bear hunting?

Question

i plan on going bear hunting and need to the best one of theses cal to hunt alaska grizzy bear with 338win mag or a 375 h&h. i like the 338.

going to have a 4icn s&w500 with 6 shots for backup

Answer 1

Either one will work just fine.

My father grew up living a subsistence lifestyle in Alaska when he was young. He killed almost anything there was to kill there with a 250 Savage, including big grizzlies. Back in those days, they didn’t even have bonded bullets.

Just like with any other animal, shot placement is key. I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who will say a 250 Savage is a great beat rifle, but it worked all the same.

I used to hunt deer on Admiralty Island outside of Juneau. There are some big bears on that island. When we went hunting, my fathers rifle of choice was the 338 Win Mag. My rifle of choice was a 35 Whelen (a 308 Win semi-auto in my younger days when I was more recoil sensitive). Both of us loaded our rifles with different bullet weights. The round in the chamber was a deer round (usually a Nosler Ballistic Tip back when they still made them for 35 caliber, but we used a variety of bullets). Usually the next few rounds in the mag were bear rounds (Nosler Partition bullets for my Dad…250 grain Kodiak bullets for me…rounds loaded near max for both).

Both the 338 Win Mag and the 375 H&H are fine rounds for big bears. I would say use which ever one you are most comfortable with. Not many people I new of carried 375 H&H out in the field, except guides who are worried about bears wounded by clients. The most common choices I saw up there for bear were probably the 300 and 338 Win Mags (I haven't hunted up there since the WSMs came out, so I don't know if people use those or not now). I also knew quite a few people who would go bear hunting with a 30-06.

I would think twice about carrying a backup weapon. I am not sure where you are hunting. However, the bush in Alaska can be pretty bad in the mountain areas. If you’re going to be hiking a lot of mountains on foot or going through some heavy undergrowth, you probably want to travel as light as possible. It is better to have a backup and not need it then to need one and not have it. However, when hunting in rugged terrain, the extra 2 or 3 pounds begin to feel like 20 or 30 at the end of the day. If you are using horses, ATVs, or 4x4s, then it may not be a big deal. Talk with your guide or relative you are hunting with to see what they think.

Good Luck. I hope you have the hunt of a lifetime.

Answer 2

That is a tough one. Both will kill any grizzly. I do not know if you know, but the .338 Win. Mag. is considered by some to be America's greatest elk, moose, and grizzly cartridge. I would not hesitate at all when it comes to hunting a grizz with a .338. The .375 H&H, a good choice, but really don't think it is needed. It never hurts to have that extra margin in power when it comes to mankillers like that though. Here is my suggestion overall. Stick with the .338 Mag. for this upcoming hunt, and if you feel that you need better knockdown power next time, use the .375. Best of luck and be safe.

Answer 3

Both calibers are outstanding, but I prefer the 338 it has all it needs to be potent big bear medicine.

Remember it not the caliber that kill the game, it’s the shot placement.

What you need to do, is learn exactly where the vitals lay on the bear in “Several” positions ( heart, spine, brain and lungs ) , Broadside, Facing you, quartering to you and quartering away.
Remember life is not perfect, and you need to be prepared to take the best shot that is given you by the bear.

Even the 375 H&H with bad shot placement will leave you with a wounded bear on your hands.

although not a wise practice Big grizzlies have been killed with one shot kills with a 30-30 Winchester.

I would go with the 338 and practice until you could hit a target ( the size of an Orange) every time from several ranges.

I would zero for 100 yards and practice “hold off” from 50 yards to 200 yards in 50 yard intervals.

don’t just assume you know where it will hit at 50 yards, some times bad things happen and even though you don’t plan for the bear to get with in 50 yards, be prepared for it.
It don’t mean it not the Bears plan to introduce him self to up close and personal.

In that situation, it’s no time to be guessing just how the trajectory arc plays a role in the 338 at 50 yards.
I betting it will be about 2 inches low of center of the bulls eye at 50 yards on a 100 yard zero.
And 2 inches can mean the difference between hit or miss on the vitals, and preparing to shake hands with a pissed off bear.
That is not the time to practice your skills in Diplomacy.


D58


Hunting with Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle loader and Bow for over 3 decades.
Reloading Rifle, Pistol and shotgun for over 3 decades.

Answer 4

I would go with the 338 personally
however no matter what you use make sure you get a good shot and have an escape route planned before the shot if you get one on a (dead) run it doesn't matter where you hit it it will die but you may also

Answer 5

The 338 will take care of it just place your kill shot accurately.*

Answer 6

I like the .338 too, but I'd personally feel safer against a grizz using the holland&holland .

Answer 7

Get the 375 H&H. check this video out and see why you need the bigger of the 2 guns.