Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska What caliber for combo Dall/Grizzly hunt?

Just want to get some ideas for this combo coming up in Alaska this fall. I would clearly bring my .270Win for the sheep but if the oppportunity arrises for the bear, its a might light. I don't want to carry a 300WM or 338WM due to the weight. I am wondering aloud here if the 30-06 with a couple of different bullets wouldn't be an adequate compromise?
Say 165 BT's for sheep and 180TSX's for the bear? This will be a typical rugged Chugach Mt. hunt. The sheep is my primary goal and the bear would be incidental.
What are your thoughts out there?

If you already have an '06, why not use the 180TSX for both? I don't get the point of swapping bullets based on the target...

You can't kill a sheep with a 180TSX?

I'd love to do that hunt with a Kimber Montana in 300wsm...

I agree with DavidAk311.The 180 grain Barnes TSX should work great from the 06.Myself i perfer a bullet with a bit more diameter for the big bears but each to there own.

Dave,
I picked two bullets as the sheep may be "out there" while the bear is less than 200 yards. Maybe the 180TSX is a good compromise.
7STW,
I too would want more frontal diameter but this is primarily a sheep hunt so I think my .338WM will stay home.

Just trying to solicit some feedback here - not trying to start any fires or get anyones shorts in a bundle. Two rifles are not an option.

I'd go with the 180's as an all around round. My wife nailed her caribou at over 200yards with her 180gr failsafes and I wouldnt hesitate to use these rounds for the big bear.

Biz,

I took a .270 with 140g Btips and A-Frames for that exact hunt last time. Next year I am taking a .300WSM with 168g TSXs with the bears in mind.

If you have the 06 allready take it with the 180 tsx, if your planning on buying something I would have to agree with the rest 300 wsm or shamu with 168 or 180 gr tsx. Best of both worlds good long range trajectory and enough thump . The way the tsx penetrate you'll be fine with either.

I would take the lightest rifle; the 270, 30-06, whatever is lightest. A TSX from a 270 will work just fine on a bear, particularly with a back-up...

Art, so if I was in Bizzy's shoes with the same kind of hunt...I could get by with 300RUM and 180 TSX's...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

bizymocha,

I have taken a Weatherby Mark V 270(6 1/2lbs , a 7mm Tikka (6 1/2lbs) and this year I am taking a Tikka T3 Lite in 300Wm (6 1/2 lbs). Any of the calibers listed will work fine. I am now using the 300 WM because it will reach out farther with equal ballistics with a larger bullet than a 270 or 7mm and also has the appropriate knockdown power. I have run into numerous bears in close quarters while sheep hunting and have never had a bad situation develop, give the bears the space needed and they will most likely do the same. If they dont , dont stop shooting whatever youv'e got!

Let me know when, maybe I'll let you shoot it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Is that a Taurus Titanium?

Carrying two loads is a recipe for having the wrong bullet in the gun at the wrong time, or confusing the trajectories of the loads. Know the trajectory of the load by shooting it at all ranges.

Also sheep can be tough mofo's, so a 180 tsx is not too much bullet, though a bt might be too little bullet.

Sweet Kimber Matt. PM sent.

Two sheep killed in the Chugach (37" and 39") with 30'06 165 BTs one at 90 yards and one at 225, Rem 700 Mt 6X42 Mil Dot. But carried 220 Noslers until on a sheep stalk, and especially after. Since you are traveling from Minnisota I would guess a guide/next of kin will have a big gun, correct?

No, 34oz. stainless tracker.

Biz,

DO listen to Art and take a light rifle. The .270 I humped over what seemed like half of the Yukon was over 10 lbs, too much over. I think it might have been a week after I got back I started working on putting together the .300--it is just a shade over 7lbs.

Thanks so far to all with their input. Ironbender has a similar topic going up in the big game section - I think.
What I now plan to do is to purchase another Kimber Montana in 300WSM. I should give the 168gr TSX's a handloading workout. If they aren't accurate enough, than I think I'll go to 180gr. Partitons. I understand the possible confusion with two bullet weights. This will be my 4th trip to the greatest State in the US and yes the guide will be armed. I'll put a 2.5-8x36 Leupy on it and carry it in my Eberlestock back pack.
I will be putting a couple of nearly new Rugers on the Classified Section to add a few bucks to the checkbook. Kimbers aren't cheap. That combo will be 7#'s even.
I welcome more input as it is fun to see what people are thinking.

IMO, the Montana 300wsm flingin' 168's will be kickass........

Bizy, PM me 'bout these aforementioned Rugers.....