RE: Is .308 enough for elk and large bear?
 

One year hunting for mule deer in Wyoming, I came within 40 yards of a grizzly that was feeding on an elk's ribcage. While the bear made no threat toward me, I really wished I had been carrying something bigger than my 308.

RE: Is .308 enough for elk and large bear?
 

Not knocking the 308 or 303 British... they have both killed lots of big game. If I think I stand a chance of getting stomped or eaten, I carry a 45 70. However, 300 yards are different. A bear shot at 300.... I would want to be real sure I am going to hit at that range. I wouldn't be thrilled to go into thick brush against a wounded one. My inclination would be to go to a 338, 35 whelen or 375 holland & holland; the biggest wound channel I could hit with at 300.

Once the american buffalo and grizzly decreased in range & numbers, US calibers got small. Going after the big critters, I would think big-ger.

RE: Is .308 enough for elk and large bear?
 

I'm with BJ here. The .308Win. is okay for elk, and most black bear. Use a good 180gr.
bullet like the Core-Lokt Ultra, Nosler Partitions, etc. I'd limit the range to maybe 200yds., 250yd. max.

BUT, when it comes to the BIG bears, including grizzly or even up to brown bears, I want
more - much more. I like the .35 Whelen (250gr. bullets), and most would also go with
the .338Win.Mag., again with the heavier bullets (250gr.). Personally, if I'm going to go with a magnum I'm moving up, and would go with the trusty old .375H&H. I want some-thing that can break down a bear. Gettin' chewed on is not my idea of a fun hunt.
Another possible option is the .350 Rem. Mag., but the only factory loads from Remington still use the 200gr. bullet. I'd have to handload it. Its' ballistics are very
similar to the .35Whelen.

I'm not knocking the 7mm magnums or the .30 magnums. They're excellent cartridges,
and would be great for Elk, black bear, moose, and of course, any deer. But, when it
comes to something that can turn the hunter into the hunted, I want a bigger hole at the
muzzle. :D

RE: Is .308 enough for elk and large bear?
 

I think that the 300mags would be minimum for what your talking. The 308 would probably do under 200yds but I personally want more than a 308 if I'm that close to a big bear. He might just take that 308 away from me and paddle my a$$ with it.:D

RE: Is .308 enough for elk and large bear?
 

There isn't much difference between the .308, the 30-06, 300 WM, and 7mm. None of those bigger cartridges will do anything the .308 won't except fly a little flatter downrange. If you're not comfortable with a .308 then go with a bigbore like a .338, .375, 45-70, or a .458 WM.

RE: Is .308 enough for elk and large bear?
 

How many of you guys in this thread have "actually hunted and shot" a big bear????? I have, and here's my "experience".

First off, NO ONE and i mean NO one, should be shooting at ANY bear that isn't already wounded, at 2 and 300 yards!!!! I don't give a damn what your carrying!

As for useing a 308 Win.. on elk, no problem at all, use proper bullets for that job. As for big bears, i have my Min. for 30 cal. set at the 30-06, and that's with GOOD bullets and loads! The reason i pick the 06 over the 308, is it will drive 200 grain bullets faster, and that means more penetration. (with proper bullets) You need "good penetration" for big bears, and in this case, 200 grain NP would be my choise. You need to be "knocking these animials down", NOT shooting them in the ribs, and then have to go look for them!!!!

As for the 300 Win. mag and Wby. mag., no problem, but use GOOD expanding bullets!! It's very hard to beat 200 NP's in 30 cal. for good expansion, and very good penetration.

Drilling Man

RE: Is .308 enough for elk and large bear?
 

Briman - I dont know what your thinking, did you eat some strange mushrooms when hunting today? the 06, 300wm, and 7rem mag ARE much more powerful than the 308, dont believe it? Look in a reloading manual at how they handle big bullets compared to the 308. The ONLY circumstance where what you say is true is if you are useing small bullets at short range, then the 308 would do just as well. The other calibers are not meant for small bullets, and neither are LARGE bears.

RE: Is .308 enough for elk and large bear?
 

the .308 is enough for elk's...

Niko

RE: Is .308 enough for elk and large bear?
 

I have shot big bears with a 45-70 and it does the job as does the 30-06. I also load the 200 grain Partition or the 200 grain X bullet. Many years ago I loaded only the 220 grain round nose for the 30-06 for Game bigger than elk. I used to get them at a hardware store that got them from some dept of the Government surplus. My Uncle shot several Polar bears with a 303 British. Thats a feat I would not care to duplicate but it worked for him.

RE: Is .308 enough for elk and large bear?
 

Thanks drillingman, I had a friend move to Alaska for a short time and before he left he bought a .300 win mag. While he was there he was told by many locals that all he needed was the old and trusty .30-06. He had about the same experience we would have taking a .416R to deer camp.