Redhawk1, Have a question about your bear load for a .47-70. I think you said, that you used a 405 grain cast in your rifle. If I am mistaken, sorry, I read all of this post today, and found it quite interesting, and in some cases humorous.
But back to the 405 gr. cast. The little cast bullet shooting I have done was in handguns. Even then I usually used jacketed bullets. Now, I assume with the cast 45-70 bullet, it would have a large flat nose to deliver lots of shock.
Wouldn't the old 405 Rem. be just as suitable?
? Perhaps you enjoy cast bullets. My pals do. But they have said, and I think Keith mentioned, the cast bullet would penetrate best, but animals would run a distance before they bled out.
When we were doing some bear hunting in Canada, I am convinced bears were often well hit, but ran into the swamp and were lost. Tracking bear in a swamp is a difficult situation at best, plus these shots usually came very late in the evening. Most of my bear hunting has been in the west. Here there are few swamps, but tracking bears is still difficult. As the general feeling was here, a fairly heavy bullet that will exit is best. I have not fooled much with the 45-70, but it would seem reasonable, if there was not going to be a chance for a longer shot. I think I would opt for at least a 7mm pushing a 175 on up. As for the .338 on bear, the old time hunters loved the .33 win, and 348. They hit hard, and left good blood trails. The .338 is a belted version and a bit more powerful. As someone said, a gun maybe too big for the hunter, but you can't kill game too dead. Plus if all doesn't go as planned, a heavier weapon does more damage. If one hunts long enough, something will foul up sooner or later. The heavier weapon helps assure the game being taken in a sportsman like manner. The worst crippler of big game I ever knew shot a 6mm or 243. He was always shooting the leg of a deer or elk or shooting them in the guts. On the other hand, the two very best deer hunters I ever knew often carried magnum rifles. This was in the days before whitetail hunters did their hunting from tree stands or heated blinds. These guys stalked their game, and often killed a deer in its bed. In those days there were few deer. They were real hunters operating in public land. While they didn't always carry mag. rifles, they were savy enough to know there are times when range and power has its advantages. It won't make up for someone who is a poor shot, or poor hunter, but it gives an advantage to those who are skillful enough to use them effectively. Interesting post.
