338 win mag OR 300 win mag

proxpar

proxpar

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Dear listmates,

I am buying a hunting rifle for a trip up the Alaska highway in BC.

I have been told to expect to run into grizzly bear.

I typically hunt moose, black bear and dear.

Is a 338 necessary for protection against a grizzly bear or will a 300 win mag do the job in a pinch?

Thanks in advance for the advice,

Paul
 
A lot of alaskan guides recommend a 375, and sometimes accept a 338 as an absolute minimum for alaskan grizz hunting. Personally I think that's probably a bit of overkill, and if you're not specifically tracking and hunting grizz, I wouldn't worry too much about which gun to bring - anything is spades better than nothing. There are tons of bear defence treads around, for your reading enjoyment. This topic tends to pop up every week or so, so there's lots of opinions out there.

Me? While I fully acknowledge that Magnums aren't usually necessary for really any north american game, I am a big fan of the 338 and 375. Smaller calibres will work just as well however, but I like the insurance factor - we all know that shots don't always go exactly where we want.
 
Everybody who has read my threads on this subject knows that I like bigger and heavier compared to light and fast, so I'm shooting 380's in my .375. Garry Shelton says a .338 Winchester should be considered the minimum chambering in a rifle when hunting in grizzly country - regardless of the game being hunted.
 
Shoot what you feel comfortable with, as already mentioned. A 300 WM should be fine with 200gr. bullets. I will guess you are going for moose. If your going to buy 1 rifle, just hunting Alaskan moose, and may run into grizzly, 338WM. But if you hunt elsewhere, for other game, and want a 1 rifle - do it all- go with the 300WM, just use 200gr. bullets (Accubonds/XP3/A-frames) up north, and use 180gr. for everything else. I use my Sako m75 SS 300WM with 180gr. Accubonds for everything here in Alberta. BUt I have loaded some 200gr. Accubonds, but have yet to shoot them at the range. Thats my say. To each there own!

Have fun. Good luck in your hunt.
 
What do you use right now?That is the real question...

I've been in grizz country alot, and I never relaly feel undergunned using a 7RM or 300, nor woudl I feel undergunned using a 30-06, as long as I use good bullets in all these rifles.

I must say,though...When Youa re in tight cover in an area with alot of grizzlybears- A big gun (375 and up) adds alot of confidence.:)
 
.338 or .300

Either will do but I'd lean towards my .338 personally. If .300 I'd stick with the Winmag. The .300RUM kicks way more with same results IMHO.
Geoff in Victoria
 
If you already have a deer gun get the 338. The 300 with good bullets will definatly keep you safe in moose country but the 338 is just a little more. The 338 soots plenty flat too, dispite what you may read. If you can't reach them with a 338 you probably shouldn't be shooting at them with anything.
 
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I think a .338 with a reasonable 250 gr RN at 2500fps will suffice for just about anything from whitetail to big white or brown bear out to 200 meters.. not sure if there would be any noticeable advantage stepping up...or down my 2cents
 
IIRC, the Alaskan CO's have to qualify for bear defence with a minimum of a 30-06 and either 200 or 220 grain slugs (can't remember which for sure) or a 12 gauge with 3" slugs. If you have one of those, great.

If you're keen on buying a new rifle, I'd go with the 338 Win Mag.

It is nicknamed "The Alaskan" in some circles...
 
Just make sure that whichever rifle/cartridge you choose, it's one that you are comfortable with and can shoot really well.
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I totally agree with this statement. There's no point in getting any gun, no matter how effective it might be, if you aren't comfortable shooting it or you can't shoot it well.
 
Fast light bullets dumps most of its energy as soon as it hits your animal causing massive tissue trauma first and them some internal. This is fine for thin skinned animals like deer and gophers. Heavier bullets have more weight behind them pushing bullets deeper into thick skinned animals causing internal trauma. I have a .338 win mag loaded with 250gr Barnes X bullets. I feel with this combo, there in nothing in North America that can stand up to it. Good luck!
 
I'm thinking a light weight, 20" bbl'd 50 BMG with a steel but plate and no compensator with an ultra light synthetic stock and a scope with less than 3" of eye relief. That way if you flinch and miss, you'll never feel a thing. :D
 
I don't bear hunt but it seems to me I would go with the one that you can shoot better . Try finding a person with one of each and put a few downrange before you buy .
Both can do the job if the bullet hits the mark kinda thing .
IIRC the bear in Smithers airport ( big ) was taken with a 30/06 ( or maybe a 7mm ? )
I carry a 300WM and have never worried about anything , but I have been thinking ...
 
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