Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Recoil .375

Going on a fall bear hunt. My rifle of choice is a .30-06 for most things. Guide highly recommends 338 or 375. I know recoil is subjective, but chime in on the difference in recoil I should expect.

If you ain't hunting Brown bear, there is NO way I'd bring a 375.

Most especially since you have to ask, which tells me you haven't shot one.

I'd tell the guide he can carry what the fuqq he wants.

Steelhead...You are right! Never shot one

How does the recoil of a .375 compare to that of a 1 1/4 ounce slug in a 3" 12 gauge shell?

You didn't tell us what type of bear you are hunting, and where?

Depends on weight of the guns. I think a 3", 12 ga. slug kicks more than a .375 H&H. To me, the .375 is more of a push than a sharp jab.

I'd rather shoot my .375 H&H than some .300 mag's I've shot. My .375 with scope weighs over 9#'s. My 12 ga. shotguns are in the 7 pound range.

DF

Black bear on Prince of Wales Island

[bleep] that. Bring your 30/06 and let the guide carry a 375. If he insists I'd find a new guide.

Yeah, take the '06.

Doc,

Do you have another rifle in 338, 35, 9.3 or 375 caliber range that you could take?

The '06 with the right bullet is a formidable weapon, especially if you can shoot it and can place that bullet where it needs to go.

I agree with Steelhead...

DF

Ray,
I do not have a larger rifle . Ready to make this decision and start shooting. It is a combo Sitka deer hunt and black bear. The guide's thinking is that these are huge black bears (400-500 lbs) and his priority is on recovering the bear in all the nastiness that is Prince of Wales. Can't imagine what a 375 would do to a Sitka deer

Think bullet construction/placement and not headstamps.

I can't FATHOM suggesting someone get a MUCH bigger rifle for a paid hunt.

You'd be better off with a 243 that you can shoot well. The biggest black bear I've seen in person was taken with a 7mm08.

This is just a SE Alaska dink (one island away from POW) that was taken with a 250 Savage Ackley Improved. I guess if he weighed another 100 pounds that I might have stepped it up to a 7mm08, but probably not.

Steelhead, I feel the same way. I can shoot the .30-06 well. I think I'm going to take the 06 and let him back me up with a bazooka if he feels the need. You are dry in that picture....I thought it was always raining there

Obvious answer, buy the .375 because it's cool and can double as a good p-dog gun during the off season.

I would probably hunt with the '06, but the handful of shots I ford with a friends .375 leads me to believe it is less punishing than a 3" slug gun.

I'd look at the 168 TTSX at max vel. It'll move faster and flatter than the 200 NPT, which would be another good choice.

Those two would be on my short list. I'd see what the gun liked.

DF

There's a fairly well-respected Alaskan guide that posts on here who said something to the effect that if even a brown can't be killed with an 06, there is more to the issue than the cartridge, or something like that.

An ass shot bear is an ass shot bear. If you can shoot, the 30/06 is more than enough. If you can't shoot than a 375 ain't gonna help.