Weapon recommendations for use in the Bush (home, hunting)

[mal_flisk]

The only problem with a Mk 19 is getting the 50 rounds to last beyond the first squeese of the trigger and having to reload. Kill radius is about 5 meters.

[icarian]

And unless you have it turrent mounted on that big bore ATV, the traverse is going to be rather limited. Definitely need to go for the turrent in such a situation, definitely.

[DannyL]

How about this for bear hunting....9 yr old girl






- her father is a professional guide I believe......also if I remember correctly this was taken on Kodiak Island.

[rotorhead]

I sure like to see kids positively involved in hunting and shooting, helps counteract the copious amounts of liberal BS the average schoolteacher spouts. More power to her, but...personally I don't intend to shoot any critters I don't intend to eat, unless of course they're trying to eat me first. I've had bear prepared lots of different ways, but the only stuff I'd care to eat again was the ham. I'm pretty sure that'd only work with an interior "blueberry bear" that doesn't have access to salmon. Some of the worst tasting, gamiest meat I've tried was coastal brown bear and salmon shark, both of which eat mostly salmon. I do like salmon, I just don't like the taste of other critters that do too.

[Marty Van Diest]

I'm with rotorhead. That is a real big bear, and I'm proud of her. More power to her and I hope she continues hunting.

On the other hand, although I love hunting, I just don't have the desire to hunt brown bears. The problem with hunting brown bears is that if you are successful, you have to take care of a huge animal that you don't even get to eat. It's a LOT of work for a rug. I'm just not enough into brown bear rugs I guess.

It's kind of like duck hunting, if you are successful, you are stuck with a bunch of ducks.

[aquariusmom]

Is brown bear even edible really?? Black bear is okay, have had that several times (ironically not in Alaska!) but I was under the impression brown bear wasn't fit to eat. What's the point of hunting an animal you can't eat or wear the hide of?

[rotorhead]

Edible, yes. Tasty, well...depends on how hungry you are. I know some people who think store-bought dark-meat chicken is "gamey". It's telling that the Game and Fish regs don't require you to salvage the meat on coastal brown bears. These are the same guys that say you have to pack out the LEGS on caribou.

[Jeff Emler]

Personally, I have yet to try any wild game that was as good as a mess of pork spare ribs. Then again, as a previous poster just mentioned. It all depends on how hungry you are. I expect even raw panther liver is good if you're hungry enough.

[Jeff Emler]

That shot I'd say is easily 300 yards. She's also wearing a strapped on, recoil pad looks to me like. That rifle is darn near as long as she is.

I'd be interested in that caliber but I'd bet it's at least 3.5 caliber and a magnum to boot. Lots of good guns in that range of power.

I fired a .50 Jeffery once. It was a custom job some guy owned. Pretty impractical for the most part. Not a real flat shooter. They use them in Africa as a backup weapon in heavy brush. No scope...just fast shooting short range defense that you hope you'll never need. No such thing in a semi either. Just custom bolt guns.

I forget where he said he got it but I think I recall he bought it at an estate sale. It went cheap because no one knew where the heck they'd ever get ammunition. I do recall it was built on a sporting Mauser action made by FN. The darn thing had a recoil lug just like a military mauser and the action was well relieved and bedded.

It was an impressive piece and such a shame it was so undervalued.

.50 Jeffery is nothing like .50 BMG BTW. No 2000 yd shots with that thing.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by rotorhead

I sure like to see kids positively involved in hunting and shooting, helps counteract the copious amounts of liberal BS the average schoolteacher spouts. More power to her, but...personally I don't intend to shoot any critters I don't intend to eat, unless of course they're trying to eat me first. I've had bear prepared lots of different ways, but the only stuff I'd care to eat again was the ham. I'm pretty sure that'd only work with an interior "blueberry bear" that doesn't have access to salmon. Some of the worst tasting, gamiest meat I've tried was coastal brown bear and salmon shark, both of which eat mostly salmon. I do like salmon, I just don't like the taste of other critters that do too.

I couldn't agree more. I was raised with the same hunting ethic, "you shoot it, you eat it." If it doesn't contribute to your survival and isn't a threat to your well being, then what is the point of killing something?

That is the thing about wild game, they taste like what they eat. Southern California white-tail deer taste like the sage they eat, which tastes completely different from white-tail deer in Nebraska which feed on corn. I have never eaten brown bear, although everyone I know who has told me to avoid the experience. Normally, I like new experiences, but eating brown bear is one I think I'll pass on.