You have plenty of rifle. I have hunted bear with a 300 Weatherby mag several trips up there. Love the place. Go before you are too old!
Brown bear Rifle
- Thread starter zeeman
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Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
The bold above just about says it all. Why take a chance with anything smaller then the 375?
When I was on a once-in-a-lifetime buffalo hunt I could have taken any number of med/large caliber rifles but I took a 375 Ruger. The buffalo took two solid hits with 260gr Partition bullets and then fell over when he was darn good and ready. I was glad that I left the smaller magnums home even though they may have worked.
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longrangebob
Well-Known Member
45-70 or it's harder hitting cousin .458 WM
I picked up a used stainless Sako 85 in .375 H&H that had been Magna-Ported for a bear hunt I was hoping to finance. I was amazed at how little felt recoil there was with only Magna-Porting. I would liken shooting it to a 20-gauge shotgun. The hunt didn't happen, but the gun is still in the safe. (I probably should sell it.) Then I picked up a longer-range bear/elk/moose rifle, a used Weatherby Accumark in .338/.378 Weatherby Mag.
While a .22 long rifle cartridge will kill almost any animal on the planet if placed perfectly, we don't use a .22 on moose for a reason. More powerful cartridges impart more damage on the target, giving a margin on error for less than perfect shot placement and putting the critter down sooner. "Down sooner" is critical with dangerous game.
While a .300 Win Mag is capable of killing a Brownie, there are many cartridges more suited to the task at hand. Most guides I talked to said a.338 Win mag was the least powerful cartridge they allowed clients to carry.
While a .22 long rifle cartridge will kill almost any animal on the planet if placed perfectly, we don't use a .22 on moose for a reason. More powerful cartridges impart more damage on the target, giving a margin on error for less than perfect shot placement and putting the critter down sooner. "Down sooner" is critical with dangerous game.
While a .300 Win Mag is capable of killing a Brownie, there are many cartridges more suited to the task at hand. Most guides I talked to said a.338 Win mag was the least powerful cartridge they allowed clients to carry.
wilkup
Well-Known Member
I think your 300 is likely plenty, if you shoot it well. But...
If you're entertaining the possibility of buying a new rifle, why limit yourself to a 338?
If it were me, I'd go bigger, especially if it were a once in a lifetime hunt.
Something in the .375 to .416 flavors. There's plenty of options to choose from and they offer more than enough thump to complete your given task.
Wishing you success and can't wait for photos!
If you're entertaining the possibility of buying a new rifle, why limit yourself to a 338?
If it were me, I'd go bigger, especially if it were a once in a lifetime hunt.
Something in the .375 to .416 flavors. There's plenty of options to choose from and they offer more than enough thump to complete your given task.
Wishing you success and can't wait for photos!
What are your hunting plans? There is a huge difference between a 300 yard shot on a big bear and a 50 yard shot on a big bear. I would choose a larger caliber as I have a 338 WM and a 375. The 300 and 30-06 have certainly accounted for a lot of bears. But if you get a new cartridge/rifle , will you have enough time to get proficient and confident for when that big bear shows up? Also, if you go new, get plenty of ammo up front and pick a standard caliber if you to need replenish on your trip. Things can go wrong when you are travelling.
Jim Wright
Member
What about the 45/70?
Much as I like the old 45/70 it isn't the round I'd take on a brown bear hunt. Just too much at stake to be limited in range by a round like it. Many better rounds out there that will do double work both up close and farther if need by. That's just my opine
Marine sniper
Well-Known Member
For me, it would depend on the 45/70. There are some very fast handling 45/70's that can handle higher pressure rounds. Baffalo Bore has 405 gr bullets at 2000 fps- 3500+ ft. lbs.
My 458 Lott load is a 500 gr. bullet at 2250.
For sure there are some good rounds, but...in the world crap happens. Say things go south, they go in to find the bruin only to spot it moving away at 350 yards what's going to do. If one has a decent scope bolt gun it's not going to be an issue with putting the bruin down and out. Now with a 405@2000 while it has a lot of crunch factor up close or the Lott with a 500 @ 2250 one's going to sit back and watch the bruin escape.
Long shot for this to happen but real world yeah it could happen especially on the pennisula.
Just something to chew on.
I'd each and every day take his 300 with a 200 Partition over either the 45/70 or the Lott when on a hunt like this!
Marine sniper
Well-Known Member
Agree with you if shots are going to be at any real distance. That said; 350 yards for my Lott is not a problem, it is a sub MOA rifle
Marine sniper
Well-Known Member
It is a Leupold 1x6 with a heavy duplex.
