Win model 71 ........ Winchester 200gr Silvertips on black bear........?
- Thread starter Francois_
- Start date
If your 200 grain Silvertips blow up on deer, they sure as hell will blow up on bear. Your model 71 requires a better bullet than the 200 grain Silvertip.
Traditionally Silvertips are noted for extreme expansion. A friend of mine had extremely poor performance with Silvertips in a .375 Ackley on a large Kodiak. It was the guides .300 WBY that finally stopped the bear. On skinning it was found the .375 did not make it through the fat into the cheast cavity. Last time he ever used Silvertips.
Traditionally Silvertips are noted for extreme expansion. A friend of mine had extremely poor performance with Silvertips in a .375 Ackley on a large Kodiak. It was the guides .300 WBY that finally stopped the bear. On skinning it was found the .375 did not make it through the fat into the cheast cavity. Last time he ever used Silvertips.
Hollow Point
CGN Regular
- Location
- New Brunswick
if your hunting over bait at close range and the silver tips blow up on deer at close range I would'nt trust them to work on bear. If i was paying for a hunt i would pick a bullet I had total confidence in at all distances i feel comfortable shooting.
I have never used the 200's... but I do not consider the 170 Silvertips to be a particularly "fast" expanding bullet out of .30-30's or .32 Special M94 Carbines...I shot a couple dozen deer with them and a number of bears, but have had many bear clients use them on bears "back in the day," and the bullets penetrated well, with mostly pass through on lung shots through the ribs... recovered bullets were mushrooms and probably 50% intact under the offside hide. You can definitely use a stouter bullet, but I was never concerned with those bullets being used... I don't believe the bullet was ever responsible for a lost animal. Personally, if it is a baited bear scenario, I prefer heavy boomers and big chunks of lead. In a spot and stalk scenario, I would go to a 7mm or .30 Cal with a zippier Bonded bullet, of 150 - 180 grains.
I actually shot some older, Winchester white box 200 grain silvertips out of my 71 a few days ago. It certainly provided good velocity and accuracy however I also find these bullets fast expanding. A good shot into the lungs would certainly do the job but I wouldn’t ask it to punch through heavy bone. The old Hornady 200 grain is better in my opinion. YouTuber north61 did some penetration testing with the .348 and included the silvertips. Check that out.
I've used plenty of the 180gr silvertip in a .30-06 for black bear, I think my dad bought a case of it back in the early 90's since I still have a dozen or so rounds left. I've shot a few bears with that load and have never recovered a bullet, but I'm not sure of the viability of the 200gr .348 variant. I would assume that it is purpose-built to work for the .348 Winchester at typical hunting ranges, but who knows with old school bullets.
Always found silvertip loads in 30/30 and 32 special to be pretty rugged in construction. Maybe the 348 is pushing them too fast for their construction? Not a lot of options for .348 diameter projectiles, I don't think.
Get your self these bullets and BUST the Shoulders
JMO RJhttps://pdent.ca/product/barnes-original-348-cal-348-250-gr-fn-fb-50-count/
Licensed to kill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Peace Country Alberta
For years (through the 60’s and 70’s) my Dad used his .348 with 200gr silver tips almost exclusively and took a pile of bears, black tail deer and mountain goats with it. He always swore by silver tips. They never let him down as far as I know.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Two things, the early Silvertips had a reputation for not blowing up, but penciling through. I doubt you have ammo that old.
Any that I used were 170 grain in the 30-30, and I never recovered one.
A lot of people shoot bear in the shoulder, I put it just behind, both for black bear, and for deer.
Shooting for the shoulder will work better with a tougher bullet.
Heart/lung shots the Silvertip should be fine.
Any that I used were 170 grain in the 30-30, and I never recovered one.
A lot of people shoot bear in the shoulder, I put it just behind, both for black bear, and for deer.
Shooting for the shoulder will work better with a tougher bullet.
Heart/lung shots the Silvertip should be fine.
Last deer I shot with a Silvertip on a Maine hunt, no exit wound ....... Field dressed, drop off for butchering ....... Go to pick up the meat and the guy is all weird and you can tell is not at ease ....... 'You know I didn't steal any meat from you ........ ??? 'One shoulder was all 'jello' no more bone, just pulverised, no stolen meat'..... Went in the rib cage at slight angle, off side shoulder just vaporised. So I wouldn't want to have one blow up on heavy bone on a bear ...... Reached out for woodleighs but out of stock for a year ....... Lever Evolution ?
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Black bears aren't that stoutly built. I wouldn't hesitate to use the 200gr Silvertip out of my Model 71. And that's a good thing, since I have about a dozen boxes of old white box ammo.
Takujualuk
CGN Regular
- Location
- Whitehorse, Yukon
Yes, the 200 Silvertip is a fast expander and will shed it's core under 100 yards, where the velocity is high. If you stay away from shoulder it will clobber a black bear! If you hit bone you might have some trouble. If you can find some 200 Hornady FN's they are very reliable but no longer made. I have my life time supply and have used them on up to moose with satisfaction. The Flex-Tips are similar on game but hold onto velocity better. The Barnes Originals often core separate in 220 grain but not in the longer 250 grain. Best bullet I have used is the 250 Woodleigh. Here is a video I made that explores bullet choice with the 348
