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If you are a hunter or guide in Alaska, what gun and caliber would you use for stopping a charge by a Brown bear or Grizzley?
This topic came up on another forum and some people there said a 44 magnum was a good stopper. Personally, I'd want a 45/70 or 450 marlin loaded with Garrett loads or a shotgun loaded with heavy Copper slugs. If given a choice, I can't see how a pistol would be the 1st choice. Am I wrong?
I don't drink or Smoke. I spend my money on gunpowder and gasoline.
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You need to talk to (Phil) 458WIN. That's what he does for a living.
"To the contrary, we hunt not to kill. We kill to have hunted." Thanks Jose & JB
"I wouldn't venture out there fellas. This snipers got talent."
" I've got a shotgun, a rifle, and a four wheel drive and a country boy can survive"
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I'm not an Alaskan or a gunwriter, but ...
The only reason an handgun would be first choice is because you're doing something else with your hands such that a rifle isn't a viable option. It's pretty hard to chop wood, dig ditch, etc with a rifle in hand or even on a sling. It's not even all that easy to cast when you're fishing with a rifle or shotgun in the way. As always, the inadequate gun in your hand is better than the adequate gun back at home or in the truck out of immediate reach.
Tom
Anyone who thinks there's two sides to everything hasn't met a M�bius strip.
Here be dragons ...
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Campfire Ranger
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Ask the Africa guys......
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Wait 'til I get some popcorn..........
Pete
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which cannot be broken by woman.
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The best rifle is the one you're most likely to actually hit the bear in fatal areas with as it charges. Everything else is not relevant if you don't hit it in the right spot. The best cartridge is one that shoots well from the rifle you're carrying. Good bullets are important, but there are a lot of them out there.
Shotguns and slugs are very poor; if you're making a decision, carry a rifle.
I "officially" carried a .35 Whelen; the bears and I got along just fine and I never shot one. Hunting in bear country I've carried the Whelen and my .444, but I never had to shoot one then either.
Hitting one with a lighter rifle is quite a bit better than missing one with a heavier rifle...
Dennis
"The more you run over a dead cat, the flatter it gets."
"If you're asking me something technical, you may be looking for My Other Brother Darrell."
"It ain't foot-pounds that kills stuff -- it's broken body parts."
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I own a Whelen, and have heard very good things about the 250 grain bullets on big bears. I just never thought of it as a "fight" stopper. It's nice to know.
I don't drink or Smoke. I spend my money on gunpowder and gasoline.
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Campfire Tracker
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I think that Elmer used a a double rifle in .500 Gibbs through the shoulders, just to slow them down. I have a Rem .375 H&H and a Marlin .45-70 Guide Gun for the long and short of it, with a .300WBY for the middle.
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The reason you'd want a handgun, is for popping your partner in the knee - before you go off running. Failing that, hunt with a fat guy...
Brian
Vernon BC Canada
"Nothing in life - can compare to seeing smiles on your children's faces."
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Campfire 'Bwana
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If you are a hunter or guide in Alaska, what gun and caliber would you use for stopping a charge by a Brown bear or Grizzley?
This topic came up on another forum and some people there said a 44 magnum was a good stopper. Personally, I'd want a 45/70 or 450 marlin loaded with Garrett loads or a shotgun loaded with heavy Copper slugs. If given a choice, I can't see how a pistol would be the 1st choice. Am I wrong? Phi Shoemaker (an Alaskan Bear Guide of note) has used every thing from 30-06 to 505 Gibbs. The 475 Linebaugh revolver with an LBT LFN hard cast will put bear and Moose on the ground ![[Linked Image]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/00000009.jpg)
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I think that Elmer used a a double rifle in .500 Gibbs through the shoulders, just to slow them down. I have a Rem .375 H&H and a Marlin .45-70 Guide Gun for the long and short of it, with a .300WBY for the middle. Elmer used many calibers for bear incdluding the 35 Whelen, 333 and 334 OKH
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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The reason you'd want a handgun, is for popping your partner in the knee - before you go off running. Failing that, hunt with a fat guy... Maybe all of your handguns are wimpy but, speak for yourself. Some of us acctualy own revolvers that put big game on the ground in a hurry ![[Linked Image]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/parker_buffalo.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/ParkerBuffInSnow.jpg)
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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Like I said before...where you hit it is more important than what you hit it with.
Makes no difference what you hit it with if you don't hit it well...
Dennis
"The more you run over a dead cat, the flatter it gets."
"If you're asking me something technical, you may be looking for My Other Brother Darrell."
"It ain't foot-pounds that kills stuff -- it's broken body parts."
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I would think a properly placed bullet from a 375 H&H would be just about perfect.
`Bring Enough Gun`
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Campfire Kahuna
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The best rifle is the one you're most likely to actually hit the bear in fatal areas with as it charges. Everything else is not relevant if you don't hit it in the right spot. The best cartridge is one that shoots well from the rifle you're carrying. Good bullets are important, but there are a lot of them out there.
Shotguns and slugs are very poor; if you're making a decision, carry a rifle.
I "officially" carried a .35 Whelen; the bears and I got along just fine and I never shot one. Hunting in bear country I've carried the Whelen and my .444, but I never had to shoot one then either.
Hitting one with a lighter rifle is quite a bit better than missing one with a heavier rifle...
Dennis Cactus Jack wrote about Josea Sarber,....Game Warden in Alaska,Kodiak Island. I'm not able to find a direct link / quote,....but I'm recalling him choosing a (Gasp) .270 Win. The punchline that I recall well is " ....but, he was a cool and deadly shot". I reckon it was in "The Rifle Book" or "The Hunting Rifle". suffice it to say that I agree completely with your "Hit Well" proposition. GTC
Member, Clan of the Border Rats
-- “Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.”- Mark Twain
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I was in the Yukon a few years ago and noticed they sold 375H&H and 458Win in the local hardware store.
I carried a 375 on that one.
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Campfire Oracle
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Like I said before...where you hit it is more important than what you hit it with.
Makes no difference what you hit it with if you don't hit it well...
Dennis A famous poster here about used to say: placement, bullet, cartridge.............. this part "............." is a hint! 
If you take the time it takes, it takes less time.
--Pat Parelli
American by birth; Alaskan by choice.
--ironbender
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If you are a hunter or guide in Alaska, what gun and caliber would you use for stopping a charge by a Brown bear or Grizzley? The question is about a stopping caliber. Phil Shoemaker uses a 458 WinMag routinely, but has also utilized other calibers, .375 and up. As far as handguns, he carries a .357 and recommends firing it into the ground in front of the bear as you vacate its proximity. It won't stop a charge.
"Every country has the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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If you are a hunter or guide in Alaska, what gun and caliber would you use for stopping a charge by a Brown bear or Grizzley? The question is about a stopping caliber. Phil Shoemaker uses a 458 WinMag routinely, but has also utilized other calibers, .375 and up. As far as handguns, he carries a .357 and recommends firing it into the ground in front of the bear as you vacate its proximity. It won't stop a charge. If you are going to report what "Phil Shoemaker" uses report in all and report accurately. Phil has used and still does use and recommends a 30-06. Phil has posted right here on the Campfire that a 30-06 is "perfectly adequate for the Big Bears" This is the second post that I have corrected about "what Phil use's" ![[Linked Image]](http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk168/Grizskins/P1000725.jpg) I've put this on before but it is from last fall and shows a boar that a client wounded and that I had to follow into some thick pucker brush with my 30-06 using 220 Partitions @ 2500fps. While I would have preferred to have been carrying my 458 - I didn't have it at the time and had no doubt that a properly used 30-06 is still enough if the shooter is up to it. I can find more are is this is not enough?
Last edited by jwp475; 03/10/10.
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Another quote from Phil "slower 30's" ? If you can't do it with a 30-06 - THEN YOU CAN'T DO IT !
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
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