35 Caliber bullets Vs. Bear

[358Goat]

For my first posting I couldn't help throwing in a comment on the 35 Remington with 200gr Remington Core-lokts. I have found this to be an absolute hammer on deer and the accuracy out of my Marlin 336 has to be seen to be believed. It regularly shoots under an inch an on occasions, when I hold my mouth just right, it will shoot about half of that.
My favorite load puts the Core-Lokts over the chronograph at 2200fps and gives me enough confidence that I'm taking it to Alberta next Spring to kill me a bear. I'll be hunting primarily over bait with perhaps some spot and stalk so I anticipate a relatively close shot. Where ill be hunting I'll have two tags so...
I can't decide if my second rifle should be my Steel framed BLR-81 in 358win or my Remington 7600 in 35Whelen. While bullet selection is easy for the 35Rem it's not so easy for the other two. The 358 has killed lots of deer with the 200 gr Hornady RN but its not what I'll take for bear. I have a load that is just shy of 2400 fps with the excellent 225gr Nosler Partition that has taken numerous deer as well. This is likely what I'll shoot if I choose the 358. But I also have 180gr and 200gr Barnes TTSX. along with the 225gr Sierra BTSP, the 180gr and 220gr Speer, and 225 Nosler Ballistic Tip and the Nosler 200gr AccuBond. After I already bought the Accubonds I talked to Nosler and the technician I spoke with said it may not expand on our smallish deer but I'm betting it would do a number on bear.
I'm tempted to just use the 225Nosler Partition in the 358 BLR-81 and forget it. But if the Whelen goes then I've got some shooting to do!
So tell me what you would shoot in the 35Whelen and why you chose that bullet. What are your experiences with any of these choices?

 

[JD338]

Welcome to the forum. I've been a fan of the 35 Whelen since 1988 when I got a 700 Classic. I've shot many WT deer and a Black Bear with the 225 gr PT. I've since gone to the 250 gr PT at close to 2600 fps. I also shoot the Speer 250 gr Hot Cor bullets to the same POI.
I'd go with the 250 gr PT in the 35 Whelen.

JD338

 

[PJGunner]

"So tell me what you would shoot in the 35Whelen and why you chose that bullet. What are your experiences with any of these choices?"

My personal choice for bear would be the 225 gr. TSX, a nullet I've used on elk more than once with great success. I haven't tried the 225 gr. TTSX version on anything yet. Other bullets I've run have mostly been 250 gr versions by Speer and Hornady. Of the two, my preference is for the Speer Hot core.
For a bear hunt with the .35 Whelen I'd look at the various 225 gr. bullets and use the one that shoots the best. Second choice would probably be a 250 gr. if none of the 225's pan out. I have a canadian friend that when he hunted moose he used the 250 gr. Speer Hot Core. When he drew a coveted Grizzly Bear tag he chose the 250 gr. Speer Hot Core. Unfortunately he never ran into a suicidal Grizzly Bear. If it had been me? I'd either would have stuck with the TSX or maybe might go with the 250 gr.Partition.
Paul B.

 

[SJB358]

The 225 PT or Sierra is an excellent deer/bear bullet. I prefer the Sierra as it expands a bit wider leading to more blood on the ground. Either are great as is the 200 TTSX if you wanted to rip that one as well. Hard to go wrong with any of them.

 

[gerry]

I've used the 200 gr AccuBond, 200 gr TTSX, 225 gr Sierra and 225 gr Partition on Black bears out of the Whelen and they all worked quite well. The Sierra would be considered the "softest" but it opens wide and will be a hammer. You'll do fine with any one of those.

 

[Blkram]

While I do not own a 35 Whelen, I have used one once on a cow elk. The 225 gr Corlokt worked fine.
I wouldn't hesitate to use either of the 200 gr AccuBond, 220 gr Hot Cor, or 225 gr Sierra BTSP for bear in a 35 Whelen; but would choose the one that shoots best in your rifle.

Your 358 Win load with the 225 gr Partition at 2400 fps will work just fine on any bear you're likely to encounter in Alberta.

I have mainly used the 220 gr Hot Cor in my pre-81 BLR in 358 Win for years on a number of animals, as it would consistently produce 1" groups with a load of 50.0 gr of W748 for 2209 fps from that 20" barrel. It has accounted for mule deer, moose, elk and grizzly bear over the years, from 20 to 140 yards. It has been my main guiding rifle and back up for archery hunting, saddle/atv rifle and camp rifle for over 20 years. Recovered bullets have always been good mushrooms.
The 225 gr Partition will produce groups of 1.1" in my BLR at 2160 fps with 35.5 gr of Re-7, and 1.2" with 47.5 gr of W748 (sorry didn't chrony that load).

Best of luck on your quest!
And hope you have a great adventure!
Where abouts in Alberta are you hunting? Outfitter?

 

[358Goat]

Blkram, I'll be hunting about an hour south of Lacrete near Hwy 88. My outfitter is Rick at Alberta Wild Outfitters. They've enough bears that he guarantees a shot at a standing still animal at 100yds or less or you return for free.

 

[grry10]

For me, a 200 gr is plenty. But if you want to go heavier, that is fine too.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Either will work. Me, I'd take the Whelen. I can back up what Scotty told me about the Sierra 225gr. It's a deer killer. No doubt it would do the same for a bear.
Dan.

 

[grry10]

The Sierra 225 gr with Reloader 17 has been a match made in heaven for my son's Remington 7600 chambered in 35 Whelen.