Stopping Rifle for the Great Bears

Gatehouse said:
The Top choice is, of course, the 375 Ruger Alaskan rifle. However, there is nothing wrong with your 9.3 and Why Not has given good advice. Shoot that rifle, know it inside and out, and if it has any issues, fix it before you need to.

I would take a .223 that I was 100% confident in than before a .458 that might not perform properly all the time.
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I sure as hell wouldn't go anywhere NEAR a .223 for BEAR. You run into a 1,000 pounder you're f---ed!
 
Your 9.3 is quite sufficient IF you provide your own firearm, .........if not, they'll most likely provide a 12 guage with lots of restrictions on its use.
I've been providing and training monitors for several years across the NWT and Nunavut, ...best advice is keep your eyes open and observe.
 
Seems to me you already have the rifle. The 9.3x62 is not exactly Walmart cabinet ammo selection, so I am going to guess you reload. A good premium, controlled expansion bullet should also push performance.

Because of lack of ammo, brass, and projectile>>>>having owned one....I would rule out the 350 mag. If one had supplies, it would be good.

I actually think that if it wasn't for you already having a x62, I would agree with Jay and go shotgun or 375 H&H.
 
I'd take the rifle you have along with a spare bolt, trigger parts, and spare follower and spring.
 
I'd go with your 9.3 and just practice, practice, practice.

I run a 20" BRNO 602 CRF with express sights. It is short, easy to transport, reliable feed and extraction and it holds 6 .375 H&H in its drop floorplate magazine.
 
A credible source with vast field experience, Master Alaskan Guide Andy Runyan wrote an article in the 12th edition of Handloader's Digest in which he describes the incredible stopping power of high speed .40+ calibers on Big Bear -

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Big Bear stuffed-up with a .300WM then stomped with a high speed .40+

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The 9.3-.375's are popular. Decent heavy game hunting rounds than lesser calibers in my estimation but as stoppers marginal at best? Lighter and faster 9.3-.375 bullets should impart more shock than heavier and slower 9.3-.375 bullets? But still lacking in cross-sectional area to impart devastating shock to be 1 shot Big Bear stoppers? Lacking in straight-through heavy bone smashing penetration capability?

No mention in the article about 9.3-.375's other than his guides gave up their .375's for high speed .40+ calibers and never looked back.

One shot DRT kills are the norm on heavy game with my high speed .40+ calibers properly loaded. Not a recommendation but I favor my high speed .40+ calibers for hunting in Bear territory. Even more so after the recent go-round with my .375 on Bull Moose. :p

 
i must add that while in Northern Quebec a cree guide had to shoot two polar bears close to where we were and it used a 7mm magnum ... and he told me my 300 savage would have work if needed ....
 
Slamfire said:
The 9.3-.375's are popular. Decent heavy game hunting rounds than lesser calibers in my estimation but as stoppers marginal at best?
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Tell that to Don Heath who stopped this charging elephant with a single round using his 9.3X62 and Norma factory ammo.

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I corresponded with him personally about this incident, and It was a genuine full on charge. He was guiding photographers when the bull charged, was definitely carrying his 9.3X62, and one single shot dropped the bull!

Ted
 
MiG25 said:
I'd take the rifle you have along with a spare bolt, trigger parts, and spare follower and spring.
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Why not just take a spare rifle if you're going to take all that? Op said he had a Husky, I'm assuming M98; why would you need a spare bolt? The only things you might need spares for are the extractor, firing pin, and ejector spring. You could take a spare follower spring if it makes you feel better, but nothing is going to go wrong with the follower.
 
I can't see the picture you posted, but believe it is the picture showing the dust cloud rising off the back of elephant's head, with rifle in full recoil and front foot of elephant about 6 feet from Dr. Heath. I have read several of his books and articles, and there is no doubt that very few modern folk have every had the dangerous game encounters he has dealt with - both with 2 footed and four footed types of critters, bearing teeth, claws, AK-47's and so on.
However, one of his published stories, about an experience he had, and it is similar in many ways to those by a certain Mr. Phil Shoemaker in Alaska, was about their "DO NOT QUIT" attitude during a dangerous encounter. Dr. Heath describes being charged simultaneously by three lionesses; he being armed with his Husqvarna 9.3x62 and his ever present service revolver. He began firing the rifle while stepping backwards - when the rifle was emptied and one old girl was still oncoming, he dropped the rifle, drew the revolver and continued firing, while stepping backwards. By his account, the last lioness finally fell and died on top of his rifle.
 
Yes, same charge. Here's the picture you are speaking about.

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You can clearly see the dust coming off of the elephant's head. Hopefully, you can see this picture.

Heath was quite an amazing guy!
Ted
 
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