I was stationed on Wainwright from 1990-1993. There were two gun shops in town as I recall, both recommended the .338 as a minumum for bear carry, and were pushing Mossberg 500 for general carry and protection on a budget.
Most of the locals I talked to were of the same opinion on calibers. Some carried the -06, but most were shooting something heavier if they could afford it. From what I recall, the -06 were bargain priced against anything with "Magnum" in the caliber title.
