Hunting thick stuff in BC, minimum comfort caliber?

[KodiakHntr]

Talk about internet cowboy. Damn you’re awesome.

I'm glad that you recognized my awesomeness. Means a lot to me, hugs and kisses.

 

[broadhead67]

There’s a excellent video on U-Tube about bush guns , guy takes a steel plate and puts it in heavy cover / Bush . Have to admit I was very surprised when even a .308 was key holing and hitting the wood frame instead of the steel . Heavy & slow is your friend . 45/70 etc . Not to side track but how good you are might not matter if it deflects

 

[emerson]

There’s a excellent video on U-Tube about bush guns , guy takes a steel plate and puts it in heavy cover / Bush . Have to admit I was very surprised when even a .308 was key holing and hitting the wood frame instead of the steel . Heavy & slow is your friend . 45/70 etc . Not to side track but how good you are might not matter if it deflects

My experience and everything I’ve read says any bullet hitting brush between the shooter and target means all bets are off as far as accuracy.

 

[Power Pill]

9.3x62

 

[Ardent]

Killed a lot of grizzlies have you emerson?

I’m not worried about an Amax holding together on a big bear at close range. When I was specifically hunting grizzlies for myself or with buddies I generally carried my 300 Ultra or 7wsm stuffed with TSX’s. Also used to carry a 45/70 with Buffalo Bore rounds, but that was more for having to go dig one out of the alders.

I’ve never really worried about bears since I work in the bush, and spent years working alone km’s from anywhere with nothing more than a can of salad seasoning on my hip.

Hoyt really nailed it in one of the bear threads about reading bear body language and being smart about where you are. Worrying about a bear attack that for the VAST majority of hunters will never occur isn’t really worth the thought. Not many people are going to be able to react quickly enough or smoothly enough to use a rifle adequately in a charge situation, and a lot of internet cowboys have some pretty grand fantasies of how they will perform in that situation using their big magnum.

That said, if it brings you peace of mind to carry a 458 Loudenboomer just in case you run into a bear, then by all means carry what you like. For me though, I worry more about rifle familiarity, fit, function, and point-ability over everything else.

I have... and you wouldn’t catch me with an AMAX in the chamber, ever off the range. That isn’t due to Grizzly concerns though I wouldn’t trust it there at all. I like your .280AI otherwise, and do note you carried different rifles Grizzly hunting.