30-06 for brown bears

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tommy88

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I'm going sheep hunting this year and am considering buying a 30-06. I've heard guys say that a 300 win mag would be better incase a grizzly shows up. Ive always favoured lighter rifles, especially for hunting where you put on big mileage. Is a 30-06 sufficient?

Any thoughts?
 
Yes, it will work just fine.

Don't think a bear will be able to tell the difference with a well placed shot from either the -06 or WM
 
tommy88 said:
I'm going sheep hunting this year and am considering buying a 30-06. I've heard guys say that a 300 win mag would be better incase a grizzly shows up. Ive always favoured lighter rifles, especially for hunting where you put on big mileage. Is a 30-06 sufficient?

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

30-06Sprg (180-220gr SP) will take down a 1200lb Moose like it's been hit by a truck. It will certainly take down a 600Lb Griz with no problem.
 
The .30-06 loaded stoutly will be sufficient. Anyone telling you otherwise is saying something about their ability to shoot. The .30-06 will typically give you an extra round in the magazine too which may come in handy.
 
Yes Big bears have been taken with the good old "06 but as with everything shot placement counts for a lot! A can of bear spray is usually on my belt if I know Grizz is around and I hunt with my 300wm. Spent two weeks hunting moose near Mackenzie BC early season in 2015, saw LOTS of bear sign and saw 1 boar and two sets of mamma and cubs on different days, nothing close to me, but at the time I was hunting with my Vanguard in 30-06 and didn't have any spray, One early morning I split up with my hunting partner and walked the edge of a cut block solo, Got that hair on the back of my neck, eyes wide open, ears straining to hear ANYTHING, sweaty palms feeling. Nothing happened.. Only time I felt really vulnerable and unprepared. 300wm has only a slight edge over the '06, but that's what I take out now. False sense of security maybe, but I feel better.
 
The 30-06 will be just fine. If it were me, packing an '06 in bear country, I would be loaded with either
the 200 grain Partition or the 200 A-Frame. These can be driven to 2700 in an '06, and are VERY pursuasive
when placed correctly.
I have only shot 1 grizzly, so am no expert on Grizzly hunting, but the one I did shoot was taken with a 30-06,
and was a 1-shot kill. [OTOH, I have shot over 80 blacks, some very large ones, mostly with the '06.] Dave.
 
tommy88 said:
I'm going sheep hunting this year and am considering buying a 30-06. I've heard guys say that a 300 win mag would be better incase a grizzly shows up. ...
Click to expand...

As others said, it's enough for grizz if loaded and landed appropriately. The same goes for 300WM, in my opinion. There's a significant compromise with penetration if your sheep hunting load uses fast, light bullets. For where I hunt, sheep country is the same thing as bear country, so you can't rely on swapping ammunition.

Assuming you'd like the ability to shoot a fair distance... I think I'd put together a 30-06 sheep load using something like 130gr or 150gr TTSX.
 
A .30/06 is a good all-around cartridge, if grizzlies make you shiver, load a bonded 180-200 grain bullet loaded to max pressure.
 
Never hunted sheep before, but not sure my go-to load would be 200+ grain bullets out of a 30-06.

I assume you would walk around in the mountains with the heavy load and then switch ammo if you see a sheep?
 
Bring whatever rifle you have that is

Dependable
Accurate (in your hands, from field positions)
Weather proof
Light

You could knock a sheep over with a spit ball if you got close enough.

In regards to bears….keep a clean camp and make a lot of noise in the buck brush and you’ll be fine.
 
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