Location: The Land of the Ice and Snow..... Alaska
Posts: 4,210
Bear defence guns.
I am just curios to see what other people are using for Self Defence against large game like bears. Im not talking about hunting rifles, something for up close encounters such as coming accross a bear on a river bank thats charging. Im about to have my 12 guage barrel cut down from 28 to 18.25 inches or 20 and have a set of Fire sights put on it. Not sure what im doing for a stock yet, but I wanted to see what other people were using.
Just looking for some ideas here If you can post pics.
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In my opinion the perfect gun for such a purpose would be the Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70, very handy and it can send some big ole bullets downrange in a hurry.
There is no handgun that I would ever trust to defend my life against a pee'd off bear.
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Location: The Land of the Ice and Snow..... Alaska
Posts: 4,210
Well I plan on using my shotgun with 3 inch slugs for bear, I was just curios what every one else uses. I at times use my dads black hawk .44 mag before, but im looking into getting shotgun ready for that. If I were to buy a pistal for bear defence I would problubly get a 454 or a sw500.
I was just curios to see other peoples set ups. Im getting fishing fever so im trying to get all my stuff in line before summer is here. Getting my gun ready is on my top of my to-do list for that. Around here we have alot of grizzlys by our creeks and rivers so having a good gun is a must unless your insane lol.
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I guess it depends on how full you want your hands to be. If I didn't care how full my hands were or didn't mind slinging it I like the guide gun a lot, but your 12ga choice is good. Grizzlies are big, strong, and fast but they aren't King Kong big. I'd be comfy with any of the big bore magnum handguns, .44, .454, .460, or .500, and I'd probably sling some bear spray from my pack or wear a spray holster (might as well be on the moon as stuffed in a pack). Don't underate how effective bear spray is. Alaska's wildlife troops studied some attacks a couple years ago, and bear spray was somewhere around 97% effective at aborting an attack, and where it didn't abort the attack there were no serious injuries.
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Location: The Land of the Ice and Snow..... Alaska
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Wow I did not know that, It sounds like it woldnt be a bad idea to carry bear spray but I would still carry a gun. Bears are like people in a way, each one is going to have a diffrent pail tolarence. Where one bear might run one might keep going. But I think i may look into bear spray also.
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Just make sure you use something like a Remington Copper Solid, Barnes Expander, or some other all Copper slug. You don't want to rely on a piece of lead breaking bones and wrecking vitals that are hidden behind thick hard muscles.
You didn't say what model/style shotgun you own. A pump would be good, but a tactical auto like a Beretta would give you more shots and faster shots.
In a rifle, it is hard to beat a lever action 45/70 or 450 Marlin. They can be loaded with ammo that can kill elephants and would slam any bear hard.
Forget handguns. The 44 magnum won't stop a charge and the 460 and 500 S&W are too hard to shoot fast and accurately. The only time a handgun is worth anything is if the bear is on top of you and you can stick the barrel in his mouth or ribs when you touch a round off.
I consider the .44remmag suficient to defend against bear.I have taken three elk and five blacks with a .44mag using 240gr bullets.There are even better loads out there but at the time that was what was available and they worked. A thousand lbs is a he*l of a jolt,to anything. ,,,sam.
I consider the .44remmag suficient to defend against bear.I have taken three elk and five blacks with a .44mag using 240gr bullets.There are even better loads out there but at the time that was what was available and they worked. A thousand lbs is a he*l of a jolt,to anything. ,,,sam.
There is a huge difference between killing an Elk and killing a grizzly or Kodiak. A 400lb bear would kill any Buffalo or elk that ever walked the earth and elk are nowhere near the size of the Bison. And Alaskan Bears get to 1000-1500 pounds, not 600pounds like elk.
The OP isn't talking about hunting Bears, He's talking about stopping a charging Bear intent one eating him or tearing him to shreads.
Location: The Land of the Ice and Snow..... Alaska
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmsbandit
Just make sure you use something like a Remington Copper Solid, Barnes Expander, or some other all Copper slug. You don't want to rely on a piece of lead breaking bones and wrecking vitals that are hidden behind thick hard muscles.
You didn't say what model/style shotgun you own. A pump would be good, but a tactical auto like a Beretta would give you more shots and faster shots.
In a rifle, it is hard to beat a lever action 45/70 or 450 Marlin. They can be loaded with ammo that can kill elephants and would slam any bear hard.
Forget handguns. The 44 magnum won't stop a charge and the 460 and 500 S&W are too hard to shoot fast and accurately. The only time a handgun is worth anything is if the bear is on top of you and you can stick the barrel in his mouth or ribs when you touch a round off.
Its a Maverick 88 with a 28 inch barrel and a 20 inch rifled slug barrel. It also has the 5 shell mag not the 7 I have talked to a a guy who was a Fish and Game officer up here once about bears and protection and he said he had seen first hand a .44 mag kill a grizzly. How ever he said he had seen grizzlys keep going though too. I have shot a 500 sw and was able to shoot it pretty fast, my hands were not happy with me lol but i was able to do it. On the other hand im a much better shot with a rifle then i am a pistal. I feel much more sacure and confident shooting a rifle (shotgun) then a handgun.
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i have been to alaska but not hunting or fishing anywhere where there was a chance of a 1500 pound grizzly attack.
but, if i did i would go with a 12 ga. with the slugs AND have a friend or two with me packing something large as well.
and if all else failed i would have to resort to the age old bear attack strategy that my uncle told me many moons ago:
"if your group is being charged by a grizzly and you can't stop it, you don't have to out run the bear, you just have to out run one of your friends"......just kidding...(sort of )
Hi Charlie !! Sorry I missed you at the Gun Show. Strike 2 !! The number one rule for bear medicine is it has to be something you can do your activities (hiking, fishing, flyfishing, berry picking) with without taking it off. Too many have become a cheeseburger when confronted by a bear up close, and the gun of choice was laying on a nearby rock !! The obvious choice then would be a pistol. Light and handy !! Big bore wheelgun fits the ticket !! The cons to that is summed up nicely by my recent poll of Alaskans on river banks with pistols. It was summed up thusly: "I see you have a shoulder/hip rigged 44Mag. Is this for bear?" "Yes and for 2 legged as well" (Mandatory chuckle) "How many rounds do you have through her?" (standard answer): "About a box" I see hundreds of 44 Mags traded/sold that we call Alaskan bear guns. All kinds of holster wear and like new barrels and cylinders. If you shoot your gun every week, you might live !!
Shotguns: More likely to leave a 9lb shotgun on the bank/in the camp where it does you no good whatsoever !! Game Warden to State Trooper- "It would appear that the bear beat him to his shotgun!" Autoloader 12Ga- Jam, Jam !! Crunch, crunch !!
(especially in freezing temps)
Guide guns/ lever actions are great !! Again, only if you shoot them weekly and can point shoot instinctively !! And fast !! Remember, there's not many second shots, and never a number three !!
My summation: Best bet is a 12 Ga PUMP shotgun, with an 8 shot magazine, collapsible buttstock for weight and transportability. A really good sling that supports the gun across my back, and in the ready position, and a mix of buck and slugs. I carry 4 triple ought, in front of 4 Brenneke saboted slugs. I know, I know. I said maybe two shots on a charging bear !! But in case he turns, I want all I can have without reloading !!
Other tips to remember: Always go into the field with a guy who runs slower than you !! And always carry fresh bacon, so if you have to hooch up, you can slip it into the foot of his fart sack, ROFL !!
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Last edited by SwedeSteve; 03-08-2010 at 11:10 PM.
There is a huge difference between killing an Elk and killing a grizzly or Kodiak. A 400lb bear would kill any Buffalo or elk that ever walked the earth and elk are nowhere near the size of the Bison. And Alaskan Bears get to 1000-1500 pounds, not 600pounds like elk.
The OP isn't talking about hunting Bears, He's talking about stopping a charging Bear intent one eating him or tearing him to shreads.
I know you have so much more knowledge and expertise in what it takes to stop a dangerous animal.You are the best in the field and I apreciate you putting me in my place.I also appreciate you enlightening me on the size of animals.I would never have guessed that.Thank you for pointing out how highly inteligent and experienced you are.I never realised that I was in that much danger.I do have a couple questions tho.How do you handle a 12ga shotgun and a flyrod at the same time,and since a .44 is inadequate,do you think all of the really large brown bears and moose that have been killed with a .44mag handgun will come back to life and be a danger to hunters/fishermen? One more,a friend of mine killed a bison that weighed 1500lbs plus in the Yukon a few years back with a .50cal flintlock using a round ball and 70grns of BP.It was a one shot kill.He said the bison flinched,walked about 30yds and dropped dead. Is there a chance he didn't really kill it and they dressed out a live animal?You make hunting sound so dangerous and difficult,but I will keep trying if you promise to keep me straight and informed with your superior knowledge/experience.Thank you very much. ,,,sam.
............ Remember, there's not many second shots, and never a number three !!
My summation: Best bet is a 12 Ga PUMP shotgun, with an 8 shot magazine, collapsible buttstock for weight and transportability.............
If there is NEVER a third shot, why would he need an 8 round magazine?
Non-sequitor.
As Samuel pointed out, a .44 Magnum would be quite sufficient, and very handy to carry on the hip, versus having to sling a rifle or shotgun while trying to do other activities.
I own and shoot 45-70 Guide Guns, .44 Magnums, and 12 gauge shotguns. I feel perfectly secure in being able to handle/shoot any of them in a close rapid fire drill, because I PRACTICE.
No gun is gonna do anybody any good if they can't handle it. 50 rounds of "practice" will NOT qualify anyone to carry it for defense.
When I am hunting bear, I carry my 45-70, and a .44Magnum on my hip. When I am doing ANYTHING else in the wilderness, I carry a .44Magnum on my hip.
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Location: The Land of the Ice and Snow..... Alaska
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Now keep in mind guys I already stated i do not have the money to buy a big gun if so i would already own a big bore pistal. Im meerly making due with what I have. I know a shot gun with a slug will stop a bear if needed, thats why im trying to make my gun as short and easy to cary as possible. I plan on trying to keep the gun on me at all times when im on the river or DIRECTLY NEXT to ME if i take it off for what ever reasen. I was kinda hoping some one would post some pics of there guns too lol I was wanting to get a feel for what other people were using........And I appreciate all your advise and comments.
Just atm i cannot afford to buy a new gun or else I would problubly have a 454 or a sw500 lol
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God Speed Arkansashunter, Ezearln, SwedeSteve, You guys will never be forgotten.
Location: The Land of the Ice and Snow..... Alaska
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O and steve lol, did you get my message on your cell phone? Rich gave me your number and i tried to call it on a friends phone but wasnt sure if it was the right number or not.......i was hoping to catch you there but i guess we will have to some other time.
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God Speed Arkansashunter, Ezearln, SwedeSteve, You guys will never be forgotten.
If you can post pics.
I have talked to a a guy who was a Fish and Game officer up here once about bears and protection and he said he had seen first hand a .44 mag kill a grizzly. How ever he said he had seen grizzlys keep going though too. I have shot a 500 sw and was able to shoot it pretty fast, my hands were not happy with me lol but i was able to do it. On the other hand im a much better shot with a rifle then i am a pistal. I feel much more sacure and confident shooting a rifle (shotgun) then a handgun.
...just kidding...(sort of 
)
