What Gun For Bears?

Sheepdog1968 said:
I don't have a vast array to choose from that I own. When after black bear, I bring my 30-06. For grizzly I'd use my 45-70 with garret Ammo. I also figure a pump action shotgun with some of the harder Bremeke slugs would be just fine.
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I've only shot one deer with a Brenneke slug and it worked to perfection. They're more accurate than regular slugs, at least those I've fired.
 
I hunt sometimes in a very high populated bear traffic area. I primarily hunt deer in this area. I have hunted this area with 30-30 and also a 300 win mag depending on where I am hunting. Normally carry 44mag revolver in case I run into a bear that wants to be aggressive. Most bears I come close to I let them know I am there and they go the other way.
 
For Black bear - .243 Winchester & Federal 100 grain Power Shok
For Inland Grizzly - .270 Winchester & Federal 150 grain Nosler Partition
For Coastal Brown Bear - 7mm Remington Magnum & Federal 175 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
 
Natemi said:
I hunt sometimes in a very high populated bear traffic area. I primarily hunt deer in this area. I have hunted this area with 30-30 and also a 300 win mag depending on where I am hunting. Normally carry 44mag revolver in case I run into a bear that wants to be aggressive. Most bears I come close to I let them know I am there and they go the other way.
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The .30-30 with a good bullet is more capable on the bear than the .44 Magnum I would think, much less the .300 WM! And the rifle is probably already in your hand. I guess if either rifle is in a pack and not quickly accessible then a sidearm might be gotten to more quickly? I guess I am wondering, what is the .44 for?
 
3Crows said:
The .30-30 with a good bullet is more capable on the bear than the .44 Magnum I would think, much less the .300 WM! And the rifle is probably already in your hand. I guess if either rifle is in a pack and not quickly accessible then a sidearm might be gotten to more quickly? I guess I am wondering, what is the .44 for?
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No way. With the right bullet, the .44 will double-up on penetration over virtually any rifle with an expanding bullet.
 
CraigC said:
No way. With the right bullet, the .44 will double-up on penetration over virtually any rifle with an expanding bullet.
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I would not argue that either, but if the .30-30 were to be used for dual purpose on a hunt, hunting and defense (against a bear), I would choose a bullet appropriate to that use. The .30-30 has more velocity, FPE (pushing 2,000 FPE) and with the right bullet plenty of penetration. But even if not true, there is an old saying, something about a bird in hand is worth three in the bush. I am not going to drop a rifle and go hunting for a revolver when in such a situation as bear defense, time is probably very critical. If it were big brown bears I would feel under gunned with either which is why the summer I spent solo hiking at various places in Alaska, I mostly carried a .45-70 Guide Gun. Yeah, it was heavy, but so are those huge bear buster pistols, and frankly, I am a rifleman, not a pistolero ;).
 
3Crows said:
I would not argue that either, but if the .30-30 were to be used for dual purpose on a hunt, hunting and defense (against a bear), I would choose a bullet appropriate to that use. The .30-30 has more velocity, FPE (pushing 2,000 FPE) and with the right bullet plenty of penetration. But even if not true, there is an old saying, something about a bird in hand is worth three in the bush. I am not going to drop a rifle and go hunting for a revolver when in such a situation as bear defense, time is probably very critical. If it were big brown bears I would feel under gunned with either which is why the summer I spent solo hiking at various places in Alaska, I mostly carried a .45-70 Guide Gun. Yeah, it was heavy, but so are those huge bear buster pistols, and frankly, I am a rifleman, not a pistolero ;).
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I think that other than the dedicated handgun hunters, in your .30-30 scenario, the .44 staying on your chest or hip or whatever whilst you are field dressing/quartering your kill is the benefit, in big bear country, I have several rifles I'd trust first, but to drop my knife, shoulder my rifle, and hopefully remember to flick the safety off?? The revolvers (in general) are draw/cock(unless double action), aim/point, fire, repeat. The heavy semi's that have been referenced can be even simpler. Not saying the rifle would get dropped in favor of the handgun, just that when exposed and surprised, I'm quite comfortable drawing and firing and hitting any game sized target at any true self defense distances with little effort and if it's an adrenaline jacked surprise moment, I can retreat without wasting time fumbling around for my rifle.....
 
horsey300 said:
I think that other than the dedicated handgun hunters, in your .30-30 scenario, the .44 staying on your chest or hip or whatever whilst you are field dressing/quartering your kill is the benefit, in big bear country, I have several rifles I'd trust first, but to drop my knife, shoulder my rifle, and hopefully remember to flick the safety off?? The revolvers (in general) are draw/cock(unless double action), aim/point, fire, repeat. The heavy semi's that have been referenced can be even simpler. Not saying the rifle would get dropped in favor of the handgun, just that when exposed and surprised, I'm quite comfortable drawing and firing and hitting any game sized target at any true self defense distances with little effort and if it's an adrenaline jacked surprise moment, I can retreat without wasting time fumbling around for my rifle.....
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I do not disagree with you, just one point though, in the case of the .30-30, most such chambered rifles are lever guns and just like the big revolvers, it is just draw and cock. But yessir, I follow what you are saying and cannot fault your thinking even if I wanted to.
 
For hunting: either my .375AI using Barnes TTSX’s, my only hunting rifle since 1990. Or my S&W 460 XVR (8 3/8”), carried in a Galco Kodiak (cross chest carry) holster, using my cast, powder coated, 400 grain WFN bullets @ 1400+ mv.

For defense: hiking, shed hunting, general camping - a 5” XVR with the aforementioned load. One small caveat.....I don’t own this one yet! memtb
 
It would be the perfect reason to get that CZ550 in 505 Gibbs. Heck it was designed as a stopping rifle for the big 5 so should work on a puny 2,000lb enraged bear. Plus the recoil would hasten my exit from the general area.
 
Take a .300 Win MAg for longer distance shoots on Grizlly, i.e. in Alaska. They hit hard enough ... My bear dropped like a stone.
 
I’ve got my 375 A.I. (375 Weatherby) With a 270gr Triple Shock at around 2,800 Fps. It’s a Custom Mg Arms Bolt action Ultra lite. Approximately 6+ lbs, Detachment scope,open site 3 leaf…. Detachment muzzle break for range time.
The Claw extraction makes me feel warm and fuzzy ,if I was close to a Big Warm and Fuzzy!
 
If in Big Bear country I’d certainly have my 629-4 Classic with its 6.5” Barrel on my low Torso weak side Chest holster. Not exactly nimble, Yet Some Buffalo bore Heavy Hardcast should pick up some steam with that long tube. Now hitting a Bouncing Soccerball sized target,at fast speed with Adrenaline coursing - God willing
 

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