grizzly backup gun
 

O.K. guys, here's the thing. Lets say your on a bow hunting trip for Alaskan brown bears and you get two choices for your backup gun. Would it be a bolt action .243 (with any bullet you chose), or would you pick a Winchester 94 30-30 (any bullet). Me? I'd pick the 30-30 simply because I could shoot a lot quicker at close range if he charged me. You?

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

I carry a Ruger Super RedHawk .44 mag/71/2" bbl as a
side arm and BLR .358 when Elk in high country.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

I wouldn't consider either as a back up firearm for an angry bear. Of the two though I think I would opt for the 30-30 with the nasiest bullets you can find for it.

In my opinion both are ok for deer, but that would be my limit, certainly not bear. I consider the 243 to be more of a varmint, small/medium game type weapon.

I would use a 12 gauge slug gun if you have one rather than the two rifles you mentioned.

Just my opinion any way. I don't bear though.

Paul

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

ditto. i wouldn't necessarilly want either of those. if you can't get anything larger get a 12 with tons of slugs and buckshot.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

I've killed a grizzly at 35 yards & neither of your choices are a good backup gun for bear. Etiher of those will kill a griz, but that is the problem. The issue gets discussed all the time. The real issue is not killing a bear, but stopping a bear. Those are two totally different issues. My idea of a backup gun is very high powered handgun that I can fire rapidly at say 10 feet. I want something I can possibly squeeze off while I'm rolling around on the ground getting eaten.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

If I were bow hunting I certainly wouldn't be carrying around a rifle no matter what it was chambered for.

I would be packing a double action revolver wuch as the Ruger Alaskan in 454 casull or 480 Ruger or a S&W 629 with a 3" barrel in 44 mag.

If I had only those two to choose from I probably wouldn't even bother with them. I would rather have some pepper spray.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

I agree with bigbulls. I would have to opt for a good hand cannon over a rifle. And neither of those rifles would be adaquit in my mind to stop a bear.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

Can I buy a vowel?? :D:D:D No way I'd wanna try to knock a pizzed off grizz down with any of the above. Although if I had my arm twisted...Id have to say 30-30 and try to load a 300 gr flat nose and see if I could push it at least 2500 fps :D

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

Hope your good with the bow, cause either of those calibers aren't much better than a stick n string against an angry bear. I've heard stories of a charging grizz. shrugging off several aught 6 rounds before one found the the brain. Good luck.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

I second Paul's choice. A shotgun with 00 buck shot and plenty of shells.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

If all you have is the 30-30 then that is what I would use for back up. I would absolutely make sure to look into hand loaded or higher pressure rounds for it though. You are going to want the heaviest cast bullet you can find. You won't want to be firing fast expanding soft points at a grizzly.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

This may put into perspective how under powered the 30-30 is for brown bears. I worked with a guy that shot a 550 lbs black bear 2 times in the chest with a 30-30, his hunting partner heard the shots and shot the bear with his 06 killing it. They were disputing who actually killed the bear. When they skinned the bear both 30-30 round were found mushroomed against the bears chest but did not penetrate into the vitals. Now Iconcide that had the 30-30 shot the bear behind the shoulder it probably would had done the job, but a backup gun will by definition require a frontal chest shot on a charging bear and I just dont thinkeither roundcan do what you are asking it to do. If you cannot afford or borrow a 12 gauge I would rather have a sharp spear or better yet a bayonett on on the rifle because you will need it.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

243 or 30-30 for back up gun on grizzly bears, eh?

Leave both at home an buy a can of bear spray!

If you just HAVE to take either one, then be sure to file down the front sight smooth to the barrel and keep the muzzle coated with vaseline.... [:'(][:'(]

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

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RE: grizzly backup gun
 

I wouldn't put much faith in either a 30-30 or 243 for the bruins.Invest in a short barreled handgun chambered in the 454 Casull or the 480 Ruger. Youmight consider a S&W 500or 460.Ruger's Alaskan was designed as a back up gun.A powerhouse in a small package.

Ruger Redhawk

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

why not just use bacon grease hopefully then he'll purposely take it into his mouth unstead of having to force it in.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

GUYS! First of all this isn't a real life scenario. I'm not EVEN GOING GRIZZLY HUNTING! I was only wondering what gun you would chose BETWEEN THE TWO. Just pick one of the two guns, 30-30 or .243. I definately wouldn't take either of those guns as my choice but I was only wondering WHAT IF.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

:D:DMatthew, you ask a question like that and this is what
happens!:D:D:D:D

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

Now, there a classic case of PI** POOR CHOISE OF BULLET!!! It has nothing to do with the fact that it was a 30-30 that it came out of!!!

Asto the origional question. I don't like either choise, but of the two i'd hands down take the 30-30 with 170 grain NP's!!! It's the load the guy above SHOULD have been useing!!

Drilling Man

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

DM you are probably right about the bullet selection but I would mention the bullets stayed intack and retained most if not all weight. The partition would also retain weight, however probably would have not expanded as quickley.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

I don't reload, but I would imagine that you could load up some 220 grain round nose bullets in the 30-30, and they would be pretty good bear medicine.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

Actually theNP's "nose" would have expanded quite fast as it should!!! BUT, from the partition back, itwould havepenetrated deep doing a lot of damage and breaking bone on it's way!!!

That's what NP's do best, nose comes off even on soft animials, and the rest of the bullet drives deep even on tough animials!

Even in a 30-30!!

Drilling Man

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

I realize this is a hypothetical question but I guess I just don't get it.[&:] Cause who in their right mind would use either as a grizzly back up gun?

Who is going to carry it for you while you are carrying your bow and pack?

Alaska requires a guide to hunt bears so he will have a big bore back up gun which will allow me to run and/ or hide while he is taking aim.;) :D


Try to stop a charging Grizzly with either of these two cartridges and unless you are very very very lucky with where the bullet impacts you will be a dead hunter. Even if yo do get into the vitals and inflict a fatal would it aint gonna kill him before he kills you.

I guess you could hope that the charging bear might realize that you are trying to stop him with a 30-30 and fall over dead laughing his arse off at you.

RE: grizzly backup gun
 

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RE: grizzly backup gun
 

The new .500 Smith and Wesson revolver looks like a good candidate for a grizzly back up gun. It equals the performance of a .50 caliber muzzleloader with stout loads. I think I would still go for the 12 guage with and extended magazine full of rifled slugs.