7 PRC for costal brown bears?

[Ecampbell25]

Time to talk the wife into another rifle!!!

 

[Packmansion]

I say you take the 7 and you prove em wrong or die trying

 

[Ecampbell25]

I say you take the 7 and you prove em wrong or die trying

hard tellin not knowing

 

[gerry35]

Your 7 PRC will do fine on killing a bear and I wouldn't hesitate to hunt them with them. There is a big difference though between hunting them and having to stop one that want's to even the score with you. I'm in BC and have hunted the coastal bears here before they closed the season and with their population exploding we have to deal with them all the time.

I use a 35 Whelen but I handload, One you might wish to check out is the 9.3x62, lot's of nice Huqvarna rifles out there that are compact and carry well. The 12 lb rifles lots of guys use in open areas are terrible in brushy areas where you are likely to have to kill a bear in. You don't need the deepest penetrating heavy bullets either. They don't open a big would channel, pick a bullet that will cause a lot of damage regardless of caliber. A 338 with a 230 gr ELD-X would be an interesting choice too. I had a 375 Ruger that was a nice gun but I shot the 35 Whelen much better and couldn't see the difference in how they killed. The 375 260 gr Accubond was a great bullet though. I really liked the 300's with the 220 gr Partition's, the front section expanded rapidly and did some damage while the rear core penetrated deep. The 200 gr PT was great too.

The desire by some here to hunt them with 223's etc is insane. It can work by why even try when there's much better choices out there. The 223 guys kind of remind me of Timothy Treadwell, you'll get away with it for a while but eventually it will end very badly.

Congrats on your move to Alaska, hope you have fun and kill a giant bear along with other game!

 

[Packmansion]

Did you hunt a bear this spring? How does the u shoot?

 

[Ecampbell25]

Did you hunt a bear this spring? How does the u shoot?

I wasn’t a resident. But now I am. Haven’t been out looking for a brownie… been chasing sheep…

 

[Ecampbell25]

Your 7 PRC will do fine on killing a bear and I wouldn't hesitate to hunt them with them. There is a big difference though between hunting them and having to stop one that want's to even the score with you. I'm in BC and have hunted the coastal bears here before they closed the season and with their population exploding we have to deal with them all the time.

I use a 35 Whelen but I handload, One you might wish to check out is the 9.3x62, lot's of nice Huqvarna rifles out there that are compact and carry well. The 12 lb rifles lots of guys use in open areas are terrible in brushy areas where you are likely to have to kill a bear in. You don't need the deepest penetrating heavy bullets either. They don't open a big would channel, pick a bullet that will cause a lot of damage regardless of caliber. A 338 with a 230 gr ELD-X would be an interesting choice too. I had a 375 Ruger that was a nice gun but I shot the 35 Whelen much better and couldn't see the difference in how they killed. The 375 260 gr Accubond was a great bullet though. I really liked the 300's with the 220 gr Partition's, the front section expanded rapidly and did some damage while the rear core penetrated deep. The 200 gr PT was great too.

The desire by some here to hunt them with 223's etc is insane. It can work by why even try when there's much better choices out there. The 223 guys kind of remind me of Timothy Treadwell, you'll get away with it for a while but eventually it will end very badly.

Congrats on your move to Alaska, hope you have fun and kill a giant bear along with other game!

Thanks for the advice @gerry35 appreciate the help!

 

[pacoalcracker]

Coastal Brownies, close in and personal. Isn't that why Ruger developed the 416 Ruger? Yeah, that would be my first choice for a wounded bear follow-up. Otherwise, 338/06 or 35 Whelen w/210 & 225gr Partitions fits the job quite nicely. A lighter recoil hammer.

 

[cuerro viejo]

375 H&H, doubles, open sight, on sticks under 50 yards!!! Let’s go.

 

[wyosam]

Coastal Brownies, close in and personal. Isn't that why Ruger developed the 416 Ruger? Yeah, that would be my first choice for a wounded bear follow-up. Otherwise, 338/06 or 35 Whelen w/210 & 225gr Partitions fits the job quite nicely. A lighter recoil hammer.

Yep, don’t need a ton of recoil with a medium bore. Bear defense happens at very close to muzzle velocity. My 338-284 is very pleasant to shoot, and packs plenty of punch in close.


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[Nilgai]

I killed a 10'2" bear with Phil Shoemaker and used a .375 H&H with 260 grain Nosler Accubonds. Worked perfectly. While I'm sure you could kill a big bear with a 7 mm PRC, I don't think it would be the best choice.

 

[pacoalcracker]

Well now, where the heck is the RS .223 plenty enough for grizzly crowd? I figured they would have showed up in numbers by now.
I would have no problem with a 7PRC with a decent bullet and a reasonable distance. My first choice would be a 375 Ruger Alaskan followed by a 35 Whelen. Hard to beat the mid-calibers for enough power and penetration without a lot of recoil. If I have to trek into the willows to sort one out I'm wanting a 416 Ruger Alaskan.

 

[gerry35]

Well now, where the heck is the RS .223 plenty enough for grizzly crowd? I figured they would have showed up in numbers by now.
I would have no problem with a 7PRC with a decent bullet and a reasonable distance. My first choice would be a 375 Ruger Alaskan followed by a 35 Whelen. Hard to beat the mid-calibers for enough power and penetration without a lot of recoil. If I have to trek into the willows to sort one out I'm wanting a 416 Ruger Alaskan.

Please don't summon the Timothy Treadwell wannabes.

 

[z987k]

Well now, where the heck is the RS .223 plenty enough for grizzly crowd? I figured they would have showed up in numbers by now.
I would have no problem with a 7PRC with a decent bullet and a reasonable distance. My first choice would be a 375 Ruger Alaskan followed by a 35 Whelen. Hard to beat the mid-calibers for enough power and penetration without a lot of recoil. If I have to trek into the willows to sort one out I'm wanting a 416 Ruger Alaskan.

They're probably actually hunting brown bears.

 

[6mm Remington]

I have never hunted or killed a brown bear. I did shoot my grizzly bear in 2019 with my 280AI and a 140 gr. Nosler Accubond handload. One shot and he was done at 158 yards. The 7mm Remington Mag and the 7 PRC are essentially the same ballistically and I feel that with a good bullet it would work fine. A couple bullets I would think about are these:
Nosler
150 gr. E-tip. These E-tips hold together and penetrate like crazy. My son shoots a 90 gr. E-tip in his 6mm Remington and antelope, deer, and elk have dropped with one shot. 350 yards on his large cow elk!

160 gr. Accubond or Partition. Both of these should work very well. Pick the one your rifle likes the best.

175 gr. Partition. No flies on this one. It would work well also.

 

[fj40rob]

I have seen a brownie drop with a 139cx from around 100yds from a 7mm-08. Just get within 300 yards, preferably 200, and be ready for a follow-up shot. Try to wait until he is in the open, so you have a chance with a follow-up shot. Enjoy the adventure.

 

[Mattman215]

I would prefer a .30 cal minimum personally but if all you have is a 7 just get in close 200 yards or less should be ok.