By the way, I never posted the results of the Accubond's weight retention after going through that bear. As I said, it went through both shoulders at 78 yards and stopped under the hide on the far side. It started out 200 grains and weighed 133 after recovery -- 66.5 perccent weight retention. According to Nosler, the Accubond is designed to hold 60 - 70 percent of its weight, so it was right on the money.

Nevertheless, that's a third of the bullet's weight shed -- which is why I like the TSX for heavy stuff. There's a difference between kinetic energy and momentum, so a tougher bullet with less KE can often out-penetrate one that doesn't hold its weight. That's why my 180 gr TSX in a .300 WSM at 125 yards outpenetrated my friend's 200 gr Accubond out of a .325 at 78 yards, even though the .325 had at least ten percent more energy.

As has been pointed out here, heavy hard-cast bullets in a .45-70 can be devastating due to their ability to hang onto their weight and penetrate -- especially if they're coming out of a +P load like Buffalo Bore (Garrett Ammunition makes some impressive loads, too). The only problem is the trajectory -- it's not a long-range round.

You're right about the range on the .45-70 with the big bullets. Kind of like throwing a softball into the outfield from homeplate once you get past 200 yds. But at anything past 200 yds I'm headin' the other way unless I'm lucky enough to have a tag.

Inside 200 yds,in thick brush and limited visibility I want a round that will stop Yogi right in his tracks...I'll put Ben Gay on my shoulder later but at least they won't find pieces of me strewn up and down the riverbank.

You're also right about the Garrett hammerhead rounds. He has some very interesting test results on his website under the review section.

Never bring a knife to a gunfight

I've been wanting to scratch that 1895G itch for years, but still haven't done it. There's only so many purchases I can get past the boss per year without tripping the circuit breaker. I've found it helps if I pay the jewelry tax, but that can double the cost of some purchases and even then doesn't always work. Maybe one day...

Just for asking such a question, I'd never go hunting with YOU.

Wouldn't worry too much. Do you know that many Polar bears are taken with .303 British and have been for decades. It's a very common biggame cartridge in the polar regions of Canada, especially among the native people of that region. If the .303 works, then why would a .308 Win not work?

Not knocking you but you sound like a magnum rifle hunter. If you do your part the rifle will do its part as long as you are shooting a premium grade bullet. I know of hunters that have taken interior grizzleys with a 270. Now the brown bear that I shot back in 1973 didn't know what hit him when the 220 gr Nosler hit him out of my 30-06 and squared 9 1/2 feet.

Now, hat makes three I wouldn't hunt with.

I'd hunt with Critter, because he seems to understand that it's not only or just the caliber you use, but also a lot has to do with the guy/gal behind the trigger. Too many hunters especially newbies forcus and get too hung up specifically on this caliber or that caliber without ever realizing that you as the hunter still need to do your part. But, I will agree, especially when talking brown bear, that you could never have too much gun.