I've been reading the "Bear Posts" on here for some time now and have enjoyed the opinions and suggestions of all, so now I would like to throw my 2-Cents in. Speaking as one who HAS been charged by a "Blackie" (at Kenai Lake, AK), I can tell you first hand that a charge from 75 feet away happens so quickly that lifting your gun for a hip shot is about the fastest you can expect your body can react. I would challenge some of you to look yourself in the mirror and decide just how well you can place that "Head Shot" at a blur running at you, clacking it's teeth. Additionaly, "Calm and Relaxed" are two words that DON"T come to mind when I think back on that day. The odds are against you even hitting a bear (regardless of your caliber size) in that situation. I would submit to all of you that a fogging pepper spray is more effective at staving off a charge (little to no accuracy needed).

In response to the caliber of choice, I still carry my 44 Red Hawk on my hip and a 30-06 under my arm (and now, pepper spray on my vest). I've dropped Caribou, Black Bear, and White Tails with my 06 and trust that it would easily take a Grizzly as long as situation were in my favor. Some of you "Sourdoughs" can remember 50 years ago, the "06" was taking Grizzlies and Coastal Browns, and was considered the "Big Boy" cartridge. The problem with the 06 is that it doesn't have the "Freight Train" knock out power that the medium and large bore calibers like the 338 and the 375 H/H have. The thought of chasing a Brown into the bush with only an "06" 180 grain Partition bouncing around somewhere between the rib cage, creates a bit of a "Pucker" factor. Remember, this is an animal with a resting heart rate of about 20 beats per minute; even with the heart and lungs gone, he'll have plenty of time to sample your liver and kidneys.