What does it take to kill a grizzly?

[Luke S]

I was there for 2 grizzly kills this spring. A 223 with 77 TMKs worked and the bear died fast enough. The hole was smaller. A 308 with 178 gr ELDX bullets killed a slightly smaller grizzly in a similar time frame. But there was an exit wound and a bigger hole. Take from that what you will. I'll going to check a bait one last time this weekend before I clean it up. Might see if I can try a 88 gr TMK

 

[Luke S]

Unfortunately we didn't get a final bear for the spring season so no 88 gr data. Bummer because I'm really tempted to take the AR on a hike in moose hunt and a grizzly kill with the 88 gr would have been a good data point.
My thoughts are currently that you are not "dumb" if you use a smaller caliber. But I do think you are getting a smaller sometimes shorter wound channel. I'm comfortable with that on black bears and 7 foot grizzies. If i was guiding and wanted to slow down a charging/escaping 9 footer withsub optimal hits, I could see a real advantage to a bigger caliber with the trade off of more recoil/slower follow ups. As bears get a bit bigger they do slow bullets down More I've noticed.
Currently my "backup" gun is a 308 with heavy handloads of 200 gr ELDX or Nosler Partitions. Seems like a safe compromise because I can work it faster then my 375 and wounds are large.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

Unfortunately we didn't get a final bear for the spring season so no 88 gr data. Bummer because I'm really tempted to take the AR on a hike in moose hunt and a grizzly kill with the 88 gr would have been a good data point.
My thoughts are currently that you are not "dumb" if you use a smaller caliber. But I do think you are getting a smaller sometimes shorter wound channel. I'm comfortable with that on black bears and 7 foot grizzies. If i was guiding and wanted to slow down a charging/escaping 9 footer withsub optimal hits, I could see a real advantage to a bigger caliber with the trade off of more recoil/slower follow ups. As bears get a bit bigger they do slow bullets down More I've noticed.
Currently my "backup" gun is a 308 with heavy handloads of 200 gr ELDX or Nosler Partitions. Seems like a safe compromise because I can work it faster then my 375 and wounds are large.

Seems sensible

 

[Pilsner]

Tyler is a movie star?!?!? I had no idea.

Shit. If you are surprised imagine how he is gonna feel!

 

[rickyw]

Unfortunately we didn't get a final bear for the spring season so no 88 gr data. Bummer because I'm really tempted to take the AR on a hike in moose hunt and a grizzly kill with the 88 gr would have been a good data point.
My thoughts are currently that you are not "dumb" if you use a smaller caliber. But I do think you are getting a smaller sometimes shorter wound channel. I'm comfortable with that on black bears and 7 foot grizzies. If i was guiding and wanted to slow down a charging/escaping 9 footer withsub optimal hits, I could see a real advantage to a bigger caliber with the trade off of more recoil/slower follow ups. As bears get a bit bigger they do slow bullets down More I've noticed.
Currently my "backup" gun is a 308 with heavy handloads of 200 gr ELDX or Nosler Partitions. Seems like a safe compromise because I can work it faster than my 375 and wounds are large.

Luke have you loaded the 270 grain Speer in your 375? I’m curious about the wound it would create. Next time I go for bear, I’m going try that bullet and see how it does.
On the other end of the spectrum, my son carried an AR 15 this spring with eldms in it for spring bear, but another guy in our party tagged out and we helped pack out so we lost the chance to use it.

 

[Okie_Poke]

I just stumbled on this thread for the first time. Wow, what a trip. I was wondering why on earth this thread got revived, but pictures of another successful bear hunt are as good a reason as any. I’ve never heard of copper rose bullets before.

Glad to see evidence that Tyler is healing up. I don’t know him but enjoy reading his OL stuff.

 

[Luke S]

I have not tried the 270 gr Speer on game. I handloaded some and they seemed accurate. I think all my kills with the 375 were Nosler Partitions. They worked well.