Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Cartridge/bullet dilema for Tundra Grizzly

I've no doubt this has been rehashed numerous times but still wanted to run it past the board.

Should be on the ground 8 Sept for Grizzly. This will not be Brown Bear. I'll be far above the 62nd parallel. My outfitter tells me a large boar can go 500-550 lbs; sows about 1/2 that. They "do" shoot a 9 footer each year. About 25% of his bears are B&C. He prefers shots @ 80-100 yds. Some hunters have shot as far as 250 yds. Average wind speed per a climate web site I found for the local town is 10 mph with a max of 57 mph. Their are no trees or mountains where I'm going so I'm told it blows, alot! No steep up/down angles. Just wide open rolling country.

I've got two rifles with 3 bullet choices.

My first is my Rem 700 in 30-06 Ackely w/ 26" ss Lilja barrel pushing the 180 Accubond @ 3000 fps. Accuracy can get me 4.25" groups at 800 yds. MPBR=303 yds w/ a 3" max/min height. 10 mph wind moves the bullet 5.5" @ 300 yds. Enerby is 2431 ft lbs w/ impact vel being 2466 fps.

My 2nd is the same rifle but with the 200 Partition @ 2850 fps. Accuracy is just about as good. MPBR=287 yds. 300 yd bullet movement due to 10 mph wind is 6.3". Energy is 2363 ft lbs w/ impact vel being 2307 fps

My 3rd possible choice is a CZ 550 American in 9.3x62 pushing the 286 Paritition at 2400 fps. Accuracy with my load has been 1 to 1-1/4 MOA. MPBR=241 yds. 10 mph wind moves the bullet 8" @ 300 yds. Energy is 2320 ft lbs with impact vel being 1911 fps.

Nosler suggest 1800 minimum impact velocity.

I'm not expecting any bad things to happen but one should still be prepared. I talked to one of the outfitters previous 2007 bear hunters who ended up taking his 7' Grizzly @ 100 ft as it was "walking" unknowingly towards him on a path through the willows. Plowed it under with a 300 RUM and the 180 Scirrocco.

I'm not worried about any of the potential combinations "not" working. Wish I could shoot a bear with each combo. Like that's going to happen!

I'd run one of the Partition loads and not worry about 800 yard accuracy.

Seems like you are making this overly complicated, but folks do that.

I'm with SH on this one. If you achieve your, and your guide's, objective, you will be shooting a 500 lb animal at less than 100 yards. If you are prepared for such an event, it will not require gnat's-hair accuracy on your rifle's part.

I would suggest that you practice shooting at randomly placed targets at random ranges from uncomfortable positions in uncurried country, more than you worry about ekeing the last bit of sub-minute accuracy out of a load combination. Also practice shooting at targets withing 50 feet or so, rapidly -- just in case something does go south.

As far as your rifle and bullet choice goes, I'm not a big fan of Nosler bullets, but others find them quite adequate. If you're comfortable shooting the rifles, either one will work fine.

I'd make sure not to be over-scoped, too.

Mostly, relax and enjoy the adventure.

Dennis

I'd use whichever rifle I preferred to carry, given your options, and you can't go wrong with NP.

Use whatever gun you are most familar with. Partitions and the 9.3x62 would be my choice, but I'm a Whelen shooter too.

Good luck.

A bit anal, are we? Any of the above will do fine. Pick the one you want to kill a bear with.

How is YOUR accuracy, by the way?

Las,

Now, that's the most prolific response I've read yet!

LUCK!

Could only be bad.

Battue

grin

Bingo!

You can do as you please, but I wouldn't take either one of those 30/06 Ackley Improved loads on a hunt of a lifetime.
You are trying to make a 300 Magnum of of an '06 Improved, and if you get up there and have a blown primer or case head seperation at the wrong time, you are going to be hating life.
A 30/06 loaded to normal velocities will do all you need to do and more. the 30/06 AI will give you an extra slight edge, so there is nothing to be gained and a lot to be lost by hotrodding it.
You are focusing on thestuff that doesn't matter, and overlooking what does matter. Think dependability and field shooting skills, not ft lbs of energy parsed to the nearest ounce.

Fred

.

If I were hunting Grizzley for the first time, I would take the advice of those who have experience-and most of those who have replied do-although I don't-to heart. If you don't why ask? That hunt is no place to find attitude isn't enough.

Battue

GSSP, if your velocities are above loading manual velocities, your pressures are above loading manual pressures. It's that simple. And if you are running as far above maximum as you claim, you are probably WAY above max pressures.
What I don't understand is why, if you want 300 magnum velocities, yuo just don't buy a 300 magnum?
From your posting of your ultra high velocities and your 800 yard group size, I tend to think the idea behind your post was to impress us with your numbers, rather than to solicit ideas about what would make the most practical bear round.

.

What do you use to measure pressure?

Dang, with all those high-powered credentials, I can't imagine why you ask any questions around here.

As I said, LUCK!

This is not going where I wanted it to go. If I could I would delete the orignial post. Sorry if I have offended.

I'm gone!