I'm shooting Speer 350gr MagTips in my 416 Taylor around 2400 fps and wanted some imput from those who have used it on game. If I'm hunting black bear 25-40 yards from the bait and square one right in the shoulders can I expect it to smash on through? Or will it turn to jelly. I think I read somewhear about using them in the RemMag and they stood up very well so they should work (I hope).

I've used this bullet in my 416 Rem Mag @ 2540 fps. I just got my 416 last year, and last fall was my first chance to hunt with it. I took 1 mule deer and 1 moose. On the moose, the range was 130 yards, so impact velocity was 2200 fps. It hit behind the left shoulder, went through a rib, mashed the lungs, and broke the off shoulder on exit. Moose made it 15 steps. Lots of blood! The deer, well....I shot it with a 416!

I also missed a large black bear at 15 yards, hit 2 trees attempting a shot at a quickly departing bruin. I chopped the bullet out of the tree, and it mushroomed big, and retained 80% I think. That would of hit the 1st tree at 2500 fps.

I was planning on using these Mag-Tips this spring for bear, but just ordered a box of 300 gr. X Barnes X's, so I will try out these flyweights.

Weird things can happen sometimes when bullets meet bone, etc, but I would have the utmost confidence in your setup for any bear in the world. That 350 gr. Speer is one stout bullet!

Most bullets work most of the time, but for wacking something up close at muzzle velocity I wouldn't even risk a maybe or I hope, which tells me your not sold on the idea in the first place and thats good thinking...Better to be SURE and use a premium at 10 Cents more per bullet...A Nosler, Woodleigh, North Fork, Failsafe, Swift, GS Custom HV, Barnes X, Trophy bonded...

With that many proven bullets available I see little reason to use anything less....thats why I don't use Sierra, Hornady, or most Factory bullets these days like I had to in the past..On deer it makes little difference, but on the big boys like elk it sure is a good feeling to know that you coverec all the bases before the failures happened.

I would not mind trying the 350 gr magtips at some point to see how they go on the tin skinned stuff I shoot.

Ray, I won't argue with your experience.....but let me tell you, bullet cost here in Saskatchewan for the premiums is NOT 10 cents per bullet more.

Hornady 180 gr 30.06 are about $23/100. Noslers are $75/100
TBBC are $200/100.

When you hunt on my budget..........23 cents a bullet to practice lots with seems to make more sense to me than spending $2/bullet for a TBBC, that I won't be able to afford to develop a load for, let alone practice with.

I will say the Deep-shoks are supposed to be in the ball park with Hornady, pricewise, but far above performance-wise, and will become my bullet when available.

[ 03-06-2003, 16:49: Message edited by: Johnny Ringo ]

More input??

JR
I think your right. Most of the people here don't realize that we pay the same price for "standard" bullets as Americans pay for premiums. I am a big lover of the premiums but when I get into the bigbores I can't afford to practice with them. On Midway I believe Mag tips (.416cal.) are about 18-20 dollars. The last ones I bought were $38. When you get into premiums in that caliber just imagine the cost. Yes, yes, yes, I know, it all rides on the bullet and the cost of it is minor in the cost of the trip and all but, surely if I'm shooting a 200lb. bear at 2300fps a lead core bullet of .416cal should work. And since I can afford to shoot it all the time I'm going to be better placing it.

Johnny Ringo,

You need to take a weekend trip and jump across that line on the paper and pick some projectiles up cheeep!

NBHunter ,

The 350 gr. Mag-Tip will work. I'll say it again, I have the utmost confidence in that bullet. I will however try 300 gr. X bullets this spring, but only because I want to try new bullets.

Reality: Your going to be shooting a bear with a heavy jacketed soft point, with a mild impact velocity, packing over 4000 ft-lbs of energy, and a large blunt nose, with a wide diameter of .416". YOU WILL KILL ANY BEAR . Practice with the Speers and use 'em for hunting. Don't worry about it. I could see maybe if you were shooting a 270 or 30-06, but it's a 416 Taylor!