ML bullet for coastal brown bear

[Skillet]

I decided I'm going to start prepping for brown bear here in SE AK.  Looking for muzzy bullet recommendations.  I'll be hunting with a Hawken percussion, with a Green Mountain LRH 1:28 twist barrel.  Shots should be 25-75 yards. Bears not Kodiak sized, but a good deal larger than your average black bear. Let's say 500-600# is a good boar here, with potential to go 800#.

Have had great accuracy with the 370 gr TC Maxi-Ball, as well as the 460 gr No excuses bullets I have on hand.  I haven't found a good sabot load that gives me the  2" accuracy at 100/ yards I would like to see.

I'm looking for as much of a smack-down kind of load as I can get, as I really don't want to be following a wounded brown into this brush if I can help it.  I have good discipline when taking the shot, l'll always pass on a marginal shot to wait for the right shot instead.  No exceptions.  Lots of bears around and I have lots of time. I will have a friend holding my -06 loaded with 220 gr round noses in case things get western after the muzzy shot.

Given the ranges expected and quarry, what do you HuntWa-ers suggest for a bullet these days?

[wadu1]

50 or 54?

[High Climber]

Tagging.. sounds awesome 

[ghosthunter]

Pick a fat friend.

Yikes not my cup of tea. Good luck.

[Dan-o]

TC Maxi-balls tend to pancake.   
I wouldn't want to use one on Brown Bear.

I use Harvester 400 Grain hard cast bullets out of my muzzy for elk.
They leave a vicious wound channel and penetrate superbly.
They are saboted.  I have 50 and 54 sabots for them.
https://harvestermuzzleloading.com/collections/hard-cast

If you're by my place, stop by.
I've got more than I will ever shoot.
I'll give you some to try.

[Skillet]

50 or 54?

50

[Skillet]

TC Maxi-balls tend to pancake.   
I wouldn't want to use one on Brown Bear.

I use Harvester 400 Grain hard cast bullets out of my muzzy for elk.
They leave a vicious wound channel and penetrate superbly.
They are saboted.  I have 50 and 54 sabots for them.
https://harvestermuzzleloading.com/collections/hard-cast

If you're by my place, stop by.
I've got more than I will ever shoot.
I'll give you some to try.

This is the kind of info I'm looking for.  I'll order up a sample pack and see what they can do for accuracy out of my rig. Thanks Dan-o!

[dilleytech]

Barnes 290gr solid copper bullets work great and penetrate well. I would
Probably load a little hotter for Brown bear.

[bearpaw]

Barnes 290gr solid copper bullets work great and penetrate well. I would
Probably load a little hotter for Brown bear.

Barnes is the first thing that came to mind that I would suggest!

[ducks4days]

Out of curiosity, is it a ML only tag, or is there another reason you are choosing not to use a standard rifle?

[duckmen1]

The Harvester hard cast penetrate amazing and Barnes are great quality too. Personally I would load hot and go heavier weight bullets then your standard hunting for black bears, deer, elk. But to just show example on penetration my last black bear was shot double lung complete pass through and fell within 5 feet from 75 yards. Loaded with a 250 grain barnes with 90 grains of powder. Great perfomance. Bump up bullet weight and speed for grizzly and either bullet should be great.

[Skillet]

I'll look into the barnes as well 

It's not a ML tag, it's just a registration hunt for any legal weapon.  I'm using my Hawken for the challenge.  I don't know of anybody else who's done it with a muzzleloader in town. Of the two bear guides I know here in town that I regularly chat with, only one has guided a muzzleloader hunt (far more clients choose to use a bow than muzzy, if not using a rifle) and it was a scoped modern inline.  I like the extra challenge of making it happen with a sidelock.  If I can't get the shot I need to be successful with the Hawken, no big deal. I'll get it next year.  I'll likely get a blacktail or two with it while I'm out as well.

If I am successful on the bear, then I'll hang up the muzzy and when my 4 year wait is up I may prioritize getting a areally big boar with a modern rifle.

[jrebel]

You may also look at the .458 250gr shock hammer.  Been meaning to see how they work in a muzzleloader.  I think it would be a great mono bullet for ranges 150 and under.  Guessing you could push it 2300 fps +\- with blackhorn 209.

[duckmen1]

Really looking forward to hearing the story of your adventure.

[ducks4days]

I'll look into the barnes as well 

It's not a ML tag, it's just a registration hunt for any legal weapon.  I'm using my Hawken for the challenge.  I don't know of anybody else who's done it with a muzzleloader in town. Of the two bear guides I know here in town that I regularly chat with, only one has guided a muzzleloader hunt (far more clients choose to use a bow than muzzy, if not using a rifle) and it was a scoped modern inline.  I like the extra challenge of making it happen with a sidelock.  If I can't get the shot I need to be successful with the Hawken, no big deal. I'll get it next year.  I'll likely get a blacktail or two with it while I'm out as well.

If I am successful on the bear, then I'll hang up the muzzy and when my 4 year wait is up I may prioritize getting a areally big boar with a modern rifle.

 
Best of luck, you apparently have more gumption than I do. There is no way I would take a shot on a brown bear without being able to take a followup shot within 10 seconds. Archery would be a stretch, smacking smoky bear with a muzzy is on another level.

[Skillet]

Let's wait to give me credit for the gumption until I actually close the deal   

[HntnFsh]

 

[Goshawk]

Barnes 290gr solid copper bullets work great and penetrate well. I would
Probably load a little hotter for Brown bear.