grizzly caliber

MarineStud · 09-23-2006, 01:42 AM

what is the minimum(sp?) caliber for grizzly. I know shot placement is the most important thing but what is the recommended caliber. i've heard 30 cal and above but the 7mm has more foot pounds of energy than the 30-06, just wondering what every one though.

younggun308 · 09-23-2006, 06:03 AM

I haven't hunted any bear and don't plan to, buta good 30 caliber roundwould be the .338 Lapua or the 375 H&H.
Ruger's Magnum rifle comes in .338 Lapua and 375 H&H Mag,416 Rigby, and .458 Lott,and Remington's custom Alaskan Wilderness Rifle comes insome of those calibers, including the .350 Rem.

Whatever you do, shoot till it drops when you deal with dangerous game.

Just out of curiosity, are you going to Grizzly hunt or are you just asking?

James B · 09-23-2006, 10:59 AM

I am sure that the 270 and 30-06 have taken more big bears than any other calibers. I don't like the 338's but would recommend the 375 H&H and one that I have owned and used, the 416 Rem Mag. I also would not hesitate to use the 45-70 and or the 444 and 450 Marlins. My minimum would be the 30-06 and I feel good packing the 7600 Pump with five 200 grain Nosler Partitions.

bigbulls · 09-23-2006, 11:06 AM

IMHO a grizzly cartridge starts with the .338 Winchester magnum and goes up from there.

.338 Win mag, .338 ultra mag, .330 Dakota, 35 Whelen, 350 Rem mag, .358 norma mag,.375 H&H, 375 ultra mag and the Weatherbys of the same bore diameter. Then of course the big bore levers like the 45-70, 444 Marlin, and 450 Marlin.

IMHO dangerous game is not the place to rely on shot placement. I like to use a .270 elk hunting but I have the luxury of waiting for the right shot. Something I might not be able to do if I startle a Grizzly or make a bad shot and really piss one off.

KonaBoy · 09-23-2006, 11:20 AM

Ditto what bigbulls said, especially about the .35 Whelen

stubblejumper · 09-23-2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

I am sure that the 270 and 30-06 have taken more big bears than any other calibers.

The topic of the thread is grizzlies,and while the 30-06 has certainly killed its share,I doubt that the 270win has killed more grizzlies than most other cartridges.I have been on several hunts in northern and coastalB.C. and have yet to see a single 270win used on a hunt when grizzly is the primary species being hunted.On the other hand,the various 300 magnums and 338s are very popular.

121553 · 09-23-2006, 11:31 AM

A guy here a couple years ago had a griz terrorizing his chickens and shot it with a 410 and killed it. Just so happenedhe shot it in the eye. I wouldn't recommend it though.

chiefks · 09-23-2006, 03:29 PM

No way in heck would I trust a 410, 270 or even a 30-06 against a grizzly bear. To me thats almost asking for trouble.I don't know what I would use, probably won't ever have to worry about it either. But if I did hunt them it would be with a bigger gun than that, and one I couldd shoot acurately!

Jeff Ovington · 09-23-2006, 06:24 PM

Mininum Grizzly cal ???
Hence the word Min.....Thats like building a house on min code requirements, you may save money but it may come back to haunt you if
something fails......
Common you have to show this animal some respect for what this animal is and can do.....
Just measure 12ftfloor to cieling up along a walland 6 to 8ft wide across..Thenstep back and look....
This will give you some idea......
Next watch the discovery channel...There was a great bear program viewing on that channel......
Yeah to .270win with 130gr. contrlled expansion bullets have done the trick in a pinch.But I don't think that peoplle truly go looking for Grizzlies
using this cal.....If they do I haveABSOLUTLY NO SYMPATHY FOR THEM IF THEY GET INJURED....
When I'm in Grizzly country I use 30-06 with 180 TBBC for defence purpose only......
I'm confident enough these will do as long as there is enough distance between me and the bear...
But this certainly wouldn't be any true bear hunters of choice cal......
I'd leave the .277 cal and .284 cal at home......
To hunt this animal with confidence,I'd start with .30 cal magnums in 180 -200gr.controlled expansion bullets and go up from there,.311 Imperial mag,8mm Rem Mag .338 Win Mag etc .338 Lapua 45-70 etc......
If you can handle the recoil, 375 H&H......
I'll even through in the .50 cal BMG......

James B · 09-24-2006, 05:27 AM

Most of the Grizzly bears on this planet were killed long before the 338 and 300 Magnums were even in use. Calibers like the 30-06, 270, 30-40 Krag,300 Savage 44-40,45-70, 45-90 and yes the 30-30 and 303 Brit, not to mention muzzle loaders and shotguns.

NOTE.. I recommended the 375 H&H and 416 Rem Mag.