Firearm Recommendations For Brown/Grizzly Hunting

FIREARM RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR

BROWN/GRIZZLY HUNTING

     I have been involved with taking a significant number of Brown / Grizzly bears over the years. I hold a great deal of respect for our largest predator, and am a firm believer in using enough gun. Brownies can be a very tough customer, and when things begin to go wrong, it happens in a hurry–with potentially lethal consequences to both guide and hunter. Shot placement is critical with Brownies, and it is vital that the first shot penetrate the heart/lung region-what we call the “engine room”. A bear that does not take a mortal blow with the first shot receives a terrific jolt of adrenaline, and is often able to travel long distances. Even with additional large-caliber hits, the odds of a successful recovery are greatly diminished; and a great expenditure of effort, time, and money goes unrewarded.

     In addition to being equipped with a proper firearm, it is very important to be competent with its use. Practice shooting from a number of positions-especially off-hand. It is every guide's goal to get his client to good shooting position with a solid rest at moderate range, but bear movements are unpredictable by nature, and you should prepare yourself for a close, off-hand shot as well. Learn where the vital areas are at different angles, and shoot a heavy bullet with good penetration. A high-powered scope has no business on a brown bear hunt-a good low to moderate powered fixed or variable with a good field of view is important. A close encounter becomes lost opportunity or a dangerous situation when an over-scoped hunter finds he cannot locate the target.

     The minimum that I recommend for anyone wishing to tackle Alaska's big bears is a .338 win. Magnum loaded with 250-grain ammunition. Although I have helped take a fair number of Brown/Grizzly with .30 cal. Magnums, I feel that they are marginal at best for an encounter with a big bear. My own favorite bear rifle is a pre-'64 M70 Win. .375 H&H magnum equipped with a 1.5 x 5 Leupold and recently re-stocked by Jim Borden with his Rimrock line after the original was broken off in a fall. For back-up work on the big coastal brownies I have been carrying a M70 Classic in .416 Rem. Mag. scoped with a 1.75 x 6 Leupold Dot VXIII, and loaded with 325 gr. Hawk bullets “zero” at 100 yds. The results from this combination have been excellent, and the recoil quit manageable with bullet weights of 350 grains or less.

Back