I don't see anything about bear defense in here
No where does it mention a bear attacking, or anything even remotely close. I simply asked which rifle you'd choose to HUNT brown bear with from the ones listed.
Brown bears...what rifle?
- Thread starter bronco_mudder
- Start date
I don't see anything about bear defense in here
No where does it mention a bear attacking, or anything even remotely close. I simply asked which rifle you'd choose to HUNT brown bear with from the ones listed.
I'd take the 375 H & H..............
But only because you didn't list the 458 win mag
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
All of them will work fine, just make sure they are equipped with iron sights.
You're going hunting in Alaska for a trophy Brown Bear.The rifles you have to choose from are:
Remington 700 blued/walnut 8mm mag
Remington 700 blued/walnut 350 Mashburn Super mag (same as a 358 STA)
Winchester 70 CRF stainless/synthetic 338 Win mag, or .375 H&H (switch barrel rifle)
Winchester 70 CRF stainless/synthetic 300 WSM
Remington 700 stainless/laminate 300 Ultra mag
All are topped with quality optics, and you can shoot each equally well.
What rifle do you choose and why?
That's great! I can hardly believe it. Thank-you! I really don't mind which rifle, whichever you think best will be fine, I'm sure. Or whichever you aren't using at the time. When am I going? I have to get a passport and book off work.
tell you what i'll loan you my .358 Norma Mag built off of a 1903 Springfield, action is smoother and feeds slicker then any 700 or 70 i have owned or shot. in fact i think the previous owner downed a few brownies with it, but i'll wait for why not to confirm that.....
- Location
- AB foothills
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Your choice of rifle is more important than the choice of cartridge and any of the cartridges you mention when loaded with a good bullet will get the job done. Much depends on the type of hunting you will be doing, and although brown bear hunting is often associated with coastal hunting it is not universally so, and the weight of a heavy rifle might become a problem if you are hunting at higher elevations.
If you are hunting along an open beach the range might be longish. Some beach areas that appear to be open are intersected with grassy sand dunes and gravel bars that will conceal a bear until you are very close. Shooting at long range is much different that crawling along bear tunnels in the grass and willows. In heavy cover the rifle needs to be short and quick handling and in such circumstances a hunting scenario can quickly turn into a bear defence scenario (for those concerned there was no mention of bear defence). In an emergency it is your guide's job to solve the problem, but it's good to be prepared in the event he is unable to.
It could be that you will face both long range and heavy cover situations on the same day, so if you have a short, CRF rifle that will feed well with a moderately heavy for caliber bullet, that would be my choice.
The rifle should be equipped with irons or a low powered variable scope, but if you have no irons on the rifle, having a second scope in QD rings is cheap insurance. A scope will work under most conditions, but if the weather is poor, and you experience heavy rain, snow, or fog, it might be nice to have the irons to fall back on.
While everyone enjoyed reading Gate's predictable choice of rifle, in reflection and consideration of Alaskan hunting conditions, it is nearly perfect.
If you are hunting along an open beach the range might be longish. Some beach areas that appear to be open are intersected with grassy sand dunes and gravel bars that will conceal a bear until you are very close. Shooting at long range is much different that crawling along bear tunnels in the grass and willows. In heavy cover the rifle needs to be short and quick handling and in such circumstances a hunting scenario can quickly turn into a bear defence scenario (for those concerned there was no mention of bear defence). In an emergency it is your guide's job to solve the problem, but it's good to be prepared in the event he is unable to.
It could be that you will face both long range and heavy cover situations on the same day, so if you have a short, CRF rifle that will feed well with a moderately heavy for caliber bullet, that would be my choice.
The rifle should be equipped with irons or a low powered variable scope, but if you have no irons on the rifle, having a second scope in QD rings is cheap insurance. A scope will work under most conditions, but if the weather is poor, and you experience heavy rain, snow, or fog, it might be nice to have the irons to fall back on.
While everyone enjoyed reading Gate's predictable choice of rifle, in reflection and consideration of Alaskan hunting conditions, it is nearly perfect.
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Funny you should mention a short, CRF rifle. The .375 barrel for the Win is only 20" long, and is equipped with open sites, and the action is mounted with Talley QD bases, so I can change scopes for each barrel.
I think you helped sell me on the 375
Funny you should mention a short, CRF rifle. The .375 barrel for the Win is only 20" long, and is equipped with open sites, and the action is mounted with Talley QD bases, so I can change scopes for each barrel.
I think you helped sell me on the 375
I'd say that is the perfect rifle for hunting coastal bears...I sure wish the 375 H&H I used on my coastal grizzly hunt had been closer in dimensions and weigth to the present 375, chambered in the Mighty 375 Ruger.
Not sure where your hunt will be, but coastal Alaska and coastal BC are similar.
Handy place, to have a 20" barrel.....
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I checked the on-line draw results link last week and just recieved in the mail today my grizzly draw for region 7-28 in the mail today...
Here are the rifles I will be taking...
Rem 700 LSS 375 RUM with 260gr Accubonds @ 3000fps or 300gr Partitions @ 2750fps.
Marlin 1895GS 45-70 with 430gr Cast Performance WLNGC's @ 1880fps or 550gr Jae-Bok Young Crater's @ 1600fps.
Rem 700 LSS 300 RUM with 200gr A-Frames @ 3150fps
Puma M92 454 Casull 240gr XTP-Mags @ 2300fps on up to 405gr WLNGC's @ 1650fps but will probably load up with 360gr WLNGC's @ 1850fps.
I applied for 7-28 because I will be spending the spring prospecting/working in that area so will also have my 4.25" & 7.5" Ruger SRH's in 454 Casull with me and will be loading either 360gr or 405gr WLNGC's...
I have been to the range twice this week with both of the RUM's sighting in the guns and tuning up the loads.
When it is time to leave on the hunt I will be confident on taking a 300 yard shot if conditions warrant but would prefer too and will most likely not exceed 200 yards.
From the list a 375 H&H and the 300 RUM would go with me...
Here are the rifles I will be taking...
Rem 700 LSS 375 RUM with 260gr Accubonds @ 3000fps or 300gr Partitions @ 2750fps.
Marlin 1895GS 45-70 with 430gr Cast Performance WLNGC's @ 1880fps or 550gr Jae-Bok Young Crater's @ 1600fps.
Rem 700 LSS 300 RUM with 200gr A-Frames @ 3150fps
Puma M92 454 Casull 240gr XTP-Mags @ 2300fps on up to 405gr WLNGC's @ 1650fps but will probably load up with 360gr WLNGC's @ 1850fps.
I applied for 7-28 because I will be spending the spring prospecting/working in that area so will also have my 4.25" & 7.5" Ruger SRH's in 454 Casull with me and will be loading either 360gr or 405gr WLNGC's...
I have been to the range twice this week with both of the RUM's sighting in the guns and tuning up the loads.
When it is time to leave on the hunt I will be confident on taking a 300 yard shot if conditions warrant but would prefer too and will most likely not exceed 200 yards.
From the list a 375 H&H and the 300 RUM would go with me...
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
It seems that the popular opinion is for the .375 and 35 calibre magnums. I feel that any of the .300 magnums and up are sufficient. Given that a shot placement is the most important, the energy from a 300 mag is sufficient. Remember a good bullet and good shooting. Good luck.
I'd go with the 350 Mashburn and 275gr A-frames myself. Give it a 1.5-5x20 Leupold and call it a day. That rig'll smash'em out 300, not that I'd want to take a poke past 100.
If I wanted to stay simple I would probably do the .338 or 375 with 275 or 270gr A-Frames respectively, with some low to 6 power quality variable.
Geez that is a hunt I would like to go on. Never been after one so my opinion is a little tarnished. I do know Phil Shoemaker is comfortable with hunters packing a 30-06 with good quality 200-220gr bullets, so really, any of the above would work, I assume.
If I wanted to stay simple I would probably do the .338 or 375 with 275 or 270gr A-Frames respectively, with some low to 6 power quality variable.
Geez that is a hunt I would like to go on. Never been after one so my opinion is a little tarnished. I do know Phil Shoemaker is comfortable with hunters packing a 30-06 with good quality 200-220gr bullets, so really, any of the above would work, I assume.
Funny you should mention a short, CRF rifle. The .375 barrel for the Win is only 20" long, and is equipped with open sites, and the action is mounted with Talley QD bases, so I can change scopes for each barrel.
I think you helped sell me on the 375
No question here, that sounds like a great combo!
