Weapon recommendations for use in the Bush (Kodiak: estate, military)

[Barkingowl]

Pictures of a hunter and a giant bear in Alaska-Truth! & Fiction!

That's scary!

[Jeff Emler]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

Pictures of a hunter and a giant bear in Alaska-Truth! & Fiction!

That's scary!

Is that a true story? Did that really happen up there?

Hey, the scariest thing I've ever hunted was a doe deer.

I'm just not used to the idea of something that can kill me before I kill it.

I watched a documentary once on cave bears. Seems that once upon a time there was a species of bear that was indigenous to the entire North American continent as well as northern Europe. This species was aggressively hunted into relatively recent times. Indigenous Americans hunted them with primitive weapons, usually finding them during hibernation and killing them by attacking them in their dens.

It's been a long time since I watched this, but the last remnants of the species were believed to have existed clear into Medieval times. They were pretty well extirpated in North America by the time Columbus arrived.

Anyway, these things were the size of the bear in the picture. They towered over modern grizzly bears. One has to wonder if the bear in the photo wasn't some sort of throwback to the ancient cave bears.

One hypothesis put forth about the bears was that they weren't solitary like modern bears tend to be. These things lived in groups consisting of related individuals, much like lions do. It is speculated that groups of these things would have been able to annhilate entire clans of ancient people and they may have delayed the migration of people from Europe over the land bridge into Alaska.

You have to wonder how they come up with that stuff.

[Marty Van Diest]

That photo has been making the rounds for a few years. The bear is really not as large as it appears. The hunter is sitting behind the bear. That is a common trick in "trophy photos". The camera is really pretty close to the bears face, so it distorts it and makes the bear look huge.

That isn't a world record bear...but it is a big one.

It's true...they can kill you. But usually they just ignore you or run away.

It does make a person feel a little puny when fishing in a stream next to a brown bear. The bear knows you are there but shows no fear at all. When it decides to take your fishing hole...it's time to leave.

[Jeff Emler]

Originally Posted by Marty Van Diest

That photo has been making the rounds for a few years. The bear is really not as large as it appears. The hunter is sitting behind the bear. That is a common trick in "trophy photos". The camera is really pretty close to the bears face, so it distorts it and makes the bear look huge.

That isn't a world record bear...but it is a big one.

It's true...they can kill you. But usually they just ignore you or run away.

It does make a person feel a little puny when fishing in a stream next to a brown bear. The bear knows you are there but shows no fear at all. When it decides to take your fishing hole...it's time to leave.

I suppose given the fact the bear has priority by birthright I could concede the fishing hole and still save face.

[rotorhead]

Another reason many Alaskans use Mossberg 500s and Remington 870s in bear country is the money issue. When you consider the price difference between a 12 gauge pump and even the most economical bolt-action centerfire rifles, it's a no-brainer. You can buy 5-shot 12 ga. pump actions brand new for maybe $200, and often much less for used. Your average 18" slug barrel model is also a couple pounds lighter than most scoped bolt actions too, an important consideration since the whole idea is to have it with you everwhere when fishing and such in bear country.

When you consider that it's gonna be knocked around, rained on, left wet in the truck/boat/ATV, probably dropped in the stream a couple or ten times, and maybe lost overboard at some point, it doesn't make much sense to carry around grandpas cherished pre-64 Winchester or some high-dollar magnum with a fragile and expensive scope. If you can swing the extra $$$ for a nickle finish so much the better but keep in mind that it certainly doesn't make it rustproof, many critical interior parts will still be parkerized or blued. Synthetic stock and forend aren't a bad idea, but aren't always lighter than the plain 'ol wood ones.

When the blueing gets so dinged up its rusting all the time, you can stomach a rough-n-ready spray-can camoflauge job on a $200 beater a lot easier as well.

[warptman]

Hey Rotor, how is the border crossing going to Haines going both ways?

[Jeff Emler]

Originally Posted by rotorhead

Another reason many Alaskans use Mossberg 500s and Remington 870s in bear country is the money issue. When you consider the price difference between a 12 gauge pump and even the most economical bolt-action centerfire rifles, it's a no-brainer. You can buy 5-shot 12 ga. pump actions brand new for maybe $200, and often much less for used. Your average 18" slug barrel model is also a couple pounds lighter than most scoped bolt actions too, an important consideration since the whole idea is to have it with you everwhere when fishing and such in bear country.

When you consider that it's gonna be knocked around, rained on, left wet in the truck/boat/ATV, probably dropped in the stream a couple or ten times, and maybe lost overboard at some point, it doesn't make much sense to carry around grandpas cherished pre-64 Winchester or some high-dollar magnum with a fragile and expensive scope. If you can swing the extra $$$ for a nickle finish so much the better but keep in mind that it certainly doesn't make it rustproof, many critical interior parts will still be parkerized or blued. Synthetic stock and forend aren't a bad idea, but aren't always lighter than the plain 'ol wood ones.

When the blueing gets so dinged up its rusting all the time, you can stomach a rough-n-ready spray-can camoflauge job on a $200 beater a lot easier as well.

Having owned several 870's over the years I can personally attest to the virtue of that model. I've had a trap version, a field version and a deerhunting version.

The 870 was developed my Remington to compete with the Winchester mod 12. The 870 borrowed from the mod 12 as well as the Ithaca mod 37 both of which could be traced back to John Browning's mod 17.

My personal favorites are Brownings. I have a double that I've had for 30 years that I bought as a grouse gun. The best shotgun I have is a Browing Gold Hunter. I can shoot clays with it or anything else.

I'd hate to drop it in a creek.

[Jeff Emler]

Man, I must be bored.

Please forgive the double posts. I'll be gone for a few days anyway so I'll be outta yer hair for awhile.

No one has mentioned anything that fires 7.62x39.

Now I realize this is an intermediate round but it's a fairly heavy bullet with a FMJ. At close range it would be very effective for ol' Yogi and Boo Boo. I'm still wondering if 30 rounds of rifle fire at close range isn't a better bet than 5 12 guage slugs.

The two guns that come to mind; the Simonov and the Kalashnikov are readily available and CHEAP. Reliability is well proven with both designs. Ammo availability is very favorable.

I suppose the AK edges out the SKS mainly for it's high capacity design and it's truly EVIL appearance. I mean, doesn't an AK47 just have a scary look to it? Why I bet just looking at an AK would scare off even the most nefarious of bruins. Get one with a folding stock and you have something that handles fast at touching distances.

Heck, since were talking surplus why not a mosin nagant carbine? Now THAT's a powerful round. The straight handle bolt would be great for lefties and righties. The short OAL of the model .44 would make it a light, fast handler. The iron sights with the hooded post and rear leaf is a fast sight. Heck, it even has a built in spike bayonet for when you run out of bullets!!

The steyr mannlicher would be a good bet, though I'd still take the mosin nagant over it any day. A very light carbine with a capacity of 7 rounds. The straight pull action would be a challenge for lefties. Ammo is presently plentiful as surplus and it's on par with 8mm mauser ballistically. Alas...no bayonets that I know of.

Of course there's the well spoken M1 Garand. The gun that George Patton lovingly referred to as, "the greatest battle implement ever devised." I don't think it would be my personal favorite. It is quite heavy compared to the others I've mentioned. However, no bear will argue with its 8 round of 30.06 high velocity ball ammo....heck....50 bazillion dead nazis can't be wrong! Length of pull with the Garand is my next biggest gripe next to weight. Who wants the stinking rear peep sight two inches from his nose? Seems like Mr. Garand built his rifle for midgets....strong midgets who could pack the thing along with ammo, water and grenades.

Oh man!!! I just said it....GRENADES....now there's the answer to the bear problem....toss one of those babies at the grizzly from hell and just blow him to smithereens!!

[bigjim]

Originally Posted by Jeff Emler

Man, I must be bored.



Oh man!!! I just said it....GRENADES....now there's the answer to the bear problem....toss one of those babies at the grizzly from hell and just blow him to smithereens!!

[DannyL]

here's something no one has mentioned......ammo availability.

go into just about any store you will find:

12 guage slugs
30-30 180 gr
30-06 220 gr
45-70
300 win mag (very popular, but I don't own one..)

Ammo is heavy to ship. Unless you reload you may need to have around one of these firearms.