Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Minimum caliber for Coastal Brown Bear...

las you better not look up

If you put a blanket over your head does it turn into a quilt?

I'd like to hunt them with a .300 Win Mag

Says the guy with "stunted growth".

When I share a hunt story, take from it what you will. I guess we can all do that:

Anyhow, next time you're spotting caribou from the Denali highway, don't forget to take the safety off on the ole 300 saum.......

Least I knew where he was, rather than your stunts of frolicking around in the brush unsure where the hell your quarry was(after you took the shot).

Lastly, if a puny little cartridge rocks yah that bad, where you loose track of your game, drop down in caliber.


Like Elmer Keith once said: "I prefer to do my hunting before I do my shooting"

I carried one for back-up for years... it works just fine.

Good to know because I don't like the bigger stuff anymore.

Last time I was goofing off with a recoil calculator I discovered my 9.3x62 and 286s loaded to modern pressures is right on par with the .300 win shooting 200s.

minimum in my mind would be a 338win mag shooting a heavy for caliber Barnes TTSX or Nosler Partition. But if I was buying a new rifle for a coastal brown bear hunt it would be a 375 h&h mag. Sure a 30/06 or 30cal magnum will kill a bear, but if things go south, I want a round that will not only kill a bear, but stop it in the event of a charge. I often hear that you should bring a 270, 30/06, 300win mag, if thats what you shoot well, Im telling you you are going after an apex predator that weighs upwards of 1500 pounds, learn to shoot a rifle that is adeqaute for the job at hand. No, I have never hunted or seen a brown bear

Aceman2101,

Thanks for repeating every cliche about shooting brown bears (or any other big, dangerous game), along with listing your experience.

Would also like to know how you know brown bears weigh "upwards of 1500 pounds."

Also would like to see YOUR list of rifles that will "stop it in the event of a charge."

I have never felt uncomfortable toting my .300 H&H around in big bear country, and certainly would have felt just as comfortable with a .270 Win or the like, even if I was actually hunting them.

I think I've only seen 10 or so coastal brown bears (NOT interior grizzlies: I've been around plenty of those), including one on Afognak that was a bit too close for comfort as he wanted my buddy's elk carcass more than we did.

Their toughness when shot I have no idea about, but concerning a charge they're nowhere near as aggressive as the interior bears (at least when not wounded), in my somewhat limited experience with them. I'd take Phil's advice and disregard everyone else's, if I were the OP.

You know before we had the internet and all it's unqualified experts we just had to listen to gun writers and make our own choice or trust our deer rifles and maybe some heavier bullets. Well damn I suppose half the well heeled here would have got recycled thru a bears ass*ole. What a relief we have the info highway as entertainment anyway. MB

I've hunted in brown bear country with a 243 more than any other rifle. Just have to keep your wits about you.

That's always your best defense!
Would be nice if adhered to on these threads also.

I have killed a lot of Kodiak deer with a Roberts and hunted with several guys using the 223.

There you go again! Expecting too much!

You've been part of way more brown bear harvests than me! I only have one. I hit mine in the back of the head with a 7mag. Only bear I ever killed but it never went an inch.

I deer hunt in the same area with a 243 and for some reason I feel safe. I walked up on a sleeping brown bear with my 243. I'm talking feet away. The wind in that area always blows a certain direction and it never knew I was there. I've been charged too, 20yds down to about 2 in a matter of a second. Had to wash those pants and I am not afraid to say it. Most of the time they run away

I've shot brown bears with 12 gauge, .375 H&H, and 9.3x62. I cannot tell the difference between the .375 and the 9.3 on them. I never intend to use a 12 ga. again! I used foster slugs, which was an utter disaster. Thankfully there was another guy with me using a .375 who really solved the problem. I've seen them sorted out with 12 ga. Brennekes, which would be the only shotgun load I'd consider even half suitable, but even then a proper rifle is the better option based on my experiences and observations. I do most of my deer hunting with the 9.3 just because it works so well on both bears and deer.

Little sensitive I see there Mainer....

Carry on

I'm just joshing yah, Josh.

FWIW, ol’ Klik on here posted some time back about a smallish brown bear he had to kill at their fish camp “summer cabin”.
He had poor performance from brennekes with one or more deforming badly. IIRC, finally had to use a “non-bear” cartridge as a finisher.