Got my Griz draw, now to decide on what caliber to use.
- Thread starter hawk-i
- Start date
What calibers have you got, and how big are the average bears where you will be hunting them? My preference is 300 mag and 200 gn bullet, and up from there, 340 Wby, 375 H&H, 9.3X300 WM, 9.3X62, 35 Whelen/350 RM, 358 Norma, 325 WSM, 8mm RM etc, etc, etc..........
There is no such thing as hitting a grizzly TOO hard, they are relatively easy to kill when you have the drop on him and he is unsuspecting, but they are evil incarnate and unbelievably hard to kill when the situation changes and he sets his sights on you. You may have killed him, but if he has 30 secs or a minute before he succumbs, you gotta ask yourself how much damage can he do in 30 secs or a minute, do I really want to know?
Hunting grizzly and defending one's self from a grizzly are two different scenarios, however one can become the other in a heartbeat given a bad shot or even a good shot in very close proximity. To quote Robert Ruark........"Use Enough Gun"......
There is no such thing as hitting a grizzly TOO hard, they are relatively easy to kill when you have the drop on him and he is unsuspecting, but they are evil incarnate and unbelievably hard to kill when the situation changes and he sets his sights on you. You may have killed him, but if he has 30 secs or a minute before he succumbs, you gotta ask yourself how much damage can he do in 30 secs or a minute, do I really want to know?
Hunting grizzly and defending one's self from a grizzly are two different scenarios, however one can become the other in a heartbeat given a bad shot or even a good shot in very close proximity. To quote Robert Ruark........"Use Enough Gun"......
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nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
^^^this
Just how many Griz draws do you think you will get....use the right tool. Yes the 308 will do it, but if you have access to something with magnum in the name even better. You have entered the food chain. 300 WM would be excellent, 338 Win mag or 375 H & H even better. One good hit=dead bear.
Thanks for the reply c-fbmi, In larger calibers I've got a few 300 win mags, a 8mm rem mag, and a 338 Lapua mag but lately I've done most of my hunting with none mag calibers except for the 6x6 Elk (used the 338 Lapua) I shot last fall.
Over the last 20 years or so, it seems to me the non mags kill every bit as good as the magnum calibers, I have a lot of patience when hunting and will pass on a shot if the angle isn't what I'm looking for. I don't mind stretching out the distance but only with a broadside shot.
This grizzly hunt will be mostly a solo spot and stalk hunt from the upper logging cuts to alpine, or a limited amount from a tree stand on some of the will used areas. Most likely the furthest range will be 300 yards or if from a stand it could be as close as 20 yards, in any case it will be a broad side lung shot or I won't take the shot. The larger bears in this area will get into an estimated weight of around the 600-800 lbs. The feed is good (acres upon acres of berries)and the rivers have fat rich salmon from early summer to late fall.
I don't need to kill a Grizzly so I will only take a shot at the right bear under the right conditions. If its not the right bear I will as I have in the past pull the trigger on an empty chamber and quietly move off.
If by chance I unexpectantly happen upon a grizzly at close range and it knows I'm there (as happened a few times last year while moose hunting) the plan will be to give it room and slowly back off until I can approach again for a undetected shot.
I'm not against using a magnum rifle, just thinking I really don't need one.
Over the last 20 years or so, it seems to me the non mags kill every bit as good as the magnum calibers, I have a lot of patience when hunting and will pass on a shot if the angle isn't what I'm looking for. I don't mind stretching out the distance but only with a broadside shot.
This grizzly hunt will be mostly a solo spot and stalk hunt from the upper logging cuts to alpine, or a limited amount from a tree stand on some of the will used areas. Most likely the furthest range will be 300 yards or if from a stand it could be as close as 20 yards, in any case it will be a broad side lung shot or I won't take the shot. The larger bears in this area will get into an estimated weight of around the 600-800 lbs. The feed is good (acres upon acres of berries)and the rivers have fat rich salmon from early summer to late fall.
I don't need to kill a Grizzly so I will only take a shot at the right bear under the right conditions. If its not the right bear I will as I have in the past pull the trigger on an empty chamber and quietly move off.
If by chance I unexpectantly happen upon a grizzly at close range and it knows I'm there (as happened a few times last year while moose hunting) the plan will be to give it room and slowly back off until I can approach again for a undetected shot.
I'm not against using a magnum rifle, just thinking I really don't need one.
I'd go with the 8mmRemMag, depending on the configuration of the rifle. If I shot a big bear, I'd want to shoot it hard.
Honestly though, if I had a tag for a Grizzly, I'd sell one of those and get something in the 375 range or so.
We are Gunnutz after all, right? A new rifle would make a nice souvenir for what's probably a once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
Honestly though, if I had a tag for a Grizzly, I'd sell one of those and get something in the 375 range or so.
We are Gunnutz after all, right? A new rifle would make a nice souvenir for what's probably a once-in-a-lifetime hunt.
I took a grizz last year in the Yukon I was packing a 358sta that my guide called Thor's hammer lol. I took the bear at 153 yards broad side while he was walking, he stepped forward I shot and him him right behind the front shoulder the bullet exited out the other shoulder and flipped him right over. The bear never knew I was there, and I thought that was easy then he got up roaring and swinging his claws. He went and 30 steps and piled up. This all happened in about 30 secs. Needless to say I was pretty happy! First cuz it was a dream come true to take a grizzly and second cuz he never knew where I was! He could have easily covered the 153 yards in that 30 secs! I was shooting 250 grain nosler partitions at around 3000fps the gun hits hard. So IMHO use what your comfortable shooting but also make sure it's enough to take it humanly. 
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Bigfoot 870
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
.308 Win??.......No!!! .300 Win Mag Minimum!!!
On an animal, particularly a grizzly, why would you want to know the minimum cartridge?
You have other, better options available to you... a .300 WM with 220's should be "your" minimum, of your existing weapon options... but a grizzly tag is an excellent excuse for a new gun...
Mighty Peace
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Land of the Mighty Peace
How about a new Sako Brown Bear or Kodiak in 338WM or the Grizzly in 9.3x62 or 9.3x66 (370). Maybe the LS model and have your choice of all 3 calibers !!
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I'm thinking along the same lines. Of what you list I'd use the 8mm just because I've never used one before and I've always wanted to try it. Plus it seems like it would be the best of both worlds...lots of bullet weight, horsepower and reach. So much win. Honestly the 308 would be my last choice. Not a horrendously inapropriate choice, but much less than I would want to use.
308 with a boat tail bullet would be my last choice. The boat tail just doesn't cut it for holding together if heavy bone is encountered. 375 H&H rules. The 8 mm magnum stoked is the best option. The 300 mag is second with a good stout bullet.
very nice bear. where did you get it?
Now that's certainly opposite ends of the scale..................308 Win .............OR...............416 Rem Mag !!!!! There is a whole lot of suitable territory in between them 2.........My all time preference for hunting soft skinned, dangerous game is without a doubt the 340 Wby...........as flat as a 300 Mag and hits harder than a 375 with enough velocity to have significant hydrostatic shock............There is something absolutely devastating about a 250 gn Nosler Part @ 3100 fps...............
Were I you, I'd be ordering a 220 gn Matrix RBT hunting bullet for my 8 Mag, load 'er up with enough RL 22 to get 2900-3000 fps and go hunting grizzly with pure confidence from 10 yds to 400 yds.........
Were I you, I'd be ordering a 220 gn Matrix RBT hunting bullet for my 8 Mag, load 'er up with enough RL 22 to get 2900-3000 fps and go hunting grizzly with pure confidence from 10 yds to 400 yds.........
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Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
The .308 is a great cartridge, but I'd not put it at the top of the list for purposely going on a grizzly hunt. Not that I wouldn't shoot a grizzly with one while I was out moose hunting or something, because I certainly would.
Of the rifles the OP listed, the 8mm rem mag with a 220 grain Sierra BT loaded fast would be my choice. This would be a great setup for almost any range and almost any angle, without having to haul around a massive .338 lapua rig.
Of the rifles the OP listed, the 8mm rem mag with a 220 grain Sierra BT loaded fast would be my choice. This would be a great setup for almost any range and almost any angle, without having to haul around a massive .338 lapua rig.
I've been putting in unsuccessfully for a Bison draw for years with the plan of buying a 416 RM if I was ever to get the draw, so a passing thought that maybe this griz draw might be a good excuse after the above suggestions of a new rifle.
Most likely will just use one of the rifles I have at present....decisions, decisions!
Most likely will just use one of the rifles I have at present....decisions, decisions!
