.358 Bullets Vs. Bruins

[358Goat]

If you were hunting bear in Alberta in 4months shooting a 35 Whelen and had 200gr Hornady RN, Hornady 200gr SP, Sierra 200gr RN, Sierra 225gr BTSP, Barnes 200gr TTSX, Barnes 225gr TSX, Nosler 225gr AccuBond, or Nosler 225gr Partitions available to you, what would you shoot? The hunt may involve some spot and stalk but the evenings will be over bait. What are your experiences and what would you shoot if you were in my shoes?

Goat

 

[JD338]

225 gr PT. I shot a 250 lb black bear with a 35 Whelen and the 225 gr PT off a bait. Hit him through both shoulders, DRT.

JD338

 

[gerry]

I've used all of those except the Hornady for bear or moose and would say any of the lead core 225's or 200 gr TTSX. No bad choices with any of those.

 

[Blkram]

While the AccuBond has been my favourite hunting bullet since it first came out, it would be my first choice, with the 225 gr SGK second. My recommendation is to use the one that is the most accurate in your rifle.
As for hunting over, your shot will most likely be close, so you probably do not not need to have sub-MOA accuracy, but the confidence in your rifle/ammo combination is important. This is where those spot and stalk opportunities may push the shot distance and that edge in accuracy will help.
While the bears can get to good size in Alberta, most taken are not overly big. And spring bears typically weigh less having just come out of hibernation. 200-300 lbs being most common.

 

[KevinNC]

Black bears die easy vs deer and elk. I would skip the 200 grain cup and cores and use the X or the AccuBond, both will reach out if you need to and also work at short range on bait.

 

[DrMike]

If you were hunting bear in Alberta in 4months shooting a 35 Whelen and had 200gr Hornady RN, Hornady 200gr SP, Sierra 200gr RN, Sierra 225gr BTSP, Barnes 200gr TTSX, Barnes 225gr TSX, Nosler 225gr AccuBond, or Nosler 225gr Partitions available to you, what would you shoot? The hunt may involve some spot and stalk but the evenings will be over bait. What are your experiences and what would you shoot if you were in my shoes?

Goat

You've had some good advice. I never shot over bait, but I've used all of these at one time or another on black bear from 35 Whelen, 358 Winchester, and 358 Norma Magnum. Blkram and Gerry have considerable experience with black bear, and I have shot a few myself. There are no bad choices in your list, but I tend to prefer the 225 grain SGK, 200 grain TSX, 225 grain TSX, and 225 grain PT just because they give me the best accuracy in my several rifles.

 

[Ridge_Runner]

whichever your rifle shoots best, as has been said, bears don't take a lot of killin.

 

[SJB358]

I've used all of those except the Hornady for bear or moose and would say any of the lead core 225's or 200 gr TTSX. No bad choices with any of those.

That’s where my brain went as well. 200 TTSX, 225 Sierra and 225 AB would be first up if I had access to them.

 

[RL338]

If you have them all in hand pick the one that shoots the best from your rifle. They will all do the task at hand without having to purchase others.

 

[KinleyWater]

As was said, almost any of the above will do just fine. One thing to consider is the 200gr RN might be designed for lower velocity 35s, such as the 35 Rem. I'd need to look it up to be certain, but if so, driving it at Whelen velocities against a bear over bait at short ranges - shot one at ~40 yards from a ground blind - and the bullet may not hold up the way you want.

 

[KevinNC]

A bullet that I have not seen mentioned in .358 that is absolutely fantastic is the Northfork 250 grain SS. These are the ones I have recovered from 2 safaris. Internally very similar to the Trophy Bonded Bear Claw but with the pressure relief rings. Tend to be very accurate too.

 

[JD338]

Looks like the Northfork .358 250 gr has performed well for you. What size game was taken to get these recoveries?

JD338

 

[KevinNC]

Largest was an Eland that was well over 1000 lbs. One of the more mangled bullets was a head on shot on a huge blue wildebeest that took out the dip in the spine before eventually stopping in the rear ham. Others were from Oryx, warthog and zebra.

 

[JD338]

Largest was an Eland that was well over 1000 lbs. One of the more mangled bullets was a head on shot on a huge blue wildebeest that took out the dip in the spine before eventually stopping in the rear ham. Others were from Oryx, warthog and zebra.

Serious penetration!
Thanks for sharing.

JD338

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

225 GR TSX no questions asked. That and or the 200 GR TSX. I don't even know how lead bullets are staying relevant in this day and age especially in hunting situations. I don't know about the meat quality on Alberta bears but I assume you likely won't be eating it however for hunting bears that live in environments that lead to a +90% herbivorous diet with great meat quality, I wouldn't want to use leaded bullets. Lead is incredibly soft and we've all seen how it can easily be scratched with just a fingernail. It explodes like a water droplet upon hitting the animal sending tiny shards of lead all over the meat. Not trying to be preachy, just my opinion and I really like the Barnes bullets.

 

[Guy Miner]

225 GR TSX no questions asked. That and or the 200 GR TSX. I don't even know how lead bullets are staying relevant in this day and age especially in hunting situations. I don't know about the meat quality on Alberta bears but I assume you likely won't be eating it however for hunting bears that live in environments that lead to a +90% herbivorous diet with great meat quality, I wouldn't want to use leaded bullets. Lead is incredibly soft and we've all seen how it can easily be scratched with just a fingernail. It explodes like a water droplet upon hitting the animal sending tiny shards of lead all over the meat. Not trying to be preachy, just my opinion and I really like the Barnes bullets.

Nothing wrong with all copper bullets. I've had great results from them, including Barnes and Hornady afield. I've loaded and shot some of the Nosler E-Tip all copper but haven't used them on game yet. The all copper bullets tend to work very well on game. That said, good lead-core bullets work well too. It's nice to have choices, and we've sure got a lot of them anymore!

Regards, Guy

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

Nothing wrong with all copper bullets. I've had great results from them, including Barnes and Hornady afield. I've loaded and shot some of the Nosler E-Tip all copper but haven't used them on game yet. The all copper bullets tend to work very well on game. That said, good lead-core bullets work well too. It's nice to have choices, and we've sure got a lot of them anymore!

Regards, Guy

It's 100% individual choice. Lead is always more economical and has heavier options over monolithics.

I personally don't see myself ever going back to lead but do wish there were some effective non-toxic options available for .22 LR.

 

[PJGunner]

I hae three rifles chambered to the .35 Whelen. A Rger M77RS was my first, then followed y a Remington M700 Classice. About a year later I came across a custom based on an Oberndorf Mauser action that just had to come home with me. That Mauser has been my go to elk rifle ever since. run it strictly with the 225 gr. TSX bullet which has worked so well I've seen no reason to use anything else.
The two previous rifle shot well running the .250 gr. Speer Hot Core but the best they'll do is about 2550 FPS. with the Speer and about 2600 FPS with the TSX, The Mauser easily runs 2710 FPS with the TSX with superb accuracy. I'd try the 225 gr. AccuBond in all three rifles but all he local LGS seem to be out of them
Paul B.

 

[Ralt71]

Partition, TSX, or TTSX are great bear projectiles for me on Black Bear here in PA.