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I am trying to decide a good rifle choice for a spring black bear hunt in Alaska this coming year for my wife. I have a 280? 30-06? 300wsm? 7mm mag? she does not like a lot of thump on her shoulder. | ||
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Go with the .280.  | |||
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Federal 338 | |||
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7-08 w/154gr Horn RN bullet I concluded my speech by telling them that I was done with politics for the present, and they might all go to hell, and I would go to Texas. -- Davy Crockett 11AUG1935 | |||
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 6.5X55. With 156 or 160 grain bullets. For that matter a 140 may work just fine.  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Sorry reread your post how about one of hornady's reduced loads for your various rifles or if you reload come up with a slow 200gr for you 06' Hot stuff your wife is joining, you good luck in your spring hunt.... | |||
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280 with triple shocks.  Doug Humbarger NRA Life member Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73. Yankee Station Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo. | |||
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The 280 loaded with the 160 gr Nosler Partition at 2600 fps or so. A killing machine and easy to shoot as well. | |||
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Not sure if you're looking to use one of your rifles or buying a new one. I like my 358 Win for black bear. **************** NRA Life Benefactor Member | |||
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FWIW, I spoke to a Canadian outfitter a few months ago about a black bear hunt that I want to take my son on. I asked him if the .308 that my son shoots proficiently would be okay. Without hesitation he said that would be a great caliber. His only caveat was to stay away from the shoulder. | |||
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The 280 was my pick as well, so with the majority of replies being 280 out of my choices I will start loading up some 160 grain barnes. Any pet loads for the 160? | |||
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I put a 180 Scirocco from an .06 through the shoulders of 5 black bears from 6 yards to 66 yards. Smallest bear: 200 lb., largest, 350. FYI. To the OP: my friend took his wife BB hunting in New Brunswick with a 243. She killed a nice 300# bear with a 95 gr Btip at Bait range. Let your wife shoot the 280 with a 140 grain bullet. Black bears are thin skinned and easy to kill. Much easier than a deer in my experience. Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns | |||
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.280 or .30-06 "Let me start off with two words: Made in America" | |||
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Jim, I think Doc has about the right idea. Moving down from a 160gr to a 140gr bullet will make a big difference on your wifes shoulder, but not much of a difference on the bear. Fit the stock to her, put a good recoil pad on it, and I would expect she would do just fine. | |||
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Ok, I can agree about a 140 for the 280 for recoil reduction, any load suggestions? | |||
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She is going to be in Alaska --there is almost always the risk of running in to a Grizz / Brownie. If there is a chance she will be alone for even a bit I consider the 30-06 as a good minimum. A 180 partition or premium bullet for a hunt is money well spent. A spring hunt up here can be brutal weather wise so the rifle must fit HER with heavy clothing and even a pack strap over the shooting shoulder. This means the rifle that was perfect at home on the range is now to long for her to even get an image in the scope. She will not be shooting bunches of heavy recoil rounds --only a few killing shots she wont even make note of at the time. Get or reload some easy recoil stuff to get her all knowed up with the rifle. This is one of the very most important things that the gun function and fireing is reflex at the time of battle. I built my wife a 1918 vintage 1903 Springfield that fits HER with hunt clothes on. She shoots medium loads for funzies and only a couple proving rounds of the heavy stuff before a hunt. The 06 has fed our family since the 50's and it is my go to gun for the hunt. I have 4 of them. A carry a 45-70 lever gun shortie most of the time when I am crashing about and not hunting. Remember -- she is hunting Alaska, don't send her out with a pop gun that some one else has to track a wounded bear after the small gun wounds. Rod in Wasilla | |||
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I'd go with a 7mm-08 with either a 140 grain Nosler Partition or Barnes TTSX. Graybird "Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after ... it's the reckoning." | |||
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Excellent advise. The gun must fit her. I would even consider shortening the barrel to 20" or so. Also a 308 with a 180gr Nolser Partition would be a good choice aned the gun could be a little lighter and shorter still. DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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My bil had a .280 that was a brutal kicker. I would hands-down take a 7mm-08 or a .260. Both are more than adequate with reasonable recoil. No bear is going to walk away with a 140 partition from either. | |||
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I would suggest a 7x57 with 175 gr. bullets, preferably Nosler partitions at about 2300 to 2400 FPS..That will lay low the largest of black bear or even an Alaskan Brown, and do it without a lot of muzzle blast and recoil.. If that does not work the get her a 250-3000, It will kill the largest black bear with a 117 gr. Factory Rem. Corelokt. and recoil is less than a 30-30... Make her shoot more often and get over that recoil aprehension..Some folks just shouldn't be hunting big game so keep that in mind..Not everyone is so inclined. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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My wife uses a Browning BAR 7mm Rem Mag alloy receiver, 20" barrel, stock cut down to 12 1/2" pull. I load Barnes 150 gr. TSX to 2600 fps, she can shoot 1" groups, and the gun functions 100% even at -10 below. She has shot several black bears and a truck load of whitetails with it. By the way she is 5'-0" and weights 110 lbs. I have tried over the years to get her to try other caliber guns, her BAR is her only rifle . And the saying "Beware of the man that owns one gun", is so true with her, one shot one kill track them 50 yrds. | |||
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358 Win with 35 Rem velocities for practice or just go 35 Rem 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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 Still a pretty hefty shoulder biter. rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Remember, it will be HER rifle. Take her to a local shop to see if she likes the Ruger 77 in 338 RCM. If she does, buy it for her or go to CDNN and order one for $399, page 46 of their current catalog. My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost. | |||
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180 grain hornady at 2,300 8lb gun 11 ft lbs recoil 10 fps recoil velocity. 308 Win about 14 ft lbs Practice with 35 pistol bullets. Remington has a 150 grain 35 rem at 2,300 for 8lbs recoil. About the same as a 243 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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Boomie, He's in Colorado. We have alot of open country out here. Need to keep the velocity up, so a .358 probably isn't the best option for this state. | |||
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Maybe the 7-08 with 140 grainers. 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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Nothing wrong with that combination.  | |||
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I didn't see 7-08 on his list. I thought it was a choice from the rifles he has on hand. Take the 280 and stuff it with a good bullet that penetrates well. My recommendation is either a 140 Barnes TSX or TTSX as first choice. Aframe second, partition 3rd. Between now and the time of the hunt, have her shoot 100-200 rounds of cheap factory ammo for practice. You can always modify the rifle and go with a good recoil pad. I'd rather my wife have a 280 with a 140 bullet she can shoot over a 30.06 she cannot. Regardless, if my wife came across a big bear like a grizz, she'd shit her pants, throw the rifle at the bear and run. Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns | |||
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sniper we DO have a lot of open land here, but the OP is talking about a spring bear hunt in AK with whatever rifle is chosen. From what you have, I think its a toss up between the 280 and 30-06. With the 30-06 I'd try out some 165gr Accubonds first, see if that doesn't thump her too much. If that is fine, maybe step up to a 180gr of some sort and just see how she takes em. You could always bring one of the magnums along, have her shoot THAT at the range, then the 30-06 or 280 will feel like a 243 lol If you think every possible niche has been filled already, thank a wildcatter! | |||
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I will be at her side during the hunt and will have a 340wtb backing her. I have decided on the 280 and will load the barnes 140tsx. Not sure what load yet so if any of you have a tried and true load I'm all ears. | |||
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Once again a 7-08 with a 140 gr. TSX. | |||
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The .280 with a 140 Barnes is a fine choice for your wife. It should kill the bear just fine. Back in Colorado it will serve her well for Deer, Antelope, and Elk. Hopefully she will get many years of enjoyment out of the rifle. | |||
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I'd say it was a pretty good trade..... /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Ba dum tissshhhh! 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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The 280 will work fine , just make sure the stock fits her !! Poorly fitted stocks accentuate the recoil ! | |||
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338 federal in a gun that fits her | |||
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I agree with the 338 federal-use 160 or 185 barnes-great round and a great bullet that will hold together | |||
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I really wish the 9.3x57 was chambered in some of our more popular rifles. This cartridge would be perfect for your woman. I, myself think this is a good ctg. for close range hunting of "bad" stuff and "beast-like" stuff. The recoil of this ctg. is more of a "push" than a "kick". I dream of the day that somebody like Ruger thinks of this ctg. for their #1 or 77. I just wish we had a ctg. like the 9.3x57. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" Hamlet III/ii | |||
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