.405 Winchester

[Demonical]

I will be taking my M1895 Winchester, in .405Win, on the spring bear hunt.

I bought 300gr Woodleigh Weldcores and 325gr .050" jacket Hawks. I loaded 5 each last night to test over the Chrony. Objective is ~2230 fps with the 300gr Woodleighs and ~2100-2150 with the 325gr Hawks.

Heading to the range in a bit. I will post updates on my results.


Edit to add: Oh yeah: 54grs H4895 with the 300's and 52.5grs H4895 with the 325's. Hornady brass and Win LR primers.

 

[Demonical]

Miroku M1895 Winchester.

300gr Woodleigh Weldcore, 54grs H4895, Win LR primers, Hornady cases.
MV = 2158, 2128, 2172. Avg MV = 2152 fps.

325gr Hawk .050 jkt, 52.5grs H4895, Win LR primers, Hornady cases.
MV - 2117, 2126, 2114, 2115. Avg MV = 2118 fps.

The velocity I got out of the Hawks was just about what I was looking for, so I'm going to stick with that. I could add a grain or so of powder to the 300gr Woodleigh's and bump up the MV a touch, but it's okay for what I want to do, which is shoot a 7' black bear at 20-40 yds.

After I Chrony'd the 2 loads, I fired them into the clay bank, at the gun range. Distance was very close, like 10 paces, so they were at near max' velocity.

L t R: .411 cal. 325gr Hawk, 300gr Woodleigh.

Base of the Hawk bullet, with the charactristic lead pulling out of the copper jacket.

325 gr Hawk front end.

300gr Woodleigh Weldcore base.

Business end of the Woodleigh.

... and a second angle on the Woodleigh.


Both of these bullets should tear a pretty big hole in whatever they hit.

 

[Finger Toes]

Have you tried any more bullet types like the tsx? I'm trying to find out if there are heavier bullets up to 400 grainers in .411 that aren't super $$. The 411 Hawk has my interest.

 

[brybenn]

7' black bear is a big bear. Good luck

 

[209jones]

A 300gr up at the 2100 range will do a very nice job on a bear for you. You can get 300 Hornady and 350gr TSX also in .411, I have some to use in my 450/400.
I don't think there are any "cheaper" 40cal factory bullets, except maybe 210 Hornadys, which a lot of people use down south on pigs. About the only thing you'll gain with a 400gr is extra recoil. Best way to get the cost down is to cast for it.