Ultimate Bear Stopper

12 gauge pump with Dixie IXL-DGS slugs

How about a BAR converted to .416 Taylor? .358 Norma? I’ve always wondered if that was possible...


Personally my guide gun .45/70 is enough for me to want should I be in coastal bear country...

Stay safe!

94045 said:

If you were on Kodiak with a deer down and a Big Coastie circling and woofing in the fog what would you most want in your hands.

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The rifle I would most likely have in my hands would be the same rifle I used to put the deer down. That doesn't mean it's the rifle I would most want in my hands when there's "a Big Coastie circling and woofing in the fog," but it is the most likely because I'm not likely to carry two rifles on a deer hunt.
Therefore, I'd go for a good, dependable 375 H&H. Or better yet, my old Model 70, 338 Win Mag because I already have it.

.404 Jeffery because if I ever buy a rifle chambered for a cartridge more powerful than .338 WinMag it will be a .404 Jeffery. But I’m with .308 Norma. If I’m deer hunting I’ll be carrying a rifle chambered in a deer cartridge. Under the scenario represented I would have a guide since it’s Kodiak island and also because I’m not an intrepid Kilcher. I’d tell the guide, you lead, I’ll be BEHIND you the whole way.

I'll go with my .458 WM Zastava. Lottsa mozza there, so to speak...

I think this looks really interesting too

https://www.b-mriflesandcartridges.com/upload/50BMAK by Layne Simpson.pdf

If I was deer hunting with it too I would probably get a 375 H&H though.

Mosin M44. If five rounds of 7.62x54r doesn't stop him I still have the bayonet.

My only brother lives in the MatSu area -just about 30 miles north of Palmer and has lived a subsistence life style for many years with only game meat in the freezers... Where he hunts in the interior the bears are nowhere near as big coasties - but most of them have learned that a rifle shot means a feeding opportunity and can get aggressive about it... He tells me you don't hunt solo ever and because willow and aspen thickets are high and dense, if a bear is coming (hopefully only false charging) you can hear him - but can't see him (and won't until he gets close...).

As a result, all of his hunts are with a 375 H&H, period (he has three of them - all bought used in-state over the years). That same rifle is used in open tundra for caribou for long shots -or for hunting moose up close in timber - and much in-between. He'll take a small black bear for roasts and stews but has never (yet) had to shoot a grizz. That 375 should be up to the job if it's ever needed.

Me, I'm not a hunter (except for two-legged animals - and I've quit doing that...) - I'm a fisherman and live a world away, down in south Florida. My brother? He thinks salmon is what you feed your dogs...

7.62x54r has always worked VERY well dropping Brown Bears, as does .308, 30-06......pretty hard to choose.

Rapid follow up shots. Big slow moving bullet. Has been used on elephants.

Marlin .45-70 loaded with Hornady 350gr Round Nose stepping along at 2,000fps for a ME over 4,000 foot pounds...

M60 with a couple of belts

Salmoneye said:

Marlin .45-70 loaded with Hornady 350gr Round Nose stepping along at 2,000fps for a ME over 4,000 foot pounds...

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But you only get one shot. Then the medicals have to re-attach your shoulder.

For what I would be willing to actually carry? A marlin 45-70 or a 12 gauge autoloader with something really nasty.

94045 said:

.416 Ruger is the same diameter at the case head and the body is the same diameter as the belt on the .300 Win Mag / .375 H&H / .416 Taylor just carriers that diameter all the way forward and retains the 3.34" overall length The .416 Ruger is factory loaded and would be as stronger cartridge than the Taylor as it has more capacity.

I chose the .416 Ruger as I believe it is the largest practical cartridge in powder capacity and size for those actions without the sectional density and stability issues the .458 Win Mag has had (although newer bullet designs may have alleviated this).

If you want an interesting read sometime read about the dismal failure the .458 was at its intro in Africa. It absolutely failed to penetrate on buffalo due to a lack of sectional density, to lightly constructed bullets and inadequate velocity to stabilize in flesh (tumbling with resulting loss of penetration). The sad thing was the very engineer that designed the cartridge tried to tell the Ad Men that it shouldn't be used on thick skin / dangerous game and nobody would listen and a few good men died as a result.

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I knew the Taylor and Norma mags would probably only need a new barrel and proper gassing to fit the BAR, but I don’t know if the gun would be battered to death by the increased recoil these rounds develop over the .338. I also didn’t know if the Ruger was a magnum bolt head sized round or larger, but if they’re the same size the Ruger rounds could also be a possibility for a simpler rebarreling job than adding a bolt head modification to it as well.

The .458 just doesn’t have the ooomph to be super reliable on those big animals, (and neither would the .45/70), but they both seem to be used in Africa a lot. (Speaking of Lott, his .458 is much more effective at causing damage... on both ends of the gun ...

Stay safe!

Any good double rifle in 470 nitro express.

If I was the deer hunter, as others have mentioned, I would probably have my deer rifle, a BAR in .270 Win with 150 grains power points. I would not feel undergunned in front of any bear. I might miss if the bear charged me though, it kind of gets someone nervous, I guess. The gun would not be faulty, I might. If I was fishing and carrying for defensive purpose, it would be my twelve gauge pump loaded with four Brenneke slugs followed by two 00 Buck 2.75 loads. If I ever get to the buckshot, it will be so close that penetration should be adequate.

Winchester 70 SS Classic, 30-06 loaded with 220 gr Partitions. Those bear have been killed with 9mm and 223. There is no evidence that anything bigger than 30-06 loaded heavy works any better.

When I was in that position, a couple times 30 and 35 years ago the first time with a. Ruger 77 .338 win with a Leupold 2-8 with post and the second time with a Pre 64 Wincherster Super Grade .375 with a 1.5-6 Zeiss with German heavy picket post. Bear was on the tag the first time so I was hoping

Ultimate .458 WM, second best .375 H& H, third 12 ga with slugs.

Most Alaskan hunting guides use a 12 ga slug gun, .45-70 (or .50 Alaskan) lever gun, or .375 HH mag, in my understanding,, and roughly in that order of popularity -- though all manner of chamberings and configs are used, of course. "Ultimate" is limited solely by weight (practicality) and recoil tolerance.