Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Let’s build a Big Bear Rifle...

Yeah, I know that now!

I have several rifles I am comfortable carrying in Grizzly country. We have a LOT of grizzlies around the places I hunt commonly.

The first thing I address is the question "am I hunting" or am I in "grizzly-land" for another purpose, such as hiking, fishing, trapping, or coming with another hunter as a camp-friend and helper.

If I am hunting I will often choose a rifle with a scope. Not always, but most times, because my eyes are as old as the rest of me, and I can't see very well in dim light so iron sights are not as good for me as they once were.

The scoped guns that I feel fine with are my 30-06 scout, my 300 H&H, my 8X57, three of my four 9.3MMs (9.3X57, 9.3X62 and 9.3X74R) my 375H&H, (which is the one I have used the most over the last 42 years) or my 404 Jeffery. When I am hunting in the areas where there are a lot of grizzlies, the 375 has been my "standard" for a long time and that's pretty much how I still see it, but the 9.3X62 is just as good for the purpose.

Rifles I often carry if I am not hunting are my M-1 Garand loaded with 220 grain bullets, (the M1 is usually my 1st choice) my M95 Lever action in 30-06 loaded with the same ammo, my 9.3X57 Husqvarna loaded with 286 grain Partitions, or my Ruger SR762 with the scope removed, and loaded with 180 grain Partitions. I might start carrying my 9.3X62 more, but for that purpose I'll use the detachable scope mount and simply use the iron sights.

The un-scoped rifles carry easier and are handier. I can't shoot them as well as I can the scoped rifles, but a bear is not dangerous until it's close to you, and at close range I still shoot them fast and very well. Contrary to what many believe, a low power scope is FASTER to make a shot with at any range, but the reason I use bear rifles with no scope is because of the handiness of the gun when it is not scoped. Just as when I was a Marine and later a Sheriff's deputy, the real issue is not having a weapon you can get into action 1 second faster, but it's about situational awareness, and the rifle should be "ready" because your mind is ready. As I said before, a bear is not dangerous at all until it's close. If you assume you are being hunted and you are wrong you loose nothing. If you assume you are safe and you are wrong...........well we know how that works out don't we? This year we has several example of that.

So bear rifles are used in 2 cases. #1 Those where the bear is a fellow hunter and #2 those that the bear is the only hunter.

For the purpose of this thread I assume we are speaking of only the 1st "mission statement. Living close to them as I do, I find that about 3/4 of the time I am not hunting when I am out in the field with them. So my choices are somewhat different at those times then what I might recommend to hunters who do not "live with them."

A hunters "bear rifle" is no different then any other hunting rifle but for the fact it must be powerful and shoot a bullet that will not break up on heavy muscle and bone. Bolt actions are the most common, but good lever actions and autos are also very good for the purpose. A Remington pump in 30-06, or better yet a 35 Whelen would be fine too. (keep the bolt face and extractor clean with these rifles.)

A defensive arm for big bears shares many of the same qualities as a hunting rifle but need not be a long range tool. If you shoot at 75 yards and farther you are not in a defensive role. A 12 gauge loaded with good slugs is ok for the purpose of defense..

I lean towards the M1 because it's a very proven fighting weapon. With the right ammo, shooting at the front of a bear (as you would be, if you NEEDED to shoot one) the 30-06 is just fine. 8 of them is even better, and the M1 kicks little enough that rapid accurate fire at close range is easy.

i have a few bear rifles but if i went after bears in Alaska the only 3 cartridges i would consider to use is 30-06 ,338 win.mag or a 375 H&H my reason ease of finding more ammo ,my favorite would be a 338 Win. mag., the only bolt actions i would consider is either a Winchester or a Ruger with a claw , the only scope i now would consider is a smaller Nightforce or a 6x leupold with Picatinny mounts or Ruger rings and the 22 inch barrel of the rifle would have good sights on it too just in case. i would want all S.S. metal and either plastic or wood laminated stock. i already own a 338 Win. mag Ruger S.S. laminated i got cheap as a FFL dealer so a would just take this rifle to Alaska .

I had Hill Country Rifles make this for me as a bear and moose rifle. It's a 700 Classic with 21" stainless Benchmark barrel, chambered in 35 Whelen. McMillan Remington Sporter stock, PTG stainless steel bottom metal, and a S&B Zenith 1.1-4x24 with FD9 reticle.

I 'd want mine to be built on a commercial 98 Mauser action (FN or Interarms), 21" or 22" barrel and chambered in 35 Whelen or 9.3X62. I'd scope it with something between 2.5-4X on a 1 piece mount. I'd want a set of iron sights with a gold bead front sight. Wood or synthetic stock. It wouldn't matter to me.

I quit using 270’s in my . 375.....I didn’t want to be “stereotyped”! memtb

Yup, the profiling scares me, but I cannot turn them down!

Had a fellow insist on using his bipod on a bear hunt up here... Things did not go at all well. They are absolutely the last piece of equipment I would put on a bear gun. Actually I would never use one. Not to mention stuff that will get hung up in tight cover.

I don't know that I'll ever get the chance to hunt anything other than black bear. Regardless........I believe I would still carry my 7600 Whelen.

I would probably replace the wood stock first.

I couldn’t agree more! Kudos! memtb

.416 Ruger

Dean, glad you’re still with us....Not a situation I ever want to find myself in...😎

The bipod was just to hold it for the picture. I don’t hunt with it.

ya

This.



Stiller, Manners, Brux, Nightforce, 300 grain Berger’s and a bear to shoot.

💋beavers is fun.

That’s a big beaver...😎

Well.... there is the other stuff...

There is just so much wrong with that image it is impossible to know where to sokak

Thanks Jerry

Thanks Beaver10

When I think about this and remember the events, I'm still just amazed how fast it all happened. I can still hear her popping her teeth and see her ears laid flat on her head! This is why I thought a Browning BAR Lightweight Stalker in 338 Win Mag would be a great choice.

The biggest thing wrong is that YOU are not in the pic....... huh ?

You ASSUME the rifles to be loaded.......huh ?

You ASSUME the rifles are pointed AT the subjects (people)......huh ?
2 D pix don't reveal 'depth'.


I DOUBT that any of those things are true.

Jerry