Winchester platinum tips on brown bear?

[pocher]

Hey everyone,
I'm an avid SW 500 shooter and was wondering if anyone has used the 400 grain platinum tips on games. They do well on deer sized games from my research, but anyone knows how they fare against large brown bears?

 

[redbullitt]

I avoid bears when carrying just a handgun lol.

I am not sure though. I would think something like a hardcast maybe?

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Poacher, I load 500gr JSP's in my 4" 500 and it does fine. I have not tested that platinum winchester stuff but it being Hollow point I am not so sure I would trust it on dangerous game. In actuality my JSP's are probably a little on the iffy side as well which is why I am switching to hard cast. Probably just paranoia but always better safe than dinner!

 

[pocher]

Thanks for the replies. While I understand it's a hollow point, it's one tough hollow point too. I own the 4", 6.5" and 10.5" inch versions of the 500. I shot the platinum tip out of my 10.5" PC hunter, it was able to put a nasty dent on a 3/8" steel plate(almost went through). The platinum tip seems to have the ability to penetrate adequately, it also has decent expansion. I'm just not sure if I would use it in place of big bore rifles. The story that I read up www.biggamehunt.net/articles/handgun-hunting-alaskan-brown-bear where the brownie soaked up 10 440 grain HC bullets from a pair of SW 500 revolvers + 2 .45-70 bullets from a rifle before going down made me question the effectiveness of the 500 on 1000+lb animals. But then once again, it might have been shot placement. According to the author, all shots were placed into center mass of the big brownie. Maybe none of those bullets hit the vital organ? It would be interesting to see how .460 weatherby would do in exactly the same scenario.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

If old yogi is pissed off and intent on making you suffer, then you better have all the calibre, grains, penetration, placement, and LUCK you can have on your side. I guess with todays jacketing technology they have made some good improvements to the hollow point rounds for penetration and controlled expansion. I am just in the "If it aint broke don't fix it" club and have always used a good mass + penetration round to cover my rear.

 

[pocher]

I can agree with you freedom fighter. I heard stories from my buddy's dad who used to be in the military back in the days. While they were in Alaska, they would use the .50 BMG machine gun on alaskan browns and polo bears and later call people to pick up their carcasses. According to him, those big bears take a burst of .50 bmg rounds before going down. Those brownies are no jog

 

[788Ham]

What a story poacher! I like to hunt and all, but going against one of those 1000 lb. furry killing machines, send pics when you get one! I'll be the first to give congrats!! Must have been one tough sucker to absorb 10 rounds of that .500, + 2 .45-70 rounds, like I said, send pics. LOL

 

[pocher]

lol sure will 788ham. Keeping my fingers crossed

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

How the people in the 1800's and early 1900's survived I have no clue

I guess they just had nerves of steel and always placed the shots perfectly into the brain or spine with those weak, primitive weapons. Or maybe it was the fact that they were eaten and noone missed them? I always see that argument being stated about how the past people seemed to get by without all of todays "wizz bang" bullet technology but I guess they also didn't think about people back then actually knew what the hell they were doing in the woods and knew how to avoid pissing off a Grizzly and also had extreme marksman skills because they LIVED off of their weapons! Me, I practice diligently with all my weapons, try my best to be as good a woodsman as I possibly can be, and I damn sure try to avoid bear conflict as much as I can. But if conflict happens, I like to know that I am well prepared for Yogi with as much fire power as I can muster. I am a pretty large individual at 6'5" 250+ but I am no match for Yogi. But I feel I have a wonderful "equalizer" riding on my hip with my .500 S&W 4" with 500gr pills loaded up.

 

[pocher]

I'm planning on an alaskan brown hunt with my 10.5" PC hunter and a couple big bore rifles as backup. Will let you all know how it turns out.

 

[788Ham]

Freedom_fighter,

6' 5", 250+, Hmmmm, 'bout the size of that "other" bear being gnawed on! LOL

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

LOL yeah my nickname is "Bear" but most call me that because Im cute and cuddly as a teddy bear (You believe that don't you? )

 

[788Ham]

Freedom_fighter,

Yessir, I sure do. That check is in the mail......... seems as though I can't remember what comes after this one..........

 

[H&Hhunter]

I'm planning on an alaskan brown hunt with my 10.5" PC hunter and a couple big bore rifles as backup. Will let you all know how it turns out.

Where did you book your hunt?