Grizzly caliber curiosity

[mungojeerie]

Just curious about what calibers you guys/gals have used to take down grizzly bears... both while hunting them, and or in self defense.

What do you use?
What have you used in the past that you would/wouldn't recommend?

[Gunner]

Self defence.I'd go 12ga. 870 with mag exstension withslugs(learned that when I worked for Fisheries upcoast in the 70s!).When I get a draw I pack around a 8MMRem Mag loaded with 225 gr. A Frames. Gunner

[f350ps]

Is that you typing Mur? K

[ROY-alty33]

If I get drawn I'm taking 325 WSM $80 a box they better do the trick!!!

[mooze]

8 mm revival: I carry a 8x68!
Back ups are 9.3x62 and 416 ( really a squirrel gun!)

[BiG Boar]

.17 would be the most challenging calibre here in BC.
Anyone try it? What's the smallest?

[Weatherby Fan]

240wby with 85gr TSX......or the good old 300wby mag with 180gr TSX will get the job done !

[Salty]

since the advent of the interwebs grizzlies have become much more aware. 45-70 behind the ear or stay home.

[BCBRAD]

i haven't hunted G-bear but hunt in g-bear country. A close incounter 20+ years ago prompted the purchase of a 338Win. Graduated to a 35Whelen now a 9.3x66. Bu,t I carry a 30-06 most of the time and thinking of using 200gr bullets all the time.

[pappy]

338 win mag with 210 grain ttsx or 250 grain partitions for me, I have used it for elk, moose and one black bear also.

[Drillbit]

Shot one with a 270 130grn SST. One shot @200 yards, it rolled over and didn't kick.

Would want something bigger for an attack situation though.

[longrifle]

Killed mine with a .375, next time I will use my ol' .270 win...If barnes produces a .17 cal tsx I will use a .17 Rem.:wink::wink: YMMV


'rifle

[Foxton Gundogs]

On purposes 458 Win Mag 500gr Federals. Defence/backup/saddle gun 45-70 450 gr Hand loads.

[Kitimat Killer]

First Grizz was with my 338 210 gr tripple shocks
Last year used my 375h&h with 270 tripple shocks shot the bear under 20 yards and was sure glad I had the bigger gun stopped him in his tracks



Kk

[gutpile]

Hey Killer , how come under 20 yards ? was it a surprised enconter ?

[Fred1]

Seen a few go down 338 win mags all kinds of different bullets. No bullet seemed to out perform the other - they all killed very well. Up close I would think - but I hope I dont have to find out, my 45-70 would do the trick.

[gutpile]

if you were to use a 45-70 on a griz would it be good out to a hunderd yards or a bet more ?

[coach]

When hunting I trust my life to my trusty Slingshot with a 6 oz rock. For self defense I use my single shot .222...

[mungojeerie]

Huh, interesting so far.... Im surprised by the .270 comments , and also by the lack of some other calibers that many swear by like the 30 06 etc. Thanks for the comments thus far guys.

On a side note, I switched calibers this year and started using a .270 WSM... Im very very impressed with it's performance so far and it's built my faith up to trade it out for the 7mm mag for this coming years moose hunt....

[406elcamino]

im thinking 45-70

[REMINGTON JIM]

if you were to use a 45-70 on a griz would it be good out to a hunderd yards or a bet more ?

YUP with Handloads and the Right Boolit ! :-D RJ

[Sofa King]

i'm hearing impressive things about these new-fangled air rifles.

[CraigOC]

I use my bare hands, oops, I mean my bear hands.

[Sofa King]

I use my bare hands, oops, I mean my bear hands.

nothing wrong with just using the bear essentials.

[GoatGuy]

Seen with .270, 30-06, 7mm, .300, .338 and some other 'big' guns.

Lungs with holes don't work well.

[gutpile]

You be surprised how far a bear can go with holes in their lungs !

[hunter1947]

I don't carry a hi powered rifle when I am out looking for elk deer sheds and putting my trail cams out hunting with my bow first week Sept I use my
12 gauge defender shot gun with 7 rounds loaded up with 3'' mag slugs.
When I am hunting for elk deer in rifle season I carry my 7mm mag loaded up with 160g nosler partition bullet with IMR 4350 powder 60g of powder pushing my bullet out at 3000 fPS..

[Call of the Wild]

I used my 7mm with Barnes TSX 160 gr last fall on my grizzly. Two rounds on him but he was a dying bear after the first one, quarter shot front right in the shoulder bone did a wack of damage.

[Rackmastr]

I used a 338 WM with 210 gr TSX on my spring bear. One round knocked him down to the ground immediatly, but he did require one finishing shot

[Ltbullken]

I'm intending to go with my 7mm Rem Mag with 160 grain Swift A-Frame bullets at about 3000 fps. But I do think that a 338 WM with a premium bullet in the 210 - 250 grain range is a great option for griz.

[r106]

Never hunted them but I would use my 325wsm with 200 gr tsx. I would think any high powered rifle with the right bullet will work.

[Wild one]

30-06 did a great job

[Jagermeister]

i'm hearing impressive things about these new-fangled air rifles.I am not sure if you are spoofing or not, but look at this link.
http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/
I think that air rifle just might to the job.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pqFyKh-rUI

[Jagermeister]

http://www.pyramydair.com/article/_50_Caliber_Dragon_Slayer_Air_Rifle_December_2007/45

[Moose Guide]

I killed a charging sow at 12 yards with my .338 WM!

[brutus]

30-06 all the way 200gr,how many grizz have been shot with the good old 30-06 ???????,where you put the bullet is where its at lol.12 gauge for camp gun and hiking in grizz country

[Rattler]

I shot mine this year with a 300Win Mag with 180 gr accubonds and it did the job just fine...bang flop. Shot placement is key. Smaller calibers like the 270 can and have proven to be effective as long as the shot is good i.e. through the lungs. For defense and while bowhunting I carry a 12 guage with 2.5" slugs.

[riflebuilder]

In self defense I killed a charging Grizz with a 270 Win 140g. When hunting them on purpose I use my 325 WSM or 340 Wby.

[moosinaround]

I'm gonna use a 300 win mag with 168ttsx this fall, unless I buy a 375 ruger, then it will be 270gr hornadys! Moosin

[BCbillies]

I mainly used a 300 wmag with 220 Noslers . . . now onto the 375 Ruger and will load 300 DGX's if all goes well this fall!

[REMINGTON JIM]

I'm gonna use a 300 win mag with 168ttsx this fall, unless I buy a 375 ruger, then it will be 270gr hornadys! Moosin

I shot a couple of bears with the 375 H&H and the Horn 270 Spire Point bullets - they are not heavy enough jacketed bullet for my liking - Not enough penetration and they come aprt too ! I am now now loading Partitions and Accubonds ! Swift A Frames or Sciroccos would be a great bet too ! JMO RJ

[ROY-alty33]

Whew, 2 other 325, Thought I might be the only guy in BC rocking this caliber.

[REMINGTON JIM]

Whew, 2 other 325, Thought I might be the only guy in BC rocking this caliber.

Nice Little cartridge that 325 WSM ! :) RJ

[riflebuilder]

out of all of the WSM the 325 is the best IMO

[xcaribooer]

338 win mag with 210 grain ttsx or 250 grain partitions for me, I have used it for elk, moose and one black bear also.

that would be my vote as well

[gerrygoat]

I have carried the 308 Norma mag with 220 gr Partitions, 35 Whelen with 225 gr Partitions and 250 gr Grand Slams, and the 375 Ruger with 260 gr Accubonds. My choice these days is the 35 Whelen with a 225 gr or heavier bullet, going to experiment with the 275 gr Woodleigh in it this fall and see.

[Downtown]

338WM with ordinary 250 grain slugs allways worked for me even in the worst case scenarios including point blank. However equally importand is that the Action never fails cycling the shells at warp speed.




Just curious about what calibers you guys/gals have used to take down grizzly bears... both while hunting them, and or in self defense.

What do you use?
What have you used in the past that you would/wouldn't recommend?

[REMINGTON JIM]

I have carried the 308 Norma mag with 220 gr Partitions, 35 Whelen with 225 gr Partitions and 250 gr Grand Slams, and the 375 Ruger with 260 gr Accubonds. My choice these days is the 35 Whelen with a 225 gr or heavier bullet, going to experiment with the 275 gr Woodleigh in it this fall and see.

gerrygoat - Why the 35 Whelen over the 375 Ruger - i would think the BIG Ruger with the Accubond's would be a Great BIG Bear cartridge !:confused: RJ

[gerrygoat]

It is RJ but my 35 Whelen is much lighter, handles like a dream and it has more than enough for grizz. My Ruger is a great gun that feeds really well but I can't shoot it as well as the Whelen. Maybe with a different stock it would handle better than the factory laminate but it would weigh close to 2 lbs heavier than my cool REMINGTON :) I can't say enough good things about how the Mcmillan Edge stock feels and handles, one day i'll let you have to shoot it when I come down there or you make it up here.

[REMINGTON JIM]

It is RJ but my 35 Whelen is much lighter, handles like a dream and it has more than enough for grizz. My Ruger is a great gun that feeds really well but I can't shoot it as well as the Whelen. Maybe with a different stock it would handle better than the factory laminate but it would weigh close to 2 lbs heavier than my cool REMINGTON :) I can't say enough good things about how the Mcmillan Edge stock feels and handles, one day i'll let you have to shoot it when I come down there or you make it up here.

BUT then - its more about the RIFLE then the Cartridge ! :confused: Nice handling REMMY M700 rifle rather then that KLUNKY RUGER :razz: rifle in the near then ! My Remmy M700 375 H&H is a very Nice handling rifle too ! :-D RJ

[r106]

Whew, 2 other 325, Thought I might be the only guy in BC rocking this caliber.

your not alone out there. There are a few of us.

IMHO There would be more of us if Winchester priced the ammo at a reasonable $ but at $80 + a box its only practical for us handloaders, but it is a great performer. My load pushes a 200grTSX @ 2950 fps

[gerrygoat]

BUT then - its more about the RIFLE then the Cartridge ! :confused: Nice handling REMMY M700 rifle rather then that KLUNKY RUGER :razz: rifle in the near then ! My Remmy M700 375 H&H is a very Nice handling rifle too ! :-D RJ

If the stock fit me more comfortably it would be better to shoot and I might not get a recoil headache, the gun is amazingly accurate though. The Whelen is quite comfortable to shoot even though it is much lighter, it is my favorite round and has never dissapointed me with how it performs on game.

[srupp]

hmm for hunting .338 with TSX 225 gr...for defense shotgun with slugs..lol

seen photos of a BIG bear..BIG BIG bear shot on the last day of the season with a .338 I am sure he was glad he had a adaquete weapon..hopefully the story and photos and impressive measurements show up here as well as 2 more from just south of this one by a couple miles..steven

[steelballs]

good luck moosin hope you get one