Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Muzzleloader Hunting => Topic started by: Skillet on March 04, 2024, 08:04:11 PM

Title: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: Skillet on March 04, 2024, 08:04:11 PM: 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?
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: wadu1 on March 04, 2024, 08:24:51 PM: 50 or 54?
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: High Climber on March 04, 2024, 08:27:19 PM: Tagging.. sounds awesome :tup:
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: ghosthunter on March 04, 2024, 09:28:24 PM: Pick a fat friend. :chuckle:

Yikes not my cup of tea. Good luck.
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: Dan-o on March 04, 2024, 10:22:41 PM: 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.
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: Skillet on March 05, 2024, 12:38:52 AM: Quote from: wadu1 on March 04, 2024, 08:24:51 PM
50 or 54?

50
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: Skillet on March 05, 2024, 12:42:25 AM: Quote from: Dan-o on March 04, 2024, 10:22:41 PM
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!
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: dilleytech on April 13, 2024, 10:57:16 AM: Barnes 290gr solid copper bullets work great and penetrate well. I would
Probably load a little hotter for Brown bear.
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: bearpaw on May 01, 2024, 08:26:32 AM: Quote from: dilleytech on April 13, 2024, 10:57:16 AM
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!
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: ducks4days on May 01, 2024, 09:09:40 AM: Out of curiosity, is it a ML only tag, or is there another reason you are choosing not to use a standard rifle?
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: duckmen1 on May 01, 2024, 10:25:44 AM: 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.
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: Skillet on May 01, 2024, 10:29:16 AM: I'll look into the barnes as well :tup:

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.
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: jrebel on May 01, 2024, 01:38:20 PM: 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.
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: duckmen1 on May 01, 2024, 01:51:32 PM: Really looking forward to hearing the story of your adventure.
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: ducks4days on May 01, 2024, 02:30:07 PM: Quote from: Skillet on May 01, 2024, 10:29:16 AM
I'll look into the barnes as well :tup:

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.

:yike:
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.
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: Skillet on May 01, 2024, 03:04:19 PM: Let's wait to give me credit for the gumption until I actually close the deal :chuckle:
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: HntnFsh on May 01, 2024, 08:00:39 PM: :chuckle:
Title: Re: ML bullet for coastal brown bear
Post by: Goshawk on June 03, 2024, 04:07:41 PM: Quote from: dilleytech on April 13, 2024, 10:57:16 AM
Barnes 290gr solid copper bullets work great and penetrate well. I would
Probably load a little hotter for Brown bear.

:yeah: