Is This a Big Bear Round?

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Garandimal said:
Good question.

Assume an encounter while hunting other game.

If so, effective range would be the next Q.

This was at 25 yds.

All but punched through. (the dome is even cracked open)




GR
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I would not want to defend myself from a charging grizzly with a 140 gr tsx. My experience shooting deer with tsx’s suggests that the bear is going to be chewing on your head for a minute before it decides it’s dead.

On a side note, I was quite surprised to find when I tried it that a 203 gr sp “brown bear” 7.62x54r punches clean through a 1/2” plate and keeps on trucking, whereas a 320 grain hard cast from a 444 marlin just puts a golf ball sized dimple in it.
 
someguy2800 said:
I would not want to defend myself from a charging grizzly with a 140 gr tsx. My experience shooting deer with tsx’s suggests that the bear is going to be chewing on your head for a minute before it decides it’s dead.

On a side note, I was quite surprised to find when I tried it that a 203 gr sp “brown bear” 7.62x54r punches clean through a 1/2” plate and keeps on trucking, whereas a 320 grain hard cast from a 444 marlin just puts a golf ball sized dimple in it.
Click to expand...

Deer are pretty lightly built on average. Bears, not so much.

As stated - not first choice, primary a large game cartridge.

Good placement would be extremely important, and there should be plenty of resistance.

That said, a 1/2" of steel should represent reasonable penetration through a fair amount of less dense hide/joint/bone.

Looking for a minimum both in terms of bullet (TSX/Partition/A-Frame/etc.) and caliber (as 30-06 seems to be the accepted floor).




GR
 
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Yes. Last I checked, they were still not wearing steel plates. It was during my late Spring of 2016 trip to Yukon. I carried a 12 gauge loaded with buckshot and did not have to use it. We saw 53 black bears in one day, only 1 grizzly. They are bigger. A lot bigger. I was driving when my brother spotted it. He restrained from getting out of the car to take pictures!
 
LoonWulf said:
And when did they get blaze orange AND armor plate?
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Well...

If you sneak into their cave while they are hibernating, w/ a can of blaze marker paint?

It really cuts down on the engagement times later on - what w/ all the vitals and CNS already highlighted.

(the armor was a gift from Green-Peace)




GR
 
Garandimal said:
Well...

If you sneak into their cave while they are hibernating, w/ a can of blaze marker paint?

It really cuts down on the engagement times later on - what w/ all the vitals and CNS already highlighted.

(the armor was a gift from Green-Peace)




GR
Click to expand...
And who can take a bear seriously when he looks like a giant radioactive racoon.....tho, actually, from what I know of racoons that sounds kinda terrifying........

I have zero intentions of ever hunting a bear, but wouldn't mind doing some hunting in Alaska. Even tho there are some heavier bullet options, I don't think I'd even be comfortable using my 7mm, or even a big 30 for that mater.
Having my .375 I'd probably take that, and feel a bit more confident.
 
LoonWulf said:
And who can take a bear seriously when he looks like a giant radioactive racoon.....tho, actually, from what I know of racoons that sounds kinda terrifying........

I have zero intentions of ever hunting a bear, but wouldn't mind doing some hunting in Alaska. Even tho there are some heavier bullet options, I don't think I'd even be comfortable using my 7mm, or even a big 30 for that mater.
Having my .375 I'd probably take that, and feel a bit more confident.
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Who wouldn't.

Not particularly interested in huntin'em either.

Given cause, while hunting other things - would just like to stay off the menu, if possible.

Was impressed by this test, and didn't get the new rifle in 30-06, like the one I gave away and was replacing.

(why I was considering re-boring the ole .270 to .338-06)

So I'm thinkin'...




GR
 
You want a bear rifle, 45-70 with garretts+p ammo or handloads of equal devastation. When it comes to animals that can kill you, there is no such thing as overkill, and yes black bears can kill you.
 
Varminterror said:
Half inch mild steel, a 55grn ball in 5.56 will punch a hole straight through at 25yrds. Plastic deformation and velocity. I think you're too easily impressed.
Click to expand...

Could be.

Also shot some M193 from an 18" Bbl'ed Mini-14 at the same range (top center and left) - blew about a 3/4" crater... about half way through.

270_TSX_Steel_001.1-1024.jpg ​

Violent and shallow, as expected.




GR
 
someguy2800 said:
I was quite surprised to find when I tried it that a 203 gr sp “brown bear” 7.62x54r punches clean through a 1/2” plate and keeps on trucking, whereas a 320 grain hard cast from a 444 marlin just puts a golf ball sized dimple in it.
Click to expand...

Well, speed defeats hard barriers like armor. But it’s not always your friend on soft tissue. Also the 444 is a much larger frontal area making it pancake. For big game I’d take slow and heavy over light and fast. But not for steel
 
Garandimal said:
...while the 140 gr. TSX...
Click to expand...

Will never be a thirty...Ba-Zinga!:)


'Cept for the pain of an antiquated and inadequate cartridge recoiling more than necessary! Ba-Zinga! Again!:D


In seriousness, (again) No. That is not a bear compatible cartridge. I'll take momentum over energy, and a hole that starts with four and ends with Rump Roast...
 
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If the bear is wearing a chicken plate, first, you're in a weird place, and second, you're gonna need a bigger gun.
 
Well any big game rifle is your friend if you unexpectedly encounter a bear. And the TXS penetrates better than some things, not that we could learn that from this laughable steel plate test. So you could certainly do worse. You could also do a LOT better. The .375 H&H is basically built for mixed dangerous/non-dangerous game situations with potential longer shots and would be high if not first on my list. If the non-dangerous game was inside 200y so I didn't need the reach of the medium bores I'd probably just carry my .50-110 with a soft in the chamber and solids in the tube.
 
Sounds great to me, until you have to follow him, (after a slightly imperfect shot), into the alder patch and all you have is a .270. Believe me no gun seems big enough then. But I cant say I wouldnt try it under the right conditions. Those solid copper barneses are impressive.
 
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