Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska moose rifle in bear country

I gotta ask how much deader is really dead compared to regular dead? 😁

Dead is dead. https://madison.com/wizard-of-oz-munchkin-coroner/youtube_553c4153-d482-55aa-a5c1-039d2b28c4c0.html

Tongue protrusion sticking out is dead in excess of 3" measured with a ruler from tongue tip to the front side of lower canines is really dead. You know I wouldn't sh*t you. Mb

When they try to bite you, more dedder is more better.

FWIW, I'd shoot the largest grizzly or moose with a 25-06 if Phil would stand beside me. I'd carry a bigger gun in the thickets if I were alone.

From the cheap seats… the reason I still own my .338 WM is pretty much exactly this scenario. Which of course isn’t to say you need a 338.

I think I would be more worried about hitting the bear in the right place more than if a 175g 7mm partition would kill it.

Thank you for all the responses and the sharing of experiences. Speaking of Phil, when Mr. Shoemaker speaks, he has my complete attention. There is a lot of experience there to learn from and he is always willing to share his knowledge. Thank you!

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and suggest this. Phil’s rifle has a lot of miles on it from being “on call” for a worst case scenario. Going farther out on the limb……if he thought a lesser cartridge was just as effective in a “worse case scenario”…..it would have the recognition rather than his .458!

I may be very, very wrong….but JMO! memtb

In two trips to Alaska taking Moose, Caribou, Black Bear and a Grizzly I took a 338 Win Mag. I never had issues and was successful in all instances.

My SIL claims three levels of dead:

Dead, deader, deadest.

It’s become a family joke.

Where does ded fit in ? it might be a less violent dead. A guy's dad I knew shot a grizzly when he lived in Alaska. I asked , what did he shoot it with , a 338 winchester short super mag.? He said, no, he used his .308 Win. I laughed out loud,, then he said, it dropped right on the spot. So, it's not what rifle to use in for moose in bear country, it's how small is too small for moose in bear country. I knew a guy that shot a moose , 2 black bear and a sheep on one trip. I asked what caliber. He said a .243 WIn. Not that I care.

It can certainly be done……maybe even with a CM! 🙀 Though, there are better tools in the hardware store…..when “worst case” is reality! So how often does someone have a “worst case” scenario……likely never! But as Clint so clearly stated “ Do ya feel lucky……we’ll do ya”? 😂 memtb

Would be interesting to hear what 458 has to say about that. I allways thought he quit carrying the 06 because his clients had low marksmanship capabilities and were getting worse. Just because you got the money to afford the best hunts availible don't automatically mean you have the skills and ability to do a good job at the shooting. So the 458 was to insure everyone got home in 1 piece. Iihht be wrong too but I'd sure like to hear Phil's take on it..mb

I have killed an awful lot of bear with numerous calibers from 9mm parabellum to the 505 Gibbs. What I have learned is that the difference between bore size, bullet weight , velocity and muzzle energy can make a difference, but not nearly as much as most people imagine.
Bullet placement and performance make the greatest difference. But the more experience I gather from experimenting with other large bores, the more I have come to appreciate the advantages of the standard 458 Win!

Hear here !

The only moose I shot in Alaska was with a .458 Winchester Magnum.
Same goes for a single hoary marmot.

Worth repeating.

I'd say for the moose, you had enough rifle.

For the marmot, I'd not be taking too many chances like that. Your luck could damn well run out.....

Who let the comedian in the room? Perfect fit! 😉

Just for the sake of conversation, what Sheep rifle in Bear Country and Blacktail rifle in Bear country?

7mm rem mag or 300 win mag