Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Which bullet for coastal brown bear with Ruger 375?

My hunt is coming up in May so I've got some time, but I wanted to see which bullet was working well on big bears in the Ruger 375 Alaskan. I was thinking about trying some of the Hornaday 300gr DGX bullets to reproduce the factory load. I've read good things about the 270 gr Barnes, and of course the Nosler Partition. Any help and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

Glenn

I'd grab a Swift Aframe or Northfork.

A lot of bullets probably are great. I used a 300gr NP out of my .375 Wby because that was the easiest for me to get factory loaded, and it shot well out of my gun. At an impact velocity of about 2,530 fps (based on range (97yds) of the shot and chrono results at home), that bullet, with one double-lung shot, rendered this guy completely motionless after less than 2 seconds and after he lurched about 25 feet from where he was shot:



I assume many other bullets would do as well, and I don't know exactly which ones, but I do know that the 300gr NP at that velocity appears to work well with a good profile shot. The bullet smashed some ribs along the way and still exited on the far side just opposite of where it went in, shown better here:



At higher velocities (such as a 225gr TTSX going 3,160 fps out of my .340 wby or a 180gr TTSX going 2,960fps out of my .300 WM), I tend to prefer the Barnes bullets. But I kind of like the big fat mushrooming chunk of lead in the NP at more moderate velocities.

+1 on the Nosler Partitions.

Oh my MH...you killed Shreck!

Good job on a good bruin...
bhtr

I don't think you are going to go wrong with any of the premiums. Pick one and worry about other stuff.

Only thing i'd worry about is making sure the bullet goes where it's suppose too. Good luck DocGlenn!

Thanks guys! I'm planning on doing as much shooting as I possibly can before the trip. Certainly not a shot I want miss its mark.

The DGX is a tough bullet but there have been some serious feeding issues with in in many bolt rifles. Before you use it make sure it feeds 100%. As others have pointed out any of the premiums will work well but my all-around favorite in either 375 is the 270 TSX.

300 NP or 270 TSX.

I'm leaving tomorrow for the Peninsula, will be hunting out of Port Moller. My .375 H&H will be stoked with 300 grain North Fork soft points, first go around on big game with this bullet, so no opinion based on experience, but they are extremely accurate in my rifle. MV is right at 2,600 fps. Good luck on your upcoming hunt!

Indeed.

I would too.

+1 on what your rifle likes.

What rifle are you shooting them in?

What powder are you thinking of using?

This one works - Barnes 300 TSX

Fired from this 375 Alaskan at ~40 yds

Good luck and post pictures for us when you get back.

Nice bear!

The list of bullets that might not pan out so well for the 375 is a lot shorter than the list of bullets that will be just fine. Woodleigh, Swift, Barnes , Nosler, NorthFork, Hornady, Speer, and yes, even Sierra, all make deadly bullets for bear hunting with a 375, some better than others, of course. As Shoemaker indicated, make sure the ammo feeds correctly (reliably: fast, slow, and in between) and you'll be good to go.

Doc,

If you haven't seen Colorado's post (and results) yet, you might find a simple to load (and feed) premium soft bullet that will work anywhere...any time...on anything.

Lots of good information for you on this thread...

+1 on Klik's last post

best,
bhtr

Ruger 375 Alaskan and I was planning trying some H4350 since I already have some. Read some articles and it got good reviews for this round.