Stealthycat:
There will always be exceptions to the rule. I know a guide who uses a 223 to dispatch bears that are wounded but down. He is successful but stupid. It only takes one time for it not to work, to ruin your whole day.

Also black bears, even large ones, cannot be compared to grizzly. An average small inland griz weighs in at about 400 lbs. The coasties are much bigger.

Their bone structure, muscle density, fur and hide are all heavier duty than on any blacky.

This is why Fish and Game divides the big game into class one and class two. Griz are in class two, and blackies are in class one.

Regulations require different minimum weapon use for each class.

For example, there is a 40# min. bow weight for class one animals, and a 50# min. for class two.

Also found in class one are deer, wolf, wolverine, caribou, and dall sheep.

Besides griz, class two has Moose, Muskox, and Mt. Goat,

This picture should help you understand how fundamentally different they are.

<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle> If You Ain't Hunted Alaska, You're Still Just Practicing <img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>