.308, 8mm, .338?

[Travis Buntin]

You guys are breaking my heart. I wanted to read how the 8mm was God's answer to my question.

Keep in mind the 8mm is .323 & the difference between it and a 338 win are almost negligible when it comes to size. It really comes down to speed. If you can drive the 8mm faster you in turn create more energy than a 338 Winchester. Also the 8mm is built on the 375 h&h case. As far as bear medicine the 375 world is hard to beat.

 

[tooOld]

Is there any difference in big bear stopping power using 200 grain bullets in each of the three?

I think others are ignoring the 200 gr part. The larger the bore, the shorter the bullet - all other things being equal, and less penetration. I would go with the .30 cal or the 8mm.

 

[Travis Buntin]

I agree with Bill Hamilton to a degree. With the new age of bullets on the market you can get a short stubby heavy bullet like a swift a frame, or you can get a very long bullet with an exceptional b.c and still carry some weight like a cutting edge bullet. The main thing is pick a good bullet ie: bonded,solid, ect. I shoot a 225 nosler e tip in a 338/378 weatherby and there's nothing short or stubby about that bullet.

 

[John Polk]

You guys are breaking my heart. I wanted to read how the 8mm was God's answer to my question.

Sorry Rich, but the .338 Win. Mag. is one of the perfered standard rifles for large bear. I personally prefer a .375 Weatherby magnum, but I use my .338 Win. Mag. BAR for up close and personal work. Your 8 mm Rem mag. should work well with 200 grain Nosler partition bullets so have fun.

 

[tdot]

If you wanted 8mm to be your answer, then I hate to say that 9.3mm is probably what you should be looking at.

It has the inherent superiority of a metric sized bullet, and the bragging rights of being bigger then a tiny lil 338.

On a serious note. Something about Bear hunting and long barreled rifles that I dont like. So my vote would be whatever short(er) barreled handy rifle that can shoot the (appropriate) projectile as fast as possible.

 

[KyCarl]

Big Bears are scary! If I had to hunt one I would take my 338LM with 300Gr.bullets!
Why you ask? Because it's the biggest I own!

 

[John Polk]

If you wanted 8mm to be your answer, then I hate to say that 9.3mm is probably what you should be looking at.

It has the inherent superiority of a metric sized bullet, and the bragging rights of being bigger then a tiny lil 338.

On a serious note. Something about Bear hunting and long barreled rifles that I dont like. So my vote would be whatever short(er) barreled handy rifle that can shoot the (appropriate) projectile as fast as possible.

This is where a BAR is worth its weight in gold.

 

[.338 RCM]

+1 for the 9.3 x 62! It's known for shooting the 286 grain bullets in Africa, but I like the 250's, and you can hunt out to 400 yards with them too!

 

[HARPERC]

.....I think others are ignoring the 200 gr part. The larger the bore, the shorter the bullet - all other things being equal, and less penetration. I would go with the .30 cal or the 8mm....

Not ignoring, but allowing a bit of flex. My choice these days would be the Hammer line. In .308 the 199, in 8mm the 200, and in .338 the 213 driven from a good magnum case at 3000 fps (or more) are all enough for anything on this continent.

 

[Rich Coyle]

It looks like I would go with a .338 Hammer Hunter 213 with a Beast five port brake.

 

[tdot]

The 213 is a beauty of a bullet. I'm about to start load development for them and have high hopes... very short bearing surface, they should be fast!

Every other Hammer bullet I've put on a scale has been 1 to 2 grams heavier then the listed weight. The 213 weighed in at 211. So it's even closer to your 200 grain target.

 

[David Lindler]

How do they compare to 45-70, 300gr, at 2150fps at 100 yards with barns bullits? Is there alot of difference?

300 grain out if a 45-70 will kill anything that breathes. Cutting edge and leigh high bullets make specialty bullets in .458 that are deviststing to anything shot with. . Barnes makes a 250 and grain copper hollow point that has extreme penetration and large expansion.
The extreme penetrator round which is sold brass and shaped like a phillips screw driver has taken elephant and cape Buffalo.

 

[112Savage]

Let me tell you, Steve made me a 258 grain sledgehammer for the 9.3x62. I load it to 2587fps and would have no problem using it on big bears. I know this isn't to the OP's question, I just want people to know more about the cartridge and the bullet that Steve custom made for me.
To the OP if you're stuck with 200grains I would go 8mm but all the decisions depend on bullet construction and cartridge being used. Black bears are way different than Browns; so that would factor in too.

 

[David Lindler]

300 grain out if a 45-70 will kill anything that breathes. Cutting edge and leigh high bullets make specialty bullets in .458 that are deviststing to anything shot with. . Barnes makes a 250 and grain copper hollow point that has extreme penetration and large expansion.
The extreme penetrator round which is sold brass and shaped like a phillips screw driver has taken elephant and cape Buffalo.