You need something you can shoot accurately and with confidence. Is a 308 enough? If you like the rifle, aren't flinching every time you fire it, and can hit what you shoot at, you'll be fine with a 308 for bear, at least for black bear.

Big bears are a different story, as far as I'm concerned. If you've got time to take a careful shot at an <u>undisturbed</u> brown bear, polar bear, or grizzly, from a safe distance, and hit where you're aiming, he's toast. If his adrenaline gets flowing, say if you walk up on him, get him angry, or surprise a sow with cubs, I wouldn't be too comfortable with a 308, 270, 30-06, or for that matter even a 300 magnum.

The difference is, 95% of all black bears won't charge you, even if they're wounded, they simply fade away looking for safety. The others are considerably more aggressive, and can take a hell of a lot of punishment before they give up. I don't hunt big bears, and never really plan to, but if I were, I'd be looking at something like a 338 Winchester Magnum or a 375 H&H Magnum. The shocking power of the larger diameter bullet makes a big difference on dangerous game, although shot placement is still a big thing.

The trouble is, the shooter soaks up a ton of recoil shooting a cannon like that, and it's easy to become afraid of shooting the damn thing after you've been hammered a few times. I remember looking to buy a rifle years ago, I started out looking for a 30-06 for deer, and settled on a 270 Featherweight Model 70. I briefly looked at a 300 Win Magnum (it was sitting next to the 270), and then thought about how much punishment I wanted to absorb for the sake of a deer.

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a black bear with the 270, it has enough punch (with a 150 grain bonded bullet) to put him down and out with one shot. Same for moose. With a grizzly, kodiak, or anything like that, I'd be really hoping the first shot killed him outright, because if he decided to charge, I'm not sure it would be enough gun. It would kill him, no question, but would it kill him before he mauled me? Maybe... and that's not a question I'd like to find out the answer to.

 

I totally agree. I wouldn't choose less than a .338 myself either for the big bears. No matter what you hunt or what you hunt it with the shot placement is everything. You can shoot a white-tailed deer with a .338 and watch it run away with poor shot placement. Farmers drop pigs and cows with a .22 , Not that this is a hunting situation just a representation of shot placement. Being able to comfortably shoot the rifle accurately is more important than the caliber of the rifle. Having a large enough caliber for the game you hunt and the conditions you hunt is also important. A 30-30 win. has probably downed more
north american big game than any other caliber rifle, But is a short range rifle. It may be the ideal rifle for deer or bear at close range , But becomes marginal past 100 yards. Every caliber has its limits, But no matter what the limits of the rifle are they are limited by the shooters ability. A .300 may work for one person for long range elk, However a person more sensitive to recoil may choose a .270 because they can shoot it more accurately. I use a 30-06 with remington 150 grain core lockt bullets for bears as does my brother and every bear we have shot dropped in their tracks including one that dressed out at more than 450 pounds.

 

I think we could go on and on.

Yes I am sure someone has stories of a 98 year old man in Barrow who hunts polar bear every year with a .22.

Point is, shot placement is what matters. Know your balistics. Spend time at the range. Don't be stupid.

NOW GO AND KILL A BEAR WITH YOUR .308!!!!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

AMEN

 

I've shot both blacks and browns with archery so a 308 is no problem. Just need to be confident in your ability and equipment. My wife has dropped both with her 308. We both shot our share of bear, most never made it more then 30 yds. Know what you're doing, practice and don't take marginal shots. You owe to it the animal you're taking to make it quick clean shot.