Hosea Sarber, SE Alaska Guide and Warden used a .270 right up into the 50s-60s until he disappeared, possibly without carrying a rifle. It does pay to carry something
that will work when the chips are down, even a handgun-like a 45 Colt with 270-300 gr bullets.
About 5 years ago a guide out of Jackson, WY. was guiding a FL. bow hunter after elk. They were successful late, and arrived with horses early next morning-in time to find the elk taken over by a grizzly
and half grown cub. Hunter mauled and guide killed leaving a family. Just recently a cabin owner was killed by a 270 lb black bear near Prescott, Arizona. Jack O'Connor killed at least one or two grizzlies
with a 270 in the 1940s.
Ben Lilly shot grizzlies in Mexico and NM-along the Blue/White Mtns Arizona during the early 1900s with an 1886 rifle in 33 WCF. WDM Bell used a Rigby 275 in Africa, but also used a 303 Enfield and a
318 Westley Richards rifle, a caliber very close to the 30-06 . Good bullet placement seems to me highly important, and the rifle one has in his hands when the bear shows up is his "bear rifle".
All that said, the grizzly is a smart animal and deserves respect. William Wright, author of "The Grizzly Bear" started out as a hunter/guide and became a naturalist with a camera. His first bear was shot with a broken .44 Winchester and a pocketknife. He respected the grizzly as did Aldo Leopold, who commented on the last Grizzly killed on Escudilla Mtn in N. Arizona, stating that it was "only a mountain now".
Last edited by 450Fuller; 01/28/24.
