Howdy gents,
I have an invite to go hunt bear with a friend,I am thinking of either taking my 450 Alaskan lever action,loaded with 300 gr Tsx @2200 fps or my Double rifle chambered in 450/400 loaded with 400 gr Hornady Dgx's @ 2050 fps,I have never hunted bear before,what do you think of my choices? thanks much.

If it's from a tree stand over bait anything in a 30/30 or larger caliber will work. If it's in open country with a possible across canyon shot look at a 7mm magnum class of cartridge.

I have killed one bear. It was in Idaho and I used a .38-55 Winchester using .377 diameter Barnes Originals, 255 grain bullets, one shot, no problems.

Slider is right on, IMO. You'll need to find out the hunting method, either of your choices are fine for bait or hound hunting. If its spot and stalk, you may not have time or topography to get close, so a flat shooting caliber would be in order.

I have done 3 bear hunts in Idaho. 2 bait hunts and one spot and stalk hunt. I used a Marlin 1895 re-barreled to .50 Alaskan with a Williams foolproof sight on the 2 bait hunts, with shots 50 to 75 yards. On the spot and stalk I used a Ruger 77 with a Leupold scope in .338 WM. Shot was 225 yards. Frankly, a 30-06 would have been just as good. All were put down on the spot with a single shot.
You will be using more than enough gun... Although I had one bear that squared 6 feet 10 inches and weighed 435 pounds field dressed.

Both will kill any bear. You are limited in range so I imagine its a bait hunt. As such it's not a physical hunt at all so the weight is no problem. If it's a spot and stalk you are really range limited but I've done it with a bow, which is worse. If hound hunting you are probably going to beat up your rifle, so consider that.
I've killed 13 here in Idaho with bow, 357 mag pistol, 270 win, 7.62 x 39, 9.3 x 62. I would hunt with any of those again. You absolutely don't need a cannon, but I understand that they are pushed by writers etc. good hunting

Some good comments by all,
It seems that I would have enough killing power with either gun but range might be a problem while stalking on foot,the fact that my gun could get banged up while hunting with hounds also gives me some thought,would it be any worse than carrying a gun in Africa?I have been on some rough hunts,last one this last november hunting tuskless in Zimbabwe,I guess at the very least I am headed to my range as soon as the weather warms up a little & see how these guns will shoot at 200 yrds,the hunt btw is hounds in the mornings,spot & stalk during the day & over bait in the evenings.

Bill,

I've been on many hound hunts here in north central Idaho and one in the UP of MI actually. It's a great hunt and the only catch and release hunt I know of. But on average the Idaho hound hunts are the toughest physical hunt I've ever done. Tougher than Mountain Goat or sheep or rainforest bongo or Elephant in Zim. It's something you will always be proud of. Every once in awhile it's actually not that bad. It all depends on where or if the bear trees.

Navaluk,
thanks for your help.

I catch a pile of bears every spring with hound. My clients have used everything from bows to 12gauge, 223 to 338s they all work.
I just had a fellow here killing a jumbo tom cougar with his 450-400, MAN did it work great. This tom will out weigh most of the bears you will get in Idaho. Use your double you won't regret it.

Use whatever you hunt deer with.

I bet they would work good.

I have only shot one black bear. It squares 6' as a rug. I shot it at 250 yards with a 308 win and a 180 grain factory Rem Core-lokt.

First of all, you didn't say what kind of bear, so I'll assume we're talking black bear only.

Anyway, I'll admit to never having been bear hunting, but would like to go. Had one chance ever in E TN for black bear and it was cancelled.

But if I go the decision on what gun is already made. I'll use the same as I use for whitetails. 30-06. In fact when I chose the 30-06 many decades ago, the big secondary reason was, in case I ever got the chance to hunt out West.

Btw, I used to know this former bear hunting guide. It was actually a "she". Tall, sinewy, athletic blond. Country girl from the South. She got the dogs from her ex who also was a guide, and needing some way to support herself she took it up.

She only used archery. And for personal entertainment she'd camp out in the bear woods, Oregon or Washington, by herself and hunt. I asked if she took a gun and she said, not usually, "I don't need it".

I asked if she ever had problems with angry bears. The answer was, once in a while they get a little "uppity" when you shoot them. I asked, what then. And says she, "I stick them again".

Given that, I think you could probably get by with a 450/400 Nitro Express.

Man you guys are great,might have to shoot two bears now to blood both my guns

quote:

Originally posted by chilcotin hillbilly:
I catch a pile of bears every spring with hound. My clients have used everything from bows to 12gauge, 223 to 338s they all work.
I just had a fellow here killing a jumbo tom cougar with his 450-400, MAN did it work great. This tom will out weigh most of the bears you will get in Idaho. Use your double you won't regret it.

I'd like to see a photo of that one! Gotta be a HOSS!

Bill, with hounds, use whatever you want. For spot and stalk, why not use the Dakota African in 338 Lapua you bought from me? That'll reach out, for sure. I hunt the Frank Church along the salmon river. Where are you going to be?

Biebs,
The hunt is going to be in the Riggins area,you are right,the Lapua would work real well,& it has done great work for me in Africa,I want to make the hunt more challenging,I want to use a DR or my new to me lever 450 Alaskan,I want to get in closer to shoot,the lapua would make it too easy

Bill,

Good luck on your hunt. You will enjoy the area, and it's challenging terrain. You can look at it on Google earth which should get you in the mood to exercise. I hunt it a lot since it's my back yard.

I like your choices. To me, bear season is the time to get our the obsoletes or the rifle you don't get to use all the time. I plan on using my 375 Weatherby on mine this year.

quote:

Originally posted by Navaluk:
Bill,

Good luck on your hunt. You will enjoy the area, and it's challenging terrain. You can look at it on Google earth which should get you in the mood to exercise. I hunt it a lot since it's my back yard.

Good to know,I have a pretty hectic lifestyle right now,but I still do my 30 laps in the pool at least 4 times a week,those hills will be a challenge for sure,looking forward to physical stress rather than mental stress which I have plenty of right now

quote:

Originally posted by Swaggart:
I like your choices. To me, bear season is the time to get our the obsoletes or the rifle you don't get to use all the time. I plan on using my 375 Weatherby on mine this year.

You are right,to me half the fun is choosing my weapon !

375 H&H.. One planet, one rifle, one caliber.. Good for everthing!

same basic ballistics as an 06, so good to 300 if you do your part..

quote:

Originally posted by Pa.Frank:
375 H&H.. One planet, one rifle, one caliber.. Good for everthing!

same basic ballistics as an 06, so good to 300 if you do your part..

Do I need a sidearm for this hunt? I am going to take the double rifle,I am very comfortable with DR'S,I have done tuskless & buff & never felt threatened or under gunned,what do you gentlemen think?

My personal opinion is that a sidearm is just dead weight if you are hiking and spot and stalk hunting.
The only time I have a sidearm handy is for 2 legged problems.
You will hear differing opinions but thats mine....

Absolutely not on the handgun. Might as well put the word "Dude" on your hat. You don't need it for safety and you absolutely do not need to pack around more weight. You will curse that dang handgun every step. Probably throw the dang thing in the bushes on a long hike.

Fighting the hills and the dense brush is going to be hard enough. I hunt them with a 357 pistol or some rifle, never both. If I was to go down near Yellowstone or tight against Montana or Canada, I might add a small can of bear spray. The only reason would be because I don't want to kill a Grizzly when I can just drive it off. Your going to have some great memories. Good luck.