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OP
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All of you who hunt or fish in Alaska or elsewhere bears are present what is your preferred bullet? I’m not talking brown bears but black and grissly . Would a 220 go regular Hornady be fine assuming distances are not over 150 yards?. Has to be a 30-06, even though something bigger might be better, that is not my question. Thanks
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Joined: Dec 2009
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any well constructed hunting bullet will work fine. There's no magic involved. Pick what shoots well and personally, id keep it at or above 180gr for cup and core, and 165 gr and above for copper solids. However, I wouldn't worry at all about using a 165gr partition (or similar).
Because through judicious handloading and a bold sense of optimism, you can make anything into an .88 Magnum - once! 😁 - chesterpulley
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If you find yourself in a hole....quit digging
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One of my favorite bullets for the '06 is the 168gr TTSX.
Because through judicious handloading and a bold sense of optimism, you can make anything into an .88 Magnum - once! 😁 - chesterpulley
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Joined: Feb 2001
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I have been shooting the 168gr TTSX in several 30-06s on bull moose, black and brown bears for a long time. I have yet to recover one and have used many different bullets over the years. For a lot of different reasons from always providing an exit to less ruined meat i am not looking to change bullets.
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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220 gr RN SP cup and core from Hawk bullets. Be Well, Rustyzipper.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill.
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180gr or 200gr Swift A-Frame or a 180gr, 200gr or 220gr Nosler Partition.
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I have been shooting the 168gr TTSX in several 30-06s on bull moose, black and brown bears for a long time. I have yet to recover one and have used many different bullets over the years. For a lot of different reasons from always providing an exit to less ruined meat i am not looking to change bullets. How fast do you run the TTSX?
There are 2 rules to success:
1. Never tell everything that you know.
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I would choose a 180 partition or a 168 grain TTSX. Push them as fast as you have good accuracy.
Frankly I don't see a lot of reason for the 200+ grain round nose and semi-spitzer bullets to continue to exist. They were the best answer maybe once upon a time but that time is long gone and there are better choices today ... like the 2 I said I'd choose.
Tom
Anyone who thinks there's two sides to everything hasn't met a M�bius strip.
Here be dragons ...
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OP
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Ok thanks all. I think I will be happy with 200 gr. Partitions or trophy bonded. I’ll get both and see who shoots
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My 308 shot 200 grain Partitons into little bitty groups. Kinda hard not to feel some love for those suckers.
NRA Benefactor Member
Those who live by the sword get shot by those who don't.
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Campfire Kahuna
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I have been shooting the 168gr TTSX in several 30-06s on bull moose, black and brown bears for a long time. I have yet to recover one and have used many different bullets over the years. For a lot of different reasons from always providing an exit to less ruined meat i am not looking to change bullets. How fast do you run the TTSX? I do not get to 2800, but fairly close, using AA3100. I have also used a lot of IMR4831 and also the military 30-06 powder. I forget the actual label name...
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Bears are surprisingly soft targets. Lots of hair, but relattively thin skin and light bones. I have quite a few Partitions recovered from bears yet have never seen a Barnes that stuck around.
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Back in the late 80's I abandoned the wonderful 200 grain .30 caliber Nosler Partition bullet in my 30-06 for the Barnes X in 180 grains. I now run the 175 grain Barnes LRX in my old pre-64 Featherweight and the Barnes 168 grain TTSX in my little Husqvarna Lite 30-06. I have been using H4350, but will try StaBall 6.5 with the 175 grain load this year. Other bullets work, but make mine a Barnes X of some flavor.
Any bullet that is tough enough for a grizzly is tough enough for a brown bear. Shots at "charging" bears are hard to justify to our Fish & Game Dept. if the first shot is taken must past 30 feet, as bears may "bluff" charge.
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I killed a few bears of different varieties using the 180 Interlock and 180 Partition. I have recovered a few. If I wanted a guaranteed exit, I’d go 200 Partition or a mono in the 165-180 range.
Stuck in airports, Terrorized Sent to meetings, Hypnotized Over-exposed, Commercialized Handle me with Care... -Traveling Wilbury's
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Ok thanks all. I think I will be happy with 200 gr. Partitions or trophy bonded. I’ll get both and see who shoots
Perfect and I bet if Phil Shoemaker chimed in that would be one he would recommend. If on a sheep or caribou hunt I would lean towards the 165 mono. Either way if you really need it the 30-06 will feel like a pea shooter until the bear goes down, then it will feel alright. Been close but haven't had to kill a bear under duress.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
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Campfire Ranger
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All the bears I've whacked with a .30-06 were with 180 Partitions or Accubonds. One was taken with a 100 NBT from a .25-06, but I already knew I was going after a smaller bear when I got the call.
Z
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Tejano,
Actually, I believe Phil used the 220-grain Partition on the last wounded brown bear he followed up with a .30-06. That was because he does a lot of penetration tests with various bullets, both handgun and rifle, and found the 220 Partition (which hasn't been around nearly as long as the 200-grain) penetrated deeper than any other .30-caliber expanding bullet he's tested. It would certainly work for the 150-yard limit the OP mentioned.
I also know Phil likes monolithics as well.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Thanks MD. Memory is no what it used to be, now I recall Phi'ls posting on the 220. I believe that is one where Nosler moved the partition forward slightly more than the 200 grain even. That and lower velocity will provide some major penetration. The old sourdoughs liked the various 220's for the same reason. They were even used on whale and walrus which are pretty big animals. usually along with a harpoon.
I wish Phil would write more, maybe a collaboration with you could motivate him?
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
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When it’s getting dark and you are in a small area where 3 moose kills are being fed on by grizzly you will want a bigger gun. Fact! Ed k
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