30-06 for brown bear
03-08-2003, 01:59 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 41
30-06 for brown bear
Please, I need all the help I can get [fast] my brother has just called me and asked if I was interested in a brown bear hunt, all expenses paid. [GOD I LOVE AMERICA] of course this got my attention, The only rifie that I own that I would consider taking is my 30-06. my 7mm-08I believe to be extremely to light for the task at hand. mind you I have never hunted such a beast before in my life. if the 06 is up to the task, what type of factory ammo do you suggest. I do not handload as of yet. I hope this question has not been asked before, if so please accept my apology, for I am new to the forum. Thank you for your time, I will be looking forward to your replies. DAKOTA NUT.
03-08-2003, 02:24 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Gleason, TN
Posts: 1,327
RE: 30-06 for brown bear
The lightest that you would want to use would be a 30-06 and a premium 180 grain bullet.
Some like the big 200+ grain bullets but bullet design is more important than weight. My cousin hunts them with a 30-06 and uses 180 grain winchester silvertip. Winchester makes 180 silvertip, 180 grain fail safe and 180 grain supreme partition gold. The partition gold produces about 2599 foot pounds of energy at 100 yards and 2223 foot pounds of energy at 200 yards which would be what I would use.
I don' t think most ammo stores carry anything more than 180 grain 06 bullets.
I' m no expert on this but I hope this helped.
Some like the big 200+ grain bullets but bullet design is more important than weight. My cousin hunts them with a 30-06 and uses 180 grain winchester silvertip. Winchester makes 180 silvertip, 180 grain fail safe and 180 grain supreme partition gold. The partition gold produces about 2599 foot pounds of energy at 100 yards and 2223 foot pounds of energy at 200 yards which would be what I would use.
I don' t think most ammo stores carry anything more than 180 grain 06 bullets.
I' m no expert on this but I hope this helped.
03-08-2003, 02:31 AM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
RE: 30-06 for brown bear
In my opinion there' s better guns for brown bears.......but the old ' 06 is up to the task, I have immense respect for that old cartridge.
Look for ammo from a company (Remington or Federal or Hornady) that uses either 180 grain or larger Swift A-Frame, Trophy bonded, Bitterroot, or (yes believe it or not) Hornady round nose bullets.
Possibly other fine bullets will be as good such as the Grand Slam, Fail Safe or Barnes bullets.....but I' ve had little experience with them. I wouldn' t recommend a bullet that isn' t bonded such as Nosler' s partition or Ballistic tip.
Look for ammo from a company (Remington or Federal or Hornady) that uses either 180 grain or larger Swift A-Frame, Trophy bonded, Bitterroot, or (yes believe it or not) Hornady round nose bullets.
Possibly other fine bullets will be as good such as the Grand Slam, Fail Safe or Barnes bullets.....but I' ve had little experience with them. I wouldn' t recommend a bullet that isn' t bonded such as Nosler' s partition or Ballistic tip.
03-08-2003, 02:33 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Gleason, TN
Posts: 1,327
RE: 30-06 for brown bear
Just a little more food for thought on which bullet to use.
The Federal 180 grain Nosler Partition produces about 3315 pounds of energy at the muzzle, 2880 at 100 yards and 2495 at 200 yards.
While the Fed. 220 grain speer hot cor sp. has 2835 at the muzzle, 2215 at 100 yards and 1705 at 200 yards.
The Federal 180 grain Nosler Partition produces about 3315 pounds of energy at the muzzle, 2880 at 100 yards and 2495 at 200 yards.
While the Fed. 220 grain speer hot cor sp. has 2835 at the muzzle, 2215 at 100 yards and 1705 at 200 yards.
03-08-2003, 07:10 AM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 139
RE: 30-06 for brown bear
I have a couple of friends that go to Alaska every couple of years for browns. My one buddy swears by the 30-06 and the other swears by the 300 Weatherby. In 30-06 try Winchester 180 grain silverpoints... I hear they work well on Moose, browns, and grizzles. Hope it helps.
03-08-2003, 08:11 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Posts: 1,964
RE: 30-06 for brown bear
Dakota,
Numbers game -- It all depends on your tolerance for risk and how picky you are about your personal safety.
Here is a post I went back and picked up for you. The author was " Big Country"
---------------------------
Quote:
I am by no stretch an authority on bear, but I can relate a story concerning a 30-06 on big brownies.
About 15 years back, a guy that brokers hunts all over the world asked me to reload some 30-06 rounds for him to take to Kodiak Island after a coastal brownie.
I suggested that from what I knew that he did not want to use that caliber.
He insisted for sentimental reasons. (he has literally a house full of animals from all over the world, taken with this particular pre 64 model 70 in 30-06.)
Anyway, I loaded up the hottest load I could using 220 grain noslers.
He came home with a bear that went 1150 pounds.
And swore he would NEVER try that again. He claimed the bear was feeding broadside at 110 yards when he poked the first one into the front shoulder. When he racked the next round into the chamber, the bear turned towards the sound, and came on in at a full run. He hit the bear in the brisket with two, and in the face with one, then the guide popped him once in the head at twenty yards to stop the bear.
No doubt many big bear has fallen to a 30-06, but given a choice, I know I would try it with no less than a .338 win mag.
Well, I am gonna try it with a bow, but someone is gonna be there with a big bore!
--------------------------
Your call! Will there be someone like the guide " right there" to back you up?
Never Go Undergunned,
EKM
Numbers game -- It all depends on your tolerance for risk and how picky you are about your personal safety.
Here is a post I went back and picked up for you. The author was " Big Country"
---------------------------
Quote:
I am by no stretch an authority on bear, but I can relate a story concerning a 30-06 on big brownies.
About 15 years back, a guy that brokers hunts all over the world asked me to reload some 30-06 rounds for him to take to Kodiak Island after a coastal brownie.
I suggested that from what I knew that he did not want to use that caliber.
He insisted for sentimental reasons. (he has literally a house full of animals from all over the world, taken with this particular pre 64 model 70 in 30-06.)
Anyway, I loaded up the hottest load I could using 220 grain noslers.
He came home with a bear that went 1150 pounds.
And swore he would NEVER try that again. He claimed the bear was feeding broadside at 110 yards when he poked the first one into the front shoulder. When he racked the next round into the chamber, the bear turned towards the sound, and came on in at a full run. He hit the bear in the brisket with two, and in the face with one, then the guide popped him once in the head at twenty yards to stop the bear.
No doubt many big bear has fallen to a 30-06, but given a choice, I know I would try it with no less than a .338 win mag.
Well, I am gonna try it with a bow, but someone is gonna be there with a big bore!
--------------------------
Your call! Will there be someone like the guide " right there" to back you up?
Never Go Undergunned,
EKM
]
03-08-2003, 09:02 AM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Gleason, TN
Posts: 1,327
RE: 30-06 for brown bear
I wouldn' t go with anything bigger unless you are going to be bear hunting with any regularity. I would carry a backup handgun if I could...Something that has a caliber that begins with a 4 or larger... Or I guess bear spray isn' t a bad idea.
As long as you stay aware of your surroundings I' d say you would be as safe as one can be.
Too many bears have met thier end by a 30-06 for it to be that bad of a choice. It isn' t the best, but it' s better than alot of other guns.
Another thing to think about is the quality of the gun you will be taking. It isn' t a model 710 is it?
On the other hand, it may be fun to go out and buy another gun. But you may be better off using a gun that you know and are used to.
As long as you stay aware of your surroundings I' d say you would be as safe as one can be.
Too many bears have met thier end by a 30-06 for it to be that bad of a choice. It isn' t the best, but it' s better than alot of other guns.
Another thing to think about is the quality of the gun you will be taking. It isn' t a model 710 is it?
On the other hand, it may be fun to go out and buy another gun. But you may be better off using a gun that you know and are used to.