Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 30 Cal Bullets

I was fortunate to draw the kodiak tag I wanted for spring of 2021. Pretty determined to put in the time/effort for a 9‘+bear.

I want to take my 300 WM I just acquired so I will work up a load with bears in mind.

So I am thinking:

165 E Tip
180 TTSX
200 Accubond or Partition

Thoughts or any other bulllets?

Congrats on the tag!!
I’ve never shot a bear but I am big TTSX fan. I think I’d be looking at 190 or 200 LRX and use all that 300 win mag powder

Good point. Hadn’t considered the LRX.

I’ll defer on what is best for the big bears. However, in the 165 weight range, the 165 TTSX was designed specifically for the .300 Win Mag to put the ogive closer to the nose to optimize seating depth and typical magazine lengths.
I use it in my MRC .300 Win Mag with IMR 4831 0.010” off the lands and it holds 1” 3 shot groups at 200 yards and feeds flawlessly, which is something to consider for your purpose.

I’d bet all four of your picks would be great Calvin. Can’t see there being much penetration difference between any of them and all of the will hold up well on big bones.

So, no good help to you other than I’d probably close my eyes and pick one and see how the rifle likes it. The 200’s in a 300 Win set up to run at 3.6” COAL is a pretty easy deal. Same thing for all of the other bullets I suppose in regards to gaining a little extra case space with a SAAMI spec 300 Win reamer.

Congrats on drawing the tag, and cannot wait to see what you make up for the hunt.

TTSX.

300 Win Mag------200 grain nolser partition. Case closed

200gr Swift A Frames, or 180gr TTSX.

Phil Shoemaker is probably the best one to ask.

I like a bullet that expands quickly for Bear. You might consider the 180 Nosler BT or 180gr Hornady SST. These bullets are tougher than you might think, and expand very nicely.

220 gr Partitions?? Maybe. Original 200 gr TBBC if you could find them.. just throwing that out there.

200 grain Partitions!!

I've never killed anything bigger than a big hog or whitetail deer. Most of what I've killed I probably could have done so with a .243 and a 100 grain bullet. But from what I've read and been told would think if I wanted to kill a bear I'd do it with at least a .30 caliber something with a big Nosler Partition bullet. I think a 200 grain Partition would probably anchor the biggest of bears. But that would be my minimum. I'd even feel better with a .338 something or a .358 or .375. I just don't like going bear hunting with a switch.

Don’t know why you don’t just take a .308.😀. Sorry.

Not a bear expert but my minimum would be a 200 gr Barnes or A-Frame I think. Happy Trails

I've always heard that being able to shoot 220 grain bullets for bears was one of the virtues of the 30-06. So I don't know why you'd want to go lighter with the 300WM.
Maybe with the advancement in bullets the heavier slug is not necessary anymore. But extra SD and penetration couldn't be a bad thing when trying to get past thick heavy wet fur and giant sturdy bones to the heart of the beast.
Of course a CNS shot would be optimum. That's the only sure-fire method to disable him.

Also, I'd definitely choose a small fast handling scope with a low power setting for a wide field of view and some kind of heavy reticle for fast sight acquisition just in case the bear got closer than you were anticipating.

This! Or a Bear Claw!

The 180gr TTSX is about the least bitchy bullets I have ever loaded for. Litteraly shoots well in everything I have tried them in.
I dont really know what I takes to kill a big brown bear, but can't imagine one doing a bear any good.
Of the bullets mentioned I would look long and hard at the 180 TTSX or the 200 partition.

Pick between this and Accubond. Whichever bullets shoots best go forth.

The gold standard.

Ole Dependable,,never fails to penetrate!

200 gr. Swift A-Frame.

Andy Runyon liked fairly soft bullets for bear and also liked the 40-416 caliber. Not sure if he has killed or been in on the killing of more bears than Phil Shoemaker but it is possible or maybe a similar number. Runyon also said that the Monos were good for shooting at fur in the alders on a wounded bear follow up. I bet he and Phil will lean more towards a Partition, Accubond or Swift at least for the first shot.

Me I have only shot black bear but carried a 7RM with 175 Partitions when guiding fly fisherman, this was the only rifle I owned at the time. We were near a native village and the locals shot bears on sight which kept them fearful of humans, but it also made me not want to kill one.

I would go for something at 180 - 200 grains. The 220 has the partition further forward and due to lower velocity it may expand less, but it would sure work though. Pretty much all of the bullets mentioned would do the job.

The Woodleigh bullets designed for the magnums would be an interesting option. They expand widely but hold together due to the bonding. They usually end up just under the hide on the of side. Many Ph's recommend these on buffalo for shooting in herd conditions. They are also similat to Runyons custom bullets and the Old Bitter Root bullets. I would have faith in these.

Personally, I would want something that expanded fairly wide and held its weight for penetration.

Thinking 200 grain Swift A-Frame or else just a Partition. Have never tried a Woodleigh in anything but they might be great too.

Congratulations on the tag sir. Full disclosure I have never hunted the big bears, but my vote would be for the TTSX. I've had very good results with them on large animals >700 Good luck!

I would use a 200 gr. Swift A-Frame.

The Old Man killed a significant number of grizzlies over the years, and most of them were killed a 300wm and 180 gr Winchester soft points. Relatively soft bullets at relatively high velocity.

That said, none of them were 9’ brown bears (although at least three of them were better than 8 1/2‘ grizzlies).

Don’t overthink it too much. Just get close enough and break bones. A 3 legged bear is slower than a 4 legged bear, and a 2 legged bear is better yet.

Overthink? That’s half the fun.

Can't really go wrong with any of the three. How about whatever shoots the best? The only brownie I shot was with a .375 cal 300 gr partition @ 2,400 fps. Went all the way thru on a broadside shot. We dug it out of the driftwood log he was standing in front of. Perfect mushroom.

On the monometals, I'd want speed over mass, so I'd lean towards the 165 gr on the TTSX @ 3,200 fps vs. 3,050 fps for the 180. Not sure the 180 is going to dig deeper. Shot the 200 gr partition in the '06 and '06 Imp. It would dig bow-to-stern on a good Sitka buck easily. Great bullet, but 75% weight retention on 200 grs is only 150 gr.

Uganik Lake, eh? Fly into the lake? Is there a public cabin on it?

Yeah it's a fly in. It's got a cabin. Not sure I am going to use it. Talked to one guy who hunted the spring hunt and he said it rained 9 of the 11 days. So I might use the cabin..(grin) I think my "odds" of a big bear will be dramatically better though the further I get from that cabin. Everyone uses the cabin. The guide in the area said he avoids the cabin area as the majority of the pressure is around it.

I have 165 etips on hand. I'll probably go with them unless I see some 200's on shooters and I can't help myself.

Maybe Brother Bill would let you borrow his Searcy 470 NE . . . that'll get 'er done for sure!

200 or 220 gr NPT didn't see any blems on shooters but they did have some 180 gr Protected Pt NPT's and I'll bet they would also work. best of luck, what a tag MB

Didn't penetration tests show the 220 NPT out of a '06 penetrated as well as the 300 NPT out of a .375 H&H?

I'd go with the 220 NPT. Shouldn't be a long range shot, just need good penetration.

There are other choices, for sure.

DF

Last kodiak brown bear I killed was with a 225 accubond. Maybe the 200 accubond will get a chance.

I forget who the AK poster was (from up in the valley), but 308 is what his wife used on a Kodiak a couple years ago. Do t recall the bullet which of course is the Important part.


Joel think you're on the right track avoiding the cabin (and a mile radius)

You should have a handle on wet hunts, eh?

This

Midway has 180 grain Bear Claws available. This would be a good bullet if they shoot well.

165 or 180 TTSX will work great. I go with the more accurate one.

use the same cartridge the guide uses,just in case ?

LOL. Good advice.

Can't see not going with a TSX on this hunt...

Even though SE AK is nearly a state away, he is still a resident and does not need any stinking guides!

My 2015 bear from the next unit over got shot with a 270gr TTSX that went full length and exited. It was also shot with four 300gr accubombs broadside and none made it through the bear. All in .375...

OlBlue shot a modest bear from just over the ridge in Terror Bay with a 300gr NPT. Bullet went full length in one butt cheek and exactly out of an earhole! And it did exactly no damage to the hide or skull!

220 RN CL

I carried a .30-06 boltaction, a 3x20 M8 Leupold loaded with 180 grains TTSX for quite a few hunts in the Talkeetnas. Only bear I saw, was when I was shooting at a rock at about 250 yards for giggles after the plane had taken the client. Bear came up out of the ravine curiously investigating the rock I had shot at.

Never got a chance to test the theory, but that day I got the impression that .30 cal. 180 gr. TTSX can be used to lure in bears into a killzone. ;-)

Maybe you can give it a try.

Take a pistol to kill yourself if things go wrong.

Picked up some 180 GMX 2nds to try. Will hammer a black bear or two this spring with them.

Wonder what the guys in the ol days used?

Of the the bullets listed by the OP, I’d go with either the 180 Barnes or the 200 Partition, whichever was more accurate and/or feeds better in his rifle.

No bear expert, but common sense tells me the heaviest Nosler Partition that shoots well out of your rifle.

Man, that will be am awesome hunt. Tons of good choices here....put me down for the 200 gr. Partition. If you go with the TSX make it a TTSX. That otta open it up a bit faster and wreck some shiz right from the get go. Live it up, half the fun is the time leading up to the hunt.

A frames

200g A-Frame or Federal's Terminal Ascent, Trophy Bonded or Edge TLR. I'd be happy with any of them.

I'd try the 200gn bullets you have and add the Barnes LRX to the list.
You won't need a half MOA load for a bear hunt but it will help your confidence when the shot comes so that is why you take whatever shoots best. All the bullets will generate their own reputation.

More or less in order of my preference if I was to hunt big nears with a .300WM (Which lack of interest makes unlikely.)

Federal Premium
200g Edge TLR
200g Terminal Ascent

Swift
200g A-Frame

Barnes
180g TTXX
200g LRX

Nosler
200g AccuBond
190g or 210g AccuBond LR
200g or 220g Partition

200 gr Swift A-Frame. Pure penetration, pure expansion, as tough as they come. According to guides most browns are shot inside 150 yards or less.

My vote would be for the 200 partition followed by 180TSX/TTSX. MY DAD USED 200 partitions on alllll sorts of stuff out of a 300 Weatherby. He later switched to 180TSX. Everything he ever hit properly with either never went far. Coyotes to eland.

I have experience with shooting 180 grain trophy copper bullets with my 30-06, very similar to the Barnes ttsx. Judging from the Roosevelt elk I’ve harvested, it is reliable on big and tough game. Usually full penetration and a decent wound channel, also tough shoulder bones have been easily broken. Never hunted big brown bears though.

180 TTSX
175 LRX

Accuracy is king