First of all take a look at my avitar, that Caribou was shot with my Handi 30-06, at 250 yards with a 165 gr nosler Partition.
I have a 1997 model. It's my everyday go to gun. I've taken Moose, Caribou, and lots of Wolves with it. I would not hesitate using it for Grizzly. I just have not ran across one while carrying the Handi. I always seem to have a .17HMR or a .223 in my hand during Grizzly encounters. As for accuracy, the more I shoot it the better it gets. The Handi is just as accurate as my Remingtons, Rugers, TCRs, and any other gun I own. I shoot 125 gr Speer TNTs, 165 gr Nosler Partitions, 165 gr Sierria HP Boat Tails, and 180 gr Nosler Partitions. It shoots them all just as well, but the 165 gr is the optimum bullet for the 30-06. The only thing I have done to it to improve accuracy is put an O-ring under the forearm. I can hit a gallon milk jug from 300 to 700 yards every shot. I have it sighted in for 250 yards. I've killed Moose with 125 gr varmint loads, one shot behind the ear, at 80 yards. As for recoil, it's a pussy cat. You want recoil, shoot my son's 45-70, 500gr lead bullet loads.
I dropped it in the Chatanika River a few years back, it spent two days on the bottom. When I retrieved the gun from the bottom it rusted up. I had a cartridge in the chamber, and one of those rubber sleeves over the end of the barrel, so water did not get inside the barrel. I took it apart and got all the rust off with the wire wheel on my shop grinder. Cleaned the outside of the barrel and action, but they kept rusting up over night. Finally I made them rust proof, camoed it at the same time. It's called Rustolium Textured Paint. I used Accent Paint on the wood and I really like how it turned out.
While I may sometimes carry differant guns, the Handi 30-06 is always along as back-up.
