The .35 Whelen vs the .338 – 06

That these two have often been portrayed as combatants or at least as contenders for an uncertain crown, as to which is the best based on the parent .30-06 case, has been hammered more than a few times by authors and aficionados alike.

So, now it’s my turn.

I recall reading an article by Lane Simpson in the May-June 1986 RIFLE magazine, in which he referred to a piece by Ken Waters who posed one against the other and came to the conclusion that the .338-06 was somewhat better than the .35 Whelen. Simpson took exception to that. I happened to agree with Simpson then, and still do based on personal experience with the .35 Whelen and ballistic logic. And, I’ve used more bullets and powders than was available to Lane.

The logic is simple physics. As to my experience, the .35 Whelen under my ownership and control gave an easy 2600 fps from certain 250s. In fact, the Remington 7400 (semi) attained a high of 2645 fps from the 250gr Hornady SP over a dose of RL-15, ignited by WLRM primers. And, of course, the brass was Remington. That’s 3883 ft-lbs at the muzzle… for the curious. Today, there are verified reports (Speer and certain handloaders) of 250s flying out the muzzle of 24″ barrels at +2700 fps!! That’s .338 Win Mag territory — historically, at least. The .338 WM has also been upgraded by new powders and bullets. Incidentally, I also obtained like results from my last .350 Rem Mag, an M673.

But our topic is the .35 Whelen vs the .338-06, which was the darling of certain authors of a bygone era. “Silence” is perhaps the best descriptive term involving the .338-06 today. That hunting and shooting periodicals, and their writers, adopt certain “new” cartridges and the rifles for which they’re chambered is nothing new. The rage today is the 6.5 Creedmore. Ten years ago, or more, it was a resurgence of  interest in old Big Bores, including the introduction of a few new renditions such as the .375 and .416 Rugers. Prior to that it was the .458 Lott. Matters have gone in the opposite direction in recent times — “everyone” loves a small bore!

Still, there’s a significant group of real hunters that appreciate what has worked well in the past, and which have actually improved in efficiency with modern powders and bullets. The .35 Whelen is a great example of a cartridge proving its worth on big game since its introduction in the 1920’s by Col. Townsend Whelen and his associate James Howe. It did what was intended then and does the same just a bit better now. Success on Brown bear and giant Alaskan moose using common cup-and-core heavy bullets amply justified the faith of those who adopted it for the same work Whelen had in mind. Like its parent, the .30-06, it has stood the test of 95 years and counting. It isn’t going away any time soon as long as rifles can still be used in hunting — and hunting itself still exists.

<A .35 Whelen aficionado and his son on one of our moose hunting trips to Northern Ontario. http://www.35cal.com

What are its attributes that so aptly appeal to those who befriend it?

1. It just does a good finishing job on any animal — small to large — that it’s pointed at and the trigger squeezed.
2. Recoil isn’t significant enough to cause angst in the shooter.
3. Plenty of excellent bullets available to compliment the potential of the cartridge.
4. Its reputation is such that there’s no need to be embarrassed or fearful of success.
5. It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to own or feed. Cast bullets are known to do their mission exceedingly well.
6. In a good rifle, accuracy is excellent.
7. Overall handling and weight isn’t a burden — no more than a .30-06 of similar length and weight.
8. The best weight bullets for big game are 225s and 250s. 225s at 2700 to 2800 fps and 250s at 2500 to 2700 fps. There are both lighter bullets and heavier – please check reloading manuals.

Nonetheless, as good as the .338-06 might have been in it’s hay day, we’ll take a frank peak at it’s current potential when psi is the same as the .35 Whelen in identical length barrels.

In the early ’90’s, when I was getting serious with the idea of a .35 Whelen, ballistic logic told me that all else equal (barrel length and psi) the .35 Whelen would have a better expansion ratio (ER) than the .338-06 simply because of a 12.6% larger cross-section area bore. Then, it was simply a matter of finding the best powder/bullet combinations to demonstrate that logic.

Actually, I’ve never owned or fired a .338-06 even though my astute gunsmith tried to convince me of its Stirling qualities for anything to be hunted! But I’m an avid researcher! And nothing, so far, in all my reading and research has improved or changed my ballistic logic!

The piece alluded to by Simpson went into bullets for each, which seemed to be the main argument of the .338-06 proponents — many more available in .338″ than .358″. Basically, he debunked that assumption in pointing out that there were enough very good bullets available in .358″ for any potential hunting needs. Since Simpson’s article, there are numerous high-tec. “premiums” available today in .358-caliber, all the way from pistol bullets to 310grs from Woodleigh! Just in checking Barnes, Hornady, Nosler, Speer and Sierra manuals, I count 2 TSX’s from Barnes, 6 Hornady, 3 Noslers, 3 Hot-Cors from Speer, 2 Sierras — a 200 RN and a 225 SBT. Woodleigh lists 11 bullets in .358, the most of any bullet company. Then there are a few others, plus the dozens of pistol bullets.

Surely from all that, any handloader’s dreams or desires could be satisfied.

In .338″ there are indeed more bullets, but how many does a hunter/shooter need to fulfil expectations. In my view and experience, few handloaders, if any, will be able to adequately test every available projectile for most common calibers, or even want to if being able to afford it!

But here are some expected, reasoned, results from a couple of 24″ rifles chambered in .338-06 and .35 Whelen  loaded to the same approximate PSI. As a wildcat. the .338-06, like so many other “cats”, was not limited by SAAMI, and early results were likely well beyond 52,000 cup. Since then, A-SQUARE legitimised the cartridge at SAAMI at about 65,000 psi, according to one source. Of course, that’s above and beyond that for the Whelen at 52,000 cup (about 62,000 psi).

The .338-06 A-SQUARE -data from the Nosler #6 Reloading Guide

Bullet: 250gr Nosler Partition

Barrel length = 24″

SD = .313

BC = .473

MV= 2424 fps/3261 ft-lbs/92 MTE

100= 2250 fps/2809 ft-lbs/79 MTE

200= 2082 fps/2407 ft-lbs/68 MTE

300= 1923 fps/2052 ft-lbs/58 MTE

375= 1808 fps/1815 ft-lbs/51 MTE

*Now that’s slightly better than its parent case, the .30-06, but not by a whole lot, and only because of the larger bore and heavier bullet — which was intended by its creators. But in my thinking, it’s NOT deserving of all the HOOPLA created in the press when it was introduced! One of the authors shot a grizzly and it worked! Big deal… the .30-06 can do that! Oh… but it was shot with a 210gr Partition! That matters? Nosler’s manual #6 shows up to 2690 fps from a 24″ barrel for their 210gr Partition/3374 ft-lbs. For the 225gr in .358″, they show a high of 2805 fps/3930 ft-lbs in a 24″, .35 Whelen test barrel. I’ve shut matters down at 375 yards for the .338-06 because past that the 250 Nosler will not likely give any expansion.

Sorry, but the original larger bore works for me.

 

The .35 Whelen

Bullet: 250gr Nosler Partition

Barrel length = 24″

SD = .279

BC = .446

MV= 2650 fps/3898 ft-lbs/110 MTE

100= 2456 fps/3347 ft-lbs/106 MTE

200= 2270 fps/2860 ft-lbs/ 81 MTE

300= 2092 fps/2429 ft-lbs/ 68 MTE/optimum game weight of 1700 lbs

400= 1923 fps/2052 ft-lbs/ 58 MTE/optimum game weight of 1450 lbs (Alaska-Yukon moose)

475= 1801 fps/1801 ft-lbs/ 51 MTE/ optimum game weight of 1275lbs

*NOTICE: The .35 Whelen has an MTE of 51 at 475 yards while the .338-06 is 100 yards shy of that! What the .338-06 will do at 375 yards the .35 Whelen will do at 475 yards!

My standard for “moose-size game” at impact is at least an MTE of 50/optimum game weight of 1250 lbs.

MTE = Mitchell Terminal Effect — how I judge ballistic effect at impact.

Yes, I know, bullet placement and all that…

Having revealed my thoughts on the .338-06 based on one ballistic profile that could well represent its average, and my experience with a .35 Whelen, I admit a preference for the .35 Whelen, but the .338-06 will surely get the job done within ranges where most soft-skinned medium and big game are actually taken.

Til next time…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

Moose-size game cartridges compared – P3

The reason for this brief series on “moose-size game cartridges” is because the only game in my part of the world the size of moose — is MOOSE! And I’ve done more than a handful of hunts exclusively for that wild animal at long distances from home! So my concern over rifle cartridges for soft-skinned game animals that may go from 1000 lbs to 2000 lbs is founded on what? Experiences with whitetails that might go 250 lbs, or bear of 350 lbs? Hardly!

Two mature bull moose in my  bear hunting areas died in combat with their antlers interlocked. A hunter stumbled upon them while hunting. He reported it to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) who sent officers to check it out. Indeed, they found the situation as reported and had a heck of a time getting the bulls separated. A helicopter was brought in to transport the animals, one at a time, to one of their bases. En route, each was weighed by a device on the chopper. It turned out that the average weight was about 1400 lbs each!   Those were Canada Moose from Central Canada, not Alaska-Yukon moose!

So, if I were to hunt a boar grizzly in the Yukon, what cartridge rifle would you recommend for a large one at 1000 lbs, not knowing all possible conditions and circumstances before the fact?

That’s what we’re potentially addressing in this topic under consideration. It’s primarily addressed to DIY hunters, and secondarily to those who hire a guide — and for guides themselves!

BIG BORES are better than small bores, sub-mediums and mediums if the right loads are used accordingly, and the shooter is skilled in their use. “Skilled” as including the management of recoil to the extent that accurate shooting isn’t impaired.

A friend who writes for SPORTS AFIELD, Kelly Ross, totes a .458 Win Mag as backup for the big black bears of the West as an outfitter and guide! Where not permitted as a guide, as in Northern Manitoba, his defensive weapon was a 12-gauge loaded with Brennekes. He’s a man after my own heart!

In my analysis, BIG BORES start with the .40’s and go up from there. But we want, or need, one for more than arm’s length shooting… if being a guide/outfitter, or DIY hunter, of large and/or dangerous game that could attain a half-ton or more!

As it pertains to big bears, moose, elk or bison in North America, there are obviously several potential scenarios of involvement. In the Rocky Mountain States and Provinces/Territories, opportunities could range from a few yards to several hundred. The same is possible in the northern reaches of Canada, including our home Province of Ontario in the northwest, north and northeast. Though we don’t have grizzly/brown bear or bison, some game could still attain at least 1/2 ton at unknown ranges up to 500 yards, or even more. So what rifle cartridges from among the BIG BORES could be made sanely serviceable for big bears, moose, elk, bison, eland, Cape buffalo and Red Stag, keeping in mind that shots could range from 25 yards/meters to as far as you or I might need to shoot a wounded-escaping large, wild animal in the rear?

In recent years, Hornady has been the main enterprise for supporting Big Bore rifles and cartridges, through handloading components and even factory ammo., as well as in the resurrection of a few oldies such as the 450 Nitro Express 3 1/4″.

In addition to multiple TSX bullets being supplied for a plethora of .458-calibers, Barnes also makes available a few for the likes of the .404 Jeff, the .470 NE, the .505 Gibbs, the .500 NE 3″, .500 Jeffery and .577 NE 3″.That should be more than enough for our discussion on BIG BORES for soft-skinned game of 1/2 ton to more than a full ton of wild animal flesh and bone!

In fact, I get weary thinking about it! So, I’m gonna cut to the chase and eliminate most of them due to one cause or another.

I’ve already written a full series on all of them which are found in my archives: “The .458 Winchester Magnum compared to…” etc. But I’ll still mention a few possible candidates besides the favorite .458 Winchester Magnum.

The most likely caliber to compete well with .458″ is .416″.  Let’s start with a reasonable weight: .416 Remington Magnum firing a 350gr TSX.

BC = .345

SD = .289

Barrel = 24″

MV= 2627 fps (best from the BARNES #4)/5363 ft-lbs/211 MTE

100= 2379 fps/4396 ft-lbs/173 MTE

200= 2144 fps/3572 ft-lbs/140 MTE

300= 1923 fps/2875 ft-lbs/113 MTE

400= 1718 fps/2293 ft-lbs/ 90 MTE

450= 1622 fps/2043 ft-lbs/ 80 MTE

*I chose the 350gr TSX as it’s likely the one that would be used for a potential long-range shot if needed.

Then finally: The .458 Winchester Magnum. I choose the former 400gr X-Bullet since Barnes doesn’t make a 400 TSX, and for some unknown reason apparently does’t plan to. Because I still have enough of the 400gr X-Bullets to make a trek into the vast regions of Northern Ontario for a big bull moose, that 400gr would go with me.

BC = .457

SD = .272

MV= 2590 fps/5957 ft=lbs/267 MTE

100= 2403 fps/5127 ft-lbs/230 MTE

200= 2224 fps/4390 ft-lbs/197 MTE

300= 2052 fps/3739 ft-lbs/168 MTE

400= 1888 fps/3167 ft-lbs/142 MTE

500= 1734 fps/2669 ft-lbs/120 MTE

*That was an actual load from my current Ruger No.1 .458 Winchester Magnum with a 24″ Mag-na-ported barrel. And it would shoot flat enough to make any shot to 500 yards reasonable on a 1000 to 3000 lb critter.

When in my 60’s, recoil on the order of 48.5 ft-lbs with the Mag-na-ports would have been normal. Today, closing in on 85, I’d not have a problem if shooting from sticks or off-hand. From the bench, about six or seven is about all I want to deal with in one sit down.

There you have it. The only other true Big Bores listed in the common reloading manuals that can match or surpass that load for distance shooting is the .416 Weatherby and .460 Weatherby. But the cost in recoil, weight and $$$ might be too much for the average sportsman. The .416 Weatherby will shoot the 400gr TSX at 2600 fps from a 26″ barrel, but with a BC of only .392 within 50 yards it has fallen behind my 400gr X-Bullet load for the .458 Winchester Magnum with it 24″ barrel. From that point on it only gets worse! The Ruger #1 in .458 WIN shoots flatter and hits harder at all ranges! The .460 WBY can beat my Ruger shooting the 450gr at 2677 fps but the BC of that bullet is only .369 vs .457 for the 400-X, so again, the .458 load from my rifle shoots flatter with only 62% of the recoil found in the .460, and more than plenty for a 3000 lb animal at 500 yards!

All the others: the 404 Jeff, the .500s and the .577 NE fall behind past 300 yards. Apart from the “Jeff”, the others fail as a “serviceable” all-purpose, large-game-soft-skinned cartridge due to weight, limited range and recoil.

The 400gr X-Bullet was my favorite for the .458 Winchester Magnum. Sad, that it’s no longer available.

What about the .458 Lott, surely it’ll equal or better the ballistics of the .458 Winchester Magnum, will it not?

Not really — for evidence and reasons go to: http://www.accuratereloading.com Accurate Reloading Forums/BIG BORES/.458 Winchester Magnum. And the Lott has fallen somewhat out of favor in recent months as the .458 Winchester Magnum is experiencing a resurgence of interest and use.

And what about BP rifles? Sure, they would work very well on moose-size critters, but the range is limited unless you are a specialist in rainbow trajectories!

That’s it for “Moose-size game cartridges compared”.

See ya next time…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

Moose-size game cartridges compared – P2

In my former blog (Moose-size game cartridges compared – P1, July 6/20) three common cartridges for moose-size game were discussed, being the 7 Rem Mag, the .30-06 and the .300 Win Mag.

As mentioned at the end of P1, the next three to be compared in ballistics would be (in this order) the .340 Weatherby Magnum, the .375 Ruger and the 9.3 x 62. These would normally be considered as “Mediums”.

The .340 Weatherby Magnum:

This was a favorite of two famous gun writers and hunters of different eras: Bob Hagel and Ross Seyfried, both of whom had more than enough experience in the development of handloads as well as using it in various game fields of the world to qualify as genuine experts — even if they might have been a bit prejudiced. To briefly sum it up, they both felt that it was one of the best cartridges for large soft-skinned game that might exceed a ton. Of course, distance is a factor to be taken into consideration, as well as other physical conditions. Bob Hagel suggested it was better than the .375 H&H for any North American game such as giant moose and brown bear, and Seyfried wrote that it was good for game to 3000 lbs at “long range”. No doubt, they both had an influence that led to my own acquisition of a Browning X-Bolt in .338 Win Mag that was converted to .340 Weatherby shortly after the purchase of the Browning. Indeed, that was the motive for acquiring the Browning.

However, before conversion to the .340, I put nearly 200 rounds of .338 Win Mag handloads through it to establish a base line. I was surprised by those initial results. I’d owned a couple of Browning A-Bolts stainless in LH previously, and they both had 26″ barrels that were fast! From the unmodified .338 Win Mag with it’s 26″ stainless tube and action, I was able to attain a high of 2842 fps (corrected to MV) from the Hornady 250gr SP, and very, very accurate to boot! All that from a “book load”. I began to have second thoughts about my project to have it re-chambered to .340 WBY. Nonetheless, I had a famed gunsmith from Peterborough do the work, and it included the long Weatherby “free-bore”.

In all, I put about 1000 rounds of handloads through that rifle over the next ten years, after which it was sold. But it did take the first year to learn its potential — what powder and primer in particular after trying all the so-called favorites. Also, I only fired a single shot from a factory 250gr that had been given to my son, Phil, by a friend who was an enthusiast of the .340. The Hornady bullet from the Weatherby case recorded about 2850 fps. By then I knew the .340 was capable of much more.

<The moose taken with my .340 WBY.

I won’t go into more details over the developmental process, but as stated it involved trial and error re: primers and powders. Cases were fire-formed, once-fired .375 H&H Remington brass given to me at our range by a non-handloader going to Africa on safari. The only Weatherby case ever used was that one mentioned – the one factory load. The Remington .375 H&H cases were superb, and I never lost one in fire-forming. Then, they were good for many, many “hot” loads” until the necks became work-hardened and manifest slight cracks. Of course, none of those were used in hunting. Once my hunting load was established, I used the once-fired, then fire-formed cases for my hunting load, which was:

The 250gr Nosler Partition at a ten year average of 2997 fps (I called it “3000” fps) and about 5000 ft-lbs at the muzzle. Average accuracy with that load over the decade was 1.25″ for three at 100 yds. Recoil in the 8.75 lb rifle was 54 ft-lbs. The powder was RL-22 and the primer was WLRM.

Here is the ballistic profile of that load that took an 1100 lb bull moose at 165 yds.

Bullet: 250gr Nosler Partition

BC = .473

SD = .313

MV = 2997 fps/4986 ft-lbs/140 MTE

100 = 2799 fps/4349 ft-lbs/122 MTE

200 = 2608 fps/3775 ft-lbs/106 MTE

300 = 2424 fps/3261 ft-lbs/92 MTE/2300 lbs optimum game weight*

400 = 2248 fps/2805 ft-lbs/79 MTE/1975 lbs optimum game weight

500 = 2079 fps/2399 ft-lbs/67 MTE 1675 lbs optimum game weight

600 = 1917 fps/2040 ft-lbs/57 MTE 1425 lbs optimum game weight

*My numbers suggest a somewhat less optimum game weight than Ross Seyfried, but more than enough for the largest game in North America to at least 500 yards. But if a 3000 lb bison is the target (who has ever shot in our time a 3000 lb bison?) then don’t shoot past 100 yards! Then, the discussion becomes how many shots at 500, which is ridiculous since that would never be allowed under today’s highly regulated bison hunting. But for Alaska-Yukon moose by residents without an outfitter, 500 yards isn’t out of the question.

If sighted on at 300 yards, elevation at 100 is 3.6″ and -27″ at 500. Quite doable for a knowledgeable shooter.

Using the 250gr AccuBond (not available when I owned the .340) at the same MV would greatly improve on the above ballistics by about 100 yards!

It seems that hunters/shooters rarely consider the .340 anymore, in favor of other more recent innovations. Yet the .340 Weatherby hasn’t lost anything, but indeed has, itself, been improved by recent powders and bullets. The improvement from my Browning A-Bolt when a .338 Win Mag in factory form to a .340 Wby Magnum was 158 fps or 500 ft-lbs at the muzzle… Is that meaningful? That’s for each one to decide, but for myself I have no regrets for having improved ballistics by over 10%. For some, or several, reasons I never noticed the increase in recoil from 42 ft-lbs to 54 ft-lbs. It might matter today, but not then in my 60s. And it might matter to you…

The 250gr Partition wasn’t the only very good load in the .340. There were others that shot very well at around 2900 fps. Of course 225s, 210s and 200s would leave the muzzle much faster, but I saw no reason for them since this rifle was primarily intended as a moose “getter” at any potential range in the northern district of our province.  And a 250gr Partition was the “optimum” choice in the early 2000’s. As I said… today I’d likely choose the 250 AccuBond.

But, in my mind, the .340 was a special rifle reserved for larger game at longer distances. At that it shines, so it never went hunting for deer or bear. I had others for those purposes and was satisfied with 10 years ownership when the itch came for something different. It was actually sold, not traded. Many years later — in fact about one year ago I saw it for sale again at the same dealership where I purchased my 9.3 x 62 in 2011. But it wasn’t there for long — it was sold which gave me a further sense of satisfaction that “my” rifle was still finding fulfilment.

The .340 Weatherby — long may it live! Ideal for Alaska, the Yukon and Africa!

 

The .375 Ruger:

This one I’ve never owned, borrowed, loaded for or fired, but I’m told it was to mimic the ballistics of the hoary .375 H&H but in a shorter, lighter and handier package. Apparently, that was the scheme of Ruger and Hornady who teamed together in it’s production and marketing — Ruger the rifle and Hornady the cases and bullets, which later became factory ammo from the Hornady enterprise.

I have, however, done my homework on the cartridge and its ballistics. Ballistics claimed are by Hornady on their website and Handbook of Cartridge Reloading. The case OL = 2.580″ and COL = 3.250 to 3.290″ depending on bullets employed. The standard barrel length for claimed factory muzzle velocities is 23″. Yet there is an alternate barrel length of 20″ for guides, outfitters and citizens of Alaska to favor use on the big bears in close brushy conditions where maximum MV is less critical due to the relatively short distances required for shooting a bear or finishing off one.

Overall, it seems to me that while the .375 Ruger may equal, or sometimes better, the .375 H&H when factory ammo for the Ruger is used in a 23″, and factory ammo for the .375 H&H is fired from a 24″, yet matters may be significantly altered when EITHER factory OR handloads are put to use in the 20″ Ruger and good handloads are used in a 24″ H&H. There are several variables, of course, but I’ve yet to be persuaded that the Ruger has any ballistic advantage over the H&H when each is handloaded. In fact, handload ballistics from a 20″ Ruger will definitely be less than those fired from a standard 24″ H&H.

Nonetheless, we’ll give the .375 Ruger it’s best “shot” when used for “moose size game”. My Hornady, Nosler and Barnes manuals show loads for the two most popular bullet weights (there are others) of 270 grs and 300 grs.

Hornady tests are from the 20″ barrel and show a max for the 270gr at 2700 fps, and the 300s at 2550 fps.

Nosler used a 26″ test barrel (To my knowledge, Ruger has never made a 26″, .375 Ruger — it’s either 20″ or 23″. So their ballistics for the 260gr and 300gr are skewed in favor of a custom rifle, not a Ruger product.) So I’ll not give a profile of those results. If you have a 26″ custom .375 Ruger, use a ballistics program to calculate results to 500 yds.

Barnes#4 manual also used a non-standard barrel length of 24″, I think to make it comparable with the .375 H&H 24″ barrel. But still, that muddies the puddle because a Ruger rifle NIB will NOT have a 24″ tube, but a 20″ or 23″.

But I’ll use their ballistics and knock off 25 fps. Incidentally, even as a 24″, the ballistics are no better than the 24″ Wiseman test barrel of the H&H, and the barrel for the Ruger tests was also a Wiseman.

So, here we go: Since the game in question is 1000 lbs to 1500 lbs thin-skinned, the Barnes bullet that seems to be employed in both Alaska and Africa is the 270gr TSX.

BC = .326

SD = .274 (similar to a 180gr/.30-cal.)

MV = 2837 fps, -25 fps = 2812 fps/4740 ft-lbs/143 MTE

100 = 2539 fps, -25 fps = 2514 fps/3789 ft-lbs/114 MTE

200 = 2282 fps, -25 fps = 2257 fps/3054 ft-lbs/92 MTE

300 = 2040 fps, -25 fps = 2015 fps/2434 ft-lbs/73 MTE

400 = 1814 fps, -25 fps = 1789 fps/1919 ft-lbs/58 MTE

500 = 1607 fps, -25 fps = 1582 fps/1500 ft-lbs/45 MTE

There’s little doubt that such a common load for the .375 Ruger does NOT represent its best potential. But most shooters/hunters will be ignorant of that fact (or not care) as most of their shots will be far less than 400 yds, perhaps less than 300 yds. For those ranges: 300 to 400 yds it lacks not much, but evidently falls far behind the .340 load above, and, as we shall see, does so as well against my 9.3 x 62 load coming up.

But all that to prove one single point: the cartridge designation, or name, doesn’t insure it will be superior in actual use to those assumed to be inferior. In actual fact, if advanced handloads are involved in the latter, and inferior ones employed in the former, the roles could actually be reversed in application.

If I were to choose a .375 Ruger as an all-purpose rifle, where a moose-hunt might involve a shot at 400 to 500 yds (possible in the north of Ontario) or not at all on a DIY hunt, it would be one with a 23″ barrel loaded with the 260gr AB at full power — about 2850 fps/4690 ft-lbs at the muzzle and 2010 fps/2332 ft-lbs at 500 yds/68 MTE — 1700 lb optimum animal weight.

Recoil about 48 ft-lbs from an 8.75 lb rifle loaded for the hunt. The data used here is based on the Nosler Reloading Guide 6.

And for those who may want to know: The .375 H&H would give the exact same performance from a 23″ barrel and a custom rifle weighing 8.75 lbs ready.

Would I exchange my 9.3 x 62 for either of those two?

 

The 9.3 x 62 “Mauser”:

I used quotation marks for the 9.3 x 62 as often that’s how it’s designated by some authors because its originator, Otto Bock, a Berlin gunsmith in 1905 created it to be used in the famed 1898 Mauser.

The original ballistics are hard to come by as I’ve read several conflicting reports from those who claim to know. Whatever the case, more recent European loadings are also variable, so the North American load of a 286gr at 2400 fps seems close to a “normal” load based on CIP standards.

Yet, some reported loads are less and others greater.

Mine was purchased on May 31, 2011 after a futile search for another .35 Whelen to replace the one I’d sold. But I did spy a couple of 9.3 x 62s at one of the major enterprises I did business with. Being somewhat aware of its nominal ballistics, and something novel, it intrigued my interest so I travelled for an hour to that gun emporium for a look-see ( perhaps the largest in Canada). One of the 9.3 x 62s had already been sold, so one remained. It was a Tikka T3 Lite with a dark-blue finish on metal parts (except the bolt handle in stainless) and the stock in  black polycarbonate. Barrel was 22.44″. There was another rifle that intrigued me also: a .338 RUM in stainless metal and a grey-black laminated stock supporting a 26″ barrel, and I was aware of its potential ballistics. It was also slightly used. Both were handled side by side — the Tikka T3 and the Remington 700. It was no contest, the Tikka in 9.3 x 62 went home with me.

Why the 9.3 x 62 over the evidently faster and more powerful .338 RUM? Cost wasn’t a factor as the going price was similar for each. But the sticker on the Tikka had been lowered from $850 to $650, so that did help swing the balance in favor of the 9.3 x 62.

But there were six central reasons for choosing the 9.3 x 62: First: I went looking for another .35 Whelen. Second: I didn’t want another rifle with similar ballistics to the .340 WBY. Third: Cases for the .338 RUM were not readily available and they couldn’t be made from any other cartridge case, whereas in a pinch 9.3 x 62 brass could be formed from .35 Whelen or .30-06 cases. “In a pinch”, but not recommended as the case head of the 9.3 x 62 is significantly larger. Fourth: I considered the .35 Whelen a more “general-purpose” round in a 22″ barrel format than the 26″ barrelled .340 Weatherby, so the 9.3 x 62 was also viewed as appropriate for game hunting of any size and disposition — which had a long African history as verification. and…

Fifth: Perhaps most important of all, there is nothing in soft-skinned game that one could successfully hunt globally with a .338 RUM that could not effectively be taken at 500 yds/metres by premium loads in the 9.3 x 62. (Ya, I know yards and metres aren’t the same – 550 yds = about 500 metres.) And that’s well beyond 99% shooting of most game.

Sixth: Finally, all matters considered – availability and cost of handloading components, handiness of rifles and recoil will ALWAYS favor the 9.3 x 62 over a .338 RUM. PLUS, when the 9.3 x 62 is given its best handloads, the .375 Ruger’s potential distance from the 9.3 x 62 in effectiveness is reduced to zero!

Let’s see, based on the following evidence:

Bullet: 286gr Nosler Partition

BC = .482

SD = .305

MV= 2631 fps/4395 ft-lbs/141 MTE

100= 2452 fps/3817 ft-lbs/122 MTE

200= 2280 fps/3300 ft-lbs/106 MTE

300= 2114 fps/2839 ft-lbs/91 MTE (2275 lb optimum game weight)

400= 1956 fps/2430 ft-lbs/78 MTE (1950 lb optimum game weight)

500= 1806 fps/2070 ft-lbs/66 MTE (1650 lb optimum game weight)

 

The ambient conditions for all cartridges and loads are: 45*F/+7*C; 1150 ft elevation and 56% RH

None of the loads listed for the three cartridges would prove inadequate for the intended purpose. The .340 WBY and 9.3 x 62 are basic equals in MTE, and both are superior to the .375 Ruger load at distance. But as pointed out, in the use of a 23″ Ruger and max velocity of the 260 AB it’s pretty much a “wash”.

So which would I choose today? I’ve no reason to change the choice I’ve made. The recoil of the 9.3 x 62 load is about the same as the .375 Ruger load, but the Ruger is about one pound heavier. If my TIKKA were as heavy as the Ruger the recoil in ft-lbs would be about 43 ft-lbs instead of 47. The .340 Weatherby at 8.75 lbs had a recoil in KE of 54 ft-lbs as mentioned, but I never noticed it at the bench because I was shooting heavy loads from my Ruger #1 in .45-70 LT that generated about 70 ft-lbs. It’s largely a matter of what we get used to.

Still, I wouldn’t recommend any of the loads above to a novice of heavy-magnum loads.

Next up: BIG BORES for moose-size game…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL 

 

 

 

Moose-size game cartridges compared – P1

Moose-size game cartridges is our current topic, and will extend over a month or more. At our range there are quite a few members who hunt moose annually and will be preparing and practising over the summer for that upcoming event in late September through early November, depending on what region of  our province.

But this is about “moose-size game”, not just moose! Alaska-Yukon moose can attain 3/4 ton, while some Canada mature bull moose have been recorded at 1400 lbs, and usually a mature bull can easily attain 1100 -1200 lbs.  A Shiras moose from The West is generally smaller at around 800 – 1000 lbs for a mature bull. Scandinavian moose are usually in the class of the Shiras.

In the west, southwest and northwest of North America, elk is often sought by sportsmen. Some exceptions are noted but elk are mostly smaller and lighter than moose, and cartridges for moose or elk are also suitable for African plains game — and obviously anything smaller or lighter among thin-skinned wild animals.

(My friend, Roger’s moose-size elk from northern Alberta – a 7 pointer)

Having thus established a general consensus of the cartridge class, we’ll begin our comparisons. However, keep in mind that it’s not possible to deal with every particular detail in finite degrees that will cover all possible experiences.

The parameters of this discussion will start with common deer cartridges that might also be suitable for elk or moose size game under particular circumstances. And we’re NOT accepting in THIS discussion anything that resembles STUNT shooting of large game. If it’s NOT a cartridge ordinarily used for soft-skinned game that might go at least 1/2 ton on the hoof under most conditions, then it’s NOT an acceptable cartridge as understood in normal terms.

Therefore in our first comparison there will be three contenders that I’ve met up with at the range in preparation for a moose hunt, or in the field in actual hunting of moose. But there’s a distinct difference between what might be chosen by a local hunter where ANY moose on license may become the target in a tightly wooded area, from that of a moose hunter who has to travel some distance from home to a remote north or northwestern area for a trophy bull. Nonetheless, the cartridges chosen MUST serve well under all conditions and circumstances when and where a shot is taken.

The first competitors are: a 7mm Remington Magnum, a .30-06, and a .300 Winchester Magnum. “Let the games begin…” — err, no that’s the Olympics! “Drivers, start your engines!” — sorry, that’s NASCAR! “Hunters, start yer arguments!” — hey, that’s it!

The 7mm Remington Magnum:

On my second hunt to the “Far North” of Ontario for moose — I’d previously done a few moose hunts to the “Near North” of our Province — I was showing my son, Phil, the country with dozens of logged-out areas on both new and old logging roads. It was the day before the hunt could start and we were scouting. In the process, we came across a camp of moose hunters about 10 km (6 miles) from our camp. They had high-walled tents, wood-burning stoves with smoke pouring from their pipes, neatly stacked piles of wood, several ATVs and 4 x 4 pickups. And beyond belief, among their seven or eight hunters was a sportsman from a street next to mine 1600 kilometers away! We had never previously met! Currently, I routinely walk that street in my physical workout and have yet to meet up with him again though I’ve chatted with a fellow hunter on that street making enquiries.

But the real point is that the moose hunter I met 1600 kms/1000 miles from home had a new rifle chambered in 7mm  Rem Mag that he wanted to introduce to me and my son– he was very proud of it, stating it should be better than what he’d previously used during a few moose hunting adventures in that area. Whatever he’d toted in former seasons was believed to be improved on by the magic of this new stainless 7 Rem Mag. And if I’m not mistaken, his former “thunder” was a .30-06! And he’d yet to shoot a moose with his new-found toy, using store-bought ammo!

That’s not to pass condemnation, as the majority of hunters are like that — they believe the hype! So, having spent some years handloading those three, I’ve gained some knowledge as to their ballistic potential without having shot “a ton” of game with either of them. So, we’ll stick with ballistic facts and not arguments based on subjective experiences or Internet claims. No doubt, some claims are objective realities, but it’s impossible to verify actual physical circumstances unless an objective video was made without editing. And even then, the guide, outfitter, PH or bystander might present a more objective view of what really happened than the shooter whose claims might exceed reality by more than 100 yards!

In my experience, and view, the best weight bullet for soft-skinned game that could go to, or exceed, 1000 lbs is a premium 175-gr, which was the original bullet weight promoted by Remington for large or dangerous game. Without being picky in the extreme, my findings are that no other 7mm weight bullet can match 175-gr in end ballistics for large game at up to about 400 yards from that particular Remington Magnum cartridge.

I’ve had no problem attaining 3015 fps from the 175-gr Nosler Partition from the 26″ barrel of my Ruger No.1 using Remington cases, WLRM primers and 72 grains of RL-22. That’s pretty close on the heels of a .300 Win Mag firing a 180-gr Partition, and has a better BC and SD.

From my 24″ Remington 700, I could quite easily get 2940 fps from 175s using the same brass, primer and powder. So let’s consider these potential results:

Bullet: 175-gr NP

BC = .519

MV = 3015 fps/3532 ft-lbs/69 MTE

100 = 2830 fps/3112 ft-lbs/61 MTE

200 = 2651 fps/2731 ft-lbs/53 MTE

300 = 2482 fps/2394 ft-lbs/47 MTE/1175 lb game optimum

400 = 2317 fps/2086 ft-lbs/41 MTE/1025 lb game optimum

500 = 2158 fps/1809 ft-lbs/35 MTE

Recoil = 30 ft-lbs from an 8.5 lb rifle

Speaking personally, I’d consider a 7 Rem Mag (or equivalent) a 400 yard moose cartridge, maximum. And I’d really want to be closer.

The .30-06 Springfield:

If I chose the .30-06 as a moose gun for Northern Ontario, the 200-gr Nosler AccuBond would be my choice, hands down.

Bullet: 200-gr Accubond

SD = .301

BC = .588

Barrel = 24″

MV = 2700 fps/3237 ft-lbs/72 MTE

100 = 2544 fps/2874 ft-lbs/64 MTE

200 = 2394 fps/2394 ft-lbs/53 MTE

300 = 2249 fps/2246 ft-lbs/50 MTE/1250 lb game optimum

400 = 2110 fps/1977 ft-lbs/44 MTE/1100 lb game optimum

500 = 1974 fps/1730 ft-lbs/39 MTE

Recoil = 26 ft-lbs from an 8.5 lb rifle.

I fail to see enough distinction between optimum handloads for the 7 Rem Mag and the .30-06 to choose one over the other. The .30-06 shows a slight advantage in MTE from 300 yards on, but not enough to quibble over, whereas the 7 Rem Mag shoots somewhat flatter at all ranges.

Those optimum loads are for those particular bullets at what I’d consider max MV. In addition they’d need to be placed into vitals. So I’d prefer to be closer.

The MVs are from a 26″ Rem Mag and a 24″ .30-06, respectively. In my view, both are at their best at less than 400 yards on game between 1000 to 1500 lbs.

The .300 Winchester Magnum:

Barrel = 26″

Bullet: 200-gr AccuBond

BC = .588

SD = .301

MV = 3000 fps/3996 ft-lbs/89 MTE

100 = 2833 fps/3564 ft-lbs/79 MTE

200 = 2674 fps/3175 ft-lbs/71 MTE

300 = 2519 fps/2818 ft-lbs/63 MTE/1575 lb game optimum

400 = 2370 fps/2494 ft-lbs/56 MTE/1400 lb game optimum

500 = 2226 fps/2200 ft-lbs/49 MTE/1225 lb game optimum

Recoil = 36 ft-lbs from an 8.5 lb rifle.

< 1600 kilometres from home!

I’ve made it clear in several previous blogs why MY choice for game of that nature would be a .300 Win Mag over anything less. And that’s NOT to say it would be my premium choice for DG or game that exceeds 800 lbs. But it would be hard to argue against a .300 Winchester Magnum as an all-around choice for North American game, or soft-skinned animals of that size anywhere else in the world to +400 yards. But to be brutally honest about it… there are better for that size game to 400 yards and beyond… IF recoil is NOT the main focus!

And let’s face it – today’s hunters want and choose light-weight rifles and then complain about recoil! Plus the fact that the majority live in or around cities where a good day’s work consists in sitting before a computer for 8 hours! So to be used to a rifle that has proper weight for shooting moose-size game under all conditions means work of another kind – get a rifle that weighs at least 9 lbs ready, and carry it around for at least two weeks in rough conditions. Then recoil will be a faint memory! Or — if not a REAL rifle, carry weights or a bar of at least equal weight for a month or so… or work out in a gym on a regular basis… or as I do — walk a mile down hill, up hill, down hill and up hill, swinging 4 lb weights in each hand in rhythm to my steps (2200 of them) back to my front door. Three times a week. In between, I work out in my room with 15 lb weights in each hand (total 30 lbs) doing a series of exercises for 20 minutes, including pushups and squats. Then, when I bring my 10.3 lb Ruger No.1 in .458 Winchester Magnum to the range (or in the woods for a workout) it seems just right!

(The “Far North” with my CZ550, .458 Win Mag for moose — weight +11 lbs.)

Next up are some mediums compared: the .340 Wby Mag, .375 Ruger and the 9.3 x 62 — optimum handloads for each in typical rifles for large soft-skinned game. I don’t have experience with the .375 Ruger but I do with the other two, and also with several .375 H&H’s.

MTE = Mitchell Terminal Effect — It’s how I calculate the terminal effectiveness of ballistics at impact.

Let the arguments continue… but to argue against hard facts is an exercise in futility.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

BEAR bullets – P5

The second wounded bear was similar to the first in several respects — only about a decade later. The location was the same and the caliber rifle, but the cartridge was a .350 Rem Mag instead of a .35 Whelen. And the range was about 30 yards rather than 100. Also, I had a partner by my side, Ken.

I’ve told that event again recently so will spare too many details. We were hunting from the blind near the top of a ridge in the Haliburton Highlands which was my primary baiting location, with this distinction: the bait was 35 yards closer in front of one of the typical large boulders scattered throughout the region. So it was originally 65 yards from blind to the bait barrel. A dominant bruin was visiting the bait, but when we were not there. Getting late in the season (late October), with the leaves of the hardwoods falling, exposed our location that the bear was familiar with. He’d not come to the bait if we were behind the blind. But he came up through a finger of conifers, and in behind us silently to check us out — when we were there he’d try to spook us by approaching silently within 10 feet at our backs, then suddenly go crashing off like a transport truck in a wreck on Ontario Highway 401 (The Trans Canada Highway). He did that once when Ken and I were both there, and again the week following when I was there alone. (Left click on pics for a better view.)

<This pic was taken the week I was there alone. The rifle was my Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT loaded with the 350 TSX at 2470 fps/4740 ft-lbs – not max. The bear was in thick bush within 8 – 10 feet behind the chair I was seated in. I stood to take this photo, and when I moved to return to my seat he did his “crash test” through the bush for about 30 yards, and then dead silence. By the way, notice the hole, rips, tears and bites — all done by dominant black bears!

We decided to move the blind downhill closer to the bait and make it a part of the forest. That worked. He came in about 5 PM from behind the big boulder. The boulder was 30 inches high and I saw his back above the boulder by at least 6″ – 8″ just before he completely emerged. But he didn’t go directly to the bait. Instead, he went behind the only mature tree, facing me from about 25 yards! I could only see his sides and ears. He stayed there without flinching for what seemed like a couple of eternities while I had my Remington M673 up, pointed in his direction with safety off, and chambered with a 250gr Speer GS that would leave the muzzle at +2700 fps. Ken had his rifle “up” too and ready, but it was my shot, and he was wondering why I didn’t shoot as he had a better angle about five feet to my left. Finally, the bear decided to leave in a flash… he turned 180 degrees and started to make a beeline for cover directly away. I had a millisecond as he swung, and I fired at his shoulder as he switched ends, making his move. He  turned on the afterburners  and disappeared into the brush in less time than it takes to tell it. Ken unleashed his .270 Win and the 150 Federal Partition load found dirt well beyond the bear. Mine took off a piece of fur and hide from his left shoulder. Then it got dark and the chase was done.

The next day we were there for followup. Ken with his only centerfire — the .270, and I with my Marlin in .45-70.  And again, I went where the bear would go… into the thickest tangle of bush. There I again found a patch of blood where he spent the night watching his back-trail. Eventually, Ken was on hands and knees following droplets of blood into the thickest brush imaginable. I stood guard during the two-hour process. It led to a game trail and then off the trail into an impenetrable tangle of alders. We abandoned the chase at that point.

There were, as in the first case, several lessons taught and hopefully learned. More than the rifle and load, it concerned knowledge and patience. The load was excellent and the rifle had superb accuracy shooting that load into 1/2 MOA.

Knowledge: 1) The habitat. Knowing bear habitat — where they come from, how they live and where are keys to baiting them, or, on the other hand, finding and stalking them.

2) Game trails. What kind of game is in the area? Signs and evidences, not merely wishful thinking. Scratches on trees and scat. How high on the tree(s) and how large the scat?

3) A dominant bore bear will claim a bait site, berry patch, corn field or fruit tree as his! And he will stay in the area until he believes it’s finished — done — kaput! Just like a Kodiak bear on a moose carcass!

4) A bait site must have a source of natural water nearby — a stream, pond, lake or river.

Patience:4) A wounded dominant black bear will not leave the country! If the shot is a complete miss he’ll wait in a hide until it’s “safe”. If wounded, he’ll wait in a hide to discover what caused it with a spirit of revenge!

5) Never do a followup on a wounded bruin alone, unless there is no other recourse. Even then, we must know the terrain and a bear’s nature.

6) Know when “to fold ’em”.

7) Don’t wait until dark before leaving the woods or bush, the bear might have circled behind you!

8) Don’t be naive and “trust a bear”… even a “dead one”.

9) Don’t be naive and “trust a bear”… even a “fed one”.

10) Don’t be naive and “trust a bear”… even one that ran from you.

11) Don’t be naive and think that because you’re carrying your favorite rifle with its favorite load that bear hunting is not dangerous.

<(That was my CZ550 in .458 Winchester Magnum in sneaking through the bush.)

Any predator that can run up to 35 mph/57 kph and weigh between 150 to 650 lbs, and has a record of killing humans, IS DANGEROUS GAME and not to be taken lightly!

MY FIRST BEAR FOLLOWUP was when I was still a novice at this game. I had been spring bear hunting in May for a few years with the same outfitter in the northeast of our province not too far from the Quebec border. My outfitter/guide was Norm from that area just southeast and east of Algonquin Park. He was the only legal outfitter of that huge region. Often, he had as many as 85 baits set out throughout that BMA. So each time I went it was a new-to-me location. I enjoyed that for eight full seasons and saw a lot of mountainous — lake strewn — rivers and streams, rugged country.

<(This was my first bear from that area.)

That is where I learned bear hunting over bait. Norm involved me and was a good teacher — more by actions and example than by words — though he answered all questions and explained why he did matters in a particular way — or why he felt that a particular spot was good for a bait setup.

On one such excursion, it was of course new to me but also a relatively new location for Norm. Only one hunter had preceded me there and that was one of his guides who had hunted a good bear with a bow. He shot it in the rump on the edge of darkness and the arrow went through the plastic milk container (for toting milk to customers, that covered the bait) and attached the plastic box to the rump of the bear as it departed into the darkness! That was the last he saw of that bear.

I was the next hunter to that spot. Norm had to leave for the Pearson International Airport in Toronto to pick up his daughter for a wedding… he would be gone for the day. I was entirely on my own, driving his three-wheeler over a tortuous trail to the location from my parked vehicle a mile away.

When I arrived, there was no stand or blind as he had warned… but lots of natural ones behind boulders or dead-falls on the opposite side of the trail uphill on a ridge. I found a suitable spot with a smallish boulder (compared to most) for a seat and a small fir tree in front as a blind. The bait was downhill and across the trail, into a ditch about 65 yards away. I was ready with my 300 Weatherby Magnum loaded with 220-gr Hornadys at 2800 fps/3829 ft-lbs at the muzzle and around 2650 fps/3430 ft-lbs at impact. I could peek around the smallish tree to check the bait every 30 sec. or so. And I found a branch on the tree that could serve as support when and if I fired a shot.

That briefly sums matters up! It became a waiting game for the next three hours or so. As 8 pm approached, I looked around the tree more often as the time for big bruins was drawing near! My handsome Weatherby Vanguard, with Claro walnut stock and white-line spacers, dark walnut fore end tip and pistol grip cap, and 24″ barrel was as accurate with my handloads as any I’ve every made from home-brewed loads — at sub-moa. And that 220gr load was no less accurate at 2800 fps MV.

The rifle was slipped onto the chosen branch of the small fir tree which created a small gap between the branches for clear vision of the bait setup about 65 yards downhill from me. Without pre-announcement the bear — and it was mature in all respects — quietly appeared in a standoffish position to the right of the bait. It was being cautious! Just as I squeezed the Timney aftermarket trigger the branch supporting my rifle (about 8.5 lbs total) decided to take a nap or fainted, whatever… anyway it collapsed under the heavy burden of 8.5 lbs and the bullet hit somewhere other than the target!

Have you ever witnessed a big buck take off from a standing start when spooked? Well… a big bear could catch it in a couple of bounds! He took off to my left — the direction he was headed — like a rocket! I mean, you would have had to witness it to believe it! He was hitting 30 – 35 mph in his second bound and fully disappeared into hair-thick foliage where he leapt into a ravine never stopping until he bulldozed through some underbrush left by loggers — then all fell silent as though he’d been taken into space by some aliens!

I didn’t know the ravine was there as it was shrouded in bush! But the bear did! He landed on his front paws that sunk into moss covered ground a couple inches never losing stride! In my followup I quit at the top of the ravine that was straight down! And I wasn’t about to slither down a vertical rock cliff only to be met by 3 feet of broken timber left by loggers… alone! Remember Norm was in Toronto at the airport!

Rule No.2 > never search for a wounded bear ALONE! But I had to make sure there was no evidence that the 220-gr had hit the bear in any part of its anatomy! After a meticulous search on the ground, branches, and at the bait site, and my instinct from the failed branch fiasco, all together told me that a search for a non-wounded bear in unfamiliar physical conditions would not only be futile, but foolish!

The following day I informed Norm, and he moved me to a new location.

Oh! By-the-way, what’s Rule No.1?

Summary: BEAR bullets

1> To be fired from a suitable rifle.

2> Suitable for all bears and any bear.

3> Under any and all conditions.

4> Larger is better than smaller.

5> Construction suited to muzzle velocity.

6> Construction suited to impact velocity.

7> Not too hard and not too soft.

8> Not a FMJ.

9> Not a varmint bullet.

10> Not a target bullet — most game bullets are accurate enough if the rifle and hunter is.

Recoil management is another topic. But Rule No.1 is shoot a rifle you are both comfortable with and familiar with.

Til the next… Some cartridge comparisons.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

BEAR bullets – P4

<The 400-gr Hawk is 2nd from left in this pic. Left click on the pic for a much more detailed view.

All had been tested at the same pressure for hardness in a vise. The toughest was no.1, a 400-gr Colorado Custom (formerly Barnes – then later sold back to Barnes) with a .049″ Jacket, RN with minimal lead exposed. Unfortunately, I used them all up (50) in testing. So no game was shot with that one. They were old stock in a gun shop I used to visit. A co-owner of that shop was murdered when gangsters burst in to rob the store of handguns. The co-owner resisted and was shot dead in cold blood on the spot. He was well known to me. Years later, his oldest son was part owner and the shop was moved to a new location. I walked in one day browsing for anything in .458-cal. As I came to the checkout the son was there and recognized me. He said: “I’ve got some bullets that I’ve reserved for you.” He left the checkout for a couple minutes and then returned with a box of 400-gr Colorado Custom bullets. I was about to pay him when he said they were a gift! The current 400-gr Barnes FP is a travesty compared to that perfect bullet for either a .45-70 or .458 Winchester Magnum in hunting large game.

The others in that lineup are to the right of the 400-gr Hawk: 350-gr Speer, 400-gr Speer, 405-gr Remington, 465-gr hardcast, 470-gr Custom, 338-cal., 250-gr Speer GS, and 300-gr .44-cal Speer. The latter two for comparison purposes.

As mentioned in P3, my 1895 Marlin Classic with a 22″ barrel was loaded with the 400-gr Hawk at 2100 fps/3916 ft-lbs at the muzzle. That was the load and rifle in the followup of the wounded bruin into thick underbrush in mid-May, 1996. At 7 am of the following day of the hunt, myself with two friends were on site in the followup.

I circled the thick bush at the bottom of the ridge and came through the “back door”. My two buddies were at the “front door” should he try to leave in that direction.

My thought process which dictated the plan of action and emotions began immediately following the escape of the bear into the darkness the previous evening at about 8 pm. Actually, earlier. In preparing for a bear hunt, all possibilities are carefully planned for, including a wounded bear at closing light. But when approaching the “back door” I had prepared myself for a potential charge at very close quarters — that’s why I told my friends to “stay put”. It was my bear, not theirs, so my responsibility. I wasn’t afraid, but prepared mentally for “whatever”. I entered the thick enclosure and before me was a “room”, a grass covered space about 12′ x 8′, and off to one side was matted-down grass with an eight inch patch of blood, and pin-pricks of blood leading out the “back door” where I’d entered. The bear had fled literally seconds before we arrived.

Not minutes before, but when we got too close and he felt outnumbered, he  left for the top of the ridge. We did a followup for the rest of the day and went where I expected, across the dirt road on the other side of the ridge and back into the interminable tree-filler swamp on the far side — from which I knew he’d come to my bait. That’s where they all came from. We lost him in there and couldn’t continue. He stayed just out of sight — about 50 yards ahead of us.

How did I know that? There are ways. But I left my friends and cut ahead to the dirt road looking for any signs of the big bruin having crossed it — there were none. On the far side of the ridge, at the bottom was a stream, he’d crossed it (paw prints in the soft edges of the stream), then crossed the newly graded road leaving clear paw prints, then over some bare rocks with pin-points of blood, and descended into the forbidden swamp. He survived! But for how long?

A day later and alone, I was at the site of bullet impact to discover why the bullet didn’t hit where aimed. In the flight of that 200-gr X-Bullet, it had clipped off a hardwood sapling, over an inch thick, a little past 60 yards. These saplings are scattered throughout the region and grow very tall. It didn’t appear in my scope that was struggling even to show cross-hairs against the bruins black fur.

< The top of that ridge to show how thick and dense the forest is at that location in the spring before the foliage has developed in early April. You can see some of those small hardwood saplings. Left click for an enlarged view.

But did that bruin return 5 months later after his initial fright? More than a “maybe”…

Five months later, my friend Mike who had assisted in the spring followup, asked if he could hunt the same bait site during the fall season. Since I had filled my tag with a much smaller bear in the spring at that site, I agreed, and did the baiting protocol and was nearby to lend a hand if he shot a bear. Also, the moose season was coming up in about a week and I was interested in harvesting a calf. So on the first afternoon/evening of Mike’s bear hunt, we travelled in separate vehicles and I went off in another direction – about 3 kilometres – to look for moose sign. I also did some calling hoping for a response that would indicate moose were in the area for the upcoming season. Of course, I was without a rifle since I’d already filled my bear tag.

<The trail to the bait setup which I used in baiting as well as being a game trail, especially for bears.

Less than an hour went by from when I’d left Mike at the bear bait site when I heard a clear shot from about 1 and a-half miles away. It was from the right direction so I knew Mike had fired at a bear. Quickly, I climbed up from a stream about 150 yards to where my van was parked, and drove to where Mike’s vehicle was parked just in time to meet him coming from the trail that led to the bait site. He said “Yes, I fired at a bear but haven’t located it yet”. He returned with me to the site about 200 yards away, downhill from the side of the ridge, all the time describing what happened. The bear ran past the bait barrel, but picked up a honey filter from a branch and dove back  into the thick woods without stopping. A few minutes went by and the bear performed the same feat and Mike fired his .338 Win Mag loaded with the 210-gr Nosler Partition at 3000 fps just as the bear was disappearing again. So he never looked for it alone. Our agreement was to not look for a wounded bear alone! He was unsure of its direction after the shot, and didn’t know the country as I did. So I immediately looked where I thought it might be if dead.  Sure enough, I found it dead about 40 yards behind the bait barrel as the ground continued to slope downhill toward the bog, about 35 yards from escaping thereto. The first thing I saw was it’s head peaking over the hill towards me. It was a big head! And it’s body was complementary. I called Mike: “Over here Mike, I’ve found it — it’s a good bear!”.

It had a large frame but was thin for a fall bear. In field dressing, we found a strange wound in a strange place! I would estimate the bear to weigh nearly 300 lbs as it was. When properly fed and healthy, it should have gone over 400 lbs! There are three reasons for thinking this was “my bear” that had been wounded in the spring: The strange wound, its unhealthy weight, and it’s nervousness in running past the bait in two tries of catching a morsel in its teeth.

That experience highlites this adage, I think by John Wootters: “A missed shot or wounding a deer will result in the animal leaving the country, but the same thing in a bear hunt will often result in the bear returning to steal your lunch!”

After Mike’s experience in the spring hunt, he decide to load up his .338 WIN MAG for the fall hunt… just in case.

And, “just in case”, don’t skimp on caliber or bullet selection while in bear country!

Continued…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

 

BEAR bullets — P3

OK, so we’ve looked at a few bear bullets in P1 and P2 under particular circumstances, but what if you (or a partner) have wounded a bruin and it’s leaving at 25 to 30 mph? What would you like to have in your hands at that moment — for it will only be a moment before it disappears into the unknown where you might have to go in and find it? Obviously it will be the same rifle and load you brought to the war zone! War zone, you say? Yes! It might become that serious before the day is done!

It is believed by those with lots of DG hunting experience in Africa, in particular by PH’s, that a wounded leopard is the most likely to “get you” of all the big five or six. It might not kill you but may leave you wishing it had! Though infections from bites and scratches may prolong that ordeal. A big leopard might weigh 130 lbs, so it is the quickest in counter-attack! To compound matters, it usually attacks from unseen in tall grass without a sound. PH’s often use 12-ga shotguns with buckshot in such near encounters.

This bear was a regular at my 2015 bait setup. He often came at night. On September 30, 4:07 pm he attended, but other bears had preceded him. Unfortunately, I was not in my tree stand 85 yards to the right. He was at least 400 lbs.

A black bear may be three or four times the weight of a mature leopard, so not as quick but still lightening fast! I’ve witnessed it! They are not slow and ponderous in a life or death situation, as many imagine. A mature one is stronger than any leopard, and five times as strong as a mature man of their own weight!! Can they climb trees and mountains? Faster than you could run on a flat track! They are the number one killer of humans by predators in North America.

All that to put matters into perspective in following up a wounded black bear in rough terrain or boreal forest.

Again, take the rifle and load you would use in a follow up on a wounded, desperate bear that has gone for safety, and possible revenge,  into the thickest mess he can find — watching his back trail, the same as an African dugga boy! It might be into a tree filled swamp, bog or rocky cliff with a cave! And keep in mind that he knows his terrain as well as we know our kitchens!

For such a possible encounter I’ve toted a Marlin in .45-70 with 400-gr to 405-grainers at over 2000 fps. That was when I had it available as a backup. Let me explain…

I mentioned in P2 that on  two occasions I had wounded a bear that needed followup, but darkness forbade an immediate chase into the unknown. On a third instance, which was my first followup, I missed a shot on a good bear but had to insure it was a clean miss and not a wound. Only on one of those incidence did I have a partner by my side. In order of those encounters my rifles were a .300 Weatherby Magnum, .35 Whelen, and a .350 Rem Mag.

Those happenings have been presented in years past with particular details but not with emphases on my frame of mind.

Thought process determines attitude or frame of mind. Always. Often, in emergencies it goes unrecognized, and is mostly credited to a spontaneous action where emotion takes charge. That could be like an animal’s “instinct” of fight or flight. But there are preconditions to an animal’s “instinct” as well as to our own reactions under stress or immediate danger, real or imagined.

There are several aspects to an animal’s “instinct”, as well as to our own reactions whether inbred or learned. Or both.

From the birth moment til a black bear is driven away by its mother, usually in its second year, the cub becomes a yearling and then an adolescent. It will be both protected and trained by its mother how to protect itself during that formative period. Then it is driven away and becomes most vulnerable to being killed by a car or truck on a highway, or by a larger bear, and lastly getting shot as a nuisance bear — usually NOT by a hunter as they’re likely after a larger, more mature bear.

And bears rarely die of disease. In the case of an old bear — thirty years or more — they didn’t get to be that age by being dumb! Rarely are they ever seen by humans — even hunters. But when their teeth are worn out and they can’t catch or kill smaller game any more, starvation or accident will get them. Or, on the other hand they might show up at a bait in hunger desperation, or being chased by hounds where that sequence is predetermined — they just can’t outrun trained dogs anymore.

So “instinct” for survival becomes the main motive of an aged bear — and keeping that in our psyches should be the main drive in choosing our firearm. If such a bear in its prime has a few notches in its moose belt, on the verge of starvation do you think it would be afraid of a relatively small two-legged creature — unless it has had a previous painful encounter? Most long-lived bears live in wilderness areas and have had no previous encounters with humans.

Cubs will not survive into their second year without the mother’s protection, care and teaching. Then it goes into the den with the mother in October – November for its second winter. When it emerges again with its mother, usually in late April, early May, depending on outside climate conditions and availability of “food”, it’s a yearling — not a cub. It will appear with it’s parent at bear baits if the mother is so inclined. Sometimes, of course, there may be as many as three or four yearlings! While they are legal “game” in the fall, in the spring with their mother they are NOT! But I’ve seen many with their female parent in fall hunts but never pulled the trigger on one. Some, closing in on two years old by the fall, can weigh nearly 100 lbs!

By their third season the males can procreate and think themselves quite capable — much like our mid to late teen young men! Female (sow) bears can usually get pregnant their third year but a lot depends on the wild berry and nut supply that coincides with mating in late May into early July. Conception may happen but if the natural food supply is limited the fetus will not be implanted into the uterus but will be absorbed back into the blood stream. The sow may have mated with several boars in the process.

Male bears emerge from their dens in mid to late April, before females with cubs, depending on region and outside conditions.  If snow is still quite deep with temps below freezing he may return to his den for a short period until exterior conditions improve. On the other hand he may wander a relatively short distance with hopes of something edible. He has new pads on his feet so they are quite tender and he’s looking for sprouts of green grass to assist the digestive track in removing the plug at the exit of his bowel.

<This was a 2-year old, then on its own and alone.

The point I’m making is that food is the dominant motivating factor in any bear’s life, not play or socializing. Food for the male in May is carrion and moose calves. Or, any denned animals’ newly born, including bear cubs or even their mother!  Bears, when active, apart from a brief mating period of about a month and a-half, have one thing in mind — that’s food! They are predators in nature and have no prejudice against eating their own kind!

As stated, food in the spring when they emerge from their dens consists of carrion, moose calves (and even the cow moose if she tries to intervene) or any other live or dead meat! That also includes beaver kits, beaver in the fall on land while gathering branches for winter food storage, rabbits, birds, wolf pups — anything they can catch and kill that in some cases involve mature bull moose! In other words, a bear will chase, harass, injure, trap and kill any living creature (including two-legged ones) that it considers no threat to itself. The only predator of black bears is larger black bears or grizzly in the North West. They evaluate by size and habit. If the prey runs the bear will chase — so its wise to keep that in mind in a black bear encounter. Make yourself look as big as possible and stand your ground even if charged. But, of course, you will have a firearm so use it when the bear crosses a particular line you’ve fixed in mind — that may be a rock, branch, tree, bush or other landmark.

During the summer months — actually about six weeks — bears in the wild will feed on berries and nuts from trees. During the fall til denning again, it will be meat: fish, fowl, various deer species and anything else it can catch. A relatively slim younger bear in their prime is very fast — up to 35 mph/56 kph. An older, heavy bear will be slower. They will kill moose or elk while they’re lying down, resting or sleeping. Bears pick up the scent of “food” (carrion and sweets) from miles away. Their two strongest senses are smell (5x stronger than a dogs) and hearing. Eyesight is as good as humans and in colour. Perhaps better because they can forage and find their way on trails and in the bush at night without artificial light that humans depend on.

In as few words as possible, that’s the creature we hunt with firearms and bows. However, this topic excludes bows and their projectiles; it concerns firearm projectiles.

In a personal followup of three bears, two of which had been wounded but only discovered so the following day, and one that evaded any bullet contact. I knew these incidents to be very serious and no joke!

As previously indicated, I’ve narrated these historical events in past blogs so will spare some of the details and only present the salient points.

The second (the first will be last in these presentations) occurred nearly one-quarter century ago, on May 9, 1996 when we still had a spring bear hunt. A big male black bear was attending my primary bait setup on Crown Land in the Haliburton Highlands of Ontario. Range from the blind near the top of the ridge to bait barrel near the bottom was 100 yards. The barrel was located at the confluence of three game trails, plus the line of sight from blind to barrel that had been trimmed of branches and small bushes that could have deflected a bullet in its flight.  A bear could only be seen when at or near the barrel. Also, bait morsels, such as pastries, corn, apples, etc., were scattered on the ground around the bait setup. The barrel was located about 75 yards in the bush from a large bog that surrounded a lake. Lots of wildlife traffic in the area including small, medium and large game.

On the edge of darkness in mid-May, the big bruin appeared out of “nowhere”, coming from the right of the barrel just as I was bent over to pick up binoculars and remnants of a snack. I was seated on a sturdy plastic combination seat-backpack. I partially stood to lift the cover (I was seated on) to place those items inside because I was preparing to leave due to hunting light being nearly finished according to Provincial rules. And because of the location in dense forest and brush, it got too dark to hunt even before the legal limit. When I was unable to detect the cross hairs of my scope against black fur, I wouldn’t shoot. So, I was actually preparing to leave about ten minutes prior to “closing time”.

When I’d finished that brief chore, I sat again on the seat and looked in the direction of the barrel one more time… And, there he was seated in front of the bait barrel with his back to me. I quietly reached to my right for the 7400 Remington (semi) standing against a small fir tree, placed in on the prearranged natural 2″ diameter hardwood pole found in the surrounding timber, aimed, took off the safety and the bear got up and moved behind the big boulder (seen to the left of the barrel in the pic — left click on pic for a better view). Then he turned around and moved back to the front, where I expected him to stop. Instead, he continued on his way up the trail to the left (that I used for bringing in bait). Then I had to wait for him to clear a cluster of white birch, and fired a 200-gr Barnes-X (prior to the TSX’s) at 2850 fps from the 22″ barrel of the .35 Whelen. There was a bright muzzle flash in the near darkness, then a crash, crash, crash, followed by dead silence!

<Not the same season but the exact same location

And I had to follow up that shot while it was getting darker by the second!

I had a partner who was attending another bait a mile away. So I thought. Actually, he was on his way out of the woods when he heard my shot, and showed up within ten minutes, calling my name. I was already at the bottom of the ridge checking any black thing, including boulders and dead stumps. But I KNEW where the bear came from and where he’d be heading for. We did a brief check along the trail to the right of the barrel, from which he’d emerged, and I called a moratorium until daylight the next day.

At 7 a.m., the following day, three of us were at the sight of bullet impact, if there was any. There was. Friend Dave was the first to spy a morsel of black fur attached to a small strip of bear hide. But no blood to follow. Nonetheless, I was certain that I knew where the wounded bear would go. So, with my partner of the previous evening, Mike, in the middle as primary spotter of spoor, Dave on the left towards the bog/marsh just in case the bruin went that-a-way, and myself on the right of Mike as spotter of any movement in front or off to the side, we very slowly proceeded along the dim trail towards the north. Still no blood, for the first 75 yards or so.

Mike had his trusty BLR in .308 WIN, with handloads he’d built for the hunt. I’m honestly uncertain of Dave’s weapon, but in my hands was my bear thumper, an 1895 Marlin Classic in .45-70, handloaded with a 400gr Hawk at 2100 fps/3916 ft-lbs. — three shot into 1″ at 100 yards. Ironically, the propellant load was the same as for the .35 Whelen: 60-grns AA2015, both ignited by WLRM primers. But I felt, with good reason, that my “thumper” was a better stopper and finisher than the Whelen even though it was a semi. The Marlin lever gun was no slouch in repeat performances if push came to shove! The Whelen was making a tad over 3600 ft-lbs at the muzzle, while the Marlin was making over 3900 ft-lbs, and 47% more momentum, plus 63% larger cross-section-area of the bullet. That ALL counts, no matter how we measure matters — if the bullets are up to the job at hand. Then, the SDs of the bullets favor the .458″ over the .358″, .272 SD vs .223 SD. That’s why I toted my Marlin in .45-70 as backup and often as primary weapon.

(The 200-X was a much harder bullet — better for high velocity. I killed a 3-year old boar the following week with the .35 Whelen and the same load. The location was the same and the hit was behind the right shoulder and took out the opposite shoulder leaving a massive wound and bone fragments in the wound channel. That bear went 10 yards, bawled once and died before I reached him.)

The 400 Hawk was a softer bullet with a .035 pure copper jacket and pure lead core, and minimum lead tip exposure. I think it would have done that big bear no good!

After about 75 yards or so, Mike abruptly stopped in his tracks and softly spoke “BLOOD!” That got our attention, and Dave and I stopped in our tracks too! With gestures and softly spoken directions I told the men to stay where they were as I moved into the thick “bush” (alders, brush and small conifers) just ahead of us at the base of the ridge.

Continued…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

 

BEAR bullets – P2

In bear hunting we all hope for success. Of course, there are many styles of hunting under a variety of physical conditions while employing differing strategies and using weapons of our choice.

For example, a bear hunt may be under the guidance of a pro guide. The hunter has chosen a crossbow, and the location is on the edge of a forest that breaks out onto a stream that ambles through mixed timber, marshland and bogs. It’s a guided hunt searching for bear sign. What has that to do with bear bullets? Nothing! But exchange that crossbow for a rifle when the terrain opens up, and a good bear is sighted on the far side of the stream slowly climbing higher on the side of a ridge or mountain. With each step the range increases and waiting for a good presentation only increases the distance.

Finally, the bear stops at a ranged 410 yards and gives a halfway decent angle for shot placement. There is no hope of shortening the distance, and it’s the best bear you’ve seen in a hard week of hunting. What cartridge and bullet would you want in your hands at that moment when you’re tired and need a quick improvised rest for your rifle… perhaps even from a prone position? Is it the rifle and load in your hands that you’ve staked a costly bear hunt on under uncertain conditions?

Actually there are numerous choices in cartridges, rifles and loads… but which one?

I’ll tell you mine, and they would be one of several that I’ve had experience with. Some being capable for any reasonable challenge, while a few were adequate for challenges that might be considered by some as unreasonable.

<(That’s 400 yards from where I stood to take this pic to the farthest point at the center of the pic. Left click for a better view.)

410 yards is a long shot on an animal that might go 400 lbs at 6.5 ft from snout to tail. The main thing is to intimately know the rifle and load as well as bear anatomy. On top of that is the possibility of atmospheric disturbances. There are rifles and loads that I’d not shoot from prone, and if such were indeed the case, I’d have to find a suitable rest. Shooting sticks might be the best option if toted by the guide. Yet movement must be restrained to not spook the bear. A mound, bolder or even a tree, or one of its branches have served well in lieu of mechanical devices. Assuming a solid rest is achieved, then what? Oh yes, the scope, since we must be prepared for any possible shot. What’s best in size and power?

<(The scope on my former CZ550 in .458 Win Mag was a fixed 4x by 21mm Burris. It was bright and tough, and eye relief at 5.5″ removed any concerns over “magnum eyebrow”.)

As in rifles and cartridges, debates are never ending over rifle scopes. Because of the physical conditions described, I’d choose a good variable. Again, depending on hiking conditions and the overall health of the hunter, as well as how late in the afternoon/evening one intends to hunt, these should determine the overall weight of the rifle ready to shoot. A compromise might be a 2 – 7 x 35mm. My Ruger No.1 in .458 WIN has a 2 – 7 x 32mm Nikon. It has bright optics, is tough and relatively light. My Tikka Lite has a heavier 3 – 9 x 40mm Bushnell as it’s extra weight helps deal with 40 to 48 ft-lbs of recoil. My only experience with a Leupold was on the 7mm Rem Mag in the BAR. My son, Phil, also had a 3 – 9 X 40mm Leupold on his Remington Mountain Rifle in .338 Win Mag. But for servicing of any faults or repairs, Bushnell has a main distribution and service center in Toronto, one and a-half hours away. Leupolds must be sent to the USA, and the Nikon has never flinched under recoil in the 40s to 70s ft-lbs range (so far).

So, now we’re ready to shoot all +/- 400 lbs of Mr Bruin at 410 yards away on the side of a ridge/mountain with brush and timber within two bounds. And the angle of the shot would be + 15 degrees into a 3/4 bear profile.

What rifle?

What cartridge?

And which bullet?

It would not be one of my Marlins (past tense).

Would a .30-06 do it if you expect a dead bear right there? If you believe in miracles, maybe. Then again, even if you place the bullet in the on shoulder (right side) it will miss the heart due to the angle. If it’s a 180gr TSX at 2700 fps MV from a 22″ barrel, and placed with precision behind the right leg and into the heart, what then? According to my calculations the bear would be killed with over 1500 ft-lbs of smash still left, but how far might it travel before quitting? A .30-06 would be the least I’d choose under such conditions, shooting a good 180gr. But precision shooting is called for. At that range, with the rifle sighted at 200 yards, bullet drop would be more than 2 feet. That’s why I mentioned that the hunter must be intimately familiar with his rifle and load — AND WITH HIMSELF! Can he pull it off?

Personally, knowing the possibilities for matters going wrong, I’d choose at least a .300 Win Mag, and better still a .338 Win.

And what about the .35s? If it were a .35 Whelen, I’d use something like the 225gr Nosler Partition at 2750 – 2800 fps MV. Why? At 410 yds it’s still making about 2000 ft-lbs at nearly 2000 fps. That’s quite an improvement over it’s ancient parent, the .30-06 at 1535 ft-lbs, while still having equal or better trajectory! And the .350 Rem Mag would be a copy of that. Depending on overall weight of the setup, recoil would be less than a .300 Win Mag. The .300 Win would shoot flatter but the Whelen would have more momentum.

In the .300 I’d use the 200gr Nosler at nearly 3000 fps, MV; the .338 Win with a 250 Partition at 2700 MV, giving it a similar trajectory as the .30-06 but about 2110 ft-lbs at 410 yards. That’s better momentum than the Whelen and slightly more energy.

In 9.3 x 62, would I attempt such a shot when “pundits” have pontificated that a shot on big game a 250 yards is stretching matters? I think they got their data from 1905 in Berlin! Not from a Canadian in 2020! If I would attempt such a shot from a .35 Whelen or .350 Rem Mag, or better still from a .340 Wby Mag, surely +2700 fps from the 250gr Accubond would hardly be a mistake, would it? Yet, in truth my load would be the 286 Partition at 2631 fps MV — that’s average for that load over ten years, and 1967 fps/2456 ft-lbs at 410 yards. The trajectory is within 1.5″ of the .338 Win Mag firing the 250gr Nosler at 2700 fps, or the .35 Whelen shooting the 225gr Nosler at 2750 fps. And the heavier bullet will drift the same as the .338 Win in a 10 mph crosswind , and a little better than the 225gr from the Whelen.

So, yes, I’d not be lacking anything in toting my 9.3 x 62.

But for someone who may have a sore shoulder, or arthritis, or shy of 40 lbs recoil, they should never attempt shots on larger bears at such ranges. Instead, they should limit range to no more than 250 to 300 yards in shooting something like a handloaded .358 Winchester employing a 225 gr Partition at around 2500 fps MV/3122 ft-lbs.  At 250 yards that load would still be making 2029 fps/2056 ft-lbs — plenty for a 400 lb bruin at a 3/4 angling shot.

While I’d still choose a Nosler Partition over a TSX or Hornady in those calibers, yet the others will work but their BCs are not as good as the Partitions. Then the TSX is a longer bullet in same weight due to being all copper. That eats powder space.

I also know from experience that the heavier Hornady Interlocs in medium calibers are very good when velocities are kept at no more than 2600 to 2700 fps. I’ve witnessed that on both bear and moose.

Of course, there are other common sources such as: Sierra and Speer, not to even mention some special boutique solutions. Yet some are not available in Canada, and as to Speer and Sierra, for bear or moose, with caution I’d go with heavier bullets in mid-bores, the same as for any non-premiums at less that optimum velocities. But there are special exemptions: The 200gr Hornady RN in .358″ and the Remington Coreloc in the same type and weight. At short to modest ranges they seem to work well above their design.

Speer’s 250gr SP Hot Core has a decent reputation on bear and moose (and most things between) from the .350 Rem or Whelen. But should heavy bone be hit they’ve been known to “come apart”. Some calibers by Woodleigh and Cutting Edge are available in Canada but not always what you want or need. And North Fork has gone out of business in North America and GS Custom is unavailable in Canada.

In lesser calibers than .33 I’ve listed my favorites on May 16 in an article: “HANDLOADING — When and Why I got into it – P3”, so will not reiterate here, other than to say that we need to do serious research on the potential circumstances of our bear hunts, rifles, cartridges and bullets. Again, much will depend on whether it will be a DIY hunt, or if a partner will be present or even a professional guide. Think and evaluate all details carefully, because not only will success or potential failure depend on those details, but possibly your very life!

So, what would you want as a companion rifle in the case of a late-in-the day wounded bear departing into the unknown at 25 – 30 mph? I’ve witnessed that on at least three distinct occasions — twice on a wounded bear and a third on a missed shot!

Those narratives next time…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

BEAR Bullets – P1

A number of years ago while chatting on the phone with a Hornady Rep, we discussed bullets for bear. Actually, I was making inquiry about their Interloc bullets suitable for black bear, specifically in 9.3 mm if my recollection is correct. But we did discuss other calibers as well. At the time they were producing one bullet only in 9.3 mm (.366″), a 286-gr Interloc SP-RP.

(270-gr Speer on left, and 286-gr Hornady)>

In the course of our discussion, mention was made that he’d hunted black bear in Saskatchewan and was successful in harvesting “not a big bear”. I asked its weight. “About 300 pounds”, he said. “What were you shooting?”, I asked. “A 25-06” was his reply. I don’t recall the exact bullet weight, but it was, of course, one of the Hornady brand — one or other of the 117 Interloc in RN or BTSP. I don’t believe (from memory) that it was the 120-gr HP. Range would have been less than 100 yards.

Still, I was surprised that a Hornady Rep would go to Saskatchewan for a black bear that could easily surpass 400 lbs with a “puny” .25-caliber! So I did the math, assuming it to be the 117-gr BTSP:

BC = .391

MV = 3200 fps

50 yards = 3076 fps/ 2458 ft-lbs

75 yards = 3015 fps/ 2362 ft-lbs

100 yards = 2956 fps/ 2269 ft-lbs

According to my calculations, at 100 yards (the actual range was less) 2269 ft-lbs should be more than adequate for a 300 lb bear from a .25-cal, 117-gr bullet. But for a 400 lb bear, I’d want more – much more – than a .25-caliber for reasons that I’ll explain. Presumably, the Hornady bullet, whether it was the 117 BTSP or the 117 RN, or even the 120-gr HP, worked as intended, which was good news for the shooter as well as for the Hornady Manufacturing Company.

Personally, as suggested in my previous blog, if I did choose a .25-caliber for a bear hunt it would be the 120-gr Nosler Partition, and I’d wan’t to be prepared for a much longer shot — in which case it would likely be a .257 Weatherby that could move that bullet along at 3400 MV.  But it is still only .25- caliber, and looses 255 fps at 100 yards, dropping KE well below 3000 ft-lbs. Nonetheless, at 100 yards the 120 Nosler from the .257 Weatherby is quicker than a .25-06 firing the same bullet at muzzle speed. The .257 was one of Roy’s favorites, thinking it adequate for The Big Five of Africa!

Regardless of his credentials, I disagree! Even on big black bears I’d disagree!

Why?

I’ve written on this numerous times, but “all” have not become acquainted with my experiences or philosophy. And there are “surprises” that happen that even very experienced bear hunters have not expected or been prepared for. The “norm” is like “normal weather” conditions! Average circumstances and conditions include variables that at times may verge on extreme!

I didn’t expect, and was not prepared for, a mature, 25 lb female turkey to fly across a highway and into the windshield of my “new” (to me) Ford Escape as my wife and I were taking a Sunday afternoon drive to visit a bird sanctuary one week ago! It was a first, but it HAPPENED! Yes, the windshield has been replaced. The turkey? Nada!

The point?

The following adage has been correctly assessed by others, I believe: “Don’t take the rifle cartridge that will work when everything goes right, but take the one that will work when things go wrong!” – or a philosophy to that effect!

In a “any bear hunt” – black, brown or white – we’re dealing with potentially dangerous game, or in the words of wisdom that still echo from Elmer Keith: “Remember, dangerous game is not really dangerous until it is in close proximity to the hunter, and when that is the case he doesn’t need high velocity but rather a big caliber with a heavy bullet that will penetrate well and also deliver a heavy knockdown wallop.”

Of course, many have taken a negative view of Keith and his “heavy knockdown wallop”, thus dismissing his views as antiquated. Keep in mind, however, that Keith used a lot of “modern” magnums, many of which were “wildcats”, and others over .500-caliber! The above article was written about 1950 and published in the 1951 Gun Digest, so he was not living in the Dark Ages of ballistics when expressing his views based on solid experiences in Africa as well as the Rocky Mountain States!

The “heavy knockdown wallop” was an artistic description of results rather than a technical one.

As mentioned in my last blog, it was ole’ Elmer who convinced me of the real potential of an 1895 Marlin in .45-70, NOT the wimpy loads found in ALL handloading guides of the ’80s and ’90s! A full decade AFTER publishing loads in my “SUPREME LOADS for the .45-70” manual, involving the Marlin and Ruger No.1, which included 405s from the Marlin that exceeded 2100 fps, Hodgdon published a single load that slightly passed 2000 fps from a 400-gr using H4198! Then, a few years later, Brian Pearce, of Handloader magazine, also published a few loads that attained about 2000 fps from 400 – 405s!

A good friend said, “I think someone is reading your stuff.” True or not, I’d been publishing a manual for 10 years before anyone, other than myself, took Elmer Keith seriously! So, he was an “old crank” was he?

Actually, in practice, I’ve found “bigger” kills “faster” than smaller on bears unless it’s a clear central-nervous-system hit! Over bait at close range you can “pick your shot”, maybe! Yet not always if you want a particular bear, because very rarely do they pose for that perfect shot. If the site is set up by an outfitter, usually it takes into consideration the closest and clearest shot possible from a tree stand, that a “little ole’ lady” could make! Unless you specify otherwise.

But what if…

You stumble on a bear, or into one, while hunting deer, elk or moose? Or a DIY without bait, as in a stalk, call, or search for, or….

What then? A .25-caliber? In timber or thick brush? I’ve done a lot of that kind! The lightest I’ve carried for that kind of scouting is a Ruger 96/44 rifle loaded with 300s at 1650 fps. Those were 300-gr Speers made for big game, more potent than a .30-30 at close range and even a .35 Remington firing a 200-gr at 2100 fps – not in KE but in KO! Would a big-bore handgun get the job done of stopping a big bruin dead in its tracks? Of course, if it’s big enough and you can shoot it well enough, with a consideration of the range involved.

But there’s a multitude of other considerations:

An incoming 200 lb+ bear… FAST! At less than 20 yards! Even a 200 lb bear is no lightweight, and it will hit harder than a linebacker with a helmet at 35 mph! How long would it take from 20 yards at 35 mph? LESS THAN A SECOND!! Or, to be more precise, 0.855 seconds!! It takes at least that long to BEGIN to realize what’s happening… unless we’re already prepared from hearing or detecting movement in the brush, and the rifle is on the shoulder, chamber loaded with the safety OFF!

Unless it’s a frontal head shot, a .25 caliber will allow the bear to hit, maul, chew, and perhaps kill it’s assailant! Same deal with an arrow or medium bore rifle. But a true big bore is a STOPPING RIFLE and not just a killing rifle.

As much as I love my 9.3 x 62 (.366-caliber), it is NOT a stopping rifle. I’ve killed three bears with mine, and only the first one was “stopped” because it had been seriously wounded twice by a young friend and I finished the job with a going-away shot that took out 3 to 4 vertebrae. The other two went at least 20 yards from shots that took out lungs and heart. The same shots from my .45-70s would have dropped them where they were! Do you wonder how I know that?

Of course, good bullets are always assumed! And what are those “good bullets”?

Here are some that I’ve used in .458″, and one to avoid:

1) My first bear was shot using a Classic 1895 Marlin in .45-70 with the Micro-groove 22″ barrel. The bullets were  the 400gr SPEER FP at around 1865 fps/3089 ft-lbs muzzle energy. Range was 100 yards. The 7 yr-old trophy male was hit broadside, midway up, just behind right shoulder. Impact velocity was about 1535 fps/2092 ft-lbs. The big bear reared up and went over backwards, took off on a dead run for 10 yards into an alder patch where he went down on his back with all four paws pointing heavenward. I stood on the moose-hunting platform, and gave a finisher between neck and shoulder that wasn’t needed. He was eviscerated after dark and it took four of us to load him onto the back of a pickup. The first bullet was never found as it likely came out with the innards in the darkness. The second (finisher) was found in the offside armpit and weighed 90.5% of original weight at 362 grains, fully expanded with one side of the “mushroom” sheared off. (see pics)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) A 350-gr Speer Hotcore FP, fired from my first .458 Win Mag at 2345 fps (reduced load) stopped a going-away young male at 75 yards. It took out his liver, several inches of spine and the back of its head. The 350-gr was never found having departed into the thick timber beyond.

3) A 405-gr Remington FP flattened a medium male at 98 yards. It too was a going-away shot that hit the flank on the left side and made exit just aft of the right shoulder. Bullet was never retrieved after three-feet of penetration. MV was 2110 fps/4003 ft-lbs from my Marlin Classic in .45-70, and impact would have been about 1835 fps/3028 ft-lbs. (405-gr Remington 5th from left)>

4) A 500-gr Hornady RN Interloc was fired from my Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT at 2185 fps/5300 ft-lbs. Impact was on a quartering-toward dry 165 lb sow bear. Impact was behind the on right shoulder and took exit in the offside flank. Range was 40 yards and the bear made tracks for 20 yards, bawled three times and died. I didn’t know it was a female as it quartered toward me. There’s ample reason to believe that the bullet did NOT EXPAND! I wanted to try it on bear and I cannot recommend that bullet for medium, soft-skinned game — but it will kill!

(500-gr Speer AGS loaded for my Ruger No.1 in .45-70 LT, 3rd from L)

5) A 465-gr hardcast from my single-shot New England Firearms (NEF) in .45-70 literally flattened a 6-foot bear at 70 yards as it faced me. MV was 1900 fps/3727 ft-lbs, and impact was approximately 1735 fps (depending on actual B.C.) and 3108 ft-lbs. It was in tall 30″ grass and completely disappeared therein when my rifle came out of recoil. It thought for a moment… Did it evaporate? No, I saw a faint shade of coal black hidden away in the tall growth of dried grass — something the color of African dry grass. The bullet completely penetrated from frontal chest under the chin to just below the sternum. It was lost somewhere in the dry grass, soil and blood. I made a brief search, but the call was to finish field dressing before lights were out!

(Here that bear has been field dressed and measured 41-inches around his chest just behind shoulders. He should therefore have weighed 240 lbs. But he was like a fast growing young-adult male, tall and lanky with little fat.)> 

Those are only a few examples of bullets that will work well enough on medium to big game of the soft-skin types. But bullet construction, profile, and impact velocity are all key issues as well. More to come in our next blog.

A wounded, departing bear at 25 – 30 mph… That is a different scenario that we’ll discuss next time.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

 

 

 

Handloading — when and why I got into it – P3

The BAR in 7 mm Rem Mag had a serious problem. In developing and shooting various handloads for it, I noticed the ejected cases were very hot — too hot to handle! These were book loads that fed and ejected in a normal fashion. From a bolt action, I’d always ejected the empty cases rather slowly, and never were they too hot to handle — they’d be slightly warm and that was it. I thought hot empties was very strange… That is until I started to reload those same cases, which I didn’t do immediately as I was still using new (unfired) brass for several sessions  over a period of a few weeks — I was only going to the range once per week. During that initial period, using new cases each time, I adjusted loads downward thinking that the “book loads” must have been too hot for that rifle being a semi. Remember, I didn’t own a chronograph at the time so was guessing muzzle velocity.

The light came on when I started to reload some of the cases that were once-fired. Initially, in resizing, I thought it a bit strange that there was more resistance at the start of each case than I’d experienced with the .30-06, but passed it off as just “one of those things”. But creeping into my mind was a doubt about neck tension before resizing. I tried a BT bullet and it wouldn’t fall into the case! It was like the case had already been resized! I then tried several bullets with the same effect — they would only go into the case if the bullet seater was used in the press,  trying several cases with the same results!

As good luck would have it, I’d picked up a Wolfe publication (Rifle or Handloader) when Wolfe himself still owned the business. There was a corner store in Halifax called a “Smoke Shop”, that had excellent magazines for shooting, hunting AND handloading. That particular edition had a lengthy article on the 7 mm Rem Mag BAR, and that’s why I’d bought it around the time of exchanging my .30-06 for the 7 BAR, but I’d not read the article until after the described problems. In that piece (a lengthy one — unlike most short pieces in gun rags today) the author (don’t recall his name) gave a description of the exact same problem I was experiencing! I couldn’t believe it! I mean, I did believe him, but it solved my dilemma. He went on to talk about his investigation of a problem that was being experienced not only in BARS in 7 Rem Mag but bolt actions as well! That brought about a change at SAAMI of CUP for that cartridge from 54,000 cup to 52,000 cup (Later writers gave other reasons.).

It seemed (according to that article) that a bunch of reamers sent to manufacturers, or made by them, had the wrong specs for the neck! And the same results I was getting was being experienced by many others.

Whatever the case, I now owned a new 7mm Rem Mag in a Browning BAR that I considered “dangerous”! What to do? To make matters worse, there was no gun smith in the Halifax region with the credentials to “improve” the neck situation of the rifle as any reamer that might have been available would only conform to what had already been done in manufacturing. The local “smith” wouldn’t touch it!

So it went back to the dealership where purchased with a full explanation. The shop manager was very apologetic, and said the best he could do to resolve the problem would be in a new M70 with a new scope to replace the faulty BAR with the new Leupold. Seeing that they didn’t have any Leupolds on hand, they’d have to be ordered from the USA — and that might take 6 months to a year for actual delivery. Since this was the gun department of a large Canadian Tire store in Dartmouth, and any orders of one-of-a-kind was rare or never, I’d be well advised to accept the finest scope they had in stock — which was a Bushnell    3 – 9 x 40mm. So I accepted a new M70 Winchester XTR in .300 Win Mag (closer to the ballistics of the 7 Rem Mag) with the new Bushnell mounted in place.

Then we moved back to Ontario without ever having fired the .300 Win Mag in Nova Scotia. We’d been in Halifax for four years and received a call to become pastor of a significant church in the Kawartha Lakes region of Ontario. When we left Ontario for Nova Scotia four years earlier it was with the intent to return once our “mission” was done there. So here in The Kawartha Lakes region we’ve resided since 1987. It’s been an ideal area for outdoor living, and hunting/fishing in particular.

This was a much larger church with several pastors and a Christian school, so I wondered how much time might be available as Senior Pastor for the pursuit of outdoor activities. Nonetheless, since it’s largely an agricultural – recreational – cottage country – vacation area, initially any concerns over that seemed unfounded. Along with a decent salary and benefits, plus a month’s vacation whenever suitable allowed possibilities for some hunting.

So my first vacation period that seemed “appropriate” was a full week in the second year of our tenure. I wanted to hunt a bear (for the first time), so that week was dedicated to such an adventure. By then the .300 Win Mag had been to the range a few times, but never hunted. It was mandated that after moving to a different province we must wait a full year before purchasing a hunting licence, or we could hire an outfitter as a non-resident prior to that. My wait was one and a-half years.

During that period the M70 XTR in .300 Win Mag was traded for a SAKO FS in .338 Win Mag. I didn’t like the heft of the .300 as it would have been more suited to a .375 H&H. Because of its total weight — over 9 lbs with scope and 44-inches in length — I wanted something shorter and lighter… enter the .338 in the SAKO FS carbine at 40-inches and 8.6 lbs ready with scope, ammo and sling. The Bushnell scope from the .300 went onto the .338. And I must say that the Bushnell never failed, or gave a moments concern after hundreds of handloads through the .338 and then onto the M70 .375 H&H that came later. Bushnell, at that time, was made by B&L.

By the time of the bear hunt in the spring of ’89, I’d had a lot of handloading experience with the .338 from 200gr to 275gr, which also included 225s and 250s. I certainly had a few loads suitable for bear. By then, however, I had a thirst for a larger bore rifle and had been reading up on the revival of the ancient, but impressive .45-70, especially in the renewed 1895 Marlin. I wanted to give it a try on a black bear — my first!

That story has been told a few times in former blogs so I’ll not go there again in this piece, but the point I’m making is that the .45-70 was my introduction to Big Bores. Though other small bore, sub-medium and medium-bores have had a place in my handloading and hunting experiences, big-bore rifles have dominated my interest in hunting, handloading and shooting activities — especially in .458-caliber. That, of course, being the time-honoured .45-70 and formidable .458 Winchester Magnum.

Even though this has been the theme of many of my articles, once again (for those who have forgetful minds or are only now being introduced to http://www.bigbores.ca ), I’ll boldly affirm that no cartridge that I’ve made handloads for, small to large, has the versatility — when handloaded — as .458-caliber, and in the .458 Winchester Magnum in particular. That audacious claim can easily be justified — and has been! With a little ingenuity, yes that’s “little”, it can effectively be used on woodchucks to Woolly Mammoths (if they existed today)! And the .45-70 could do the same if you leave out the Mammoths!

All that has to do with the caliber (.458″), cartridge, bullets and powders readily available today — not even to mention the rifles — ahem, we do need rifles for such don’t we.

<(The CZ550 in .458 Win Mag)

Since I’ve previously written extensively in justification of such claims, I desist from doing so again. However, the projectiles available in .458″ are nearly infinite, including moulds for making your own. Anything from 250gr to 600s can be fired from 1000 fps to over 3000 fps! (Not the 600 at over 3000!). I’ve owned a couple boxes of Barnes Originals in 600gr, and I’m unable to find the few unfired that remain. Those fired were done so in my Ruger #1 in .45-70 LT at 1900 fps – and that wasn’t max! I figure that a .458 WIN could improve on that by at least 100 fps. The problem with that bullet in the .45-70 Ruger was the rate-of-twist at 1 – 20. They were accurate at 100 yds but some made slightly eccentric holes in the targets. That twist rate couldn’t completely stabilize those long bullets. I believe that the standard 1 – 14 twist rate of the .458 Win Mag would. At one time I plugged the data into a program and that bullet would have been fully stable from a .458 Win Mag with a 1 – 14 barrel. The 600gr Barnes Original bullet had a 0.05″ jacket and a round nose. A 600gr at 2100 fps is doable from a 24″, .458 Win – I’ve no doubt!

Going on record, I’ve stated that a premium 400gr SP would be ideal for the .458 Winchester Magnum as an all-around choice. However, Barnes dropped their 400-X from inventory and failed to introduce it as a 400 TSX when changes were made to that format. The 400 X-Bullet was a favorite of several big game pros, including Phil Shoemaker who lamented its loss. Though I make no claim as a pro, I protested its loss as well, and still don’t accept Barnes’ rationale for doing so.

Others in .458 as some of my “likes” are included in the following pics:

 

 

<Img.1 – L to R: 3rd= 480gr Hor DGX; 4th = 450gr Swift AF; 5th = 405gr Rem; 8th = 350gr TSX; 14th = 300gr TSX.

 

 

<Img. 2 – L to R: 2nd = 465gr hardcast; 10th = 350gr Speer

 

 

In 9.3 x 62 I’ve stated numerous times that I prefer the Noslers: 286gr Partition and 250gr Accubond.

In .358 caliber: Nosler Partitions in 225 and 250gr; Hornady 250 SP, Barnes 225 X or TSX.

In .338 magnums: 250 Partitions

In .300 magnums: 200gr Partitions or Accubonds.

In 7 magnums: 175gr Partitions.

In 7-08: 162gr Hornady.

In .270 Win: 150gr Partitions.

In 6.5: 140gr Partitions.

In .25-06: 120gr Partitions

In .223: 53gr Hornady HP.

In .44 mag: 270gr or 300gr Speer.

In .375 H&H: depending on application, 300s.

In .30-06: 180s.

In .308 Win: 165s.

In 7.62 x 54R: 180s.

In .444 Marlin: 265s.

In .356 Winchester: 220s (plus a bunch of light pistol bullets)

In .375 Winchester: 220s.

And that’s all I know!

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL