Brown bear Rifle

[comfisherman]

Your guide will have the big bore back up if needed.

The 300 win mag is probably the most popular for Alaska hunting.

Gonna take each of these individually in reverse order:


I've been all over Alaska, after fishing seasons becoming a vagabond and wandering off. There seems to be various regional preferences, have come to the conclusion that there is no truly common alaska bear rifle. Coastal and West it's a ton of 338 win mags, know more that just a few guides with 375 hh. Up on the bering peninsula it was as equal a group of 30-06, 4570, 300 win and a smattering of bigger bore options. Towards interior and kennicott lots of the homesteaders had 4570. Southeast I never did see a certain specific preference, some villages it's all the same rifle as one guy buys a Hawkeye and liked it so the next year 20 bought the same... South central seems to be the land of a bit more moderation in cartridges. Probably because there are more people and less bear interactions, or hunters are focused more on other things and have a smaller chance of bear interaction.

Best I can say is "every guide used to have a 375 and every hunter used to have a 300 win". Doesn't diminish how good a partition in a 300 win is... just that variation is far more prevalent now.

Large percentage of my friend group has or does guide bear. Most have a 375, some with strong opinions but most fairly agnostic to bullet type. One fellow I know shoots exclusively swift a frames, knowing he's a cheap booger and shoots remington core lok in everything else I finally asked why a frames.... he shrugged and said one did really well on a hunt and he remarked that it was impressive. The hunter was tangentially tied to swift and happy with the hunt and bear so shipped him what amounted to a decades worth of hunting and practice round a frames. When pushed he liked most, but had a frame's so that's what he rocked.

30 cal or bigger driven at reasonable speed with most bullets available, in a platform your comfortable with... gonna be just fine. Because a professional will be standing right there next to you.

 

[DarryH]

Like others, I agree you can use what you have. If I have to go into the brush after a wounded bear, I want something that will stop a TREX in its tracks!!!!!

 

[sp6x6]

If I ever get lucky enough to go ill take what I have.My 338NM with a stout bullet of some type,250-300 gr.Started with a 340, 40 years ago.This year after all my time behind a lite large make, and took a rushed one hand shot at a wolf LR.With my fist under the stock, paid the price big time. Broke my nose and two black eyes.Didnt keep me from hunting though...

 

[Marky_mark]

Gonna take each of these individually in reverse order:


I've been all over Alaska, after fishing seasons becoming a vagabond and wandering off. There seems to be various regional preferences, have come to the conclusion that there is no truly common alaska bear rifle. Coastal and West it's a ton of 338 win mags, know more that just a few guides with 375 hh. Up on the bering peninsula it was as equal a group of 30-06, 4570, 300 win and a smattering of bigger bore options. Towards interior and kennicott lots of the homesteaders had 4570. Southeast I never did see a certain specific preference, some villages it's all the same rifle as one guy buys a Hawkeye and liked it so the next year 20 bought the same... South central seems to be the land of a bit more moderation in cartridges. Probably because there are more people and less bear interactions, or hunters are focused more on other things and have a smaller chance of bear interaction.

Best I can say is "every guide used to have a 375 and every hunter used to have a 300 win". Doesn't diminish how good a partition in a 300 win is... just that variation is far more prevalent now.

Large percentage of my friend group has or does guide bear. Most have a 375, some with strong opinions but most fairly agnostic to bullet type. One fellow I know shoots exclusively swift a frames, knowing he's a cheap booger and shoots remington core lok in everything else I finally asked why a frames.... he shrugged and said one did really well on a hunt and he remarked that it was impressive. The hunter was tangentially tied to swift and happy with the hunt and bear so shipped him what amounted to a decades worth of hunting and practice round a frames. When pushed he liked most, but had a frame's so that's what he rocked.

30 cal or bigger driven at reasonable speed with most bullets available, in a platform your comfortable with... gonna be just fine. Because a professional will be standing right there next to you.

Gonna take each of these individually in reverse order:


I've been all over Alaska, after fishing seasons becoming a vagabond and wandering off. There seems to be various regional preferences, have come to the conclusion that there is no truly common alaska bear rifle. Coastal and West it's a ton of 338 win mags, know more that just a few guides with 375 hh. Up on the bering peninsula it was as equal a group of 30-06, 4570, 300 win and a smattering of bigger bore options. Towards interior and kennicott lots of the homesteaders had 4570. Southeast I never did see a certain specific preference, some villages it's all the same rifle as one guy buys a Hawkeye and liked it so the next year 20 bought the same... South central seems to be the land of a bit more moderation in cartridges. Probably because there are more people and less bear interactions, or hunters are focused more on other things and have a smaller chance of bear interaction.

Best I can say is "every guide used to have a 375 and every hunter used to have a 300 win". Doesn't diminish how good a partition in a 300 win is... just that variation is far more prevalent now.

Large percentage of my friend group has or does guide bear. Most have a 375, some with strong opinions but most fairly agnostic to bullet type. One fellow I know shoots exclusively swift a frames, knowing he's a cheap booger and shoots remington core lok in everything else I finally asked why a frames.... he shrugged and said one did really well on a hunt and he remarked that it was impressive. The hunter was tangentially tied to swift and happy with the hunt and bear so shipped him what amounted to a decades worth of hunting and practice round a frames. When pushed he liked most, but had a frame's so that's what he rocked.

30 cal or bigger driven at reasonable speed with most bullets available, in a platform your comfortable with... gonna be just fine. Because a professional will be standing right there next to you.

I prefer to not rely on the "professional" beside me. Last one sucked and cost me a monster. Not all guides are good

 

[Pdvdh]

I prefer to not rely on the "professional" beside me. Last one sucked and cost me a monster. Not all guides are good

Same here.

Additionally, I'd like to know I shot and killed my bear, if I was paying $25-30K for a guided hunt. Rather than my guide killing it after my first shot, with his .375 or .458.

 

[dogz]

Same here.

Additionally, I'd like to know I shot and killed my bear, if I was paying $25-30K for a guided hunt. Rather than my guide killing it after my first shot, with his .375 or .458.

Sorry to hear that MM!

Side note, dang...that's a heck of an Ibex? Story if you don't mind and you can pm me if you'd prefer

 

[Treeslug]

I prefer to not rely on the "professional" beside me. Last one sucked and cost me a monster. Not all guides are good

Like you, I do NOT want a guide putting one of his bullets in MY bear. I think I would rather be eaten by the bear! If the guide wants shoot my bear, he best have a tag he can put on it. I know all the professional rules and regulations. I also know that all guides are not created equal.

 

[Marky_mark]

Like you, I do NOT want a guide putting one of his bullets in MY bear. I think I would rather be eaten by the bear! If the guide wants shoot my bear, he best have a tag he can put on it. I know all the professional rules and regulations. I also know that all guides are not created equal.

Wasn't the case with mine
For me, we were 200 yards away and my guide couldn't get a rest, or be stable enough to "back me up".. I was solid as a rock..
Oh well, that's not happening this year lol

 

[sp6x6]

Id have put two rounds in the bear while the guide was fiddling around

 

[Marky_mark]

Id have put two rounds in the bear while the guide was fiddling around

I should have
It was a big one too
Super dark, almost black

 

[memtb]

Quote from ……Marky_mark
I prefer to not rely on the "professional" beside me. Last one sucked and cost me a monster. Not all guides are good


This is just my opinion….. and should be recognized as such! I think a lot of guides are too "trigger happy", too quick to kill the animal the client paid big money to hunt! If it were my bear hunt….I'd want the guide to be carrying a handgun only or have his hands tied behind his back! memtb

 

[asd9055]

33 pages later, and this is probably the year he was planning to hunt, just curious where things stand without reading 33 pages

 

[Marky_mark]

Quote from ……Marky_mark
I prefer to not rely on the "professional" beside me. Last one sucked and cost me a monster. Not all guides are good


This is just my opinion….. and should be recognized as such! I think a lot of guides are too "trigger happy", too quick to kill the animal the client paid big money to hunt! If it were my bear hunt….I'd want the guide to be carrying a handgun only or have his hands tied behind his back! memtb

As a hunter, you need to be prepared to do it on your own. Relying on others can get you in trouble. Whether its shooting, spotting, gear related etc. Being as prepared as possible will increase your chances of success

 

[comfisherman]

I prefer to not rely on the "professional" beside me. Last one sucked and cost me a monster. Not all guides are good

I know some lousy guys exist out there, can think of a couple that run around near one of the places I have a cabin. But in a day of Internet where bad news travels four times around the world before you can get off the plane from a lousy hunt.... it's still surprising they survive.