I'm heading off on my first Coastal Brown Bear hunt and I want to consider another load instead of my 180 TSX load out of my 300 Win Mag from suggestions I've been given.<BR><BR>So I need help picking out of a list of suggestions as my alternate load for this gun or to stick with what I have and what I'm use to.<BR><BR>Thanks for the Help.180gr. Barnes Triple Shock(Pet LOAD)200gr. Swift A-Frame200gr. North Fork220gr. Woodleigh220gr. Nosler Partition

If you shoot the Barnes 180 gr. TSX and you are confident in your shooting, I say use it. If not go with the Barnes 200 gr TSX FB. JMHO. I would not go below a 338 Win Mag if I went for Coastal Brown Bear, but that is just me.

I would go with the NorthFork or Woodliegh depending on what shoots better. That is if I had to take such a small rifle!

From my safe I'd be using my .338WM with 250gr Woodlieghs. Nate

I took my 91/2 ft. Brown Bear with a 200 grain Nosler Partition from a .300 Winny at 2900 fps. I hit the Bear in the center of the chest as it was looking at me standing up facing me. It hit the ground and never moved a muscle. If I were hunting the Bear today with the same rifle I would without a doubt use the North Fork 200 grain bullet if it shot well in my rifle. I had no complaints whatsoever with the Nosler Partition bullet, it is just that I have had vast experience with the North Forks since then from North America to Africa, and in my opinion there is no better bullet offered today. I have shot all the other bullets listed here and taken game with them also, the North Forks stands above the others. Good shooting.

Magnum61
It would have to be Failsafe with H-1000/Rel.25 powder and a Fed. 215M.
My 300 Jarrett just loves to spit these out..
AK

The voting chart looks like the penetration comparision for each bullet too.

I dont think there would be a bit of difference in the end result of shooting a bear with any of those bullets.

I like bigger and a bit slower bullets for the Bears. My father killed an inland with a 180 Grain Partition back in 89 out of a .300 Weatherby. My uncle killed a Coastal that went over ten with a .340 Weatherby with .250 Grain Noslers.

If I were going I would use any of those 200 grain bullets you have listed (including the NP and not look back.)

I too have a 300 Winchester and think the world of it. I would suggest that your poll pushes the bullet weights to the maximum end of the caliber range for hunting indicating a possible need to increase diameter. If Brown Bear is your only prey, I would opt for a larger caliber rifle. When your after that kind of game, your as much on the menu as anything out there. Things happen unexpectedly. Give yourself some safety cushion. 375 H&H all the way for North Americas eatimus maximus.

quote:

Originally posted by Redhawk1:
If you shoot the Barnes 180 gr. TSX and you are confident in your shooting, I say use it. If not go with the Barnes 200 gr TSX FB. JMHO. I would not go below a 338 Win Mag if I went for Coastal Brown Bear, but that is just me.

I agree - If your rifle likes 180 gr TXS, by all means stick with them - but, you should try out a 200 TXS load in your 300. You never know and the extra 20grs is kinda like "chicken soup" - "It Couldn't Hurt!!"

quote:

Originally posted by RMiller:
The voting chart looks like the penetration comparision for each bullet too.

...voted for Barnes TS 180 - just put it right - have a good hunt

quote:

Originally posted by Magnum61:
I'm heading off on my first Coastal Brown Bear hunt and I want to consider another load instead of my 180 TSX load out of my 300 Win Mag from suggestions I've been given.

So I need help picking out of a list of suggestions as my alternate load for this gun or to stick with what I have and what I'm use to.

Thanks for the Help.

You have confirmed with your outfitter that he'll actually let you use a 300Mag?

Most won't.

If the 180gr TSX is your pet load stick with it.

Persnally I'd go digging to the back of the safe for my 338Mag, but that's me...

AllanD

I voted for the Northfork. Baring that, I'd go with a Partition. Finally, for me at least, I'd feel more comfortable with at least a .338 Win mag rather than a .300 mag. That's just me I guess. Bear in Fairbanks

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
You have confirmed with your outfitter that he'll actually let you use a 300Mag?

Most won't.

I've never heard of a guide or outfitter turning a client down for wanting to use a 300! If you shoot it well and use good bullets, have at it.

Most guides will recommend something like a 338 if you are comfortable with it, but if they know your "go to" rifle is a 300 and you shoot it well, I don't think there is a single guide that would discourage its use.

quote:

Originally posted by DPhillips:

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
You have confirmed with your outfitter that he'll actually let you use a 300Mag?

Most won't.

I've never heard of a guide or outfitter turning a client down for wanting to use a 300! If you shoot it well and use good bullets, have at it.

10-4 there DPhillips!!!

I voted the 220 Woodleigh as I'd like the heaviest (reasonable) bullet i could throw for penetration. However as others have posted there really isn't a bad bullet in the list.

I wouldn't hesitate to use even a 30-06 as I know that I'll have a guide (PH) backing me up with something like a 458 or so and not because of my choice of weapons.....they just always seem to have stoppers regardless of the client's choice of weapon.

I say a 30-06 not because it's the best weapon....simply that I handle it and shoot it well and that's more important than power and it has bullets available that are up to the task.

220 gr woodleigh's if I had to hunt big bears with a .300 winnie but I's d rather take my .416 with 410 gr woodleigh's

The 200gr Nosler Partition is another choice you might consider.

What about that 240gr. Woodleigh they just released for the 06'. Couldn't that be on this list?

I voted for the Aframe. But almost on a coin toss.

Bottom line is you will never see a difference in the performance of any listed on a brown.

The Aframe and Northfork mushroom perfectly IMO but I have talked with quite a few bear guides in Canada and Alaska in the last year, and the bulk of them use the Barnes bullet.

They must know something.

Thanks Doc.

Always can rely on your foot work.

Thanks again.