Loaded for Bear

[TedH]

I'm preparing for my spring bear hunt in Manitoba. Of course I'll be hunting with a levergun, but with a few to choose from it wasn't easy to decide. I had been planning to take my Browning mod 71, but I decided to take my Savage 99 375 Winchester. I have been experimenting with a few loads and settled on the Barnes Original 255 gr with a stout charge of RL7 in nickle Starline cases. They reach nearly 2150 fps, and after I installed a Leupold 2-7x, they have proven to be quite accurate.
The only bad thing is if I don't come home with a bear I can't blame my equipment.

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[Rimfire McNutjob]

Is the 375 Win the one that's basically a 38-55 but just a smidge shorter?

Nice to be able to scope the 99. How big are the average bears in the zone you'll hunt? Black bears? I'm Canada illiterate.

[Griff]

Is the 375 Win the one that's basically a 38-55 but just a smidge shorter?

Yes. But unlike the .38-55, its dimensions don't run the gamut.

Ted, bear is the reason I bought my Marlin 375. But, I've never come home with one... there's something about having to see a bear before you can shoot one. That Barnes 255 and RE7 should get the job done. Good Luck!

[TedH]

Nice to be able to scope the 99. How big are the average bears in the zone you'll hunt? Black bears? I'm Canada illiterate.

Yes, black bears. Average harvested bear is about 250 lb. . However there is reportedly about 30% color phase bears in this area. Chocolate, cinnamon, and even blonde.
This is my first time hunting with this outfitter, and my first time to Canada actually. I'm going with my old high school football coach. He's been going up there nearly every year for the last 20-25 years and has brought home all kinds of bears, even some B&C bears. I'm hoping to find a nice blonde or cinnamon bear.

[jeepnik]

Heck, the 30-06 is plenty for bears that size.

[wvfarrier]

I kill most of mine with a winchester in 357 mag

[samsi]

Neat, I've never seen one of those .375 Savages in real life. I've got a Ruger No.3 in that chambering and used to shoot the Speer 235 spitzers in it. Never used it to kill anything but a coyote, but it was decisive.

My last bear encounter was up in the Gila in August of '22. Just like a previous one, I was hiking and only had a .38 on me (maybe there's a trend here). Generally when I'm carrying "enough gun" I don't run into anything.

[Bill in Oregon]

Great choice for a rifle Ted. I am sorry the .375 never got the attention it deserved.
Where did you find Re 7?

[4t5]

These guys show it in stock…. https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ ... ess-powder

[TedH]

Where did you find Re 7?

Actually Midway got some in a few months ago. I was on the notification list and snatched it up immediately.

[Twodot]

Red,
Best of luck on your hunt.
With a guide and what sounds like an experienced partner I'm sure you will do well.



WARNING, thread drift:
I have been hoping to find a nice blond for years!
..

[Bill in Oregon]

Ted, according to our friend Savvy Jack Re 7 is the schizzle for the .44 WCF.

[mnmarlin]

That's an awesome rifle - never have seen a 99 in .375 Winchester, loaded as you are that should be bad medicine on blacky! Good luck.

[ollogger]

Ted That load in the 375 Win. will take any thing in North America
I took my 375 out today & rang the steel gong bout 30 times, very big difference between
a 30-30 with 170 gr. cast & the 375 with 280 gr. cast, 375 really slams the gong
yep mine is a 99 savage also, shoots great! gave the Winchester to my son ( i kept the better gun )


Brad

[TedH]

Ted, according to our friend Savvy Jack Re 7 is the schizzle for the .44 WCF.

My only 44 WCF is a 1873 Winchester so I've never felt the need to hot rod it. I do have a Winchester 92 38 WCF that I have wanted to harvest a deer with. I may look into RL7 for that job.

[LeverGunner]

Nice rifle, load, and shooting. I didn't know that the 99 was ever offered in 375 Winchester.