Guy Miner
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Now this image looks pretty scary to me. Shot placement?
Brown Bear bullets for the 35 Whelen?
- Thread starter 35 Whelen
- Start date
DrMike
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Guy Miner":257ur8qa said:
I would, and have, taken centre of chest. Worked quite well.
Guy Miner":257ur8qa said:Now this image looks pretty scary to me. Shot placement?
That close and agitated, right on the nose. Only been charged by grizz a couple of times. Didn't pull the trigger either time as I believed both to be bluff charges. The consequences of shooting a grizz w/o proper licence or out-of-season can be financially ruinous. Such thoughts do run through my head.
Some friends tell me I'll guess wrong one day. I've taken the view that I've eaten enough bears that turn-about is fair play. :shock:
Guy Miner
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Of course, if the bear knew the hunter was carrying a mighty .35 Whelen, he'd probably cease roaring and just slink away... :wink:
Guy
Guy
Guy,
I too would try to hit the heart on that standing shot, and if possible try to hit the spine as well. Like you on the standing broadside, I would also try for the shoulder. First rule with these guys, break big bone on first shot to drop them, and then shoot again to finish the bear. Dad, and other guides have always said to give them one more after you know it's dead, as it is the "dead" ones that get you!
On the other bear, right under the chin is probably the preferred shot, but you could also shoot him right in the head, or in the open mouth to get the spine.
I too would try to hit the heart on that standing shot, and if possible try to hit the spine as well. Like you on the standing broadside, I would also try for the shoulder. First rule with these guys, break big bone on first shot to drop them, and then shoot again to finish the bear. Dad, and other guides have always said to give them one more after you know it's dead, as it is the "dead" ones that get you!
On the other bear, right under the chin is probably the preferred shot, but you could also shoot him right in the head, or in the open mouth to get the spine.
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Ammo Smith
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Guy, I did pick up on that remark and know you are pulling our string but I can remember one time I wish I had something bigger since what I had wasn't working very well or should I say like I wanted it to and bought a bigger caliber because of it. .257 115gr round nose bullet from a 257 Roberts will bounce off a charging Black Bears skull and give them a head ache causing a very tense situation requiring a fast follow up shot to the head in a softer area then where the first one struck. :shock:
DrMike
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Yeah, that .257 might work if you shot into the ear.
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Ammo Smith
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At the time I was hunting deer and bear hunting wasn't yet legal back in the 1980s here and have no idea why it charged me. The first shot struck above the eyes leaving a nice furrow in the hair( gave it a nice part ) the second shot was aimed at the tip of it's nose but entered at the base under the eyes and reached the brain It came to a stop about 10' in front of me. Which was more reason to buy another rifle in larger caliber( 30-06 ). DNR agreed it was justifiable but kept the animal for an autopsy.DrMike":3ke41ply said:
Roger,
At least you had a rifle and were able to defend yourself appropriately with it!
It's a good thing that bear couldn't read the cartridge stamp on the side of your rifle! LOL
Perhaps the Bears in Guy's neighbourhood are better educated! Or does he tell the bear what rifle he's packing when he first sees the bear? (Just having fun with you Guy! LOL)
At least you had a rifle and were able to defend yourself appropriately with it!
It's a good thing that bear couldn't read the cartridge stamp on the side of your rifle! LOL
Perhaps the Bears in Guy's neighbourhood are better educated! Or does he tell the bear what rifle he's packing when he first sees the bear? (Just having fun with you Guy! LOL)
Guy Miner
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Ah, I was just poking fun at the .35 Whelen crowd a bit... :grin:
Ya, I kind of understand that "under-gunned" feeling. I think it was 2009, a buddy and I were hunting mule deer in Wyoming, not far from Yellowstone. We had intended to hunt them down in the sagebrush flats, but the deer were still holding up high, so we went into the mountains and canyons to find them.
My .25-06 was perfect for in the plains & open country. I also took a mule deer at an honest 400 yards. And my pard took one with his .270 Win.
The pack out, with boned out mule deer in our packs, three miles to the trailhead was real interesting, because we'd found grizzly sow and cub tracks on the only trail in and out of that canyon. Ya, I was wishing the .257" bore was suddenly a .375" bore...
Guy
Ya, I kind of understand that "under-gunned" feeling. I think it was 2009, a buddy and I were hunting mule deer in Wyoming, not far from Yellowstone. We had intended to hunt them down in the sagebrush flats, but the deer were still holding up high, so we went into the mountains and canyons to find them.
My .25-06 was perfect for in the plains & open country. I also took a mule deer at an honest 400 yards. And my pard took one with his .270 Win.
The pack out, with boned out mule deer in our packs, three miles to the trailhead was real interesting, because we'd found grizzly sow and cub tracks on the only trail in and out of that canyon. Ya, I was wishing the .257" bore was suddenly a .375" bore...
Guy
Thebear_78
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Nothing feels big enough when your staring down a bear. I was carrying my 375 RUM when I got charged a few years ago. It felt very small to me at the time! It was the impetus for my ongoing 458 LOTT build. Even then I doubt it will feel big enough!
Another time while rabbit hunting in January I stumbled upon a decent interior bear with only my 22lr, a 22-250 and 44 revolver. It would have been an easy harvest with a bigger rifle.
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Another time while rabbit hunting in January I stumbled upon a decent interior bear with only my 22lr, a 22-250 and 44 revolver. It would have been an easy harvest with a bigger rifle.
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DrMike
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On one of my earliest hunts here in northern BC, I was moving up to a lick that was at the top of a small mountain. My hunting partner was circling around and coming up from the rear of the area which I moved up. We hoped to catch elk by moving onto a rise from two sides that would allow us to look down on the lick.
As I walked, I had noticed grizzly tracks and fresh scat laden with raspberries. I was alert, but not terribly concerned. I walked through a small patch of raspberries, noting that a bear had been eating there. Just beyond the berry patch was a small patch of willows. My rifle, a 7 Rem Mag with a full magazine of cartridges loaded with 175 grain TBBC, was still slung.
As I began to move quietly through the willows, twisting sinuously so as to be quiet as possible, I kicked a young grizzly sleeping in the bush. He "Woofed" and scooted to the far edge of the willows. I "Woofed" and scooted back the way I had entered. I did removed my rifle and held it ready, only to realise that in the thick bush I would get one shot at best if the bear charged. That 7 Rem Mag seemed awfully small that day and I was truly sorry that I only had 175 grain bullets in my cartridges.
I could hear him huffing and circling. We both circled opposite one another until he was able to wind me, at which point he "Woofed" again and crashed through the trees behind him. I seldom hunt with my rifle slung since that day. I did begin to be somewhat more cautious when moving through thicker undergrowth since then.
As I walked, I had noticed grizzly tracks and fresh scat laden with raspberries. I was alert, but not terribly concerned. I walked through a small patch of raspberries, noting that a bear had been eating there. Just beyond the berry patch was a small patch of willows. My rifle, a 7 Rem Mag with a full magazine of cartridges loaded with 175 grain TBBC, was still slung.
As I began to move quietly through the willows, twisting sinuously so as to be quiet as possible, I kicked a young grizzly sleeping in the bush. He "Woofed" and scooted to the far edge of the willows. I "Woofed" and scooted back the way I had entered. I did removed my rifle and held it ready, only to realise that in the thick bush I would get one shot at best if the bear charged. That 7 Rem Mag seemed awfully small that day and I was truly sorry that I only had 175 grain bullets in my cartridges.
I could hear him huffing and circling. We both circled opposite one another until he was able to wind me, at which point he "Woofed" again and crashed through the trees behind him. I seldom hunt with my rifle slung since that day. I did begin to be somewhat more cautious when moving through thicker undergrowth since then.
Guy Miner
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Ya, even good 175's like those TBBC bullets would seem a little light. Dang...
Guy
Guy
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Ammo Smith
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Yeah and the bear ran off afraid the good Dr. had his trusty 35Whelen with him instead of the 7mmRem. :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol:Guy Miner":14qxpmc0 said:
DrMike
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I have no doubt that the 7RM is enough rifle on a bear that is not alarmed. Just don't know how one shot will work when the bruin is busting through the willows. I prefer something much, much larger at such a time.
Thebear_78
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I have a buddy that shot a 7' grizzly with his browning bar in 7mm rem mag. One shot across the picnic table! Shooting green and yellow box corelokt's.
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Ammo Smith
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No doubt the 7RM will get the job done and I think back in the day all the gun rags was pushing it as the perfect Bear cartridge.
DrMike
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The 7 RM is more than enough to tackle a grizzly. Anything would have seemed small when I knew a bear was circling and could potentially come crashing through the willows. It was the idea of the proximity and the denseness of the brush that was unnerving.
Thebear_78
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Those of us that have experienced close encounter with the big bears know that feeling. Nothing you could fire from the shoulder feels big enough! Air support would feel better!
I especially hate when you can smell them but not see or hear them, that's just plain unnerving!
It's quite funny how different the feeling is between hunting an unsuspecting bear and engaging with one aware of your presence and unhappy of such.
I know a guide who was guiding a bow hunter on the Alaskan peninsula. They were sneaking along a salmon stream finding lots of sign, piles of partial salmon carcasses. When they heard the often quite noisy breathing/panting sound of a bear breathing. His client broke a branch and everything went silent!
I have experienced that feeling a couple of times. That moment they go from calm and undisturbed to "predator mode" is impossible to ignore.
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I especially hate when you can smell them but not see or hear them, that's just plain unnerving!
It's quite funny how different the feeling is between hunting an unsuspecting bear and engaging with one aware of your presence and unhappy of such.
I know a guide who was guiding a bow hunter on the Alaskan peninsula. They were sneaking along a salmon stream finding lots of sign, piles of partial salmon carcasses. When they heard the often quite noisy breathing/panting sound of a bear breathing. His client broke a branch and everything went silent!
I have experienced that feeling a couple of times. That moment they go from calm and undisturbed to "predator mode" is impossible to ignore.
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