I'd still pick the 375 Ruger just because it's shorter and will fit in magazines easier with the big bullets. It's not quite a 375 H&H Imp for speed but it still adds 100-150fps over the H&H and the brass is almost always available. I've owned a 375 RUM and it didn't get much more for speed than my 375-358STA plus the brass is getting hard to come by. I use to hunt elk with 250 Sierra's and 270 fails safes at 3080fps and just over 3000fps. The 375 H&H's I've owned were quite lethargic in comparison. R-15 would shoot 260's about 2800fps but that is the only powder that would do it. The problem with 2.850" length cases is you always fight the magazine length and the heavier bullets require deep seating.
Kodiak brown bear rifle
- Thread starter RH300UM
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Lpart
Well-Known Member
I was fortunate to hunt the Peninsula in 2012 and harvest an old bear that squared 9'9". I used a Ruger Alaskan in 375 Ruger with 300 gr North Folk bullets. This was a devastating combo. Rifle would shoot MOA at 300 years with these bullets and the bullets absolutely clobbered my bear at 196 yards. Took out his shoulder and blew 1/2 of his lungs 5 ft out the other side. One and done. Had the same experience with this combo on a Cape Buffalo. That big bullet at 2600 fps was lights out and the rifle as a delight to carry.
I consider the first shot to be, by far, your most important one. It typically affords the most time and the best opportunity for proper placement. A good first shot on a boar with his metabolism at rest (not running on adrenalin), greatly improves the odds for a first-shot knockout.
Once they're spooked or wounded you should be expecting that more shots, rather than fewer shots, will be necessary to put them down. Even well-placed shots. Make your first shot count.
I've experienced the difference myself, heard the stories from others, and watched video of Kodiak Island brown bear hunts. Bears shot while sleeping, or unaware while feeding or walking, expire with much less fight than those that have been worked up into a lather.
Once they're spooked or wounded you should be expecting that more shots, rather than fewer shots, will be necessary to put them down. Even well-placed shots. Make your first shot count.
I've experienced the difference myself, heard the stories from others, and watched video of Kodiak Island brown bear hunts. Bears shot while sleeping, or unaware while feeding or walking, expire with much less fight than those that have been worked up into a lather.
HARPERC
Well-Known Member
Rifle configuration is definitely a factor. How would you balance that?
KillerBee
Well-Known Member
200 yards in, Heart Shot! Really hard to run without a heart! Of course a great scope, a steady hand and polished shooting skills are essential!
calling4life
Well-Known Member
500 s&w in rifle length barrels can get you 4000+ ft/lbs and you have the bigger .501 bullet.
if you look at bighorn armory's 500s&w lever gun ballistics you'll see that their 22" rifle version gets 4456ft/lbs with the factory double tap 400gr wfn
Imagine a tube full of that at the ready
There is also a 700gr bullet for the 500s&w and although it wont fit in that lever gun, in other platforms at a very realistic 1500fps you're looking at about a 75 tko value.
if you look at bighorn armory's 500s&w lever gun ballistics you'll see that their 22" rifle version gets 4456ft/lbs with the factory double tap 400gr wfn
Imagine a tube full of that at the ready
There is also a 700gr bullet for the 500s&w and although it wont fit in that lever gun, in other platforms at a very realistic 1500fps you're looking at about a 75 tko value.
etisll40
Well-Known Member
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybWZAwPGKdY
He's killed everything with the 475 Turnbull, I bought one a while back just for the hunt you are going on. You can put some big bullets in it. Check his sight out. He actually make a Ruger #1 in it too, that and a 500 s&w snub nose for back up are a good combo I'd say.
He's killed everything with the 475 Turnbull, I bought one a while back just for the hunt you are going on. You can put some big bullets in it. Check his sight out. He actually make a Ruger #1 in it too, that and a 500 s&w snub nose for back up are a good combo I'd say.
wilkup
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KillerBee
Well-Known Member
Man I like that Turnbull 475 the New Big Medicine! Being a bow hunter as well I LOVE the open sights idea. Yahoooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
RH300M I so can't wait to see the weapon you choose and the pictures of your trophy, as well as the long version in writing!
RH300M I so can't wait to see the weapon you choose and the pictures of your trophy, as well as the long version in writing!
RH300UM
Well-Known Member
HARPERC
Well-Known Member
A good choice. A little more velocity to keep bullet performance up, and can fire factory H&H if need be.
RH300UM
Well-Known Member
Exactly.
I own a Sako Lightweight Hunter, which I purchased in the early 1980s. Originally a .375 H&H - which was immediately rechambered to .375 Weatherby. Killed a black bear and several bull moose with it. Never taken it brown bear hunting, however if I was hunting with a licensed guide, I would lean that way. It's a worthy brown bear cartridge for certain. Thumps pretty good - on both ends. I haven't hunted with it for ~20 years. Just put a muzzle brake on it this past fall. Weighs about 7 1/2 lbs bare naked and is much more comfortable to shoot with the brake.
.416 Remington is also appealing. Leave the pistol rounds at home, unless you want your guide to kill your bear.
.416 Remington is also appealing. Leave the pistol rounds at home, unless you want your guide to kill your bear.
I have a H&H improved in my 375-358STA (and I've also built a couple standard 375 H&H's and JRS's) but I'd still pick a 375 Ruger or a 37 Nosler ( Nosler owns the website for this so it's going to happen eventually along with a 33 and 27). Unless you get a action big enough for a 375 Norma. Shorter and fatter with the same capacity is just easier to fit in a magazine.
Probably the easiest 375 H&H improved is a 375 Weatherby or a 375-8mm Rem mag aka 375 JRS if you still think you want a long belted mag. The 375 H&H AI is only about 2-3grs more capacity than a 375 JRS. That's about 20fps and you have to fireform cases. The JRS is a straight necked up case.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/375-norma-127219/
Probably the easiest 375 H&H improved is a 375 Weatherby or a 375-8mm Rem mag aka 375 JRS if you still think you want a long belted mag. The 375 H&H AI is only about 2-3grs more capacity than a 375 JRS. That's about 20fps and you have to fireform cases. The JRS is a straight necked up case.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f19/375-norma-127219/
