308 enough for brown/polar bear?

[budlight]

I was thinking about a 308 semi-auto rifle that can hold at least 20+ rounds like the AK M77, Scar 17 or HK G3/PTR style rifles where you can fire off more rounds quicker than a bolt action or Marlin lever gun.

The skinnies poach elephants with AK47's. Every one of the rifles you listed ONLY shoot the lower powered service rifle ammo. You can't shoot a box of quality 308 rem through them. They pop the primers and jam the gun. I had the SCAR 20 what a heavy ***. I sold it two months later at a big loss. A real full 55,000+ psi AR10 is what you want

If I was really worried about bear attacks simply packing a big pistol is all you need. But on our Alaskan bear hunts I always took my 458 win mag or my 458 Barnes American. Always one shot kills even the 9'6" brown. My hand loaded 510 gr RSP hit it in the chest walk towards us and blew out its butt cheek. DRT. Some of the locals just use their .270's for everything.

 

[memtb]

budlight…….I like the way you think! There is such a thing as having "too much" equipment on a hunt/hike. There comes a time when it's more of a handicap rather than an asset! memtb

 

[xsn10s]

I'm no bear expert but the guides I had in Alaska griz country carried 12GA with slugs. I carried a Marlin Century Limited III 18" 45-70. 350gr Hornady's I handloaded. Which was a compromise between a caribou hunting round and bear defense. But it was accurate and I shot it well. I wanted one fast shooter in my camp. S&W 4" Model 29 with 300gr hardcast Federal Castcores on my belt.

 

[xsn10s]

One of my concerns about a Marlin lever style gun is it's not semi-auto. I would have to operate the lever after each shot and I'm not confident about my motor skills during a high stress situation when a dangerous animal charges within a close radius and catches me off guard. Walking through tall grass, or tight trails with heavy thick brush on each side and you don't see the animal and it pounces.

You have to be confident in whatever you use. I favored a lever gun because it's a big bore. If you choose a semi auto that's fine. But as far as arguing over which is easier to use that would depend on your training. I've been well trained with semi autos and I still chose a levergun. Working a lever is not a hard skill during a stress situation. A disadvantage with a levergun is the capacity. The disadvantage of the semi is weight, bulk, length, and cartridge. Both will take time to clear if a malfunction happens. But you have to be confident with either system you carry. And it's YOUR life so YOU get to decide.

 

[HARPERC]

And it's YOUR life so YOU get to decide.

Amen!