Loaded for bear....

[JMack]

hunting caribou with a grizzly tag in my pocket....would you feel comfortable with a tikka 300win stoked with 200gr (accubonds,partition,aframes) and a 5 round mag while hiking around in grizz country?.....with regard to 1. Reliability in the action feeding etc.....and 2. The amount of firepower at hand? The gun fits me like a glove and points naturally. I'm confident in its accuracy and my abilities with it. Obviously I'm not looking to poke a fight with a bear or put myself in a bad situation just use good common sense and limit my shots to high percentage within a reasonable distance.

 

[sea2summit]

The problem with a a rifle as your primary bear gun is that it will be leaning on a tree with your pack 15' away while you're taking a leak when you need it. I good pistol in the point four four caliber is your best bet. Some of the kids now days are doing the 10mm glock, I'm not sold on that yet but they are lighter.

(Grew up in Alaska, fishing guide for years, shot several bears I wish I hadn't had to)

 

[tmmcampbell]

I'd rather have the rifle in my hand than any pistol. But I agree you should have both. And your rifle is more than adequate if you do your part.

 

[JMack]

I had 10MM Glock sold it I wasn't overly impressed. I'd definitely be more comfortable with a wheel gun in the .44 for if the SHTF.

 

[Guy M]

Oh heck yes! A 300 magnum with a good, heavy, controlled-expansion bullet would be excellent.

I like your description of how well the rifle fits you, and how well you shoot it. That seems more important than sheer power to me. And a 300 mag with a good bullet is a formidable setup, capable of taking any game in North America.

Regards, Guy

 

[JMack]

Oh heck yes! A 300 magnum with a good, heavy, controlled-expansion bullet would be excellent.

I like your description of how well the rifle fits you, and how well you shoot it. That seems more important than sheer power to me. And a 300 mag with a good bullet is a formidable setup, capable of taking any game in North America.

Regards, Guy

Thanks. As you saw my .375 post I have roughly a year to decide what gun I take on the caribou/grizz hunt. The tikkas aren't much to look at but for me they have functioned perfectly and really fit me nice. I don't even feel the need to change the stock. From my research the bolt stop is the only weakness and the magazine length is the only real limiting factor in terms of maximum performance.

 

[Pdvdh]

300WM is enough. Swift A-Frames are great bullets for bear defense.

I don't carry a pistol in addition to my hunting rifle while hunting. A hand gun could be of benefit...

I recommend a scope with lowest power no higher than ~4X, so you can find a bear at close range.

 

[Guy M]

When I hunted grizzly in the arctic, I chose my very familiar 30-06 Rem 700 CDL, with an old 2-7x Redfield. Handloaded 200 gr Nosler Partitions to a modest 2600 fps, zeroed it at 200 yards, as usual. It did a fine job.

Could have taken a 375 H&H Model 70, but a phone conversation with my guide/outfitter ahead of time centered on two questions he posed:

1. This is tough country, difficult hiking. Which rifle is lighter?

2. Much of this country is very open, which rifle do you shoot better at 300 yards?

The answer to each of those questions was my 30-06, which is considerably lighter than my 375 H&H Winchester Model 70. I'm pretty strong, so the weight wasn't a huge consideration, but it was a consideration.

Also, I shoot the 375 well at 300 yards, but I had to admit to myself that I shoot the 30-06 better at that distance & beyond.

Interestingly, all my shooting at the bear (yes it took a few shots) was at 40 yards and closer! I think the 375 would have felt real good in hand when we came upon the bear at close range.

Guy

 

[35 Whelen]

The 300 Win. Mag. will do just fine with the right bullet and if your the most comfortable with it. If I had the chance to go grizzly hunting I'd take my 35 Whelen, I have a 300 Win. Mag. but I like the 35 Whelen and it dose a better job then it gets credit for. Not that there is any thing wrong with the 300, it's a good one too.

 

[35 Whelen]

The problem with a a rifle as your primary bear gun is that it will be leaning on a tree with your pack 15' away while you're taking a leak when you need it. I good pistol in the point four four caliber is your best bet. Some of the kids now days are doing the 10mm glock, I'm not sold on that yet but they are lighter.

(Grew up in Alaska, fishing guide for years, shot several bears I wish I hadn't had to)

Yes I agree a good hand gun should be with you at all times, but I never leave my rifle any farther then half an arms reach away, I don't care if I'm taking a leak, going #2 or gutting an animal, I want my rifle close. An yes once again a handgun easy to get to on me in bear country is a must.

 

[HARPERC]

I would prefer the Swift's, and Partitions, over the Accubond's.

If carrying a bear load in the magazine interest you, the 220 Partitions provide the most you can get from a .30 when stuff gets up close.

 

[Sherman Brownlee]

Go with the 200 partitions or swift they will work. Hand gun 45lc blackhawk 4,3/8. 300gr Keith bullets , both bullets will work 200 partition at 300 and 300 Keith at 3 yards.

 

[Rhino Hunter]

For my last Alaskan trip I bought a .375 Ruger in the Ruger Guide Gun. I felt very well armed. And it did fine on Sitka Blacktail Deer too.

 

[FIGJAM]

I think your 300 win with that ammo will be fine. I hunt deer and elk in grizzly country every year. I know a lot of people are down on the 10mm, but that I what I settled on after messing around with a couple larger caliber wheel guns. Most of my handguns are glocks, I actually like the ergonomics and I shoot them well. I have carried and shot them for almost 20 years. It came down to comfort and accuracy for me. I carry a glock 29 on me because if SHTF I knew I could shoot 10 rounds out of it quicker and more accurate than I could a 44 mag. Because I conceal carry my other glocks all the time, I don't even notice that the 29 is with me. I obviously could have spent the time practicing with a 44 mag and gotten more comforable and confident with it, but this way all the practice I do at the range for every day carry guns transfers over to my bear self defense. I do agree 100% with carrying a handgun in a addition to your rifle.