Smaller Calibers in Grizzly Country

Dogleg said:
We used to have these welfare coyotes on the bombing range that had learned that the oil rigs were a source of easy food, as the roughies had been dumping the left over lunch buckets for coyote generations. It got to where if someone was carrying something 'yotes would show up. One in particular started biting guys on the heels.

That was funny as hell as long it was someone else was getting bit, but eventually he got me just above the boot-tops. It wasn't bear season, but there were cans of bear spray all over the command center and I started carrying one. It wasn't about defense; more like revenge.:) I didn't really think he'd try it again, but the very next evening he whipped around a corner and got another chomp in.

This guy isn't very scared, and stood barely 10 feet away while I transferred my lap-top bag to my other hand and got the retainer clip off. I was actually surprised he was still there, but he stood long enough to get about 3/4s of the can. I was expecting it to turn him inside out, but it didn't amount to much. He retreated slowly to the edge of the bush, and pawed his eye for awhile and came back. He laid on his back and held his leg up like a submitting dog will do; likely thinking that I'd hurt him and if he gave up I'd quit doing whatever it was. Naturally I gave him the rest of the can. Never saw him for 3-4 days after that, but he came back. Left me alone though.


Makes me think that if you're counting on pepper spray to save you, you may as well shower in straw-berry jam.
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Best use for bear spray is to hose yourself down. After the first few bites, the bear finds you too spicy, goes and finds a different meal. Allows for a open casket.
 
The goal is to not shoot the bear ( in my case ) so less lethal rubber bullets, cracker shells etc. You cannot shoot a bear just a little bit, they don't like that.
 
I started loading my own rubber buckshot rnds. they work well and are allot cheaper than factory.
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I use these for in my yard so distance is between 10 & 30 yrds. They are minute of bear at those distances. Only shoot at the rear end to move a stubborn one and I don't shoot at one that is facing me as I don't want to hit one in the eye. I find that bears really do not like to be touched so the sound and the impact is very effective.
 
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All of my mountain hunting is done with a 6.5 swede. No caliber out there will top “being aware”. The best awareness Iv found, is my pack dog, she’s saved my rear once from a grizzly in camp, and has alerted me of others (goes for any animal, or human) that she has seen/smelt/heard before I did. There are ways to minimize encounters, witch should be thought of, long before caliber choice imo. I tend to lean towards my bullet quality before caliber size when in grizzly country.
 
I get a little nervous in big Bear country. My model 7 in 7-08 just never gave me much confidence. I consider caliber kind of like a seat belt. I probably won't need it, but if I do I'm sure gonna be glad it's there. Not that bullet diameter is the only consideration. Being able to hit your target with a strong bullet and decent energy is going to count. I have to admit I've got magnumitus, I use overkill calibers for whitetail so I'm all good if a bear shows up anyways.
 
GunMunKey said:
I get a little nervous in big Bear country. My model 7 in 7-08 just never gave me much confidence. I consider caliber kind of like a seat belt. I probably won't need it, but if I do I'm sure gonna be glad it's there. Not that bullet diameter is the only consideration. Being able to hit your target with a strong bullet and decent energy is going to count. I have to admit I've got magnumitus, I use overkill calibers for whitetail so I'm all good if a bear shows up anyways.
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The 338 win mag is popular as a elk caliber. Not because its needed for elk, but because when one is buggling elk, you are also calling grizzly.
 
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