Bear hunting question

[brewer12345]

They won't be as pricy as the 1895s hoping 600-700 range.

I think that is wishful thinking. I'd bet they will be a grand.

 

[brewer12345]

As a follow up, I called speer and asked about the minimum impact velocity for expansion on these bullets. Oddly, they would not offer one, merely suggesting that you have 1000 FPE for deer.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’ve used the .35Rem for decades.
I’ve also used the Speer 180.
However, my experience with the Speer bullets is that they’re a bit hard for the .35Rem. They’re more intended for the .35Whelen and .350Remington.

I’ve used the 180gr to shoot deer. Hit the spine or shoulders, you’ll get you bear. At 2,100 FPS, you may likely not much expansion.
Buffalo Bore used 40.0gr of H4895 to get 2,200fps from the Speer 220 in the .35. Lately they’ve switched to LVR. This load has a good reputation on bears.

I run the 180gr 2,400fps with H4895, but have also switched to LVR. BUT, I now relegate the 180’s to my BLR in .358win.

Of the current bullets available, I would only recommend the Sierra 200gr RN. Factory loads only run 2,000-2,100 but reloads can easily get 2,250fps. A Sierra 200 at 2,100fps from your 16”bbl will hit a 200lb bear like a truck!

In 2007 when bullets became unavailable, I bought a RCBS 200gr FNGC mold. I haven’t hunted with a jacketed bullet since.

 

[brewer12345]

I’ve used the .35Rem for decades.
I’ve also used the Speer 180.
However, my experience with the Speer bullets is that they’re a bit hard for the .35Rem. They’re more intended for the .35Whelen and .350Remington.

I’ve used the 180gr to shoot deer. Hit the spine or shoulders, you’ll get you bear. At 2,100 FPS, you may likely not much expansion.
Buffalo Bore used 40.0gr of H4895 to get 2,200fps from the Speer 220 in the .35. Lately they’ve switched to LVR. This load has a good reputation on bears.

I run the 180gr 2,400fps with H4895, but have also switched to LVR. BUT, I now relegate the 180’s to my BLR in .358win.

Of the current bullets available, I would only recommend the Sierra 200gr RN. Factory loads only run 2,000-2,100 but reloads can easily get 2,250fps. A Sierra 200 at 2,100fps from your 16”bbl will hit a 200lb bear like a truck!

In 2007 when bullets became unavailable, I bought a RCBS 200gr FNGC mold. I haven’t hunted with a jacketed bullet since.

I still have some cast loads with that bullet from early in my reloading journey. I must have ended up right on the edge of a speed limit with the rifle because when the temps are cool the load is almost 1 hole. Shoot them on an 80 degree day and they go all over the place. One of these days I will try again.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Hint!
Bore diameter and bullet lube!
I size my .35Rem cast bullets to .360”. Makes a HUGE difference over .357 or .358”.

I’m running my RCBS 200gr FNGC (Hornady GC, W/W with 2% of 95/5 solder added, SPG lube) over 39.5gr of BLC2 for 2,050fps. Bullets cast to 218.5gr so they really thump!
Even broadside chest hits result in 2” exit wounds.
They shoot under 2” for 5-shots. More than that my barrel starts stringing upward.

Now, Lee makes a version of this bullet in a 6-cavity!
For a MicroGroove barrel, they need to be sized to at Least .360”. .361” even better as long as they chamber easily.

 

[brewer12345]

Hint!
Bore diameter and bullet lube!
I size my .35Rem cast bullets to .360”. Makes a HUGE difference over .357 or .358”.

I’m running my RCBS 200gr FNGC (Hornady GC, W/W with 2% of 95/5 solder added, SPG lube) over 39.5gr of BLC2 for 2,050fps. Bullets cast to 218.5gr so they really thump!
Even broadside chest hits result in 2” exit wounds.
They shoot under 2” for 5-shots. More than that my barrel starts stringing upward.

Now, Lee makes a version of this bullet in a 6-cavity!
For a MicroGroove barrel, they need to be sized to at Least .360”. .361” even better as long as they chamber easily.

I actually have 3 molds in this pattern, one plain base. I cast and sized them at .360, I think I just got unlucky picking a charge/powder that goes off the rails in warm temps.

I need to start over with perhaps Varget and the cast. I am about out of time to do rifle load development this year, so it will have to wait until the spring. I will also fool with the gas checked version in a 350 Legend full power load. I ginned up a plain base load with this bullet for a quiet, short range beaver thumper in 350 and it is about one hole at the short ranges we demand of it.

 

[Mogas]

this is the first time ever seeing a bear on our property. Something new to think about now.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Varget isn’t the best choice for the .35. You simply run out of room with it before you get pressures where it needs to be.
Good luck on the season!

 

[Sav .250]

I`d say, that load and the correct shot should do the trick.

 

[brewer12345]

Varget isn’t the best choice for the .35. You simply run out of room with it before you get pressures where it needs to be.
Good luck on the season!

Lever? H335? Tac?

 

[GooseGestapo]

H335 is real good, LVR is best! Never used Tac in the .35Rem, but Jon Barsness (Handloader Magazine) has wonderful loads for bolt action.358’s.
Those and H4895 with BLC2 are what I rate highest.
IMR3031 or H322 if velocity not a concern.

If I were to hunt bear with my .35, I’d use LVR and the 200gr Sierra. However, I’d see what you can get with LVR and the 180Speer.

Over at MarlinOwners.com, about 15yrs ago a poster by name of .35Remington did extensive testing of different bullets in various media. The Universal best was the Remington 200gr Corlokts! My experience supports this, but the Sierra’s were close behind.
The Hornady 200RN is good, but also a bit “hard”. The Speers came in behind the Hornady. A “sleeper” was the discontinued Hornady 180gr PtSpt SSP. A bullet intended for the T/C Contender.

His work is in two volumes. Worth the read!

 

[brewer12345]

H335 is real good, LVR is best! Never used Tac in the .35Rem, but Jon Barsness (Handloader Magazine) has wonderful loads for bolt action.358’s.
Those and H4895 with BLC2 are what I rate highest.
IMR3031 or H322 if velocity not a concern.

If I were to hunt bear with my .35, I’d use LVR and the 200gr Sierra. However, I’d see what you can get with LVR and the 180Speer.

Over at MarlinOwners.com, about 15yrs ago a poster by name of .35Remington did extensive testing of different bullets in various media. The Universal best was the Remington 200gr Corlokts! My experience supports this, but the Sierra’s were close behind.
The Hornady 200RN is good, but also a bit “hard”. The Speers came in behind the Hornady. A “sleeper” was the discontinued Hornady 180gr PtSpt SSP. A bullet intended for the T/C Contender.

His work is in two volumes. Worth the read!

I have read a lot of his stuff in the past. The problem with saying core lokts are the best is that it doesn't matter: they are unobtanium. Pretty much ditto the Sierra 200s and the Hornady RNs. What is out there is the speer 180s and the Hornady gummy tip 200s.

I will have to play with 335 and Lever. Have read that Lever woks better with the 200 grain bullets than the 180s. I am also working with a short barrel (16"), so I am inherently limited on velocity.

 

[d2wing]

I have been working with the Speer 180 grain Hot Cor in 35 Rem and have a very accurate load that does a bit over 2100 FPS out of my 16" barrel. I would like to take this rifle black bear hunting in September, as it was my dad's and thus far the only thing I have shot with it is a couple of hogs. The average black bear taken in my state is about 200 pounds and we have no griz. I would keep shots to 150 yards or less. Am I obviously undergunned with this rifle and load?

No. The only issue is can you range properly and hit at all ranges. But the 35 Remington is a good round.

 

[brewer12345]

No. The only issue is can you range properly and hit at all ranges. But the 35 Remington is a good round.

No issues there. Carry a rangefinder and use it, and I spend plenty of time shooting in the off season, including shooting from field positions.

 

[Patocazador]

Black bears, in my experience (3), die easily. A 7x57 140 gr., a .221 55 gr., and an arrow all resulted in one-shot kills. However, I believe the best east coast bear cartridge is the .358 Win. as mentioned above.

As Troy said, .35 cal. does a good job even without a lot of expansion. The .358 Win. gives you that expansion, if needed, with proper bullets.