Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Let’s build a Big Bear Rifle...

What, no 6.5 Creedmor with a SWFA scope and some kind of tupperware stock? I'm shocked....

The Carpathian mountains where I hunt are heavily infested with brown bears. I like hunting driven boars with one of my 30-06's or a 308 or 7x57. But in the fall before the foliage is down when the bear is too close to you too quickly, I feel much better with my Ruger African 9.3x62. The barrel is cut to 21", sights are Recknagel triangle rear and white bead front (very fast). I don't use a scope on this one but have a small weaver base screwed on it that allows QD attachment of a lightweight Holosun red dot sight which allows more range and precision and is still very fast on target. I also installed a Pachmayr 1" Decellerator recoil pad and the rifle feels like shooting a heavy bulleted 30-06. Weight (unloaded) with irons is 7 pounds 6 ounces and with the red dot is 7 pounds 11 ounces. RJ

It would work just fine with a properly placed bullet.

As I recall, our very own scenarshooter killed a grizzly bear with his 260, while alaska_lanche has been in on a couple grizzly kills with the 6.5 Creedmoor.

Careful there pg, someone who's never hunted, or been around grizzlies, is going to tell you how to do it...;)

Oh and I forgot to add Lapua brass and that scenar bullet...

yep...Use Enough Gun....

I have a few that would work.

Starting with a 338-06 Model 70
9.3x64 VZ 24
375 H&H Model 70
416 Remington Model 70
45-70 Marlin

Or I could go smaller, 30 cal all the way down to a fast twist 22-250.
Even one of my traditional bows could do the job.

I would prefer a bigger diameter bullet though.

Several years ago, when I was still an agile sixty something, and had a few dollars in my pocket, I bought a switch Barrel Blaser 93, with two barrels. 270 for lesser stuff and 9.3 x62 for the larger. This was to be my North American do everything rifle.

Then I fooled around and never got to Alaska or Canada. None the less, I’m well armed. Maybe grandson can live my dream. Health issues caught up with me.

Jack

Could use this with 450-500 grain bullets.

I have only killed 2 Grizzlies, so I am not an expert, but closer than some. One was with a 25-35, the other was with a 30-378. All I can tell you is that I shot both of them in the head and they didn't go anywhere...

Beaver10, If it is to be used as a stopping rifle for an attack or “put-down” a clients wounded bear. My choice.... a well “tuned”, Marlin Guide Gun (short, fast handling, well balanced) in 45-70, pushing a 420 + grain, wide metplat, hard cast bullet at or nearly so maximum safe velocity in your rifle, scoped with a quality, very low power ( example, 1-5). JMO.

If I am hunting......a totally different recommendation is in order! It would be the “only” hunting rifle I’ve used since ‘90.....semi-custom, Model 70 Win. in .375AI. Description: Win. Model 70, McMillian stock, 24” SS Douglas Match (light contour) barrel, express sights, Leupold scope in Leupold QD base/rings with a back-up scope ready to go, Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad, front sling swivel on barrel, weighs : 9 pounds 1 ounce with scope, sling, and 4 rounds. Presently running 250 TTSX’s at 3130 muzzle velocity.....considering going to the 270 LRX.

If for both purposes.......the Winchester! memtb

If buying new, I would consider the Kimber Talkeetna (.375 H&H), taken to a reputable “smith”.....transform it to an AI or .375 Weatherby.

The last 3 brown bears I have seen killed were only shot once apiece.

One with a 7 rem mag using 150gr soft points, one with a .308 using a 180gr SP and the last one with a .308 using 130TTSX. Hit them right and they die pretty quick.........usually.

A rifle dedicated for big bears, I'd be happy with a 21" or 22" bbl'd SS M70 30-06 (Douglas no. 2 contour) with backup open sights, 3X fixed Leupold in detachable mounts, Bansner stock w/ PT&G Al bottom metal. I'd load it with 200 gr Partitions.

Truth of the matter is I do all my hunting in Grizzly country with stuff like the 270 or 308 Win.

I also have no desire to shoot a "big bear" so I suppose the concept is wasted on me...

Mine would have to by my 375 Ackley



Or my 338 Win



Both would be near the top of my list were I going tomorrow

My country is pretty thick, so short and light is my preference. I've used both the Marlin 45/70 and 444 a lot over the years. Either one will take care of anything Im going to run into. Being left handed, I'm limited when it comes to bolt guns. Ruger hit it out of the park IMO when they came out with the compact line. I added a 338 RCM to my arsenal as soon as I found one in LH. With a 1.5 fixed power Leopold its perfect for our country.

My son just found a limited edition Ruger in 358 Winchester. He's getting a set of EAW bases, banded front and NECG express rear installed. It should work well.

I've got you a hell of a bear rifle Beaver, BRNO 98 Mauser in 416 Taylor, Timney trigger, model 70 style two position safety, stock relieved all the way around bottom metal to let the water run through now, or after the ice melts, ALL steel, including scope ring screws are black matte cerakoted, Devcon bedded to a B/C syn stock, express sights dead on at 50 yards with 400gr Hornadys or Partitons, a 1.5-5 Leupold riding in Talley levers will give you a little reach for bear, will also provide 300 yard shooting for elk or moose should the need arise.

The 400gr partitions at 2400 fps fly pretty flat for a good heavy medium bore hunting rifle.

Maybe covered elsewhere, but I haven't made time to read the entire contents of 24HCF: what optic is your first choice for such a rifle? I'm just a southern boy who's never been further north than Lewiston, but I like to know stuff. I'm guessing a 2.5x or 3x. What says the *guru? Maybe none of the above, stick with iron sights?

* didn't mean to come off as a sarcastic comment...I momentarily confused you with 458Lott.

I have an econo-custom VZ24 built up into .35 Whelen that I imagine might be just about right for the job, shooting 225-grain Accubonds (I do not expect to ever be able to try it out, though).

How wrong am I?

I built mine 12-13 years ago and, for my purposes, it has served me admirably. I should mention that it was built to hunt big bears that generally DON'T try to kill you back. But I'd not hesitate to take it after the cranky critters if ever given the opportunity.


Started with a (gasp !!) A-Bolt Stainless Stalker .375 H&H. My smith ran the Weatherby treatment through the chamber. Trigger crisped at 40 oz. Leupold rings and dual dovetail bases steeled on and 6-32's replaced by 8-40's. A bedding job and a Weaver 2-10x38 (for weight more than anything) and a Sims pad on the back. right at 8 1/2 lbs scoped and loaded.


It was a bastage to find a load that suited it. Had loads with an 8 fps E.S. that wouldn't shoot under 4"...……… Finally found that it took a liking to 250 gr SGK's over a hatful of H-414 and would do 5 of them under 1 1/2" at 100.


Took it hunting for the very first time and ended up putting an SGK into the south end of a northbound 7 footer at about 50 yards. came up just one of those little hairs shy of bringing it out his brisket. Crushed him on the spot. The only other bear I got to use it on was a 250-ish pounder that a buddy had started the job on. But the bear had gone into a stand of dark, nearly impenetrable spruce in a VERY pizzed of mood. I went in after him and, once I got down on my belly and lips where I could see, gave him a rough ride til he ceased to breathe.


I would have the utmost faith in this (butt-ugly) rifle in any situation.