On the same token, a person who is proficient with a given gun, regardless of caliber can at times do very well in any situation. Of course, anything can happen if one's luck runs out. In the book titled Some Bears Kill, there is the story of a fellow from Florida, I believe, who was very proficient with his .30-06 over there. Then he moved to Alaska and became a resident. This time he was using a .338WM and loads with 250-grain Partition. He landed his boat, proceeded to walk on a trail looking for moose to hunt, and came upon four grizzly bears feeding on a moose carcass. I don't remember the exact details, but one of the bears ran and the rest charged. He managed to fire his rifle four times killing two of the bears and injuring the third, reloaded one round and shot the injured bear at point blank on the head killing it instantly.

I don't hunt bears, but I have great admiration for a person who can accomplish such a feat, and still live to tell the story without a scratch. Bud Kunkle, a guide from Fairbanks (long gone now) had killed grizzly bears on a full charge with his .30-06, but back then the .30-06 was the "big kid in the block" in Alaska, along the .375 H&H.

Now, regarding Alaska guns, this will give you some ideas:
http://www.wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=huntingbulletin.hntbul8#cartridges

Here is a reloading chart/ballistics for the 9.3x62, which shows a typical bullet speed with a 286 grainer. Some folks may be able to push the bullet speed past the recommended maximum, but the same can be accomplished with the .338WM, and the .375H&H. In fact I hear of .35 Whelen shooters who load 250-grain ammo for their rifles at 2,600 fps, and I have reached 2,700 fps with the same bullet weight in my .338WM using Nosler Partition bullets.
http://www.norma.cc/sortimentladd.asp?Kaliber=9,3x62&Lang=2

And here is another from "accuratereloading"
http://www.accuratereloading.com/9362.html

Last edited by Ray; 03/31/08.