Posted on 06/23/2023 4:16:59 PM PDT by marktwain
Alaskan hunter here. If I’m in tight alders in brown bear country, I carry a lightweight .375 Ruger with a fixed 2.5 power scope. It sucks to shoot.
But most of the time, my go-to is a .270 Winchester.
Have taken a couple blacktails with 14.5” AR as well (.223 Wylde).
I’ve always been a fan of the .45-70. Garrett and Buffalo Bore make some really good big game rounds. 150 yards is about the limit of the effective range in regards to bullet drop but they have some serious terminal energy numbers. In a Marlin Guide Gun I think it would make the ideal choice for big and/or dangerous critters in cover.
Before my guns sank in a boating accident I would buy the same handguns and ammo that the local law enforcement agencies use. And anti gun DA can’t say you used “super dooper lethal dum-dum cop killer” bullets and guns if their own cops were using the same.
As for hunting... Go for what is comfortable and accurate to take down the animal you are hunting for a clean quick kill.
The first question I ask friends and associates when they show off new guns is “can you hit anything with it?” That’s the first key to success.
CC
What’s the typical range you’re taking animals?
W.D.M. "Karamojo" Bell frequently used a 7mm Mauser to take elephants, using brain shots to drop them in their tracks.
The ammunition was military issue, with a 172 grain, round nose, full metal jacketed bullet travelling at a modest 2,200 feet per second.
Bell killed over 1,000 elephants and 800 Cape buffalo during his time in Africa, the vast majority of these with a 6.5mm, 7mm or .303 rifle.
Yuh That’s what I thought you might say. The .270/150 gr. combo picks up where the 30-06/180 gr. combo leaves off, past about 250 yards. I usually carry the latter, and I’m in coastal Oregon. It’s a bit much at 30 yards, but I might see something at 200+ yards, and I want to find it where I shot it if I have to walk a circuitous route to get to it.
I’d be perfectly comfortable running a .30-06/180 as well. I’ve thought about switching to exactly that (I think it actually fits my needs a little better), but it’s just not different enough to justify a caliber change. They both work quite well.
If I ever change, I think it’d be to drop the .270 and the .375 and consolidate to a .300 WM running 200s. Try for a true do-all gun. But I’m pretty content with the .270, and I enjoy shooting my nasty little .375 too much to give it up lol.
Thanks Dean for another great article on bears and I know I’d be prepared in the future if needed.
.
Between Eye and Ear
If You want to Win
a world class Bear
Like Bella Twin!
Hit the back of his Throat
Or drive it in his Snout
And chances are Good
You’ll make It Out!
.
BRB
Yeah. If I ever have opportunity to hunt Alaska, a new rifle might be in order. Stainless, in .300 Win Mag.
I like it!
When buying out deer rifles for my 2 boys and myself, I wanted to go with .308 but it’s not a popular round down in AL. I went instead with .270. Almost the same ballistics. Very flat round. So all of our REM 700 are in .270 and we mostly use 150gr soft tips. Sometimes I will use 130gr but rarely.
Poem, I did.
I told Ya
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