I've no doubt this has been rehashed numerous times but still wanted to run it past the board.

Should be on the ground 8 Sept for Grizzly. This will not be Brown Bear. I'll be far above the 62nd parallel. My outfitter tells me a large boar can go 500-550 lbs; sows about 1/2 that. They "do" shoot a 9 footer each year. About 25% of his bears are B&C. He prefers shots @ 80-100 yds. Some hunters have shot as far as 250 yds. Average wind speed per a climate web site I found for the local town is 10 mph with a max of 57 mph. Their are no trees or mountains where I'm going so I'm told it blows, alot! No steep up/down angles. Just wide open rolling country.

I've got two rifles with 3 bullet choices.

My first is my Rem 700 in 30-06 Ackely w/ 26" ss Lilja barrel pushing the 180 Accubond @ 3000 fps. Accuracy can get me 4.25" groups at 800 yds. MPBR=303 yds w/ a 3" max/min height. 10 mph wind moves the bullet 5.5" @ 300 yds. Enerby is 2431 ft lbs w/ impact vel being 2466 fps.

My 2nd is the same rifle but with the 200 Partition @ 2850 fps. Accuracy is just about as good. MPBR=287 yds. 300 yd bullet movement due to 10 mph wind is 6.3". Energy is 2363 ft lbs w/ impact vel being 2307 fps

My 3rd possible choice is a CZ 550 American in 9.3x62 pushing the 286 Paritition at 2400 fps. Accuracy with my load has been 1 to 1-1/4 MOA. MPBR=241 yds. 10 mph wind moves the bullet 8" @ 300 yds. Energy is 2320 ft lbs with impact vel being 1911 fps.

Nosler suggest 1800 minimum impact velocity.

I'm not expecting any bad things to happen but one should still be prepared. I talked to one of the outfitters previous 2007 bear hunters who ended up taking his 7' Grizzly @ 100 ft as it was "walking" unknowingly towards him on a path through the willows. Plowed it under with a 300 RUM and the 180 Scirrocco.

I'm not worried about any of the potential combinations "not" working. Wish I could shoot a bear with each combo. Like that's going to happen!

Plan A:Have a friend hold three straws in their hand, one cut short, draw one from your friends hand.

Plan B: pick a name out of a hat.

I think all three would be fine. My advise would be to take the rifle you like best or most would enjoy having on this hunt. A couple of years ago I used a 30-06 to great effect in the Brooks Range on bear and sheep.

Since most bears I shoot are in rather close say.......30-50yds on the norm. sometime closer if in camp bothering my meat I like your 200grn. Partition.

I too have a 9.3x62 VZ24 and have yet to personally do anything with since its completion this spring. I would like for you to use your 9.3 for both of us-certainly that would work with exceptional results.

I have killed quite a few grizzlies with the .30-30AI to the .375RUM along with my lowly .457WWG gun and have never tried the Accubond to date-don't know nothing about it or can even trust it. I stick to what I know works.

enjoy the tussocks

I agree with scott and grizz, all 3 would work.

Like Grizz, I also havent used my 9.3 since it was done so I am rooting for the 9.3x62

GSSP
9.3x62 ..Just because you have one..
If the "06" IMP is your Baby don't leave it Home..
AK

Scott,

I like your first two answers. I'm sure with a little creativity, we could come up w/ a few more ways to choose the best though I think it would be quite a interesting tie.

I'm leaning towards the 9.3 simply because after this hunt, I'm sure I'll sell it. Well, not 'till I shoot my spike elk this Oct, here in Utah. After those two animals, doubt I'll need it again. Interestingly enough, it's recoil seems less than the Ackley. Their respective weights being 9 lb 5 oz and 7.5 lb.

I've the got a Storm 3300 double rifle case and will probably take them both, but I'd like to see if my old 30" barreled Webley & Scott Screw Grip, retailed by Manton of London would also fit so I can pop some Ptarmigan should the opportunity arise. It's been quite a few places with me and I'd hate to leave it behind.

Ummm.. Sell the 9.3 ..Take the .06 IMP.. You'll be needing the extra money for the Air Fare..
AK

AKRange,

You're not kidding. My R/T airfare from Salt Lake City will run me $1022. My partners from Sacramento runs $1120.

Someone asked "which" caliber/bullet I want to shoot my bear with. Great question!

Obviously 9.3 . ., Just somthing about the 9.3 that is real nice ... Something that is that little and yet so nice to shoot and hits so hard .....
My 20 " CZ with a 4x Burris Short Mag scope and 5 rounds of ammo doesn,t weigh 8 lbs ,,, It is still easy to shoot well and fun to carry ...

Gum,

I'm suprised it took you so long to reply.

"Ok, mark down one vote for 9.3 from the Gum".

I just think I'd lean more towards using one of your Partition options mainly because I KNOW they're proven. I like your guide's policy of about 100 yds. or less on the big bears too. I don't have any personal experience w/ the Accubond - it's just that I do know of the performance of the Partition and I'm an old codger who's attitude about some things is very difficult to change. As to your selection of calibers, I'd say either one. Just my thoughts.
Bear in Fairbanks

I'm partial to Nosler Partions and have shot innumerable animals with them over 40 years of hunting. They have NEVER let me down and NEVER failed to penetrate. On April 28 this year, I took a large record book boar grizzly on the Seward Peninsula with a 250 gr Partition with my .338 Mag. I used this same bullet and rifle for a brownie on Kodiak Island in 1992. My only experience with the Accubonds was in Chihuahua in Jan., 07. I made a one-shot kill on a coues buck at long range from a .300 Win Mag shooting the 165 gr bullet. Would it work as well on a grizzly? Perhaps/probably, yes. But I KNOW that the Partition will do the job.

I certainly agree with Gumboot. The 9.3 and Partitions is the right combo for that hunt. That's what I would take with me. Enjoy.

KB

quote:

I have killed quite a few grizzlies with the .30-30AI .

what was your loading in 3030AI for grizzly hunting?
regards
YES

Either caliber will kill a grizzley if you use a properly constructed bullet of decent weight mening a 180 or 200 gr. Nosler in the 06 or a 286 Nosler or 320 gr. Woodleigh in the 9.3x62..

Bottom line is the 9.3x62 is the more powerful of the two by a good deal and that would be my choice.

Definately go with the 9.3x62. I have used the 286gr partition with excellent results. I shot a moose two years ago at 280 yards with the 286gr partition, excellent bullet performance, I wouldn't think twice about using this bullet/cartrige for anything on this continent.

Another vote for the 9.3x62.

9.3 but the other choices are fine too.

You've all ready ansered the main question yourself, you know all of them will work just fine.
At last count I had 57 rifles in my 2 gun safes. One of two get picked to go hunting with me 95% of time, just because I'm more comfortable and confident with either one. Just because I can reach in and grab any of 2 dozen rifles that I know will will work, I guarentee my choice would be my Winny 375 H&H no matter how much I tried to talk myself into a different one.
Which one gives you that kind of confidence, that you'll reach in and your hand will just seem to migrate to?

I'd go with the 9,3x62 based on the effectiveness I've seen with it on deer, piggies, Impala, Warthog, Kudu, Blue Wildebeast, and Zebra with NPTs.

Have not recovered a single bullet ... passed through everything making an excellent hole.

It just works!

(I doubt you'll sell the 9,3x62 after hitting a Grizz and an Elk with it )

Mike,

With the creative financing I'm using to make the Grizzly hunt possible, I hope I "don't" have to sell it. It's just such a dang nice rifle/caliber.