375 H&H with 300 grain Nosler partition for Black Bear

[Boyd Brooks]

I have used my 416 Taylor to dispatch a couple of black bears, largest being 350+lbs. I have also used a 50 cal black powder and 358 Norma Mag. The common element was dead bear and no tracking required. If you do your part you will have a dead bear with minimal tracking also with the 375. Enjoy your hunt!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Not Africa related but I know we have a ton of hunters who have hunted big Canadian Black Bears.
After my first South Africa Safari I bought a wonderful Blaser R8 Professional Success with 257 Weatherby, 300 Win Mag and 375 H&H as a hunt the world rifle combo. (I know I must have made Phillip Glass happy) I have hunted with the 375 for deer but not taken anything yet. I'm a big fan of Nosler Partition for anything that is not long range. I would ideally like to use 260 grain Partition but none are available in loaded ammo. Did buy some DRT brand 300 grain Partition at 2400 fps. Won't be carrying the other barrels asit has been suggested extra anything could be problematic in Canada so I will be bringing a Ruger No 1 in 338 Win Mag as a backup in the remote case of something happens with the Blaser R8.
The hunt is end of May in Northern Saskatchewan over bait so shots will be under 50 yards and is hosted by Cabela's. The WTA booking agent who I have booked several hunting trips with says will see plenty of bears with live weight of 300 with an exceptional one going over 400 lbs.
I know I can take a black bear with a smaller rifle but it seems the 375 will be a good choice. Any experience with the 375 and 300 grain partition?

@jimbo1972
As much as I don't like the aesthetics of the R8 I value it's practicality. The cartridge selection is one of the best in my book. Can't go wrong with a fast 25.
I have never hunted bear and probably never will but I would hazard a guess that those 300 grain partitions will do just fine. They seem to be a mild load to me tho as I'm getting that out of my Whelen with 310s but hey dead is dead .
The 300 would also work just fine and dandy .
You can never have to much gun.
@BeeMaa will tell you you can give the R8 he'll and it will come up smiling so save trouble and just take one gun.
Those Canadian laws seem almost as strange as ours in Australia.
Bob

 

[jimbo1972]

@jimbo1972
As much as I don't like the aesthetics of the R8 I value it's practicality. The cartridge selection is one of the best in my book. Can't go wrong with a fast 25.
I have never hunted bear and probably never will but I would hazard a guess that those 300 grain partitions will do just fine. They seem to be a mild load to me tho as I'm getting that out of my Whelen with 310s but hey dead is dead .
The 300 would also work just fine and dandy .
You can never have to much gun.
@BeeMaa will tell you you can give the R8 he'll and it will come up smiling so save trouble and just take one gun.
Those Canadian laws seem almost as strange as ours in Australia.
Bob

Funny you should bring up @BeeMaa as I bought my R8 from him and yes the Canadian laws are pretty strange.

 

[MS 9x56]

@jimbo1972
As much as I don't like the aesthetics of the R8 I value it's practicality. The cartridge selection is one of the best in my book. Can't go wrong with a fast 25.
I have never hunted bear and probably never will but I would hazard a guess that those 300 grain partitions will do just fine. They seem to be a mild load to me tho as I'm getting that out of my Whelen with 310s but hey dead is dead .
The 300 would also work just fine and dandy .
You can never have to much gun.
@BeeMaa will tell you you can give the R8 he'll and it will come up smiling so save trouble and just take one gun.
Those Canadian laws seem almost as strange as ours in Australia.
Bob

Must be the English influence.

 

[BeeMaa]

@jimbo1972
As much as I don't like the aesthetics of the R8 I value it's practicality. The cartridge selection is one of the best in my book. Can't go wrong with a fast 25.
I have never hunted bear and probably never will but I would hazard a guess that those 300 grain partitions will do just fine. They seem to be a mild load to me tho as I'm getting that out of my Whelen with 310s but hey dead is dead .
The 300 would also work just fine and dandy .
You can never have to much gun.
@BeeMaa will tell you you can give the R8 he'll and it will come up smiling so save trouble and just take one gun.
Those Canadian laws seem almost as strange as ours in Australia.
Bob

Funny you should bring up @BeeMaa as I bought my R8 from him and yes the Canadian laws are pretty strange.

Hey guys! Go Blaser R8!

 

[revturbo9967]

I’ve killed black bear with a 4 inch 44 mag. The 375 will do fine

 

[jimbo1972]

Must be the English influence.

I would say socialist

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Funny you should bring up @BeeMaa as I bought my R8 from him and yes the Canadian laws are pretty strange.

@jimbo1972
Even tho @BeeMaa is an R8 tragic u have spoken to him a lot of times over the years and he is a top bloke. We'll keep that to ourselves otherwise he may get a sweld head.
Bob

 

[Longwalker]

You don't need the power of a .375 to kill our Saskatchewan bears but it's a great cartridge choice anyway. Like you, I used a .375 on North American game to gain more experience before eventually using one for African game. Elk, Moose, Whitetail Deer and Bear. I have only shot one bear with a .375 but the result was very decisive even though I used an "inferior" 270 gr. RN Federal factory load. Your 300 gr. Nosler partition is "better" and will certainly work if you aim right. Have a good hunt.

 

[coreydb]

You'll kill it dead with the .375

 

[375er]

You'll kill it dead with the .375

What he said...

 

[Luvthunt]

Use it you will love it. The partition was “the bullet” back a few years ago.

 

[HuronHunter375]

That is my set up! I’m doing a fly-in black bear hunt in Canada come this August. I plan on using my 375HH and Federal premium loaded with 300gr partitions. Good luck!

 

[MS 9x56]

That is my set up! I’m doing a fly-in black bear hunt in Canada come this August. I plan on using my 375HH and Federal premium loaded with 300gr partitions. Good luck!

That should definitely do the trick! Bit of overkill, but there is only one degree of dead.

 

[Raven]

I know I can take a black bear with a smaller rifle but it seems the 375 will be a good choice. Any experience with the 375 and 300 grain partition?

This is enough not only for a black bear, but also for a large brown one.

.375 H&H Mag is one of the best calibres on the bear. Or even the best. I used different rounds, but the result was always the same – not a single bear managed to escape.

 

[Green Chile]

I'm hunting in SK again this spring for black bear. Took a 7.5 footer last year with a 500 S&W lever gun. Because the brush is so thick and I want to make sure I get an exit from any angle, I'm taking a 375 H&H this year with 270 TSX. It's way more gun than needed but I enjoy shooting it and I will get that exit I'm looking for. Don't worry about the comments on it's too much gun. I've been in camps where 5 of 8 hunters lost their bears due to poor penetration (and shot placement). My philosophy on bears is that I always want an exit. That has never failed to produce a dead bear for me. If you like a big bullet, take it and bust that bear.

 

[ftrovato]

Great combo for most anything....

 

[rnovi]

I’m thinking you could hunt a Prius with that combo!

 

[MS 9x56]

I like your philosophy. I want an exit hole on everything I shoot. That was the main reason I stopped using a 243.

 

[AZDAVE]

Take your 375 and go have fun! WE all tend to overthink things . Don't complicate your decision.