Work Guns I’ve Known
- Thread starter Ardent
- Start date
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
geologist was waiting to see your 602, it’s a CGN brand by now love that thing. 
Will likely emulate yours in stainless and synthetic with mods to my Model 70.
For sure, Grizzly guns last handful of years with notes for anything in particular that stands out,
7mm Rem Mag - Very quick kill bear didn’t travel a step, stood up at the hit, fell over dead. Same rifle killed a coastal black bear and wolf on that fell on their shadows too.
.300 Win Mag - Three Grizz fell with it last two Grizz seasons. Two Grizz down with the 200gr TBBC, too stiff a bullet in opinion but killed them both. Another down with a 190gr I forget that acted quicker, Hoytcanon was guiding here for all three as well.
.300 Ultra Mag - Dogleg’s with an Accubond, bear collapsed at the hit.
9.3x64 - Backup rifle to the client’s son’s 7mm Rem Mag, gorgeous Ralf Martini custom.
.375 Ruger - 300gr DGX, bear rolled over several times at the hit and died, broke a wrist sized humerus clean off the shoulder joint.
.375 H&H - Dogleg’s backup rifle, I used it on one of my own bears too and carried as backup many times. It bloody well works.
Now indeed it’s mountain goats, black bear, and moose carrying us. In that side see mostly .300s, smallest rifle has been a .260 largest .300 Ultras in the high country. I personally love the .270 and 7 Mag for use up on top, .270 in particular as the rifles are lighter. .308 has been used on a couple goats lately, I’m loaning my Kimber .308 to an Aussie client this year too.
Will likely emulate yours in stainless and synthetic with mods to my Model 70.For sure, Grizzly guns last handful of years with notes for anything in particular that stands out,
7mm Rem Mag - Very quick kill bear didn’t travel a step, stood up at the hit, fell over dead. Same rifle killed a coastal black bear and wolf on that fell on their shadows too.
.300 Win Mag - Three Grizz fell with it last two Grizz seasons. Two Grizz down with the 200gr TBBC, too stiff a bullet in opinion but killed them both. Another down with a 190gr I forget that acted quicker, Hoytcanon was guiding here for all three as well.
.300 Ultra Mag - Dogleg’s with an Accubond, bear collapsed at the hit.
9.3x64 - Backup rifle to the client’s son’s 7mm Rem Mag, gorgeous Ralf Martini custom.
.375 Ruger - 300gr DGX, bear rolled over several times at the hit and died, broke a wrist sized humerus clean off the shoulder joint.
.375 H&H - Dogleg’s backup rifle, I used it on one of my own bears too and carried as backup many times. It bloody well works.
Now indeed it’s mountain goats, black bear, and moose carrying us. In that side see mostly .300s, smallest rifle has been a .260 largest .300 Ultras in the high country. I personally love the .270 and 7 Mag for use up on top, .270 in particular as the rifles are lighter. .308 has been used on a couple goats lately, I’m loaning my Kimber .308 to an Aussie client this year too.
geologist was waiting to see your 602, it’s a CGN brand by now love that thing.
For sure, Grizzly guns last handful of years with notes for anything in particular that stands out,
7mm Rem Mag - Very quick kill bear didn’t travel a step, stood up at the hit, fell over dead. Same rifle killed a coastal black bear and wolf on that fell on their shadows too.
.300 Win Mag - Three Grizz fell with it last two Grizz seasons. Two Grizz down with the 200gr TBBC, too stiff a bullet in opinion but killed them both. Another down with a 190gr I forget that acted quicker, Hoytcanon was guiding here for all three as well.
.300 Ultra Mag - Dogleg’s with an Accubond, bear collapsed at the hit.
9.3x64 - Backup rifle to the client’s son’s 7mm Rem Mag, gorgeous Ralf Martini custom.
.375 Ruger - 300gr DGX, bear rolled over several times at the hit and died, broke a wrist sized humerus clean off the shoulder joint.
.375 H&H - Dogleg’s backup rifle, I used it on one of my own bears too and carried as backup many times. It bloody well works.
Now indeed it’s mountain goats, black bear, and moose carrying us. In that side see mostly .300s, smallest rifle has been a .260 largest .300 Ultras in the high country. I personally love the .270 and 7 Mag for use up on top, .270 in particular as the rifles are lighter. .308 has been used on a couple goats lately, I’m loaning my Kimber .308 to an Aussie client this year too.
What load do you use in the Kimber 308?
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
130s or 150s sighted in at 250 yards, lets the client shoot 300 yards with a dead hold. I’ve loaded Barnes 130s but lately have been using the CEB 135gr ER Raptor. Best way to make a .308 seem like a limited gun is to load it too heavy bullet wise. 150 and under and it’s a great mountain rifle that gives up nothing to a .260.
Ahh good stuff, thanks. I think I've settled on 125 grain Accubonds and Ballistic Tips for the time being.
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Your disdain for the Mossberg was poorly concealed
Yea the RSM got a lot of miles but always for pleasure, early on carried it guiding a bit but not enough to make the list. Was my most experienced rifle for sure though overall! Weight and weather resistance were its only faults, hell of a gun.
I like your last gun your guided Grizz with in particular! The stainless .350 Rem Mag M77 MkII, now that’s a mean package in Grizz country. Pretty ideal weight of a carbine with a punch.
I have, but trust the .375 H&H more than the .45-70 / .450. Not a fan of this rounds ballistics for stopping bears, it’s my opinion they lack the velocity the .375 benefits from. Some of the most impressive Grizzly kills I’ve seen were .300 and 7mm magnums, speed has a better chance of dropping them on their shadow. Heavy and slow kills 100% reliably but seems to allow, on average not every time, for more seconds of running / nervous movement after the hits.
Great topic and even better pictures.
Just curious if there's any love for the good old .338 Winchester Mag loaded with proper 240-250 grain bullets.
Good thread, thanks,
I always thought your Merkel was a .470, not a 375 H&H.
I would relay like, a stainless med bore, in 20" , with irons.
I've just upgraded my husky 9.3 to Sako Bavarian in 9.3x62, as my heavy rifle.
I always thought your Merkel was a .470, not a 375 H&H.
I would relay like, a stainless med bore, in 20" , with irons.
I've just upgraded my husky 9.3 to Sako Bavarian in 9.3x62, as my heavy rifle.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Very much so, one of the best rounds for BC there is. One of the guys who used to guide for me carried a .338 Win Kimber 8400. No need to go super heavy on the bullets on bears the speed is almost more important.
I’m with you, will be trimming the Model 70 SS back to 18.5 to 20”, slimming the barrel, new stock new sights soon. I did a video shooting a .470 Merkel point of view but that was c-fbmi’s gun that he loaned me.
So, the dream that didn’t take, had Stuart Satterlee make me a full Titanium Mauser, boat Ti too, and chambered it in .375 2 1/4”. After all that I hate a double rifle priced Mauser that never fit right, and I couldn’t justify to reduction in power over my Model 70 .375 H&H. The H&H ammo is everywhere in my gear, the Model 70 was affordable enough to use hard and not worry about losing, and more powerful.
The Model 70 Stainless .375 H&H killed my Titanium Mauser project, to summarize. I do really want a stainless double rifle however.
Rebarrel it for 7x57, throw that plastic away and get a nice piece of wood. I recall that when you first pitched the .375 2 1/4 many tried to talk you out of it, but...
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Already sold her, chambering was only part of my issue with her. Just wasn’t light enough for the cost, my Kimbers are lighter by good measure, action wise. Workmanship was extraordinary, novelty high, but those were low factors of consideration for my purposes unfortunately. I’m swimming in small bores and the only thing I’m after presently is that stainless .375 double... just need to decided whether to attempt to build it myself or to commission Butch.
are you using the pmc ammo pictured? If so, how effective has it been on game? 10mm is adequate when loaded to its full potential, most factory loads are marginally better than 40cal loadings save for buffalo bore, win silver tips and a few others
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Can’t argue with the cool just not a 9.3 guy, I like hot .375 Mag 235gr. Think a trimmed and lightened Model 70 .375 will be slick, and affordable, already own it and no new chambering for the cabinet.
Get Westley Richards to build one up with detachable locks.
And those years I spent flying for outfitters, my 590 was my companion. Never had to so much as shoulder it, but hearing the experiences with yours makes me think. Of course, NWO doesn't present the same salty, sandy, gritty conditions that the coast does. Or angry grizzlies. Maybe the odd blackie with an attitude, but mostly bush chickens for the starving pilot slowcooker.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Can’t argue with the cool just not a 9.3 guy, I like hot .375 Mag 235gr. Think a trimmed and lightened Model 70 .375 will be slick, and affordable, already own it and no new chambering for the cabinet.
Drink the Kool Aid, damn you!
