Hi everyone, new to the forum here and I am quite impressed with all the knowledge and advice. I will be going on my 3rd Alaskan brown bear hunt in a few weeks and I need some bullet advice. On the previous 2 hunts I have used a .340 Weatherby with 250 gr Nosler/ Winchester CT Partition Gold bullets with good success. On this hunt I will be taking my .338 LM and was curious if 300gr Berger Gen II hybrids might work as well on big bears at longer ranges(300-600 yds) Any input greatly appreciated.
.338LM bullet selection for Coastal Brown bears
- Thread starter tarheel01
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Magnumitis
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If it were up to me, I would go with a harder, tougher bullet such as the Barnes LRX 265 gr.
Broz
Well-Known Member
You might find these interesting.
http://www.longrangehunting.com/for...y-hunting-terminal-performance-results-76199/
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f17/more-300gn-hybrid-terminal-results-76472/
At this point I have tested the accuracy of this bullet extensivly and found it to be the most accurate long range .338 bullet I have ever loaded. But it is so new that not many have tested it on game. So at this point actual field tests will be limited. But you will probably get some suggestions from people that have never shot the bullet. All I can tell you from the testing I have done (over 250 rounds) is I will be using them on Elk this season from 200 yards to well past 1000.
Jeff
http://www.longrangehunting.com/for...y-hunting-terminal-performance-results-76199/
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f17/more-300gn-hybrid-terminal-results-76472/
At this point I have tested the accuracy of this bullet extensivly and found it to be the most accurate long range .338 bullet I have ever loaded. But it is so new that not many have tested it on game. So at this point actual field tests will be limited. But you will probably get some suggestions from people that have never shot the bullet. All I can tell you from the testing I have done (over 250 rounds) is I will be using them on Elk this season from 200 yards to well past 1000.
Jeff
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Outlaw6.0
Well-Known Member
^^^This, if you were doing something like trying to poke one at 1200yds or something (not that they'd let you) I would probably give the Berger the nod... These bears are tough, use the Barnes, break bones & put the bruin on the ground permanently. The recent reviews of the Berger have been VERY intriguing, but they weren't shooting Brown Bear, they were shooting the type of animals that Brown Bear EAT (well, they could)
. I can offer this: As I weight sort Barnes (TTSX), the consistency is fantastic, I have yet to measure the bearing surfaces for consistency, but due to their manufacturing process, I am not too concerned.
LTLR on here uses Barnes for long range to wonderful success & it has been noted that their listed BC's may (I said may), be well on the conservative side, which is a nice change....
I am in NO WAY trying to trash Berger, I just cannot recommend them for dangeous game.... will they work? Probably, but what are you going to do if you have to go into the alders after your bruin with a mag full of match bullets?
Tikkamike
Well-Known Member
Looks Like elkoholic beat a few of us to the punch. Here is my experience. if you flat out want to put an animal on the ground crush bone and do serious damage then the 250 TSX or 265 LRX or the 285 TSX are all really good options. I would pick the 265 LRX personally. However I shoot a target/varmint bullet (300 SMK) out of my 338LM and it works but only because im shooting thin skinned game like deer and antelope. I Have shot a cow elk and my sister a bull with my rifle and the 300 SMK put it down no doubt just because 300 grains is soo much lead it has to go somewhere and it takes a good bit of meat and bone to stop all of that inertia. But it doesnt blow big holes through them like it will a deer. I think the 300 Berger or SMK will work no problem for the reasons listed above. but If it were my hunt I would be working up a load with 265 LRX for the extra insurance.
HARPERC
Well-Known Member
I can't say about the Berger, like most I'd lean another way. You've been twice with the
250 Nosler/Winchester bullets with "good success". The Swift 275 A-frame is a little more of the same thing if you're looking for a change.
250 Nosler/Winchester bullets with "good success". The Swift 275 A-frame is a little more of the same thing if you're looking for a change.
You might want to talk to your guide as to how far he will let you shoot and bullet selection. I'm not sure he would be happy to be the guide of the first hunter to shoot a coastal brown bear with the new Berger. Especially if he has to trail it deep into a thick alder patch after the shot. I've not shot any brown bears but from all the reading I've done over the years on hunting them my instinct would be to go with a proven performer such as the Barnes or the A frame as already mentioned. Just my two cents.
Thanks to all for your input. As for the Barnes bullets, because of past bad experiences with terrible fouling and poor accuracy, they are simply not an option. I understand that some swear by them, but they are just not for me. To add a little more, I am an AK resident so I will be unguided but I will primarily be a back up for my dad that will be using a .408 CT, but we both also carry .500 S&W's. I have the utmost confidence in the terminal performance of the CT Partition bullets, but the Bergers shoot wonderfullf out of my Lapua. I guess I just wanted to have my cake and eat it too... Does anyone happen to have a G7 BC for the CT Partition Gold moly coated bullets?? Once again thanks to all.
First off, sorry was not able to post this sooner but good info and pics anyway. During october of last year myself and my father went on a 4 day brown bear hunt in SW Alaska and here is the big boar that he harvested. It was taken at 300 yrds with a .408 Cheytac and I was a backup with a .338 Lapua. Suprisingly it ran about 75 yrds from the first bullet while absorbing at least 3- 250gr CT Partition gold and 1 more Rocky Mtn 420grn .408 bullets before finally succumbing. Needless to say I was a bit shocked that it moved at all after being drilled with the Cheytac. The bear squared just a hair under 10ft and was very fat. Also here is a pic of one of the 250grn Partition Gold bullets that were recovered,214grns.
Attachments
HARPERC
Well-Known Member
I always like when folks follow up with the rest of the story-Thanks! Nice bear, and how unbelievably durable is that.
captacademy
Well-Known Member
Wow, nice bear and thanks for the post!
etisll40
Well-Known Member
Nice story, must of been a thrilling hunt. Sometimes a few extra shots reminds you how tough these bears really are. You have to take more than your jacknife for em.
Thanks
Thanks
Broz
Well-Known Member
Great story and pics. Thanks for the follow up. Congrats to you on a successful hunt!!!gun)
I did use the 300 gr Bergers extensivly on antlope , deer and several elk last season. They worked great, all one and DRT. I am only posting again because I am interested in knowing if you the OP was happy with the bullet preformance that you posted the pic of ? Not looking for a debate at all. I am just interested as it seems some hunters like different things. Some like the bullet to stay in tact with a smaller wound channel. Others (like myself) prefer the bullet to expand more and make a much larger hole and damage vitals with fragments. Now, I am not saying there was anything wrong with your bullet proformance. Just that I would opt for more destruction if I wanted them DRT, (my personal preferance) . Also I will admit I do not hunt browns or Griz, (not yet anyway) but we do kill some large bulls and I have seen the results of both types of bullets and how the animals react after the shot. After many years of pushing Bergers thrugh elk bone even the thickest of the shoulder, I have dismissed the internet theory of them not penetrating bone. My first hand experience is different, they will, and what comes out into the vitals cavity is very distructive. I realize that the bullet like was posted will also "obviously" do the job. But it is always said "when they run to the alders with a Berger" I am not buying into this. It is my experience that they go farther with a less expanding bullet. I think if some of the guys posting these statements could see what I have seen they would have a better idea of what actually happens.
I will not post again in this thead. Not looking for debate. I simply felt the need to share what I have seen. Plus there is a thread on here where two Griz were taken with 7mm Bergers and I have my opinion of how those bullets preformed for that hunter. And also in talking with Shawn Carock about the Black Bear taken with the 300 Berger it was described to me that you could see inside the bear and there was not doubt the vitals were distroyed.
Bottom line, again thanks for posting the story and results. I am thrilled for you!! I hope to take a swing at one myself one day. For now I only get to read about hunting Browns and Griz.
Thanks
Jeff
I did use the 300 gr Bergers extensivly on antlope , deer and several elk last season. They worked great, all one and DRT. I am only posting again because I am interested in knowing if you the OP was happy with the bullet preformance that you posted the pic of ? Not looking for a debate at all. I am just interested as it seems some hunters like different things. Some like the bullet to stay in tact with a smaller wound channel. Others (like myself) prefer the bullet to expand more and make a much larger hole and damage vitals with fragments. Now, I am not saying there was anything wrong with your bullet proformance. Just that I would opt for more destruction if I wanted them DRT, (my personal preferance) . Also I will admit I do not hunt browns or Griz, (not yet anyway) but we do kill some large bulls and I have seen the results of both types of bullets and how the animals react after the shot. After many years of pushing Bergers thrugh elk bone even the thickest of the shoulder, I have dismissed the internet theory of them not penetrating bone. My first hand experience is different, they will, and what comes out into the vitals cavity is very distructive. I realize that the bullet like was posted will also "obviously" do the job. But it is always said "when they run to the alders with a Berger" I am not buying into this. It is my experience that they go farther with a less expanding bullet. I think if some of the guys posting these statements could see what I have seen they would have a better idea of what actually happens.
I will not post again in this thead. Not looking for debate. I simply felt the need to share what I have seen. Plus there is a thread on here where two Griz were taken with 7mm Bergers and I have my opinion of how those bullets preformed for that hunter. And also in talking with Shawn Carock about the Black Bear taken with the 300 Berger it was described to me that you could see inside the bear and there was not doubt the vitals were distroyed.
Bottom line, again thanks for posting the story and results. I am thrilled for you!! I hope to take a swing at one myself one day. For now I only get to read about hunting Browns and Griz.
Thanks
Jeff
