New Bear Thumpers

[Catahoula]

What??? No mention of 45-70???

BTB PDJ 425 gr and 525 gr PD at about 1600 fps are perfect medicine for critters with fangs and claws.

When I started looking, the 45-70 was a definite contender. I've used one on bear before and it was quite effective. These days, my taste runs towards the more obscure or less used cartridges. When I stumbled on these two rifles, both seemed to fit the bill. The 375 shoots a 255 grain bullet at ~1800 fps. I can get around 2400 with a 250 grain bullet in the .358. Both are more than adequate for deer and bear, and I wouldn't be afraid to tackle anything in North America with the 358 and a good bullet. My bear trip is off, but the 358 will be accompanying my 8mm Rem Mag on a trip for zebra and giraffe in September. I've found a load with the Speer grand slams that shoots well. (Initial groups were poor, but a little more powder and longer OAL tightened things up) I'll be using these, with Swift A Frames in the 8mm.

 

[MS 9x56]

I finally got scopes mounted and made it to the range. The BLR won’t shoot the Grand Slams but loves the Hornady RN. Unfortunately, they don’t feed well. I’m going to try a new magazine and see if that solves it. Barnes Originals shot well in the 375. The target below was three shots from each at 75 yards.
View attachment 276248

That will work.

 

[crs]

SGT ZIM,
All God's Chillun Got 45-70s!
I have three .45-70( a couple of 1886s and a Beretta DR), but this 1895 .405 WCF is next up for a bear hunt that has fallen through three times!
It has done well on all big stuff (and a couple of deer sized things), that it just has to the medicine for a bear.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’ve been looking for a lever gun for an upcoming bear hunt and came across a couple that I had to have. The first is a 1981 production BLR in 358 Winchester. I’ve never been a BLR fan but this one just feels right and I love the 358. The second is a 1980 Marlin 375 Winchester in unfired condition. I put a Burris 2-7X that I had lying around on the Browning. I’ve got a Weaver V3 1-3x waiting for rings to go on the Marlin. I know, scopes....lever guns...but my aging eyes do better with optics, especially in fading light. Brass, dies and bullets are here and ready for load development. I think either will be perfect for a deep woods black bear gun.
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Catahoula
My vote goes to the BLR 358 loaded with 225 or 250 grain Partitions or a 250grain Speer hotcore. Would do the job nicely.
The 358 punches well above it's weight.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I once had a miroku 358 with the detatchable mag.
a thing the be aware of is that, certainly in those days, many of the 35 cal bullets were designed for the 35 rem or other slower cartridges.
among these was the Hornady 200 gn round nose, which was a little too soft for big pigs unless you got side on chest shots.
that rifle was better suited to iron sights than scope, as the comb was a little low.
the gun fed and functioned flawlessly.
the nosler reloading manual I have suggests that the 358 would be handy to have in big bear country as a backup.
while this is probably true, bullet choice would be very important.
bruce.

Bruce moulds
Bruce look at as a baby short action Whelen mate.
Bob

 

[bruce moulds]

that is right bob, but it will never equal the whelen.
at closer ranges it will come close in the real world.
I would not use partitions on lighter game, preferring swift aframe on things with teeth and claws.
they open up fast, making a long large hole.
the partitions are better for lung shooting deer.
bruce.

 

[CBH Australia]

Nice, do you need someone to carry the spare for bear? Just sayin,