Bear Country. What "IS" enough gun?

Escoseis · 01-11-2004, 17:47

Whoa!! Wonder what this hunter used? [See attachment]

A buddy sent me these pictures. Don't know where he got them... maybe some of you have seen them before. New to me.

I have seen bears in Idaho. None were quite this large, though.

Don't know where this bear was photographed. I hope a long way from where I now live.

Obviously the hunt was successful. (As viewed from the man's perspective).

Size of the bear makes me think that packing anything less than a Howitzer is pointless.

JeepDriver · 01-11-2004, 18:14

Ma Duce ;f

Dogbite · 01-11-2004, 20:54

I grew up in Alaska,alot of it in the bush--so i have some practical experience in this matter.Defense against bears--12 guage pump with slugs,or a large caliber rifle--416 rem mag and up bolt action, 45-70 with super stout loads, and a large 454,480,475 revolver for back up.If you are hunting them,and popping them at a distance--with a guide(that will have a heavy rifle) then a 300 mag and up--i would prefer a 338 and up.A mad charging bear and a bear walking around unaware of your presence are two totally different situations.Yes people kill them with 30-06 type calibers,but gambling with your life is not a good idea.I had a friend that killed one with a 30-06--and he said that he would never try that again.It went down very close to him,and he had to empty the gun.He is not a novice.

Cowboy Kyle · 01-11-2004, 21:41

Is that the bear that ate that guy in Alaska? i dont remember what they used to kill it. anything as big as a "minivan" i want no part of!!

marvin · 01-12-2004, 06:05

i saw this photo a while ago. was shoot in alaska and if i rember right the guy used a 7mm rem. mag took several shots. don't know if this is true or not.

Michigun · 01-12-2004, 07:39

Several different stories going around, via e-mail about those pictures… I’ve received at least 5 different variations myself… seen a few different stories here on GT even…….

noway · 01-12-2004, 08:58

Same here, this story is going around close to 2years with it getting bigger and bigger every day.

next story title will have it saying the "Bear eat a whole town and was killed by a 9mm" ;Q

As far as the 9mm users and the other handguns users that feel they have a suitable caliber for a bear, then good luck!
;f

marvin · 01-12-2004, 17:43

Quote:

Originally posted by noway

As far as the 9mm users and the other handguns users that feel they have a suitable caliber for a bear, then good luck!
;f

you know i catch crap all the time for this but here goes. i think 9 mm makes a good gun for protection from bear attacks!

note i said protection not hunting. all the reading i've ever read says the only way to stop a bear is to hit the brain or spine. the 9 loaded with 147 fmj gives you a deep pentarting round in a lite package with 18 rounds to do it. plus you need a few rounds to waste in an attempt to scare the bear away.

phil shoemaker the alaskan guide said that he would whether have a 22 mag that he could shot fast than to have a 454 mag that he couldn't get 2 shots off as fast. so i think that the 9mm sounds prteey good.

bachchoy · 01-12-2004, 17:57

;g

ATI_RAGE_ · 01-13-2004, 00:40

According to Christmas Story, a Red Ryder BB gun should take care of anything. ;a

Balls · 01-13-2004, 00:56

I heard of a sorty about soem guys fishing in Alaska. They asked the Ranger what handgun to carry to fend off a bear. The Ranger told them he has a Revolver in the glove box of his truck for just the occasion; it has the front sight filed off. When they asked why he filed the sight off, he replied "so it wont hurt as much when the bear takes it from me and shoves it up my butt."

CarolsJohn · 01-13-2004, 01:57

WOW....With a monster like that, me thinks at least maybe a 9mm LE mag, and a .357 wheel gun as a back up.

If that don't work, use the small backpack-sized tactical nuclear warhead. ;-)

John

Michigun · 01-13-2004, 05:21

I was told that any handgun that was able to wound the leg of the guy running next to you was good enough ‘bear protection’. ;f

Michigun · 01-13-2004, 05:22

Oops...

Bushflyr · 01-13-2004, 10:14

Supposedly the SKS has put a bigger dent in the Alaska bear population than any other gun.

0100010 · 01-13-2004, 10:39

http://www.snopes.com/photos/bearhunt.asp

jchast · 01-19-2004, 08:52

This bad boy...

Magnum Research 45-70 (5) shot revolver...

*drool* ;g

;c ;c

Poohgyrr · 01-19-2004, 20:17

Quote:

Originally posted by 0100010
http://www.snopes.com/photos/bearhunt.asp

Yup, that's where I saw these pics last. Including the third pic of what's left of a guy.

Cali-Glock · 01-20-2004, 13:34

Attached is a picture of a woman and the grizzly she dropped with a 44 mag. She was gardening behind her house in Alaska; was not paying attention; when she saw the bear standing over her, she drew and fired one shot into the neck hoping to break the bears neck. Her one shot was true and the bear dropped. Her husband (a bush pilot) wrote a book which used to be posted online... I can't find it online anymoer

Dogbite · 01-31-2004, 21:16

If you carry a 9mm in bear big bear country,you dont need that hi-cap mag.All you need is one round--so you can shoot yourself when the bear charges you--it wont be as messy that way...

noway · 01-31-2004, 21:46

Caliglock, nice picture but that bear is a midget compared to the org poster picture. Just my 0.02c thoughts.

lazarus · 02-02-2004, 10:40

I am currently planning a trip to Alaska for the summer.

Since I will use any excuse to buy another gun, I recently bought a 4" Colt Anaconda chambered in .44 magnum for the trip. I am _not_ planning to go bear hunting with such a gun, but it is the minimum I feel comfortable with. I'll also be carrying a Remington 870 loaded with Brenneke (sp?) slugs.

Dogbite · 02-02-2004, 18:13

That sounds like a great combo Lazarus!!!

G22 Kid · 02-08-2004, 02:55

If I ever spent much time in BIG bear country, I would be wanting a marlin 45-70with 500 grain hard cast handloads.

Course, if I was just going up for an occasional fishing trip, a .454 would be good for me.

Now black bear, If I was boondocking around my neck of the woods, either a 6 inch .357 mag with heavy 180 grain hardcast style loads or a 44 mag with 240 grainers(preferably the 44mag) and for a rifle, I think me '06 with 180 grainers would stop him dead in his tracks.

Baron Holbach4 · 02-08-2004, 05:40

I agree with G22 Kid. If you are trekking into grizzly country,
take at least a .45-70 capable of digesting heavy, flat-nosed, hard-cast lead bullets. Double up with a .44 magnum, 4-inch handgun as a backup; it, too, should be loaded with at least 240 grain, flat-nosed, hard-cast lead bullets.