Kodiak brown bear rifle

[HARPERC]

I should put my list up so those on this thread can see it and comment and add to it.

300 grain Swift A-Frame
300 grain Nosler Accubond
329 grain Hammer

1) Hammer, I like the balance of 10% heavier-mass matters, it limits expansion, good retention, and maximizes penetration.

2) Swift A-Frame expands readily, but has a stop point at the "partition", good weight retention. Very good bullets. A year ago this would top my list. Only grizzly kill I've been around was with the 275 .338, it impressed me. So did the grizzly. About 8.5'. book bear.

3) I like Accubonds a lot-but they tend to "over expand" in my mind, and limit penetration. Especially close in or on bone.

 

[Guy M]

It's been interesting, reading through the pages & posts of your Alaskan bear hunt prep. Something about the subject of big bear brings out... interesting responses!

RBros - you already have their rifles, so you know Travis will build it right. I know his brother Jesse, here in Wenatchee, Washington.

.375 RUM, nice... What a cartridge! I've taken four Washington black bear now, three with a .375 H&H and one with a .30-06 rifle. A dream of mine is a hunt for brown bear or interior grizzly. Either way.

I've been to Alaska quite a few times, usually fly fishing for silver salmon. Oh my goodness, what a place!

Enjoy! Guy

 

[RH300UM]

It's been interesting, reading through the pages & posts of your Alaskan bear hunt prep. Something about the subject of big bear brings out... interesting responses!

RBros - you already have their rifles, so you know Travis will build it right. I know his brother Jesse, here in Wenatchee, Washington.

.375 RUM, nice... What a cartridge! I've taken four Washington black bear now, three with a .375 H&H and one with a .30-06 rifle. A dream of mine is a hunt for brown bear or interior grizzly. Either way.

I've been to Alaska quite a few times, usually fly fishing for silver salmon. Oh my goodness, what a place!

Enjoy! Guy

I have 3 of Travis's rifles now. The 375 rum will be number 4.
This rifle offers some "new" ground to cover. It will be a controlled round center feed action that will be a solid performer.
I meet Jesse last year. Travis, Jesse and Yuri stayed at our house overnight on the way to the Salt Lake hunting expo. They are great guys.
This hunting trip has turned into a lot more.
I have been offered a assistant guide opportunity with my buddy.
It's not a quick process. Nor do I want it to be. It is a serious undertaking and I don't take it lightly. I have a lot to learn.

 

[Pdvdh]

Why a single bullet for both 600 yd caribou/moose and a less than 125 yd brown bear?
If you're primary quarry is brown bear, it might be better to prioritize bullet selection for high velocity impacts on a 1,100lb bear. This wouldn't be the hunt I'd compromise bear stopping bullet performance by adding in the secondary application of use.

Pick your best bear bullet. If that's not also a good 600 yd caribou/moose bullet, then select a 2nd bullet for the other game animals. Talk to your bear guides, who've likely seen more brown bears killed than the rest of us combined, before buying.

There are a number of good, proven brown bear bullets, and not many will also be competitive for retained velocity at 600yds.

 

[RH300UM]

Why a single bullet for both 600 yd caribou/moose and a less than 125 yd brown bear?
If you're primary quarry is brown bear, it might be better to prioritize bullet selection for high velocity impacts on a 1,100lb bear. This wouldn't be the hunt I'd compromise bear stopping bullet performance by adding in the secondary application of use.

Pick your best bear bullet. If that's not also a good 600 yd caribou/moose bullet, then select a 2nd bullet for the other game animals. Talk to your bear guides, who've likely seen more brown bears killed than the rest of us combined, before buying.

There are a number of good, proven brown bear bullets, and not many will also be competitive for retained velocity at 600yds.

I have been talking to them. If you missed earlier in the thread this is no longer just a 1 hunt. I will be using this and other rifles to guide with. I am trying to minimize the weapons I will be using to accomplish this.
The guide I will be working for uses a 375 h&h with 300 grain accubonds for bears and moose. They have worked ok but has mentioned at times he wondered if there was something better for a more universal fit and a longer kill range when needed. AKA a wounded animal or a once in a lifetime bull at 500 yards and the client only has a rifle capable of 200-300 yards. I know it asks a lot of a bullet but here we are discussing it. Hence e being me I took it and ran with it.

 

[Pdvdh]

Ok. Good luck with the rifle and bullets.

 

[HARPERC]

.....The guide I will be working for uses a 375 h&h with 300 grain accubonds for bears and moose. They have worked ok but has mentioned at times he wondered if there was something better for a more universal fit and a longer kill range when needed...........

The RUM should give you roughly 10% more MV than the H&H, so there is a little more to work with.

The Accubond is just shy of the 1800fps minimum expansion Nosler gives. Rough modest numbers have it at 1756fps, at 600 yards.

The 329 Hammer just above the mark at 1850fps.

Not to disagree with Hammers reasoning just a curious mind. "IF" one was to load the 395 magazine length-1-9" twist and get 2500 fps it's 1890 fps. "IF"

I'd not overly stress about a second bullet.

Have you picked a scope?

I picked up the last box of 300 .375 Accubonds off Sportsmans local shelf. Yours if you want them. PM me an address.

 

[RH300UM]

The RUM should give you roughly 10% more MV than the H&H, so there is a little more to work with.

The Accubond is just shy of the 1800fps minimum expansion Nosler gives. Rough modest numbers have it at 1756fps, at 600 yards.

The 329 Hammer just above the mark at 1850fps.

Not to disagree with Hammers reasoning just a curious mind. "IF" one was to load the 395 magazine length-1-9" twist and get 2500 fps it's 1890 fps. "IF"

I'd not overly stress about a second bullet.

Have you picked a scope?

I picked up the last box of 300 .375 Accubonds off Sportsmans local shelf. Yours if you want them. PM me an address.

PM inbound. Thanks! That's why I like this community of longrange shooters.

Nightforce 2x10x42. As the saying says. Rugged. Reliable. Repeatable.
Low enough power for close quick shots and enough power for the 5-600 yard shot if needed. Keeps it light

 

[RH300UM]

Ok. Good luck with the rifle and bullets.

Thanks

 

[HARPERC]

.......Nightforce 2x10x42. As the saying says. Rugged. Reliable. Repeatable.....Low enough power for close quick shots and enough power for the 5-600 yard shot if needed. Keeps it light.........

Good choice.

 

[Paparock]

I would have liked to had the privilege to hunt the largest land carnivore on the North American Continent once in my life but that will never happen for me. One would have been my limit even if I had unlimited funds as I would not have the heart to take more than one. I love and respect all bears but these giants are special and can only take so much pressure so I would feel unworthy to take more than one. Perhaps it is the influence of my "brother" (half American Indian best friend I grew up with) but I grew up learning about "the old ways". I may be "white" but there are many American Indians (Cherokee) in my family tree and I respect things most people today care little about and know little of.

Elsewhere I have said while I lived and hunted in Wyoming I carried and hunted in Grizzly country with a .375 H&H out of respect for the animals I hunted and the Grizzly that lived where I hunted. There had been a number of problem bears in the area where I hunted that had to be put down. Anyone that does not respect what even a Black Bear can do to a man has never seen the result and the power of a Grizzly much less the power of a Brown Bear is to be Respected[/U; those who do not do so at their own peril and should watch some of the videos of the survivors of Brown Bear maulings. Sometimes these bears take a lot of killing as in repeated hits from .375 H&H and .338 Win Mags in the vitals before succumbing to their fatal wounds. I would recommend reading "Pinnell and Talifson : Last of the Great Brown Bear Men" for a real historical perspective.

 

[RH300UM]

Just wanted to post an update.
The build is finalized and moving forward.
I won't have it in time to take with me this fall to start my new training in Alaska.
I will have it by early next year to get the shakedown and work up completed.

 

[Guy M]

I would have liked to had the privilege to hunt the largest land carnivore on the North American Continent once in my life but that will never happen for me. One would have been my limit even if I had unlimited funds as I would not have the heart to take more than one. I love and respect all bears but these giants are special and can only take so much pressure so I would feel unworthy to take more than one. Perhaps it is the influence of my "brother" (half American Indian best friend I grew up with) but I grew up learning about "the old ways". I may be "white" but there are many American Indians (Cherokee) in my family tree and I respect things most people today care little about and know little of.

Elsewhere I have said while I lived and hunted in Wyoming I carried and hunted in Grizzly country with a .375 H&H out of respect for the animals I hunted and the Grizzly that lived where I hunted. There had been a number of problem bears in the area where I hunted that had to be put down. Anyone that does not respect what even a Black Bear can do to a man has never seen the result and the power of a Grizzly much less the power of a Brown Bear is to be Respected[/U; those who do not do so at their own peril and should watch some of the videos of the survivors of Brown Bear maulings. Sometimes these bears take a lot of killing as in repeated hits from .375 H&H and .338 Win Mags in the vitals before succumbing to their fatal wounds. I would recommend reading "Pinnell and Talifson : Last of the Great Brown Bear Men" for a real historical perspective.

Well stated. Thank you.

 

[Guy M]

Just wanted to post an update.
The build is finalized and moving forward.
I won't have it in time to take with me this fall to start my new training in Alaska.
I will have it by early next year to get the shakedown and work up completed.

It will come together. Best of luck!

Guy