It's going to be a spring hunt, coming out of hibernation. Thinking 373 H&H, 338 Lapua or 300 Mag with 45-70 for back-up. I have all, just not sure which to use.

Insert dawaba here

Never gone bear hunting, but I like the sound of the .375

Talk to your guide about average shot distance for your specific hunt. If the majority of bears are taken inside of 150 yrds, I'd go with the extra stopping power of the .375 H&H. But if he say's you may need to reach out to 250 yrds or more I'd take the 338 Lapua.

And you're a lucky dog. Wish I had the scratch to take an Alaskan Brown. It's on the bucket list

They will all smoke a bear. Id take whichever one you like the best.

Whichever of those three rifles you shoot the best/are most comfortable with.

I've never seen a bear use a rifle, so I have no clue.


Chupa

Use the 300 mag. I'm curious about how well it works.

I just got back 3 weeks ago from black bear hunting just outside of Tyonek Alaska. Most of the locals shoot 45-70 or 12ga slug gun, but they also carry 500 S&W as back up. If your shooting under 100 yards all calibers mentioned above will do the trick. Over 100 yards 338 or better is the caliber to have. I saw 2 brown/grizzys over 8 foot. Big boys need a big gun. When you see your first brown you wont believe their size. Have a great time and hunt with a head net and keep your Thermacell close by.

I've been on nine bear hunts in Alaska, four for brown bears, one for grizzly and four for black bears. Because I'm very picky about trophy size, I've personally shot 2 browns, one grizzly, and 2 blacks. On these hunts, I've also witnessed my companions taking 4 additional blacks and 2 additional browns. I was alone on my grizzly hunt.

I accept that that's not all that much experience, and any bear guide will likely see more bear kills in just one season. A guy like Phil Shoemaker has been guiding and outfitting for brownies since he came home from Vietnam; imagine what experience--and stories--he must have!

That said, I'll offer my 2 cents and then leave it up to you. Any of the four chamberings offered will do the job. If the Lapua is a heavy LR rig with a big target scope, then leave it at home. The .375 or the .338 WM is darn-near perfect, as those are the only rounds I've personally used, and I KNOW they work. I believe the .300 WM would be just fine too with heavy premium bullets; on one hunt my guide carried a .300 Winny for back-up, but he didn't have to use it. I've shot muskox, moose, elk, and caribou with the big .300, and I think it would work just fine.

If any of your guns is stainless with a synthetic stock, it might be the best choice for Alaska, where the weather often leans toward the unbearably nasty side. That said, both of my rifles for Alaska are blued/synthetic, and I just slather tons of car wax or EEsox on the metal, and then go hunting. But stainless is better.

I doubt you will ever shoot a bear beyond 200 yards; 75-100 is more like it. Your scope should be a low-power variable. A 3x9 is OK, but just barely. Nine power is nice on the high end for the first shot, but even 3x is too high when you go into the alders or spruce thickets. A 1.5x6 or 2x7 would be the perfect bear scope, IMO (and others). You won't need turrets or other gizmos; in fact they would be a liability when they ship water and fog up. I like Weaver-style rings and bases, because a coin can be used to remove the scope and switch to iron sights. Fancy levered rings are fine too.

You won't need a back-up rifle. Your guide will have one, and you can use his in a pinch. I always carry an extra scope in my gear bag that is pre-sighted for the rifle and load. That said, I've never had to shuck a scope for a replacement or use irons, ever. Just lucky, I guess. You won't need a handgun either....I've never had a guide carry one, although some undoubtedly do.

Brown bear outfitter Phil Shoemaker, black bear guide Jim Shockey, and writer John Barsness all believe that a hunter should try to shoot for a double-lung chest shot on bears, just as you would for a whitetail or sheep. We have all read for decades that a shooter should try for the bear's shoulder to break it down and anchor it right there. Frankly, I too have broken shoulders on most of my bears. But the current experts all agree that if you have to trail a wounded bear into the pucker brush, a shoulder-shot bear may be dead, or maybe not so. A bear shot properly in the chest with a suitable bullet will be dead when you find him.

Bear hunting in Alaska is as thrilling cape buffalo hunting in Africa. Once is never enough!

John Barsness is editing a thread on another channel right now about this same subject, but the caliber mix in question is a 375H&H, 9.3x62 & a 35Whelen. JB aka "Mule Deer" likes the 338Wmg for this work too. Very interesting reading to say the least.
Ron

I'll be going for a spring 2015 black bear hunt to Prince of Wales Island. Gives me some time to decide between the 30.06 and the 45-70. I'd love to try for a brown bear some day. Good luck to ya.

Dawaba,

Thanks! Great stuff!

I will never get to go after Brown Bear but if I did I would take a 375 H&H. In my opinion its got the best of everything. Bullet diameter, bullet weight, has pretty good range, has the power to anchor something quick in a dangerous situation, tons of bullet choices, tons of factory offerings, and the ammo is very affordable compared to other dangerous game calibers.

We go to Alaska a couple times a year. I carry my 416 Ruger for protection and love it. Takes care of business in short order!

I have a good friend that lives in Alaska
He said the best way to shoot a bear is with it facing the other direction, asleep and from several hundred yards away

.243

I had the same question recently though my interest was black bear. I opted for the 375 H&H because its a fairly hard hitting caliber, accurate and not unpleasant to shoot, allowing timely follow up shots. I also like the 9.3x62, which would be my second choice.

I seem to remember a thread earlier...all you need is a 22-250

Just make sure you put some optics on whatever you choose as bears have pretty bad eyesight so it will need good glass.

I'd take the 375 h&h just because when else are you going to need that much gun in NA?

300 Wtby

I am still laughing!

Check out the ballistics on a .338 ultra mag. Energy and a flat shooter.

How about a 45-70? Does anyone use that?