bullet construction for late season black bear

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brybenn

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As the title says I'm lookin for advise on bullet choice for bear hunting late September bear. My primary gun will be a double in 4570 but I plan on wolf hunting as well. We all know there's a good chance a bear will show when you're waiting for the wolf. My wolf gun will be a 2506. It loves Hornady interlock 117gr spitzers at 3200fps. However a late fall bear will be packing a lot of fat. For those who use. 257s should I try partitions or A frames ? I feel my interlocks may not provide an exit wound for good blood trail in thick cover should I shoot a large bear and have it run.
I've shot a 300 lb bear using cxp2 bullets and flattened the bear but had no exit. I do reload so should I stick with what I have or try a premium bullet to punch thru the fat. Range will be 200 yards or less
 
I have used a 25-06 a fair bit, but only on deer and antelope. If exit holes on bear are important to you, I'd suggest one of the monometal hollowpoint or monometal tipped bullets, TSX, GMX, etc. and over 100 gr wt. 120 grain partitions are a deadly choice, I have used them quite a bit but i would not be confident of an exit wound on a big shoulder shot bear. I would be confident of a dead bear however.
 
Thanks for the reply however I tried tsx bullets and I am not a fan. They may exit but a 1/4" exit hole won't let out much blood. I've shot many into water jugs and wet news paper and almost always all the pedals broke off. I don't have confidence in them. However I may try Hornady gmx though
 
brybenn said:
Thanks for the reply however I tried tsx bullets and I am not a fan. They may exit but a 1/4" exit hole won't let out much blood. I've shot many into water jugs and wet news paper and almost always all the pedals broke off. I don't have confidence in them. However I may try Hornady gmx though
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If you shot them into water jugs you would have seen the penetration and energy dispersed into the target.... I would rather the pedals break off and have a 1/4" exit than have no exit..
 
I guess you will be baiting?

What type of bullets, load combinations have you already worked out in the double? What velocities were you getting?

If you're getting something in the 1250-1350fps muzzle velocity, which is the normal load for the .45-70, with the traditional 400-405gr bullets, then I don't think it matters. I've got 400gr Speer, 405gr Remington, 400gr Woodleighs; they will all perform well, as long as you pay attention to the design impact velocity.

Edit to add: I've also got 350gr Hornady IL and those are a really good bullet too.

I used to load them up 'Hot', like 1850fps MV. But that doesn't work. Those bullets are not designed for that type velocity.
 
Throw em both away and get gun that'll do the job, in the 30/06, 7mm Rem. class. Things being what they are, you'll have the wrong one with you, when the time comes. ;)

Grizz
 
Demonical said:
I guess you will be baiting?

What type of bullets, load combinations have you already worked out in the double? What velocities were you getting?

If you're getting something in the 1250-1350fps muzzle velocity, which is the normal load for the .45-70, with the traditional 400-405gr bullets, then I don't think it matters. I've got 400gr Speer, 405gr Remington, 400gr Woodleighs; they will all perform well, as long as you pay attention to the design impact velocity.

Edit to add: I've also got 350gr Hornady IL and those are a really good bullet too.

I used to load them up 'Hot', like 1850fps MV. But that doesn't work. Those bullets are not designed for that type velocity.
Click to expand...


Something I didn't even consider until just now, is you've got to use a load that regulates, in your double. I would suppose you've worked that out already?
 
I'll be using Remington 405 flat nose bullets in the double at just shy of 1500fps . Hunting over bait. Shots will be less then 75 yards.
It's the 2506 I'm looking for construction advise. I will be hunting wolf as well. I need a bullet that won't rip a wolf hide apart but yet punch thru a lot of bear fat. I realize I could use a 30/06 for both but then the gun industry would be rather boring. Even a 300 Wm may not lay a bear down immediately at 200 yards. I've never had a bear come to a predator call yet but just in case one does I want to be ready. I've ordered some 120gr partitions. I'll see how they do
 
^ If you've got Partitions, sounds like you've answered your own question. You won't beat the performance of the Partition, in whatever caliber you're using.

It would be fun to hammer a black bear with a .45-70 double rifle. What is your double? Baikal? Sabatti?
 
Baikal. It will print 2 shots from each barrel into a 2" group at 75 yards. It is very accurate with 350 gr fn interlocks at 1800fps but has a 4" vertical spread.
I haven't tried the partitions yet in my 2506. Hopefully they will shoot as good as the 117gr interlocks.
 
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