What is your favorite/preferred caliber for brown bears? I am interested in hearing from successful brown bear hunters!

Much thanks! and Merry Christmas!

I killed mine with a .330 Dakota.

The other guy flying out with me was using his .416 Remington (African rifle).

Frankly, anything 7mm on up with proper bullets will work, but I was kind of wishing for a bigger rifle when we stated into the thick stuff on follow up after I shot him.

375H&H A bolt 300grn Aframe, 110yds bang flop

Ross,

I shot my bear with a 375 and 300 A-Frame. I think most guides will recommend something between 300 WM and 375 that you shoot well.

Mark

Ross, I've shot 2 Brownies.

One with my 416 Rigby and 350gr TSX. The other with my 375 H&H and 300gr TSX. Both work fine but as always, I prefer the 416 to the 375. That 350gr TSX at 2,700fps from the 416 is impressive to say the least.

375 H&H 300g A-Frame. Hit him perfectly on the right shoulder, bullet penetrated him diagonally. He still lived for five minutes had to go in after him, found him dead. I've heard some people have had bang flops with 270 Win shooting 150g Partitions. I'd recommend min 300 Win Mag.

I use a .375 H&H in a pre-64 model 70. 270 gr. Barnes TSX. I load for my son as well: he's an Alaskan guide: his is a .375 H&H M70: I load him 300 gr. Nosler Partitions.

I used a .416 Remington magnum. Dropped him in his tracks. That made the guide pretty happy.

I haven't shot that many but I do have a little bit of an opinion.

Generally I would prefer a larger than 30 caliber and up. I think the -06 size cartridges are great and I wouldn't hesitate to use a 35 Whelan or my 9.3x62.
I do like my 375 H&H quite a bit, am interested in seeing how my 400 H&H works out and last fall I was lugging around my 458 hoping to squeeze the trigger, tho not necessarily at a bear.

The smaller stuff I've moved away from. I love my 7x57 dearly but after shooting a big bull mose with it I won't again. I personally wouldn't take a 270 or any of the AR-15 cartridges. I don't think there's enough omph although I know lots of game is taken here with them every year here.

I think larger than 30 cal and -06 case and larger. I shot two bears with a 338 I had and it worked perfectly. I got rid of it and have no intention of buying another.

375 Ruger with 275 grain TSX. 25 yard broadside shot.

I used my .300 Win Mag for my 91/2 Brown Bear near Cold Bay Alaska. Will pack my .340 Wby or .358 Sta next time in big Bear country. Good Shooting.

I've used my 375H&H with 300 gr Nosler Partition.
The 375 is a great caliber for just about anything. I've shot Dik Dik on up with it.
My rifle that is my go to is a 300WM and I wouldn't think twice about hunting a big bears with it. I've taken blacks and grizzly with the 300WM but I've always carried the 375 for brown bear.

375 H+H and 300 gr Barnes TSX

My .300 Weatherby Mag dropped my 9' bear in her bed. My next one I'll be using my .270.

I've killed 2. One with a 375 Ruger with a 270 grain Hornady interlock factory load. The 2nd was with a 30/06 using a 220 grain Nolser partition handload. I hunted with Jake Jefferson & they were both baited hunts. Both were 1 shot kills. I've got a 3rd hunt with Jake scheduled for this June. I'll be using the 30/06 again with either a 220 grain or 180 grain Hornady interlock.

375 H+H, 270gr. TSX on Kodiak.

.340 weatherby killed a 10fter on Kodak with it .

If you choose a premium bullet, Anything from a 25/06 and larger will work just fine !
It’s always more about the hunter than the firearm.
Most folks feel safer with something between a 30-06 and one of the 375’s

.375 Ruger with 270 grain Hornady Interlocks. Bears are softer than buffalo so bullets can be likewise, however, just like DG anywhere shot placement matters, do take a rifle you shoot well.

Oh boy, you going to give it another go? I would be focused on 2 things with my rifle:
1) how well do I shoot it
2) is it made to withstand nasty conditions

I shot mine with a Ruger Alaskan in 375 Ruger with a 300g tsx, who are you going with?

338 RUM

My guide used that, really don't understand the point of it unless you're shooting elk or eland past 500 yards.

Killed my one and only in 2000 with a .338 and 250 gr. Nosler partition. The bear didn't mind and died right where I shot him.

338 Win 250 grain Swift A-Frame

First Grizzly was a DLP sow near Trapper Creek with a 348 Win shooting 250gr Barnes originals. Dead with the first shot, but two more were sent her way.

Other two Brownies (boars) were killed with 375 H&H shooting 300gr Partitions, one on Kodiak, the other in the Copper River area. Both were down right there, but several more insurance shots were used.

Lots of combinations seem to work.

Dave Manson

Going with Grizzly Skins on the Peninsula...

I have been zero for 3 on brown bears. Need to turn the average in my favor - before I go into hibernation...

I went 0 for 3 as well before finally connecting, killing a big, mature brownie boar is an expensive proposition. Interesting fact, I contacted AFG a year or so after my hunt to retrieve the stats on my bear, must have been raining that day because i was treated to a 45 minute or so conversation with the biologist. He stated that the average age of tagged brown bear were 3-4 years old and probably equal amount were sows.

Never hunted one in NA, but a few eurasian bears and went with hunters many times.
All bears I saw died pretty easy and mostly .30 calibers. I actually found them to be fairly soft. Only problems I ever witnessed were very bad shot placements, were no caliber would have helped.

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:
I went 0 for 3 as well before finally connecting, killing a big, mature brownie boar is an expensive proposition. Interesting fact, I contacted AFG a year or so after my hunt to retrieve the stats on my bear, must have been raining that day because i was treated to a 45 minute or so conversation with the biologist. He stated that the average age of tagged brown bear were 3-4 years old and probably equal amount were sows.

Sounds like you talked with a biologist who was familiar with the statistics. But that probably included resident hunters. Most reputable guides try and steer their hunters into taking only older males.

I killed my Boone and Crockett 10'+ bear with a .340 Wthby and 250 gr NP, which for my scenario by luck was the ideal choice.

I would recommend either a .375 and 300 gr bullets or a .338 WM with 250 gr. bullets. Either one will work fine. If you plan on going to Africa at some point, then get the .375, if you don't plan to go to Africa than get a .338 WM and you will get far more use out of that in N. American than you will a .375 MHO.

I shot mine at 149 yds with 375 and 300 Barnes 300gr TSX. Took 1 shot.

I shot mine with my .375 RUM and Hammer 281 gr bullets.

My guide's back-up rifle was a .300 WSM.

I would have felt confident of shooting him with my .300 Weatherby, but my RUM needed to see some fresh air out of my safe.

they seem a lot bigger when they're inside of 15 yards and standing up

375 Ruger with 270 grain TSX. It works for everything, with the caveat that it's not optimal for fox. It kills them deader than they need to be.

I have only shot 2. one with a .416 B and M loaded with 225 gr. CEBs. that one was DRT. Dirt in mouth and stool out the back. The other was Kodiak with .375 H and H. 270 Barnes. Shot in the neck at 250 yds on the beach. Not my plan, but he heard us and came looking as we were stalking. Hit the carotid. Blood every where. after he dropped his head, he got a few more. Next one with the .375 again. it is suppressed and a pleasure to shoot and for the guide

If this thread proves anything
It is that with a quality bullet and proper shot placement you can use most any caliber

Phil,
Since I booked this hunt with Taj, I thought I would ask someone that knows more than me. I suspect I will have a 375 HH with 300 gr TSX bullets and wait until Taj says - "Shoot".....

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Phil,
Since I booked this hunt with Taj, I thought I would ask someone that knows more than me. I suspect I will have a 375 HH with 300 gr TSX bullets and wait until Taj says - "Shoot".....

Good idea
Unless he puts you with me and then I want to stalk 5 yards closer

If you can see the entrance wound spurt blood through the scope before it recoils out of view your close

quote:

Originally posted by 458Win:

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Phil,
Since I booked this hunt with Taj, I thought I would ask someone that knows more than me. I suspect I will have a 375 HH with 300 gr TSX bullets and wait until Taj says - "Shoot".....

Good idea
Unless he puts you with me and then I want to stalk 5 yards closer

Not sure how fast you are, but I run the 100 yard dash in about 20 seconds these days. If you are faster than that, then I suspect I better just stand still and shoot....
I have learned this one thing - the other guy usually knows things I don't so I had better listen up....

See you in Oct 2025... I will bring a stop watch and we can check out top end speed....