Velo Dog;
In .375, what would you use on brown bears in AK? Specifically on the Western Coast, I believe it can be open and possibility of long shots. And has to be available in factory loads. In the H & H of course a lot of flexibility, but please also answer for a 375 Ruger where currently I only have available the 300 grain RNSP or DGX at about 2600 fps at the muzzel, the above mentioned 270 grain Superformance pointed SP RP or interlock at about 2800, and 250 Grain GMX which is pointed and BT at 2900.
Bob
Hi ActionBob,
I know very little to nothing about what is the best factory load for the relatively new .375 Ruger cartridge.
Nobody I know around here has one so, I am unable to ask about it.
It is a screaming shame that Swift A-Frames are not loaded in factory live ammunition for it.
Seems to me Hornady's "Superformance" ammunition is loaded to higher velocity than standard ? - sort of like the old "+P" revolver ammunition was (maybe still is ?).
Before all these premium bullets became main-stream, I would have not thought twice about using a Hornady spire point in .375 caliber / 270 grains for long shots at large North American game like, moose, bear, elk, bison, etc.
Having never even heard of a "GMX" bullet, I cannot guess if that one is any good or not.
I will say this about the old design 300 RNSP (at H&H velocity) for grizzly .. it has been quite popular since well before I arrived in Alaska 32 years ago, as has the Remington factory live .
I have never heard of a complaint about it for that type of hunting, as well as for moose and bison.
However, I readily admit that all I have shot with it here have been animals with antlers, no bears.
It tends to exit deer and caribou every time, typically leaving a golf ball size exit hole.
(Caribou are smaller than they look so, neither those or deer are a proper test of a dangerous or heavy game animal bullet.)
It is what I carry as "bear repellant" when I'm going to be around them while river fishing and such (have been close to many, many grizzly and a few black bear in connection to my fly fishing addiction).
Now, after reading in this forum of them failing on thin skinned game, I'm beginning to wonder how I ever bagged anything at all with Hornady spire points and round nose bullets in various calibers over the years and also, if my number might be up next for a bullet failure.
Same especially for reading about failures with the DGX line of bullets (one guy even described a 300 gr DGX in .375 H&H vs a doe deer as "detonation" due to the terrible carnage the bullet caused at impact, and his submitted photos definitely supported the word "detonation").
My many hunting and fishing trips to the bush here tell me that, I doubt you will need to shoot beyond 300 yds.
Since I shoot quite a bit, I find it very easy to make good hits happen with a .375 and 300 grain RNSP out to about 300 yards, from prone, using my day pack as a rest (good chance you will shoot your bear from prone or sitting, but nothing is guaranteed).
Beyond about 300 yds very far, the RNSP begins to drop off in trajectory a bit too much for fine shooting.
So, if your guide thinks you may have to shoot a bear at 350 or 400 yds (I personally doubt it), a 270 gr pointed bullet of some type makes more sense.
I repeat that it is a real shame you cannot use a Swift A-Frame semi-spitzer but, in 270 grain, it would be my #1 choice for long shooting at a large N. Am. animal plus it is tough enough by reputation.
Anyway, I hope I have muddied the water a bit more than it was a few minutes ago.
Cheers,
Velo Dog.
PS:
I strongly recommend you work out all the details with your guide way before time to pack, including what he means by a "long" shot, what bullet to use, type of boots, rain gear and essentially all things.
(Often but not always, there is better than excellent fishing where bear hunting is common here).