Marlin 1893 lever - All
8 Best Charge-Stopping Bear Cartridges
1. .45-70 Government
First adopted by the U.S. military in 1873, the .45-70 Government has been one of the longest-standing big-game cartridges of all time. It’s also been incredibly popular among Alaskan hunters and guides, especially in lever-actions like Marlin’s 1895 Guide Gun, which is compact, fairly lightweight and highly maneuverable in close quarters. It’s also capable of sending a massive projectile, like Buffalo Bore’s 430-grain hard-cast bullet, at roughly 2000 fps and 3,600 ft.-lbs. from the muzzle. Talk about stopping power.
2. .454 Casull
Developed by Dick Casull and Jack Fulmer in 1957, the .454 Casull is a dangerous game hunter’s dream come true. One of the more powerful handguns available today, the .454 is capable of pushing a 300-grain Buffalo Bore bullet at 1650 fps with 1,813 ft.-lbs. of energy at the muzzle. Nelson killed one of his charging grizzlies with a .454 Casull, which he says is one of his favorite choices for bear defense. Ruger chambers the .454 Casull in both the Super Redhawk with a 4-inch barrel and the Alaskan in a 3-inch variant, both of which are compact and easy to draw when things get up close and personal. Is it fun to shoot? Not at all. Nelson says after about 20 shots, his wrist starts to swell and he can no longer shoot. The beauty of the .454, however, is that you can practice with .45 Colt rounds and save yourself a bit of recoil trauma.
3. .44 Remington Magnum
Considered by many to be the minimum for big bear defense rounds, the .44 Remington Magnum was first introduced in 1955 for revolvers and gained widespread popularity in the 1970s thanks to Dirty Harry. While some may consider it the minimum, it’s plenty powerful enough to stop an onerous bear. A 240-grain +P Buffalo Bore projectile carries roughly 1,600 ft.-lbs. of energy at 1550 fps, which is more than double that of the 10mm and four times more energy than the 9mm. Available in shorter versions like the Smith & Wesson 629 with 4-inch barrel, the .44 Mag. has a well-deserved reputation as a charge-stopper.4. .375 H&H Magnum
One of the original belted, rimless magnum rifle cartridges, Holland & Holland’s .375 is not only considered one of the best cartridges for hunting Africa, it also has a proven track record for lethality on large-bodied game in Canada and Alaska, including moose and bear. Popular among Alaskan guides and hunters, the .375 is capable of launching a 270-grain bullet at 4,300 ft.-lbs. and 2700 fps, thus delivering massive energy on target. As Nelson points out, the first shot may end the charge but doesn’t always kill the bear, which means it’s handy to have a rifle that can make the longer follow-up shot.
5. .50 Alaskan
Taking a .348 Winchester case and necking it out to accept a .510-inch, Alaskan Harold Johnson was able to successfully convert a Winchester Model 1886 rifle into a .50-caliber, bear-killing machine. The result, of course, was the .50 Alaskan. Buffalo Bore produces several loads for the .50 Alaskan, including a 450-grain bullet that delivers a whopping 4,400 ft.-lbs. of energy from the muzzle. As a wildcat cartridge, it hasn’t seen the widespread use of other rounds on this list, but that hasn’t stopped many guides and hunters, Nelson included, from converting Marlin lever guns for its very effective use.6. 12-Gauge Slug
According to Nelson, the 12-gauge slug gun is by far one of the most popular choices for bear protection in the Alaskan bush. While it is extremely effective, the main reason it’s been so widely-used is because shotguns like the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 are a fraction of the price of bolt-guns and, in turn, that’s what the government has provided to its employees. Based on ballistic testing and field use, Nelson recommends Brenneke’s Black Magic Magnum or DDupleks’ Monolit 32 solid steel slug. The Black Magic Magnum is a 602-grain slug that carries 3,000 ft.-lbs. of energy at 1500 fps, while the 495-grain DDupleks leaves the muzzle at 1410 fps with 2,180 ft.-lbs. of energy.7. .338 Winchester Magnum
The favorite among Alaskan guides as a backup gun, the .338 Winchester Magnum was released in 1958 as belted, rimless cartridge. Based on the .375 H&H, the .338 will send a 300-grain Barnes bullet out the barrel at 2500 fps with a devastating 4,100 ft.-lbs. of energy. Considered by many to be the most versatile North American big-game cartridge, the .338 Win. Mag. has killed its fair share of charging bears. It’s chambered in nearly every major manufacturer’s rifle and has a plethora of ammunition choices as well.8. .357 S&W Magnum
While some folks claim the .44 Magnum is the minimum for charging bears, many others have opted for a Glock 20 in 10mm Auto and, interestingly enough, passed right by the .357 S&W Magnum. Several folks have even successfully killed bears with a 9mm. While a well-placed shot from a 10mm can no doubt do the trick, the .357 Mag. has 780 ft.-lbs. of energy, while the 10mm has about 728 ft.-lbs., both with a 180-grain Buffalo Bore bullet. As Nelson has seen in bear defense training, many shooters have cycling issues with the 10mm due to the “limp-wrist syndrome,” something that isn’t an issue with a revolver and is the last thing you want to happen during a bear charge. The .357 is also available in smaller-framed revolvers that fit smaller hands, making it ideal for women and less experienced shooters. Any way you slice it, the .357 has proven itself as a worthy close-range bear stopper.
8 Great New Hunting Rifles for 2022
Though I absolutely love those rifles which have been with me for decades, and have shared so many indelible memories, I still get excited to see the new crop of rifles introduced each year, and always ponder the possibilities of creating new memories with a new model. A hunting rifle can become a life-long friend, but like any friend, there’s the first time you meet, and like so many friendships, sometimes things don’t work out. Whether it’s a long-range bolt gun for sheep, elk and antelope, or a thumper of a lever gun destined to pursue bear in the spring vegetation, or an all-around deer gun, the possibilities are endless. Let’s take a gander at what’s new for 2022 for the American hunter.1. Marlin 1895 SBL and Trapper
Rescued from the dustbin by Ruger, Marlin was purchased in the breakup of the Freedom Group, and they are coming back with a vengeance. The first of the new Marlin rifles to come off the line was the Model 1895 SBL, with its large lever loop, 19-inch barrel, stainless steel metal and Marlin Horse and Rider logo engraved on the bottom of the grip, and chambered in .45-70 Government. Reviews were shining, from both reviewers and customers alike. Marlin has now followed up with a Trapper version of that rifle (pictured), with a 16.10-inch barrel and the excellent Skinner Sights front blade and rear peep installed at the factory. If you like a .45-70 lever gun, look long and hard at the new pair from Marlin. MSRP: $1,349-$1,399; marlinfirearms.com.2. Nosler Model 21
Nosler’s team of rifle designers has whipped up a winner with the Model 21. Designed first and foremost as a hunting rifle, this synthetic-stocked little gem can deliver the goods in the deer woods, the antelope prairie or the sheep mountains. Using a dual-lug spiral bolt, TriggerTech trigger and Shilen match barrel, the Model 21 is a wonderfully accurate rifle.3. Winchester Model 1895 High Grade
Teddy Roosevelt’s “Big Medicine” is back, and it’s even available in his pet .405 Winchester. When it comes to a lever-gun, most associate the design with a tubular magazine; this is not the case with the ’95. John Browning designed a lever gun which felt familiar, yet could easily handle the rimless, higher-pressure cartridges like the .30-40 Krag and .30-06 Springfield (both available in the current ’95).4. Savage 110 Magpul Hunter
Here we have a classic hunting rifle action, housed in a modern stock which might be best described as feeling better than it looks. The Savage 110 barreled action is wonderfully accurate—the floating bolt head, barrel nut and hand-straightened barrel make a great combination—and the Magpul stock lends itself to both hunting scenarios as well as at the target range.5. Remington Model 700
I can’t comment too awful much on this one, other than to assure you that the rebirth of the world-famous Model 700 is imminent, and the folks producing it describe the rifle as having “all the features you’d ever want in a Model 700.” Seeing as how the new company kept the operation in Ilion, New York, and retained the majority of former employees, I am excited to experience the latest rifle in the series from America’s Oldest Gunmaker, which dates back to 1816. MSRP: $519-$839; remarms.com.6. Browning X-Bolt Western Hunter LR
There is no denying that the Browning X-Bolt has cemented its place in American rifle history. With its 60-degree bolt throw, two-position tang safety (you can safely unlock the bolt in the safe position by depressing a small button atop the bolt handle) and adjustable comb, the X-Bolt Western Hunter LR is set up for those longer shots on elk, mule deer, sheep, caribou and similar game. With barrel lengths of 24 and 26 inches—depending on the chambering—the X-Bolt Western Hunter LR is jam-packed with all sorts of features from a muzzle brake to textured grip panels to a well-designed detachable magazine, replete with a synthetic stock in a modern camo finish. I own an early model in 6.8 Western, and the entire package is absolutely lights-out accurate, and wonderful to use in the field. MSRP: $1,199.99-$1,299.99; browning.com.7. CZ 600
When it was announced that CZ would be discontinuing their famous Model 550 rifle—a controlled-round-feed design that many hunters have come to love—shooters were eager to see what would replace it. The company introduced its CZ 600 series late last year, being a push feed design with plunger ejector, which would be more economical to produce. With innovative features like a magazine lock—which converts the detachable magazine to fixed – a tang safety, and the choice of walnut or synthetic stock, and aluminum or steel receiver, the CZ 600 has, thus far, seemed to please. It has shown to be an accurate rifle, and the hunting models surely aren’t hard on the eyes. However, just as a word of warning, CZ has recently issued a recall on all models, due to a mechanical issue, so if you’ve already purchased one, check back with CZ to get the issue resolved. MSRP: $749-$1,199; cz-usa.com.8. Henry Big Boy Deluxe Engraved 4th Edition
A lever gun chambered for a beefy pistol cartridge has a certain allure, and for those of us who do out hunting at closer ranges—such as those situations presented by the Northeast woods—they check almost all the boxes. Henry Rifles, with the motto “Made in America, or Not Made at All” is offering a limited edition of 1,000 rifles in their engraved Big Boy Rifle.
