Here is where the .405 Winchester would be minimum, but welcome!

[sestoppelman]

1300 lbs then 1700 lbs then 1800 lbs... it keeps growing I Wonder what scales they used?

I was going on memory with the 1300, I see article says 1700 or 1800, either way as Joe Bidet might say, "this is big f***ing bear!"

 

[fourfive8]

During field studies of darted bears by AK Fish and Game, the largest they weighed were in the 1200-1300 lb range just before hibernation.

Here's the B&C info on brown bears

B&C World's Record - Alaska Brown Bear

The world's record Alaska brown bear was taken during a scientific expedition in 1952, for the benef

www.boone-crockett.org

As an aside since they are often discussed together, here's the info on the world record polar bear. The AK guide who guided this hunter was quite the character and a good friend who passed in 2007. Ohhhhh the stories he could tell of hunting and guiding in AK in the 50s and 60s!

B&C World's Record - Polar Bear

Shelby Longoria (left) and his guide, John Swiss, with the World's Record polar bear, which was take

www.boone-crockett.org

 

[fourfive8]

A Win 95 in 405 Win wouldn’t be a bad rifle to use for brown bear but two issues come to mind. Open sights and bullet selection. So range would be limiting and finding a really good tough bullet may be challenging. The climbin-Lyman peep might help some but still, for certain bullet placement, the range will be limited. Those big bears can be tenacious. I can’t remember the bore-groove diameter on the original I had but it wasn’t “standard”. I didn’t pursue “dedicated” DG bullets for mine. Hawk bullets with thick jacket may be option.

One spring out on the AK Peninsula I was in back seat of a super cub with JS Swiss flying. We had been watching, through a scope from camp, a large boar hanging around a freshly opened den. I was trying to get some pics so JS made a couple of passes over the bear tipping over at a steep bank each time. On the second low pass (statute of limitations expiration low that boar lunged up and took a swipe at the plane! Ornery boar! Later JS said that bear was hanging around that den probably trying to dig out a sow with cubs that were still inside.

 

[fourfive8]

I went back through my records and load logs and dug up the info on my original 405 Win '95. It was a first year rifle, DOM 1904. I slugged the bore with a pure lead slug (pic of slug below). Measurements were: bore diameter of .407" and groove diameter of .415". I designed a custom MM gas check mold for it and primarily shot those gas checked cast bullets sized to .415". It had a factory installed Lyman M21 peep. The rifle was in excellent condition. The bore was perfect and the rifle appeared to have been shot very little. The only problem with the rifle was it didn't have a gold TR inlayed on the side plate

Just as with most all straight-walled cartridges, it was easy to load for accuracy and reliability. I think if I were going to hunt with one of the originals I would slug the bore to confirm best bullet diameter. For hunting with my rifle I would have tried one of the 325 gr Hawk .411 RN bullets with thick .050" jacket. I think those are designed for heavy game. If they shot well, I'd feel comfortable hunting large bears with that combination. I'd keep shots to about 100 yds or less for precise bullet placement. I do not know the bore specs of the more recently produced 405s.

 

[fourfive8]

After that bear took a swipe at the plane, we cruised over to the coast. Thinking back on it we were probably 40-50 ft off the tundra hill side by the den. That bear had no chance of reaching us, probably just lunged and swatted out of habit, having grown up swatting at gulls and eagles while trying to munch on salmon… “eh, just another pesky eagle”

One hundred yard stretch of shoreline on the coast must have had at least 500 glass Japanese net floats laying there, ready for “harvest”. Unfortunately not enough beach to land- the tide was in. Not far from there, just inland, we spotted a bull moose skeleton in some muskeg. The skull had wide paddles and long points with an overall spread well over 70”. Farther down the coast JS had seen a walrus carcass a few days earlier. We checked it for bears or tracks. No bears and no tracks. Didn’t matter to me as I was not hunting but seemed odd given the number of hungry bears just coming out of hibernation?? We flew by one of his other camps to check on some work his boys were doing there then back to main camp. First thing after landing JS said, using his favorite expression, “Kiss my padoodle, did you see that bear take a swipe at us!” What memories, what a flight.

 

[fourfive8]

That den IIRC was on a mostly north facing slope and still covered by deep drifted snow so it was easy to see the dirt spoils change as that bear dug into it the couple of days we watched from camp before curiosity got the best of JS. Too far though to judge size or sex. “Close inspection” from the air showed it to be obviously a large boar, probably a 9 1/2 to 10 footer. Hunting that bear to reasonable range in that country with a iron sighted M95 Win would have been a tall order. A 375 HH bolt gun with a 4x scope would have been far superior.

 

[CJW]

I've watched a few videos of this bear. Bear 747. Another "absolute unit".

 

[flatwater bill]

The bear in the OP's foto is leggy and without the monster forehead of some that I have seen. Despite that, I would want a little more defense than pepper spray.............Charlie Cottar said of the Mod 95 in .405....."it's a lever, and can't stand the charges of a bolt, still, it deals a heavy blow"..Charlie killed many rhino with the 405.......and he killed all that charged him. All but one........FWB

 

[fourfive8]

Yes, hard to judge the exact size of the bear in the OP. He is big no doubt but his age and beat up condition make him hard to judge. He’s a little gaunt and past max condition because of age. I’d guarantee the wear of his teeth would be obvious. He looks like he would give no quarter and has seen a thing or two.

Here is the lower jaw of an old boar from Kodiak. Note worn and broken canines and evenly reduced premolars and molars. I wouldn't doubt the bear in the OP had similar teeth.

 

[sestoppelman]

A Win 95 in 405 Win wouldn’t be a bad rifle to use for brown bear but two issues come to mind. Open sights and bullet selection. So range would be limiting and finding a really good tough bullet may be challenging. The climbin-Lyman peep might help some but still, for certain bullet placement, the range will be limited. Those big bears can be tenacious. I can’t remember the bore-groove diameter on the original I had but it wasn’t “standard”. I didn’t pursue “dedicated” DG bullets for mine. Hawk bullets with thick jacket may be option.

One spring out on the AK Peninsula I was in back seat of a super cub with JS Swiss flying. We had been watching, through a scope from camp, a large boar hanging around a freshly opened den. I was trying to get some pics so JS made a couple of passes over the bear tipping over at a steep bank each time. On the second low pass (statute of limitations expiration low that boar lunged up and took a swipe at the plane! Ornery boar! Later JS said that bear was hanging around that den probably trying to dig out a sow with cubs that were still inside.

There is one for sure very excellent bullet available for the .405, the Barnes 300 gr Triple Shock. I wouldnt be afraid to tackle a buffalo, or a big bear with that bullet.
It also is for me at least the best shooting bullet I have found for the model 95 in several I have owned. That bullet and Varget powder is a match made in Gun Heaven.

 

[fourfive8]

There is one for sure very excellent bullet available for the .405, the Barnes 300 gr Triple Shock. I wouldnt be afraid to tackle a buffalo, or a big bear with that bullet.
It also is for me at least the best shooting bullet I have found for the model 95 in several I have owned. That bullet and Varget powder is a match made in Gun Heaven.

Yes, especially if you have a newer 405. The original bore specs are different from the current production. Exactly how much I don't know. The Barnes .411 TSX would definitely be worth trying in the 405 and if they shot well, they would be excellent for game like brown bear. I would not use the Hornady .411 Interlock for game like brown bears or any DG. A lot of the 405 Win factory ammo available uses that bullet. My experience and testing Hornday Interlock bullets convinces me they are not for heavy or DG.

TSX®

www.barnesbullets.com

 

[sestoppelman]

Yes, especially if you have a newer 405. The original bore specs are different from the current production. Exactly how much I don't know. The Barnes .411 TSX would definitely be worth trying in the 405 and if they shot well, they would be excellent for game like brown bear. I would not use the Hornady .411 Interlock for game like brown bears or any DG. A lot of the 405 Win factory ammo available uses that bullet. My experience and testing Hornday Interlock bullets convinces me they are not for heavy or DG.

TSX®

www.barnesbullets.com

Sadly there arent many options for shooters, Hornady hasnt made any ammo for some time and auction prices are over the moon. They make a run of bullets now and then, but only the newer spitzer style that dont seem to shoot as well as the FN.
I have owned several of the Miroku rifles and all shot the Barnes best. I have only taken one piece of game with mine, a good sized nyala in RSA a few years ago, but the results were decisive to say the least.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

MSN

@sestoppelman
Scott
Your 405 would be fine. Remember good ol Elmer Keith kilt his world record bar wif a 35 Whelen loaded with 275gn bullets.
Bob

 

[sestoppelman]

@sestoppelman
Scott
Your 405 would be fine. Remember good ol Elmer Keith kilt his world record bar wif a 35 Whelen loaded with 275gn bullets.
Bob

Keiths bear, an Alaska grizzly ( he was told) was big and record book size but I dont believe it was world record or if it was in 1937, it wasnt for very long. The bear taken in Cold Bay in 1949 is much larger, though a brown bear and not a grizzly, though they are not a separate species really, just a matter of real estate.
Keiths bear took 5 shots to kill it, 3 from Keith's Whelen and two .30 cal 220 gr slugs from his guides .30-06.
This is from Keiths book, Keiths Rifles for Large Game.

 

[fourfive8]

Sadly there arent many options for shooters, Hornady hasnt made any ammo for some time and auction prices are over the moon. They make a run of bullets now and then, but only the newer spitzer style that dont seem to shoot as well as the FN.
I have owned several of the Miroku rifles and all shot the Barnes best. I have only taken one piece of game with mine, a good sized nyala in RSA a few years ago, but the results were decisive to say the least.

Yep. And good to hear the Miroku 95s shoot the TSX bullet well. Miroku make fine guns, at least based on my experience with the few models I've shot

 

[BeeMaa]

@sestoppelman - I saw this on YT...

 

[sestoppelman]

@sestoppelman - I saw this on YT...

Thanks for posting that! I guess its not fake after all!

 

[BeeMaa]

At least it gives a little more perspective as to how big this boar really is.

 

[sestoppelman]

Its a monsta!! Remember that old movie Night of the Grizzly with Clint Walker?

One scene he holds up his model 92 Winchester and says, "reckon this old .44-40 should take of that bear". paraphrase

Sure hate to have nothing bigger than a .44-40 in my hands facing this type of bear. I love the .44-40 but it aint enuf for a monster bear like these!

 

[BeeMaa]

The Imperial March is a nice touch too.