Brown bear Rifle

[VernAK]

Being that this is a long range site, be sure you and your guide agree on maximum allowable distance for shooting a bear.

Years past, I've hunted Kodiak and AkPen and I tend to prefer AkPen. In the past few years I've referred 4 L48 friends to Phil Shoemaker and all 4 came away with good bears.

 

[hunter67wa]

You will be just fine. Good luck.

 

[tomsd]

Love that one of the saltiest ever - giant Kodiak guides - said: That ole six bits works pretty good. As in 75 cents - further extrapolated to .375. The bigger the bear - the bigger the gun recommended, And practice. I have shot a .375 - not that rattling of a kick - lean into it a little. Dos

 

[Murph1951]

A 300 WM is enough gun, but as others have said check with your guide. I would rethink Noslers and start thinking about 220 grain Woodleigh Weldcore. I know bullets are scarce as hens teeth. Two big problems Alaskan guides have are out of shape fat slobs and those that can not shoot their gun with any accuracy.

 

[Schroedernd]

I lived. In AK for 11 years and go back twice a year now to fish. When I lived up there all my buddies doing a Kodiak hunt seemed to swear by taking a 375 with them. As long as you feel comfortable with your current caliber you will be fine. Just have a revolver ready to go as a backup!

 

[Safariman62]

Your existing rifle is a great choice. Back in 1989 I hunted brown bear on the Alaskan peninsula with a .375 H&H. I was charged by a sow brown bear, her charge started at 17 steps. God decided it wasn't my day to die because somehow I was able to get my gun up, shoot her in the mouth which caused her to fall down an embankment into the stream and died. I could never make that shot again if I had 1000 tries! Personally, if I were going back to brown bear country, I'd take a canon!! Lol

 

[hudel]

Lucky for sure

 

[Coyote01]

Planning on a once in a lifetime brown bear Alaskan hunt in a couple years. Have a 300 Win Mag that shoots 220 Nosler partitions and 200 Nosler partitions quite well. Don't really want to buy another rifle but should I move up to a 338 class? Thinking of either a 33 Nosler, 338 WM or 338 ultra??? Opinions???

Some outfits have a minimum on big bears. I would check that first. If they say 300 well then your ready to go. At the ranges you will be killing brown bears you need thump more then range anyway. I'm sure a heavy bullet out of anything 270 and up would be fine in my opinion.

 

[Marine sniper]

As everyone else has said; your current rifle is plenty! (I would prefer Swift A-frames / Barnes TSX / Nosler Partition) that said if you just want a new rifle, 338-375 with good bullets. The 338 Lapua is one hell of an all around cartridge, IMO the best all around North American cartridge available.

 

[Sanford338]

Planning on a once in a lifetime brown bear Alaskan hunt in a couple years. Have a 300 Win Mag that shoots 220 Nosler partitions and 200 Nosler partitions quite well. Don't really want to buy another rifle but should I move up to a 338 class? Thinking of either a 33 Nosler, 338 WM or 338 ultra??? Opinions???

Have a fully custom 338 RUM... my elk thumper. All the calibers mentioned will get it done. Talk to your guide and see what he recommends... I'd even add the 30-378 Wby as well.. my own personal choice for this ~ if I was going.. the 338 RUM... good luck on your hunt! Let us know what you go with, show some pictures when it's finished!!
Mark from Texas

 

[Chas1]

Use the gun you know...many have been killed with a lesser caliber than a 300wm.

X-3

 

[Backcountry sports]

Planning on a once in a lifetime brown bear Alaskan hunt in a couple years. Have a 300 Win Mag that shoots 220 Nosler partitions and 200 Nosler partitions quite well. Don't really want to buy another rifle but should I move up to a 338 class? Thinking of either a 33 Nosler, 338 WM or 338 ultra??? Opinions???

You will be fine just concentration on shot placement when I was up there I used 7mm

 

[dieseldoc]

Take your 300 win mag and don't be surprised after your first shot the guide will hammer the bear with the 375. My experience with Brown bears is they need to be down SAP and the guide will insure that.
Good luck with the hunt.

 

[jimb100]

Planning on a once in a lifetime brown bear Alaskan hunt in a couple years. Have a 300 Win Mag that shoots 220 Nosler partitions and 200 Nosler partitions quite well. Don't really want to buy another rifle but should I move up to a 338 class? Thinking of either a 33 Nosler, 338 WM or 338 ultra??? Opinions???

You've got plenty of rifle. Use it. I have hunted there with a 300 Weatherby mag and that's enough gun as well. Bought a stock protector for the wood stock. Lots of wet weather.