Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Mule Deer- Know of any .270 brown/grizzly kills?

I can’t argue with any of what you stated…..though, with one addendum……I’ll bet more have been wounded by 30-30’s and .303’s than any other rounds also! It’s simply math! memtb

Eskimoes shoot what ever they have, if the game gets away here is always another.
Bullet placement is important, but what you hit them with is equally important.

One of my older friends, now gone, was a guide in Alaska for both polar bear and brown bear. His favorite rifle was a .270 and at one time he said 130 Silvertips. I would prefer something else, but he did it for years.

Another old timer now gone shot a .300 H & H with 180 Rem factory loads. He killed a ton of the big bears.

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And a full mag dump with the 9....

A guy I worked with in the 70's got cross-ways of a sow griz and her 2 year-old twins out of Pt. Hope. .243, but he did have to go back up to his 3-wheeler for an 11th round to finish the last wounded bear.

There are absolutely NO substitutes for shot placement and bullet performance!

A well constructed and well placed bullet from a 270 or 30-06 will kill a big bear as quick as any caliber

Back in the territory days and just after statehood my father in law, his brother and their “old man” used a .222 Rem Mag for several brown bear. Uncle Rick was almost eaten by a Kodiak that wasn’t impressed by either the 25-06 nor the .270 but he eventually succumbed to a 115gr 25-06 between the eyes.

The .270 would not be my first choice for big bears but with a mono or a premium C&C to the right spot it’ll kill them. I would NOT choose that but if that’s all I had I absolutely WOULD go hunting.

Anyone who claims the 30-06 is not effective has either not used one, or else is unwittingly commenting on their marksmanship.

.....dang Phil.....that's a little harsh....editors and advertisers might be offended...

I wonder if this statement is specific to “hunting” an un-wounded, calm bear as opposed to what you would choose to protect yourself and others from an enraged charge?

I absolutely understand if it’s the first but would be especially curious if your lifetime of experience has convinced you of the second as well.

Thanks for being here.

Although not as well versed as some on this site, I can say I have not seen much difference in killing power between the bears-both brown and black- that I've shot with my 308, and those that I shot with my 300win and 375. With all due respect to opinions on this site, the moose I have broken down have had thicker hide and ribs than the bears I have shot and have seen shot, and many of those have been with 243, 270, and 308.

It used to amaze me what folks would hunt with around here...a lot of 223s, 22-250s, 243s, 270s, 30-30s, and 30-06s. At one point I was told that you couldn't swing a cat without hitting a 270 around here; I would agree. I know- and some on this site know- a well-versed hunter on the south side of Iliamna Lake that has hunted most of her life with a handed down .300 Savage.

As has been said, good bullets put in the right place are what do the work.

You can read what Phil sometimes uses to follow up wounded big bears. Bet he likes a client who can shoot.

DF

Charlie, I hate to be the guy who tells you, but in todays world most people seem to think that the truth is harsh 🙄

But it really doesn’t matter very much whether an animal is resting or charging , a well placed bullet that penetrates will quickly kill it.

The only reason I carry a bigger caliber is that sometimes when things are going sideways it’s difficult to quickly place your bullets and that is when a bigger bore with excess power can sometimes make a difference.
I have killed bears with a lot of different calibers , from the 9mm handgun to the 505 Gibbs, and the more experience I gained with the larger rifles , the more I learned to appreciate the standard 458 Win.

That has not been my experience after hunting with many Inuits across the Canadian North.
But am interested in hearing about your experience.

Certainly not my experience either. While I have not spent a lot of time with Inuit, I have guided with, and hunted and fished with other indigenous men and women. If anything, they are more careful about utilizing all of what they harvest, and go to great effort to secure it.

Ted

Since I am the OP, can someone please tell me what does OP mean?

Original Poster

Thanks? I'm learning a new vocabulary here on the 24hourcampfire

Mule deer, that was reported in Outdoor Life by JOC. I think it was in reference to polar bears.

Some you may need to un-learn.

Ha!

I’ve learned a lot over the years I’ve spent here, exchanging info.

We’re fortunate to have this level of expertise, experience and camaraderie.

DF

Would like to see the quote. To my knowledge (and I have all of O'Connor's books, plus some of his magazine writing) he never hunted with Inuits or for polar bears.

I don't think he hunted P. bears, his was doing articles on N. America wildlife and the Polar Bear was covered. He mentioned the .22 Hornet and .222 as a favorite of the people because they could carry lots of ammo. The bears were incidental while hunting seals. It has been probably 50 years since I read this. I never kept much of his writing, but may have the article in a box in the reloading room. If I get to it, I will check it out.
If you can still access old Outdoor Life articles you may find it. I am almost 100 % sure that is where I read it. How he knew about I don't remember if he mentioned it.

Just wondering if there are any brown bear guides carrying 270 Win rifles for client back up on brown bear hunts ?