rick_reno

Big and heavy, I think all the major players (Nosler, Barnes, Sierra) make quality bullets. There is quite a difference in a black bear vs. a grizzly bear.

HighDesertWolf

3 inch mag 12 gauge 1 oz rifled slug, hands down................

A friend of mine whos son is a guide in Alaska had a run in with a 1000 lbs kodiak years ago and proved that a 1 oz slug will do the job, this kodiak dropped in its track with a single slug to the head from less then 5 feet away.

HighDesertWolf

If i would have read your post all the way through before replying, my first and second pick would be a 450 marlin and 45-70 with either loaded with barnes 400 grain round nose bullets. My third choice would be a 375 H&H loaded with 300 grain partitions.

Virginia7

DD,
I think hisprimary choice of bullet was the Sierra GameKing, 85gr.HPBT

Now, regarding the orig. post, I'd feel pretty good using a bullet of adequate weight, dependingon caliber (ie; 160gr. or more in 7mm, 180gr.+ in 30caliber), inany of the premium lines such as Trophy Bonded (my 1st choice), or NoslerPartitions.

BareBack Jack

250 gr Nosler .338 Win mag
220 gr TBBC 300 Win Mag
220 gr Nosler 30-06
175 TBBC 7mm Rem mag
Those would be my choices.
BBJ

ELKINMTCWB

12 gage hands down for defence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



For hunting I am real close to bareback jacks choices.

Jeff Ovington

Can't go wrong with those..

Hunter4life81

well i would have to say the best gun in the whole world the great 243(yeah right) with a "Wimpy" 100 gr accutip boat tailNOT, i would have to say the calibers that bbj said i agree with him 100%

Rebel Hog

Dixie Terminator>73cal

max the dog

Forget about the rifle calibers. Any good strong rifle bullet in a powerfull cartridge is good on big bears when the range is far. The 45/70 in levers and the 338 in bolts should be the least you take in the field. A shot through both lungs in those calibers will drop any bear in 100 yards or less 95% of the time.
A charging bear is a completely different animal in a completely different situation. The range of a bear charge is measured in tens of feet not hundreds of yards. He is generaly either enraged or hungry and needs to be stopped right now. The gun you need has to be one you can carry and have ready to shoot 100% of the time. You need to be able to wield this gun even if the bear has you on your back and is tearing at your head. That eliminates all long guns. It has to be uncomplicated and capable of functioning even when you can't. It has to fire even if you can't cock the trigger. Forget semi-auto handguns. It also has to be able to drop 1000 pounds of angry mussle, tooth, and claw before it can eat you.
I'd say at least a .454 casull in a double action sixgun. Keep the hammer down in an empty chamber but keep the others full. The gun won't fire if dropped or hit hard but one pull of the trigger and it will go boom in a big way.