Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Minimum 'caliber' for Kodiak Brown Bear?

I heard 'Bob May', a pro guide on Kodiak, state the 'minimum' caliber for Brown bear is .338.

Maybe I've heard/read that before but don't remember.

Is the 'legal' minimum caliber 338, no cartridge specified, for Brown bear OR is that HIS requirement for clients??

I have no axe or hatchet to throw, just an honest curiosity.

Seems like I've read about 30.06 et.al. being used and discussed here.

THNX in advance.
Jerry

His requirement, not the laws'.

You can do it with a 30-06. Most guys will opt for bigger. I seen a toad killed with a 7saum.

When I can do Kodiak again, it'll be with my 338rum. Just because I can.

I bet a 156 Norma or 120 Barnes would sail thru one fine from a 6.5BR, having seen what a 175 does to a tree from a 7BR.

I'd want a 338/06, 9.3, or 350 RM myself. 338 WM is fine as the 375 or 416, assuming one can shoot them....the last few - some may not.

FWIW Jwall - a 200 Noz from a Springfield will about match a 338/06 210 PT according to Aaggard's test results - in penetration. I would not feel woefully underpowdered if quality 180-220s used.

Yes smaller cartridges will 'kill' a big brown BUT I subscribe to more internal destruction = quicker death.

My personal 'comfort' minimum would be a 300 WM and 200gr stout bullets.

Thanks for the 'legal' ? answer.

All the data I've seen says 30-06 and 300 mags are pretty much equal with 200-220 gr bullets and are about the minimum. The 375 seems to be the next step up and nothing in between seems to really matter.

Here is a good read. I've read some of Finn Aagaard's test results, but don't have a link to his data. It is fairly close to what was found here though.

http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/gtr152.pdf

Interesting read from Alaska Fish & Wildlife: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=hunting.firearms

It's not about what will kill the bear, it's about the bear being immobilized and dying in the immediate vicinity of where it was first shot (not in the middle of the adjacent alder patch). Big, well constructed bullets accomplish this more consistently than bullets that are not.
You can shoot one in the guts with a .223 and it will eventually die somewhere.
I wonder what percentage of people that offer advice on these posts have even seen a brown bear?

I guess a 35 Whelen is considered too "wildcat". I would of liked to seen a Whelen's result listed with the rest of them.

True, but only if Rule #1 is followed...first.

I would feel comfortable walking the woods with the 30-06 and 200 gr Nosler Partitions .

My long-held contention (just unwilling to do the research) is that more bears have been killed by the .30-06 then the the next 2 or 3 cartridges combined.

I have a cold Pepsi for anyone that can prove me wrong.

No one will be drinking your Pepsi

Absolutely. I personally think more people choose a rifle caliber that they like more than one that they think they need. I really like the 338 and the 375 and while I don't think I need it for the things I've got, I just like the calibers.

So you�re saying that all those bears that either wander around for days or end up in yonder willow line after taking lead of .338 or .375 persuasions must have somehow infracted rule #1? (Them bears sure give it up quick even with lesser stuff if you hole them right.)

How big a gut hole is needed to bang-flop a bear?

Butt shots trump gut shots!?!?

lol....

Is that a "diet" Pepsi?