Rifleman1776
New member
To answer the question: friends with very big guns who will back you up.
When my son lived in Alaska the locals advised he carry a 12 ga. with slugs while hiking the back country. He did.
What to rely on, while killing a grizzly
- Thread starter bjones870
- Start date
To answer the question: friends with very big guns who will back you up.
When my son lived in Alaska the locals advised he carry a 12 ga. with slugs while hiking the back country. He did.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Hunting a grizzly generally means seeing the bear first, and having time for a precisely aimed shot.
Stopping a grizzly that's intent on ruining your day is an entirely different matter.
More gun is needed in the latter case than in the former.
Stopping a grizzly that's intent on ruining your day is an entirely different matter.
More gun is needed in the latter case than in the former.
+1 Art, but part of the equation is being able to shoot that gun comfortably, otherwise a miss with .375 magnum is not as good as a hit with a 30-06. That is why I chose the .444 over the 45-70. I have 80% of the 45-70 with significantly less recoil. May not be a .416 Rigby, but with proper shot placement and large hard cast bullets, it will get their attention.
Never hunted grizzly but my dad was stationed in Kodiak (1961-63)and he talked to several guides that have hunted the feared brown bears and most would say bigger than .300 is better to many times they were not critically hit and it just p*ssed them off. They often highly suggested something that hits hard. Years later he talked to another guide (1994) and this one had said at the time that most were carrying a .454 as a side arm. .375 H&H was commonly used. Even though a .308 could knock one down I would not bet on it. Or at least I wouldn't bet my life on it.
And even though the bear spray would work I would not rely on it. Keep in mind that if you use pepper spray of some sort there is always a residual effect. So even though you might get the spray off you stand a 85% chance that you will get some effects of it on you as well. (So now you have a ticked of bear and you are struggling to to see due to pepper spray residual getting in your eyes as well) From the accounts my dad told me a ticked off grizzly particularly a Kodiak was capable of hitting and breaking in half with a swipe up to 16 inch diameter trees. Its a matter of odds at this point in how much do you want in your favor? IMO
And even though the bear spray would work I would not rely on it. Keep in mind that if you use pepper spray of some sort there is always a residual effect. So even though you might get the spray off you stand a 85% chance that you will get some effects of it on you as well. (So now you have a ticked of bear and you are struggling to to see due to pepper spray residual getting in your eyes as well) From the accounts my dad told me a ticked off grizzly particularly a Kodiak was capable of hitting and breaking in half with a swipe up to 16 inch diameter trees. Its a matter of odds at this point in how much do you want in your favor? IMO
Lee McNelly
Moderator
shotgun
Winchester M1897 12 ga.
as fast as you pump it will fire while holding back trigger
and a loud bell you really dont want to meet them w anything
Winchester M1897 12 ga.
as fast as you pump it will fire while holding back trigger
and a loud bell you really dont want to meet them w anything
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Lee McNelly
Moderator
Lee McNelly
Moderator
WildBill45
New member
To the contrary, they are lots of fun to shoot! Big Bore fans, such as I, love those big boomers ... the nastier they are, the more fun they are!
I can tell you from personal experience, TOO PERSONAL, that when you are looking a big Bear, a lion or a Cape Buffalo in the eye, up close and personal, the biggest and baddest of rifles feels like a BB-gun, and recoil never crosses your mind!!!
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fadetoblack172
New member
Killed my 380 lb black bear with a 260 rem 
For most hunters a charging bear causes panic and fear. If this isn't a stressful situation, I don't know what is!
This usually makes for poor shooting. Thus, it would seem reasonable that you have a full magazine and a gun that is reliable and will shoot fast.
Short stroking a pump or lever-action would be very possible and then you are in trouble. A reliable semi-auto would be best IMO.
Shotgun:
Remington model 11, Browning A5, Remington 1100,1187, Benelli or other proven reliable semi-auto shotgun shooting tough Brenneke slugs or slugs made for deep penetration. NOT the standard slugs from Remington or Winchester.
Rifle:
Browning BAR 308 and 338 preferable. Benelli, M-1 Garand, M-14 or similar.
Actually this is all talk for the most part. Most of the time the hunter IS going to be using a bolt-action with less than ideal power.
So...shot placement and lots of practice before hunting anything in bear country.
270
This usually makes for poor shooting. Thus, it would seem reasonable that you have a full magazine and a gun that is reliable and will shoot fast.
Short stroking a pump or lever-action would be very possible and then you are in trouble. A reliable semi-auto would be best IMO.
Shotgun:
Remington model 11, Browning A5, Remington 1100,1187, Benelli or other proven reliable semi-auto shotgun shooting tough Brenneke slugs or slugs made for deep penetration. NOT the standard slugs from Remington or Winchester.
Rifle:
Browning BAR 308 and 338 preferable. Benelli, M-1 Garand, M-14 or similar.
Actually this is all talk for the most part. Most of the time the hunter IS going to be using a bolt-action with less than ideal power.
So...shot placement and lots of practice before hunting anything in bear country.
270
Flatbush Harry
New member
Charging Grizzlies?
I would want a .338 WM, .375H&H or Ruger, .416 Ruger or Rigby. I would also want to have practiced bending over, putting my head between my legs and kissing my azz goodbye.
FH
I would want a .338 WM, .375H&H or Ruger, .416 Ruger or Rigby. I would also want to have practiced bending over, putting my head between my legs and kissing my azz goodbye.
FH
oneounceload
Moderator
Your wits, first and foremost.
I would think bear spray would be the first choice for defense. trying to shoot an object that is bobbing and moving at 30 mph while it is getting close and you are scared is not exactly an easy thing to do successfully
L_Killkenny
New member
Let's face it, if a bear appears out of no where most of us will never get off a shot let alone a good one let alone a whole magazine. The bear will be on you before you can get off an aimed shot and if you think you can unsling or unholster a gun in time you're dreaming. Your best bet? A partner that is a good shot with a big gun. Hopefully you'll recover from the injuries you suffered before the bear expired. Most bear defence cases I've read about are from a 3rd party shooting the bear.
LK
LK
WildBill45
New member
No truer words have been spoken here!!!
I carry big sticks for the times when I do have small chance to get off a shot! I Had to shoot from the hip with my .350 Rem. Mag to keep a (sorry for the bad word, I meant urine) off and cheeky Ostrich from redistributing my intestines one time! No time to get to the shoulder!!!
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JMHO
I have had the chance to do a little hiking and camping in Wyoming, where I have family. My choice for a long gun was my 1895 Guide Gun, I have two loads for that gun. The first is Buffalo Bores' 430gr. hardcast load that goes @ about 1870fps. over my Chrono. The Other was a 405gr. handload that gave me about 50fps. more out of the same gun. Both loads go completely through one foot of greeen Honey Locust,which is an amzingly hard, dense medium, and I believe would penetrate at least two and a half feet through any mammal, heavy bone notwithstanding.
As for a handgun load, I have two choices, the first being a 335gr. LWFN bullet over a suitable amount of H-110 that gives me 1150fps. +or- from my Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt, the other being a 265gr. .41 Mag at 1205fps.
I use the .41 Mag load, as I can get all 6 out of the gun and hit a pie plate at 20 yards in under 10 seconds, which, for me anyway, is fast. The .45 Colt load is all but uncontrollable trying to do the same shooting. I would rather hit an attacker 6 times with that gun than miss it 3 out of six with the other load.
That is the best medicine that I can personaly handle for such a large critter.
Several years back while hiking in northern New Mexico I came out of an aspen forest onto a High Desert Alpine field and stumbled into a group of 6, 5x6 and larger Bull Elk, they were no more than 25' from me, they were just as suprised to see me as I was them, they were NOT HAPPY with my presense!! I was armed with both the Guide Gun stoked with my handloads and the .41 Mag. To make a long story a little less long, my feeling at the time, having a staring contest with said Elk was that I might as well have had a flyswatter!! If these animal had come at me, they would have turned me into a puddle of Goo before I could have gotten off my third round.
I do not feel embarressed to say that that was the most frightened I have ever been in my life!! Thank God that after a few seconds they decided to turn and saunter away.
I do not ever want to see Angry Elk at that distance again. I cannot imagine shaking hands with a Brownie that close.
I guess my point is that you take the most powerful weapon(s) you have and be prepared to shoot accuratly, shoot as fast as you can, and still feel woefully undergunned!
JMHO, and as always, YMMV.
Willy
I have had the chance to do a little hiking and camping in Wyoming, where I have family. My choice for a long gun was my 1895 Guide Gun, I have two loads for that gun. The first is Buffalo Bores' 430gr. hardcast load that goes @ about 1870fps. over my Chrono. The Other was a 405gr. handload that gave me about 50fps. more out of the same gun. Both loads go completely through one foot of greeen Honey Locust,which is an amzingly hard, dense medium, and I believe would penetrate at least two and a half feet through any mammal, heavy bone notwithstanding.
As for a handgun load, I have two choices, the first being a 335gr. LWFN bullet over a suitable amount of H-110 that gives me 1150fps. +or- from my Ruger Blackhawk in .45 Colt, the other being a 265gr. .41 Mag at 1205fps.
I use the .41 Mag load, as I can get all 6 out of the gun and hit a pie plate at 20 yards in under 10 seconds, which, for me anyway, is fast. The .45 Colt load is all but uncontrollable trying to do the same shooting. I would rather hit an attacker 6 times with that gun than miss it 3 out of six with the other load.
That is the best medicine that I can personaly handle for such a large critter.
Several years back while hiking in northern New Mexico I came out of an aspen forest onto a High Desert Alpine field and stumbled into a group of 6, 5x6 and larger Bull Elk, they were no more than 25' from me, they were just as suprised to see me as I was them, they were NOT HAPPY with my presense
!! I was armed with both the Guide Gun stoked with my handloads and the .41 Mag. To make a long story a little less long, my feeling at the time, having a staring contest with said Elk was that I might as well have had a flyswatter!! If these animal had come at me, they would have turned me into a puddle of Goo before I could have gotten off my third round.I do not feel embarressed to say that that was the most frightened I have ever been in my life!! Thank God that after a few seconds they decided to turn and saunter away.
I do not ever want to see Angry Elk at that distance again. I cannot imagine shaking hands with a Brownie that close.
I guess my point is that you take the most powerful weapon(s) you have and be prepared to shoot accuratly, shoot as fast as you can, and still feel woefully undergunned!
JMHO, and as always, YMMV.
Willy
what I would really prefer is a handful of tazers with a backpack generating device that would not just stun yogi, but set his keister on fire like a blown out oil well. You could almost wait until the thing is at your feet, fire and pray.
I freely admit that I would probably not be able to get more than a single round into a charging grizzly. Then I would die.
I freely admit that I would probably not be able to get more than a single round into a charging grizzly. Then I would die.
