubs, and others a mixture of some young bears with a few large ones. I shot a good bear in early October – it could have been the one in this pic. The camera was about 10 yards behind the bait, attached to a sturdy tree that was part of a thick bush and woodlot, from which the bears emerged. My tree stand was to the right at 85 yards in a line of trees that separated two fields. For orientation, this is the west side of the same field hunted early on, on the east side with tree stands to the south in the line of trees separating fields to the south and north of that tree line. At times (hunting alone) my stand was on the south side of that tree line, facing south, where I also shot a very good young 6-footer.

CHOOSING a SUITABLE and SECURE LOCATION

As in any successful business, it’s “location, location, location”! Among the most important items for business success are: reliable and excellent service, unvarying quality, successful marketing of those features, reputation and LOCATION! The best restaurant in Ontario didn’t get it’s reputation in the middle of “NOWHERE”! First, there must be people, lots of ’em! And it must be attractive and VISIBLE to “lots of people”. It can have the best gourmet food at a decent price with the best service possible, but if it’s located in the middle of a big city slum… who will go there that has the $$$ to afford it’s gourmet dishes! Give it less than a month and it’ll look like the rest of the slum!

I pass by a restaurant going and coming from my hunts in Haliburton Highlands. Just about every year it has changed hands… on occasion I’ve seen a car parked there; it’s in the middle of nowhere! I’ve never stopped because I’m moving along at about 100 km! It’s outward appearance has changed from time to time; new coats of paint, new signs, etc. The only way it could ever succeed in that location (on a highway to lake cottages for Torontonians) would be unusually fine gourmet dishes, an attractive flashing sign 1/2 mile in advance, Internet marketing and prayer!

And prayer isn’t a bad idea either in choosing a suitable and secure location for baiting bear for hunting purposes. The obvious locations are on either private or public lands. I’ve hunted both. From 1988 til 2004 it was all Crown Land (public) with one exception, then from 2005 to 2016 it was private property with one exception. Since then I’ve hunted Crown Land, when possible due to the Covid-19 thing and some physical reconditioning. In all, I’ve missed a couple of years, but I hunted both the spring and fall bear seasons until the spring season was closed or I’d taken a bear in the spring. So all together, I’m safe in saying I’ve hunted black bear during thirty-five seasons, the vast majority having been in the use of the baiting method, the first eight of which I hired the same outfitter-guide in NE Ontario close to the borders of Algonquin Park. That’s where and how I learned the baiting game. Those experiences were nearly evenly divided between hunting Crown Land and private property – 19 on Crown Land and 16 on private. What are the advantages and negatives of each, if any?

CROWN LAND (Available to residents without cost but with certain stipulations. Also to non-residents with a hired guide or outfitter.)

<My favourite site on Crown Land, used for many years and several bears.

Positives: 1) Less restrictions – options are greater. Searching for the best locations (will be discussed later) is possible years in advance for both residents and outfitters.

2) Natural surroundings that put bears at ease.

3) The surrounding area can be searched at any time for bear sign.

4) Natural products, such a branches, deadfalls and rocks can be employed for blind building materials.

5) Locating a stand or blind can be optimized for prevailing winds and sun location during the latter hours of daylight and as it sets behind trees or landscape. Also a second or even third blind can be built in varying locations with the bait still in view. That can confuse bears and take advantage of prevailing drafts or wind.

6) The more remote it is the more secure it will be.

Negatives:

1) Accessible by anyone travelling in the area, such as other hunters, hikers, fishermen, or even anyone looking to cause havoc. For those reasons I’ve never used a trail cam on Crown Land, and only once my ladder stand.

2) Finding a good, secure location away from easily travelled routes may be problematic in the retrieving of a downed bear.

PRIVATE LAND

Positives:

1) The most secure as usually fences can be locked and any unauthorised persons kept out.

2) Authorization by the land owner should be written and signed with agreed upon terms and conditions. Even if it’s a verbal agreement with a friend who will defend your presence on his property, it’s still wise to have it in written form. This provides security in a number of ways in case you are stopped by a CO for questioning your presence on private land, or another unknown hunter shows up there. He can be challenged to show his authorization by the property owner.

3) The private land should be a proven haven for black bears and/or other wildlife. Usually this is a remote, undeveloped piece of property bordering a water source, or farm land with a large woodlot and water source adjacent to remote Crown Land, or nearby.

4) Crops and/or some animals raised for profit, such as cattle and sheep, attract preditors including bears, and most farm owners are more than happy to have some hunters on their land who can care for that problem – if for one reason or another they can’t do it themselves.

5) If the hunter(s) is respectful of both property and owner, and is successful in harvesting a bear, he will be welcomed back!

6) Removable ladder stands and trail cams can be used without fear of them being meddled with or stolen – usually!

** In this regard, a hunter who is observant of a fence down and fixes it, or calls attention of the situation to the owner, or is helpful in other ways, will be gladly welcomed should other hunts on that property be available, such as for deer!

Negatives:

1) Some inconveniences such as gates, locks, fences, and remembering details of the agreement/contract, and any other implications therein.

2) Family members showing up unexpectedly or inconveniently at crucial moments of the hunt.

3) Domestic animals interfering with the bait setup! There were four hobby horses on the property we did bear hunts on for eight years. And YES, they got into the bait barrel – though sometimes it provided extra entertainment and was hilarious! And one of the four – the black one – got killed by an aggressive bear we were hunting!

The TIMING of BAITING

This has reference to WHEN to start the baiting process for a particular hunt, and how OFTEN thereafter.

A lot depends on the season, location and when the hunter schedules his/her hunt. We’ll discuss more of this when we talk about SOLO hunts vs. with an OUTFITTER or PARTNERS.

Assuming for the moment that it’s a DIY hunt, as I did for several years, the spring season commenced the middle of April, so I was out scouting by April 1st. The problem with that was, while at my home the snow and ice were usually gone, one hour further north there was still snow and ice in the timber of Crown Land, and many bears hadn’t yet emerged from their dens! So what was the big hurry? Actually, my first hunt was with an outfitter the 2nd week of May and it was hot! But here I’m speaking of my 1st original spring season, without an outfitter, and a few others following until I learned that baiting could wait until the snow and ice were gone! After a few seasons – both spring and fall – the spring season was shut down by our Premier who was intimidated by a wealthy industrialist who threatened to expose him as a “baby bear killer”! So, I was left with the fall hunt only, which proved to be sort of a blessing in disquise! I missed the nasty and infamous “black flies” of May, and didn’t have to rush anything! The fall season began Sept. 1st and I started baiting the middle of August, and did so for many subsequent years, even after the Spring Bear Hunt was restored.

As a general rule, I’d say, have the scouting done several months to a year in advance, and start the baiting process a few weeks prior to opening day if you intend to start then. If your hunt is later than opening day, then still plan on a baiting start at least a couple of weeks prior, and a full month in advance would be better still. There are several variables of course: the weather and natural food sources for bears (don’t try to draw them away from that, but bait nearby), etc. Too early in the spring can mean extreme cold and wet conditions, depending on where you live and hunt. Yes, we’ve experienced that too! That’s another reason I came to prefer a September-October hunt; better weather and no bad bugs and mosquitos.

How often during the hunt? And that depends also on a number of factors: A DIY hunt is usual because of logistics and economics. So it’s not a commercial operation that often is seen on YouTube or in a magazine production. The whole idea of a “Do-It-Yourself” is efficiency and simplicity. No huge dollars invested. A few smaller containers or a single barrel job will suffice (see pics). If I’m alone, and the site is within an hours drive, I check it twice weekly and that tells me everything I need or want to know: I then hunt over “fresh” bait (may be smelly – it needs to be) taking some with me on each visit.

< You can see where bears were coming for a visit and food (at 2 o’clock in the pic). They make and follow their own trails, and other bears will follow that too. I had just refreshed the site with stuff from home. Yep, a couple of bears got shot there. This was our first location for baiting on that old farm mentioned above. I chose it based on my eight seasons experience with the outfitter, Norm Easto, in NE Ontario.

<I could back right up to the bait site. Note the bear trail coming in at the bottom of the pic. This was the same private land. The bait was situated about 80 yards further north on the same side of the same field – about a year or two later. I wasn’t using a trail cam at the time.

<And this was my stand location.

Til the next: Black Bear Hunting over Bait – P3

Shalom: And a blessed Christmas time and a happy-healthy 2023!

BOB MITCHELL

Black Bear Hunting Over Bait – P1

About 1/4 century ago I wrote a manual on this topic, but due to other more important events taking place in our lives at the time it never got the marketing it deserved. The full manuscript, including photos, were stored in my computer at the time, but that was several computers ago and despite attempts to find and retrieve several manuscripts, they appear to be lost – which may be a blessing!

Yet a few of my blogs published on Word Press have contained some of that material, which has been achived, but I’ll not do the tedious task of reviewing them or publishing their dates. Rather, I’ll start with a clean sheet, sharing what I’ve learned, and still learning, from thirty-four years of hunting black bears, primarily in the use of baits, but not exclusively.

<This monster was shot using bait as a lure. Over 600 lbs with guts in... not mine but by a fellow hunter.

And we’ll break it down this way in a series of blogs:

WHY use BAIT as a method for bear hunting?

WHAT bait is best?

HOW to use bait.

LOCATION of baits

TIMING of placing baits

SECURING of sites

SPRING or FALL?

SETUP

WHEN to HUNT (time of day and weather)

BEAR psychology

FIREARMS

OUTFITTER or SOLO or with PARTNERS?

RETRIEVAL & PROCESSING

The MEAT?

These will not all be separate blogs, but individual subjects within a selection of blogs in, more or less, a logical order. With a primary focus on one or more of these topics, there will necessarily be some overlapping.

Bait hunting of black bear is a common method in most of Canada, with few exceptions – British Columbia being a significant one. There are of course other jurisdictions in North America where baiting for bear in hunting is both legal and a common practice. If unsure, check with authorities.

The reason for baiting bear for hunting purposes is found in our first topic:

WHY use BAIT as a METHOD for BEAR HUNTING?

Notice, it’s “a” method, not the only! There are also spot-and-stock, tracking, still hunting, hunting over a carcus, running with dogs etc, which are common practices by hunters for other game animals or predators as well. Hunting over a carcus, of course, has the same motive as baiting. Then, as we know, most sport fishing uses lures or baits – with the same motive: insuring success!

While checking out a new area last year (Sept/2021) for placing a bear bait, I ran into a couple of grouse hunters coming out of the woods to their vehicle; they looked rather “down at the mouth” so I stopped, asking “How’s it going?”. They were seeing nothing they said, and asked if I had any suggestions. I made a couple, and added: “Watch out for bears in this area!”. ” Bears in this area? We’ve been hunting birds in these woods for years and have yet to see a bear!” To which I replied: “Neither have I except when hunting them using bait!”. They had some difficulty believing me!

<And the smart ones are nocturnal… note the time:11:31 pm!

While there are some “authorities” and influencers against baiting for bears, wolves, cougers, etc, success in such adventures would result in high expendatures in money, energy and time with little to no success in most Canadian wildernesses and forested areas unless bait is used. I’ve only seen one bear in the wild that wasn’t attracted to a bait, and that big male was responding to my moose call!

Bears, like most wild creatures, are attracted to food sources: natural, agricultural or as a gift from hunters, campers, hikers, etc. Their other main activity is induced by a powerful attraction for the opposite sex during the warmer months of June, July and into August. But bears spend most of their lives in looking for food and eating it! When they find a steady source they will live in that area, and females will bring their young there too, which assures that following seasons will find the same bears plus their offsprings at the same location, whether it be a corn field or bait location for bear hunting.

A practical and ethical advantage of using baits is that it gives an opportunity to see a bear close up in determining its sex and condition, and whether this is a bear I’d want to shoot. Some bears are “trophy” quality even though they may not be in feet and inches! The last bear I shot was in mid-October, 2015, and to me it was “special” and therefore a “trophy”. It was a relatively young six-footer that only weighed 200 lbs, but was very smart! In fact, for about two weeks that bear and I were in a contest as to who could outsmart the other! He wanted the bait but wouldn’t come to it as long as I was “there” in my tree stand! And I knew when he arrived every time I was there! I never saw him but he was given away each time by a red squirrel at 6 pm, not more than 25 – 30 yards from me, hidden away by the thick foliage and underbrush. Bears are silent when walking a trail or even through underbrush, but can sound like a bulldozer at work if they want to intimidate – more on that latter when we discuss a bear’s psychology.

< My “trophy bear”, and I finally outsmarted him!

WHAT BAIT is BEST?

Bears will eat almost anything. Therefore, we need to give that some thought when we choose locations. Dump bears will taste like dump food! We can’t hunt bears within 400 meters of ANY dump, private or public. But I wouldn’t knowingly hunt bears within a few miles of a dump because they travel in response to smells, and a few miles is an afternoon stroll for them.

Sweets attract bears like bees to honey – speaking of which: If you have a friend in the honey business, or such a business nearby (say, within 50 k/30 m) that processes raw honey, talk with them as to any refuse or what goes as waste. Usually it’s saturated with whatever can’t go into a container for sale. That’s what I did for +20 years, because bears are attracted to honey just like bees. And bears don’t seem to be overly bothered if they get stung in robbing bee hives! And there will be lots of hornets, wasps and bees at your bait site if you use a honey product!

And ice creme is a delicasie to them as well, melted or still frozen – we have a well-known plant nearby that throws out 5 gallon containers of “good” ice cream that didn’t go to stores – it wasn’t wasted on the bears even in liquid form.

Then stuff from your freezer that’s been there too long: Meats fresh or stale. Seasonal corn on the cob, other veggies and fruits (apples from old farm orchards), canned goods with the lid open enough for smells to escape – I’ve used canned cat food on sale, etc.

Oats in any form, often sold in sacs for pets and/or farm use. Pour in some bulk molasses on top. Use your imagination! A lot of leftovers (and good food) goes to the dump – instead, make a donation to the bear food bank!

< And they’ll attempt to eat the can as well as what’s in it!

We’ve had bears walk off with 5 gal. plastic honey buckets (empty of honey) filled with anything a bear will eat! Sometimes months, or even years later we find a bucket hundreds of yards from the bait site. And THAT tells us the direction of where bears come from during the season before heading for hibernation late fall/early winter.

5 gal. plastic buckets that once held raw honey, then in my vehicle were loaded with saturated honey filters, from the production facility. Each loaded bucket weighed 30 – 40 lbs -this became bear food!

< Just imagine the size jaw that clamped onto this 5 gal. bucket!

< This one is still on that knoll. As one of my bear bait buckets in that area, it has been used by deer, moose and bear hunters as a seat over the past 25 years – including by myself this past fall!

Which suggests some ideas on:

HOW to USE BAIT

Til the next… Black Bear Hunting over Bait – P2

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

The Saga of the 300gr TSX in Two .458 Caliber Rifles

Those rifles were a Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT, which I had an enduring relationship with, and still maintain pleasant memories of till this day. The other is my current Ruger No.1H in .458 Winchester Magnum that has become a favorite.

Yet I’ve lamented not having more of those excellent 300gr TSX bullets available for hunting purposes. That’s not to suggest I’m poor in .458-caliber projectiles. Without counting each bullet individually, a quick count of 24 boxes of .458″ bullets – some still full but most with anywhere from around 20% to 80% still available – an educated guess would be around 500 available as hunting bullets. But the majority are intended for large and dangerous game. And some of those will find use in range shooting for testing MV and accuracy in the use of appropriate propellants, while others will get tested in various media for weight retention and penetration. Those are my current plans, subject, of course, to potential events over which I’ll not have control.

For hunting purposes in this area, bear will be the main target along with some potential predators. For that I’ll load up the 250gr MonoFlex from Hornady and the 300gr TSX by Barnes at about the same MVs. I could use one or the other without changing much, with the 250 for practice and short range hunting.

The SAGA: I first came across those 300gr TSXs in 2013 at the same store as the most recent find on the last day of November/2022. That was at EPPS a few miles north of Orillia in Ontario, about an hour’s drive NW of my home. I’ve done a lot of business with them over the past forty years or so. Originally, I bought four boxes (80) of Barnes 300gr TSXs at $29 and change for each. That works out to a bit over $33 with tax in – exactly what I paid last week for the only box remaining in their inventory nine years later! How’s that for inflation missing out on a chance to make me poorer over “the way things are going”?

Since my Number 1H in .458 is yet to be bloodied, that’s the best all-around bullet of my current “500” in .458-cal for hunting Central and Northern Ontario for the species I’ll hunt – God willing – over the next few hunting years left to me, if the Federal Government doesn’t steal my guns before that! (The Ruger No.1 is on the list of those to be banned!!! That’s not law yet, but it’s on an amendment list to Bill C21 that involves thousands of long guns!)

But let me tell why that relatively light for caliber TSX has impressed me:

1. Its MV
2. Its accuracy
3. Its toughness
4. Its penetration
5. Its recoil

In 2013 they were bought for my Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT as a hunting bullet. Since that rifle had proven it could safely fire the 500gr Hornadys accurately at ~2200 fps, the 450 AF at +2300 fps, and the 350gr TSX at 2600 fps, I was quite realistic in believing it could shoot the 300gr TSX at 2700 fps. As a fact, my records show it attained 2645 fps/4660 ft-lbs from 68 grains of H4198 in March, 2014, and 2741 fps/5004 ft-lbs in April, 2014, from 70 grains of H4198. However, 68 grains of H4198 under the 300gr TSX became my “standard load” for that rifle over the next several years, though it shot everything well, including: 500gr Hornady RN Interlocs at ~ 2200 fps, 480gr DGXs at +2200 fps, 400gr Colorado Custom RN (original Barnes), 405gr Remington, 350gr TSX, etc.

From 10 ft, the 300gr TSX (on the right) was fired from my #1 in .45-70 LT into a box of dry books and glossy magazines at about 2650 fps and weighed 300 grains after that ordeal. It out-penetrated a 286gr Partition from my 9.3 x 62 by several inches, which retained 73% at 209 grains when shot from 10 ft at about 2640 fps – and it was quite disfigured (I think after it was “punched” by the 300gr TSX!)

< The 300 TSX on R, the remains of the 286 Partition in center. And a 286 Partition from a bear that also retained 73% at 211 grains. See the dimple in the disgruntled one? That’s where it got punched as it wandered into the path of the big fella on the far right! Do we understand the significance of all this… why that “little” Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT became my favorite all-time BG rifle?

And that “little” bullet was it’s perfect match!

Still, the Saga continues in it’s new found friend – another Ruger single-shot, the 1H in .458 Winchester Magnum!

It is singing a new song at a higher pitch!!< Add 20 fps for correction to MV as that number was recorded at 15 feet from the muzzle! And I’ve recorded higher than that but no pic was taken.

However, my current hunting load will be much milder: With four in the buttstock cartridge holder, overall weight will be 10.75 lbs, and that will assist in the reduction of the speed of recoil, down to around 14.5 fps with further assistance from those Mag-Na-Ports. In foot-pounds that will work out to 35. At this stage of my life (87 a few days after Christmas) every fps reduction in recoil thrust helps, though good accuracy will be foremost.

It has been repeated a zillion times that a lighter monolithic expanding bullet can do the work of an older and heavier type cup-and-core. I believe that, but also better than some premiums with bonded lead cores – subject, of course, to some variables that always seem to happen in any hunt. If there is a weakness with the TSX it’s their toughness – a perfect paradox! So…. they work best on tougher and larger critters when hit through the shoulders, or at an angle where penetration must be deeper and longer. That’s been pretty much established to cause adequate expansion of the petals. For that reason Barnes added the polymer tip in the cavity of some to initiate expansion more quickly as well as to increase the ballistic coefficient to maintain adequate velocity for expansion at longer ranges.

A fellow contributor to the .458 Win Mag thread on 24hr Campfire (“The great .458 Winchester Magnum… everyone should at least own one”) by the handle of “Cold Trigger Finger (CTF) has greatly impressed me with his use of that “little” 300gr TSX. You see, he lives and works with heavy equipment in some remote parts of Alaska and has had to defend himself against grizzly attacks more than a few times at “in your face” ranges! His weapon is a short-barreled .458 Win Mag firing handloaded 300gr TSX’s. He has stopped and killed several big bears with that “little” 300gr TSX at an MV of about 2700 fps!

Some will argue, of course, that they’ve had no problems with expansion of TSX’s in their experience. However, it’s very likely they’ve been shooting lighter BG with smaller calibers and light-for-caliber TSX’s. For example: a 130gr TSX BT at 3150 fps from a .308 Win on a 165 lb whitetail at 120 yards is still going 2867 fps at impact! That would be total devastation from any angle! And the bullet would never be found for examination. Without a second thought, I think that bullet would have retained 130 grains in a fully expanded form! The same for still smaller calibers and lighter bullets. Because they can be pushed faster than a “normal weight” bullet, and because they retain about 100% of unfired weight, no argument prevails against using a “lighter-for-caliber” projectile.

Yet for heavy and potentially dangerous game (an Alaskan grizzly) a 300gr/.458 TSX is also a light-for-caliber projectile that performs well above its weight expectations! It’s main fault, of course, is its relatively low BC of 234. And that means that despite stratospheric MVs, they plummet rather quickly! A heavy .458″ bullet will be started much slower but maintains its downrange speed much better. So it’s somewhat of a balancing act.

A light-for-caliber has a flatter trajectory with less recoil, but may lack the “punch” necessary at distance!

Here’s the scoop on my currently proposed load for that 300gr TSX from my Ruger No.1H in .458 Winchester Maganum:

Bullet: 300gr TSX

BC: .234

SD: .204

MV: 2752 fps/5037 ft-lbs (330 fps less than a top load from the same 300 TSX from six grains less of H4198)

Propellant: 75 grains of H4198, Rem cases, WLRM primers, 3.32″ COL. Three fired on Oct 8/19: 2734, 2728 and 2736. Add 20 to each for correction to MV. This load was fired on Oct 8, 2019 at our range. They went into 7/8″ (.875″) at 100 yards.

Recoil = 35 ft-lbs at 10.75 lbs.

Recoil velocity = 14.5 fps

As stated: 2 lbs extra weight isn’t to be feared, but 35 ft-lbs spread over 14.5 fps is considerably better than a 500gr at 2200 fps from an 8.5 lb rifle making 72 ft-lbs – that being my former love affair! But yes, that 300gr TSX at 2650 fps from the Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT was adequate for most things to 325 yards at 46 ft-lbs recoil – 11 ft-lbs more than in my current proposed load of 2750 fps (100 fps faster) in the Ruger No.1H…

So the trade off is (using the same 300gr TSX) 2750 fps vs 2650 fps – a 100 fps distinction. That’s about 25 yards difference for the same effect on the same game animal or DG = 350 yards to keep impact velocity above 1600 fps for the Ruger 1H in .458. Then, a saving of 11 ft-lbs in recoil for two extra pounds of weight! Was it worth it? To me… Yes! Another advantage: less pressure insures longer case life for the .458. And… 2980 fps from that “little” 300 TSX would only add another 60 yards to its effective range over 2750 fps.

And (again)…. in a full life of around 70 years as a hunter, the farthest I’ve ever killed anything with a rifle was…? 350 yards! Don’t tell anybody, but those were groundhogs… you know… woodchucks, NOT ground squirrels! There’s a big difference (at least to a .22 LR), a ground hog can outweigh a ground squirrel by 2 – 3X… that’s why I always choose a bigger cannon – not that we have ground squirrels in this part of the world – but my “larger cannon” was a .223 Rem! Have you ever been charged by a woodchuck? I’ve seen it happen… that can be frightening… it clamped its jaws tight on a hunting boot of my SIL! I didn’t dare shoot his boot with the latched-on-woodchuck because his toes were in there somewhere…

Till the next,

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

Recent Penetration Tests Special

Several readers of these blogs are aware that I had proposed another penetration test of some .458-caliber bullets that had been purchased since the last test on November 21, 2017. At that time I still owned my favorite rifle – the Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT, and that was the instrument for testing (in similar media as this recent test) the following eight bullets in .458-caliber: a 500gr Speer African Grand Slam, a 480gr DGX (non-bonded), a 500gr Hornady Interloc RNSP, a 400gr Barnes Buster, a 330gr Barnes Banded Solid, a 350gr Hornady RN, a 350gr Barnes TSX, and another 350gr Barnes TSX (modified by a slightly larger cavity to 340gr actual). I’ve written quite a bit about the results from that test, so will add nothing new here.

The recent test of November 16/22 was to involve five bullets, new to me, two of which were of more recent production, and three having a much longer history. The more recent products were: a 250gr MonoFlex by Hornady, and a 500gr Bonded DGX by Hornady. Those of a longer record were: a 600gr Barnes Original, a 550gr Woodleigh Weldcore SN, and a 450gr Swift A-Frame.

On August 10/18, I traded by beloved Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT for the Ruger No.1H in .458 Winchester Magnum. I’ve previously published details of that exchange on several occasions. It amounts to not lust but pragmatism: aging, less recoil, same ballistics, protecting one good eye, and dealing with severe arthritic attacks. I’d rather carry two extra pounds that reduces recoil from 60 ft-lbs to 40 ft-lbs. And that is my current test platform and hunting companion.

Some pics:

< All essentials for the test were brought from my SUV to the site (a prime bear bait site) on my sno-sled. It’s also great for transporting medium size fall-winter game to my SUV.

< The location: I was standing in a few inches of wet snow, below the box that was almost eye level at about 10 feet from me. The box was tilted slightly back so bullets wouldn’t go out the bottom. The fall bear-bait site was on the relatively flat area just above and back of the box.

< Up close.

RESULTS:

LEFT to RIGHT: 250gr Hornady MonoFlex; 450gr Swift AF; 500gr Hornady, and 550gr Woodleigh

1) The 250gr MonoFlex penetrated 4″, 94% weight retained, expanded to .8″ MV = 2685 fps.

2) The 600gr Barnes O. missed box low (much slower than the 250). MV = 1600 fps.

3) The 450gr Swift AF penetrated 6″, retained 350 gr (78%) and expanded to .675″, MV = 1925 fps.

4) The 500gr DGX penetrated 8″, retained 314.5 gr (63%) and expanded to .72″. MV = 1850 fps.

5) The 550gr Woodleigh penetrated 5″, retained 287grains (52%) and expanded to .82″, MV = 1665 fps.

NOTE: In general, multiply the above inches of penetration by a factor of 6 to 10 in animal flesh and bone, unless a heavy bone such as a ball joint is involved. This media, made of “wedged-in” glossy-dry magazines is “bone tough”. And of course, where the animal is hit, angle and structure of animal are all significant factors in penetration. One bullet from my .340 Wby, up close, made it from stern to stem on a bull moose – at least 6 feet (72 inches). It was found by the butcher in the front part of the chest cavity – a 250gr Nosler Partition leaving the muzzle at ~3000 fps and impact velocity at about 2660 fps. It retained 71% of initial weight.

A 300gr TSX/.458″ out-penetrated a 286gr/9.3mm Partition in similar test media. The 300 TSX was fired fron my former Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT at 2650 fps, and the 286gr at 2640 fps from my Tikka T3 into the same media on the same date. The TSX retained 100% weight and the 286 retained 209gr/73%. The TSX penetrated 8″ and the 286 about 5″. On a good bear, the 286 Partition at 2620 fps penetrated 30″ retaining, again, 73% at 211 grs. But the 286 into media was from about 10 ft whereas the one into the bear was from 68 yards. The 286 shot into the media was severely disfigured while still holding on to 73%. So, my estimate of penetration in inches into tough media could rationally be multiplied by a factor of 6 to 10 in game depending on some factors already mentioned.

<L to R: 600gr Barnes Original, 550gr Woodleigh Weldcore SN, 500gr Hornady DGX – Bonded, 450gr Swift A-Frame, and 250gr Hornady MonoFlex

Comments:

My initial response is that I was glad to get it done before the full force of winter hit us! I’d planned for Monday, 21st November, but due to a quick turn in the weather to below freezing with a snowstorm on the weekend, I had to postpone it. But by Wednesday, it turned much milder with cloudy conditions so that worked well enough. There was abut 4″ of heavy, wet and melting snow that served ideally for pulling the loaded sled (box of magazines weighed 50 lbs) from the SUV to the site about 200 yards into the woods. But standing and moving about in the wet-slippery snow wasn’t ideal for steady offhand shooting of the .458 at little dots on the end of the box!

So… I thought…. Humm, perhaps the best idea would be to first shoot the relatively light recoiling 250gr MonoFlex as its aiming point was the box’s end center dot! That would help in understanding what “logistics” should be employed for the others with much heavier recoiling effect (in the slippery snow!). Thankfully, while not fully conscious of it, I knew quite a bit about maintaining equilibrium in slippery conditions on an uneven surface! I grew up in a fishing community on the East Coast, a good part of which was aboard the Norwin, a 70′ dragger on the Atlantic where a dry, flat deck was never an experience!

But even that first shot caught me somewhat off guard… I slid backwards and nearly lost my footing… but didn’t, thankfully! So I was ready, I thought, for the 600gr Barnes that would dish out nearly 40 ft-lbs… but wasn’t! I shot low, missing not only the 1″ black circle, but the box itself! (well… it was the “dot” only a couple of inches above the bottom of the box – and I didn’t compensate enough for slower velocity and the bore being 1.6″ lower than the scope reticle… those are my excuses!). But I managed to compensate for the final three, that produced good results from 4 of the 5.

Take Aways:

The little 250gr MonoFlex impressed me, all matters considered. That was my current hunting load for bear and deer. MV was 2685 fps (last record at the range), and while it penetrated the least, yet it retained a much higher percentage of its initial weight than the others at 94%, plus a wide cavity from .8″ expansion! In the words of Dr Ron Berry (Riflecrank) on 24hr Campfire: “That 250-gr Monoflex with 94% weight retention at such high speed is mighty impressive, impressive expansion too.

“Half the weight and half the penetration but wider wound channel. That is going to leave a mark inside of the animal yet not on the shooter’s shoulder.”

Words of wisdom, and I fully agree!

Currently, the plan for the 600gr Barnes’ O is to give it a test, along with a few others, sometime in the spring of 2023.

No surprises from the 450gr Swift A-Frame. It retained the highest % of its unfired weight at 77.8% (350 grains), and weighed more than any others, including the 500gr Hornady DGX- Bonded. But it also expanded very quickly in the media indicating it could be effective on smaller game like whitetails.

Basically, they performed much as foreseen and predicted, but Ron and I both felt that the 500gr DGX by Hornady would out-penetrate all others by a significant margin, and it didn’t disappoint in that regard. However, though it will kill anything that walks (or swims) this planet, it is ideal for the biggest and baddest! And it is more readily available (and cheaper) than the 450gr Swift. I bought my box of 450 Swifts many years ago, and the price was steep even then at $75 for 50. I still have a few remaining that I’ll use for testing. Hornadys are a bargain in comparison.

One of my all time favorites for my former Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT was the 300gr TSX, and so it is now for the .458 Win Mag. I’ve fired more of those in tests than any other bullet in any caliber. But I never pulled the trigger on my .45-70 LT on game when loaded with that gem. Came close a couple of times over bear baits but no go. I got a good buy at the time, and being very aware of the scarcity of many wanted component bullets by handloaders, I despaired of ever seeing them again. But Tuesday of this past week I trekked to my favorite shop an hour away, to check on availability of some bullets and cases, and found a single box (20) of the 300gr Barnes TSXs at the same price I’d paid for each of four boxes nine years ago!

This is what one looked like after penetrating tough dry-magazines media, and like the 500gr Hornady-Bonded in this latest test, it made 8 inches penetration, busted the back end of the box and scattered magazines across the snow!

<It retained 100% weight, hitting the bullet box at 2650 fps.

God permitting, and cooperation from the weather, I’m hoping to do some predator hunting till the end of this year.

Till the next: the saga of the 300gr TSXs in two rifles, and Frank who found that single box for me last Tuesday, and shared some of his own story from a hunting family with a father who was a handloader ‘BACK IN THE DAY’, and shot his last moose at age 87!

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

“Praise the LORD, my soul;

All my inmost being,

Praise his holy name!” – Psalm 103

Comparing The .35 Whelen and The .338 Winchester Magnum

I like ’em both, and have owned three of each. We know what they’ve done and can do in the hunting world, so there’s little point in argueing a case for one over the other in that regard. So what’s left to consider by way of comparison?

The .35 Whelen predates the .338 Win Mag by thirty-six years so it has a head start. But no rifle or ammo company legitimized it until Remington did so in 1988. By that time the .338 had an advantage of thirty years of commercial support that was lacking for the Whelen. Technical knowledge for the Whelen ultimately rested on the shoulders of wildcatters and experimenters.

Nonetheless, the .35 Whelen not only survived but was praised by some very experienced writers in the sport. It seemed to fill a niche that to that point in time was not met by the big ammo and rifle companies, but was a steady order for custom rifle builders.

It was that good in the view and experience of several influential hunters. Yet there were a number of hurdles to be overcome before general acceptance by the hunting public: 1) A lack of readily available quality bullets in .35-caliber, especially suitable for the potential power of the .35 Whelen, and heavier than 200 grains; 2) A lack of recognition and promotion by the sporting press; 3) The belief that .333 caliber was better due to O’Neil, Keith and Hopkins (OKH) who promoted it, and 4) .333-caliber had slightly better downrange ballistics due to better SDs and BCs per equal bullet weights because of being a smaller caliber (.338-cal was adopted by Winchester for their magnum). And, to add a fifth obstacle: A poor understanding of how to measure PSI as reflected in Remington’s standard of 2400 fps for a 250gr, that only made 2247 fps for ten over my Chrony!

Enter the new era! Since the production of SPEER’s reloading manual #14, there’s been quite a stir over their published results for their 250gr HC at ~2700 fps and their 220gr FP at up to 2828 fps/3908 ft-lbs, using relatively new and untried propellants in the .35 Whelen. Four of the best in relative burn rates were: IMR 8208 XBR, Alliant Pro Varmint, CFE 223 and Alliant 2000-MR. Alliant Pro Varmint recorded the highest MV for the 220gr at 2828 fps, and CFE 223 the second highest at 2786 fps. COL was 3.060″ for the 220gr which meant it was seated to the cannelure. Mention was made of that bullet in a recent blog as perfect for the .356 Winchester for which it was origional created. I’ve loaded it for my son’s .356 at far less MV than what is possible from a .35 Whelen – in fact I’d NEVER load it to +2800 fps for my Whelen, or even close to that as, first of all, it was made for a high of around 2400 fps, and secondly, the 225s made for the Whelen have better-tougher construction and much higher BCs. But from a .356 at 2200 to 2400 fps it’s dynamite! My load for Brent’s rifle took a nice buck last year and a better one this year at 43 yards:

<It was walking towards him and he shot it at 43 yards in the neck. MV was ~2245 and impact was ~ 2124/2203 ft-lbs – plenty for an Alaskan bull moose or grizzly at that range = 50TE

<Four vertebrae demolished

<And only 10 lbs of neck and torso meat saved as deer burger!

<Remains of the Speer 220gr found in torso.

As previously reported in these pages, many .35 Whelen aficionados were already loading their rifles to 2550 – 2600 fps for 250 grainers, pre 1988 when it was legitimized by Remington at Saami. But no one knew at what pressures. It finally came out that 52,000 CUP was 62,000 PSI, and a couple or three NEW powders were making 2700 fps possible for particular 250 grainers from 24″ barrels within specs! So from a 22″, 2650 fps is likely very reasonable from particular barrels and components in bullets and powders. But the only way to measure that is by Col. Whelen’s method – lacking a lab for testing individual rifles and loads – by appearances of how everything worked: The rifle’s action and fired cases! Unless we go to the expense of strain guages and/or QuickLoad, that’s all that’s left! Manuals, you say! Oh yeah, they’re OK, but just another tool that may confound and confuse issues… how many have you used that agree with each other?

I’m still old school when it comes to that… primer pockets, how many case firings, case head expansion, bolt lift, etc. In my view from forty-plus years of making my own from the .22 Hornet to the mighty .458 Win Mag, I’ve not come across readily accessible science better than that! Short of the rifle blowing-up, after firing if spent primers fall out, that’s WAY TOO MUCH pressure! If the bolt handle has to be hit with a mallet to open, that’s WAY TOO MUCH pressure! Etc. You get the picture: I like, for most cartridges, a case life of five firings, minimum, unless it’s evident from former experience that a particular lot of cases is “soft” or “hard”. I’ve had both and adjust expectations accordingly.

Some say they dislike “compressed charges”, without rational thought or research. Many loads in manuals (which “they” follow as “gospel”) have hundreds of “compressed loads”, and at times by nearly 120%!

Right now, in my .35 Whelen, cases that have been fired six times could be used a couple more times at “max”- that I’ve settled on as “max”. There’s absolutely NOTHING in my manuals that is helpful in that regard, except “old school” methodology! I’ve read some helpful “news” online, but even that is significantly variable as to what others are doing in their experiments! I “neck size” my Rem .35 Whelen brass, and I’m sure that has spared over-working of the cases. The point is, we are individual handloaders who have our own somewhat limited thoughts and goals for a rifle, its chambering and expected results. No two individuals will produce or get identical results from two of anything – like cooking recipes, or handloading recipes!

My .35 Whelen cases, after neck sizing, will hold 70 grains of CFE 223 (double-base ball powder) with very mild compression when a 225gr AccuBond is seated to 3.45″ COL. The same case will hold 67 grains of RL-17 (double-base stick powder which is more bulky), with significantly more compression in seating the same bullet to 3.45″ COL. Supposedly, RL-17 is much slower than CFE 223, but pressure “signs” would not suggest that in this combination. On the contrary, CFE 223 “appears” to have a SLOWER burn rate in this combination which means more of it can be useful for a higher MV at less pressure. 57 grains of anything will NOT bring the best from this old girl!

There are a few things I know for certain, and that is that my .35 Whelen is sturdily built, relatively light and handy, very accurate, and powerful enough for my expectations and purposes. But at least for now, I’ll stick with it’s current hunting load: 225gr AccuBond at 2850 fps MV/4059 ft-lbs and sub-MOA. Keeping in mind that’s from a 22″ barrel, then how would that compare with a 22″- .338 Winchester Magnum? (As I type this there are two Tikka T3 Lites in .338 Win Mag for sale at Epps – where I bought an identical rifle in 2011 chambered in 9.3 x 62, but with 22.4″ barrel instead of the 24.4″ on the .338s.)

Nosler gives credit for the 225gr AccuBond in .338″ from a 24″ .338 Win Mag Wiseman test barrel at 2882 fps. They used Winchester cases, Fed 215 primers, 71.5 grains of IMR4350, and a 3.34″ COL. Typically, a test barrel will give higher results than run of the mill factory rifles, but we’ll not discount that. In good faith we’ll give full credit. But, in good faith we must also subtract the potential effect of the barrel loosing a couple of inches to make matters more equitable. And, a 22″ Win Mag would be slightly handier. But a reasonable loss from less 2-inches might well be 25 fps per inch = 2882 – 50 = 2832 fps from the 225gr AccuBond.

That’s pretty close to my .35 Whelen at 2850 fps, which is somewhat variable from several trials at the range which, in any case, is always expected. But a test of 70 grains of CFE 223 upped the MV to 2874 without negatives, so I’ll go with that for my boomer, calling it 2875 (looking neater).

< The 225gr AB on the right at 3.45″ COL with 69 grains of CFE 223. On the left is a former load for my Rem 7400, reloaded with RL-15 at 3.34″ with the old 225gr Nosler BT.

The structures of the two 225gr ABs would be similar, except for the differences in SD and BC, which in those two the .338 has a distinct downrange advantage with an SD of .281 and a .550 BC vs .251 SD and .421 BC for the .358-caliber. In simple terms, the .358-cal is shorter and fatter making it less aerodynamic. BUT! At least one user of the 225/.358 says that the REAL BC of the .35-cal is between .460 – .470 BC in his shooting to 700 yards! And that’s believable to me since Nosler downgraded it due to some insability from their test barrel – it didn’t “go to sleep” until it reached the 100 yard marker. But that’s a problem with the rifling in one barrel! Yet the experience of others, including myself, have had nothing but perfect .358″ holes in targets at 50 yards!

If the BC of their 225 Partition in .358″ is truly .430, then the 225 AB should be much higher due to it’s more aerodynamic shape, as is the case with the two 225gr .338″ at .454 for the Partition and .550 for the AccuBond! That’s a difference of nearly 100 points, why not the same for the 225 AB vs the 225 Partition in .358-caliber? If so, then that would make the 225gr AB with a BC of around .530, which makes more sense. Nonetheless, since the sectional density (SD) of a bullet is a major player in its ballistic coefficient (BC), I’ll base my conclusion of what the real BC for the 225 AB in .358 should be, given the same graphics. The 225 AB in .358-cal has an SD of .251 (regardless of profile), and the 225 AB in .338-cal has an SD of .281, so the .358-cal 225 is 89% in SD of the .338-cal SD in 225gr. So… 89% of the .338’s BC of .550 = .490 BC for the 225gr AB in .358-cal. Voila, I’m going with that!

Regardless, either one in the .338 Win or .35 Whelen is impressive in results at long distances. Yet Nosler’s manual notes that the most accurate load for the 225gr AccuBond in .338 was from 74 grains of RL-19 at 2782 fps with a load density of 105%. I too have exerienced that RL-19 gave best overall results from my .338 Win Mags – and in general for 225s which proved more challenging in that regard.

The .35 Whelen – zero: non specific depending on scope setting and range intended. Ambient conditions: my hunting areas in fall/spring. elevation: 1200 ft, temp 60*, RH = 60%

Bullet: 225 AccuBond

SD = .251

BC = .490

MV = 2875 fps/4129 ft-lbs (Hunting load = 2840 fps from 69 grains CFE 223. Test load of 70 grains CFE 223 = 2875 fps)

100 = 2695 fps/3627 ft-lbs

200 = 2522 fps/3177 ft-lbs

300 = 2355 fps/2771 ft-lbs

400 = 2195 fps/2407 ft-lbs

500 = 2041 fps/2081 ft-lbs

600 = 1894 fps/1791 ft-lbs

700 = 1753 fps/1536 ft-lbs/ 42.2 TE (Adequate for a mature bull elk hit through heart-lungs, assuming bullet expansion.)*

• This was a definite surprise to me. From one poster on 24 hr campfire, I had read this, though at a slower MV and much higher elevation than I’m using, claiming .460 – .470 BC and expansion at a much lower impact velocity than claimed by Nosler. He had killed mature elk at this range using his .35 Whelen AI loaded with the 225gr AccuBond. Of course, he was using a “tricked-out” scope. Today’s bullets, along with some new powders, have changed the game!

The .338 Winchester Magnum – same conditions as for the .35 Whelen.

Bullet: 225gr AccuBond

SD = .281

BC = .550

MV = 2832 fps/4006 ft-lbs

100 = 2673 fps/3568 ft-lbs

200 = 2519 fps/3170 ft-lbs

300 = 2370 fps/2807 ft-lbs

400 = 2227 fps/2477 ft-lbs

500 = 2088 fps/2178 ft-lbs

600 = 1955 fps/1908 ft-lbs:

700 = 1827 fps/1667 ft-lbs

So the .338 Win Mag is the winner of this particular contest, but not by much, and the good news is: There are NO losers!

RECOIL: My .35 Whelen from the 70gr load = 34 ft-lbs with the brake on my 7.5 lb rifle single-shot (w. scope and 1 cartridge loaded).

RECOIL: The .338 Win Mag from 71.5 (as per Nosler) = 38 ft-lbs in an 8.25 lb rifle with scope and ammo.

Overall length of rifles:

39″ for the Traditions single-shot with a 22″ barrel and brake.

42″ for a 22″ barreled .338 Win Mag.

*There are a variety of bullet weights for each: 180gr to 310gr in .358″

-and 160gr to 300gr in .338″

CONCLUSION: It’s a toss up, what one can do, so can the other.

Nit Picking: one might argue that the .338 WM has more component bullets with slightly better SDs and BCs.

-and one could counter with the indisputable fact that the .35 Whelen is more efficient due to its slightly larger bore, therefore a lighter rifle with less recoil can be used (depending on which powders for each).

For most, looking for a new medium bore rifle, choosing between those two would likely come down to which feels more comfortable to carry and shoot. But the unlikelihood of being able to do that, a choice could still be made depending on whether the hunter is a handloader or not, as well as other factors of perceived availability of rifles, ammo and components for handloads.

If you are one of the “lucky ones” and have both… ENJOY THEM!

Looking for some elk to shoot at less than 700 yards? This is less than 5 km from our range!

Till the next…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL