Bear Defense Rifle Optic?

[75 Devil Dog]

Bear defence needs no optic. Accuracy at a distance is not a valid criterion.
Defence implies the bear is within a few yards. And charging at your position.
Criteria are hard hitting and rapid follow up shots.

 

[gunlaker]

Buy a can of Bear Spray - you're about half as likely to get hurt.

https://above.nasa.gov/safety/documents/Bear/bearspray_vs_bullets.pdf

" U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have experience that supports this reality -- based on their investigations of human-bear encounters since 1992, persons encountering grizzlies and defending themselves with firearms suffer injury about 50% of the time. During the same period, persons defending themselves with pepper spray escaped injury most of the time, and those that were injured experienced shorter duration attacks and less severe injuries"

Guess it's less exciting though.....

I'm a fan of bear spray, but keep in mind that Americans get more potent bear spray and are allowed larger containers than we peasants are.

Chris.

 

[dan belisle]

Yes, Aimpoint, Trijicon, etc is the lowest bidder. lol

If they won the contract, yes. Well unless it's canada and they are a qc firm. - dan

 

[Ardent]

I'm a fan of bear spray, but keep in mind that Americans get more potent bear spray and are allowed larger containers than we peasants are.

Chris.

The US EPA limit on bear spray is 2% capsaicinoids, that’s readily available here in Canada as well. Most of the stuff we use for work is 1.8%, 500ml, same stuff you’ll find in Alaska when working there.

 

[gunlaker]

The US EPA limit on bear spray is 2% capsaicinoids, that’s readily available here in Canada as well. Most of the stuff we use for work is 1.8%, 500ml, same stuff you’ll find in Alaska when working there.

What brand do you use and do you know where you get it? I've only ever bought 1% except when I went hiking in the states.

thanks,

Chris.

 

[Meroh]

If anyone thinks they need a scope on a close quarters dangerous game or wilderness defense rifle, they need to read this book:

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780892728077/Dangerous-Game-Rifles-2nd-Edition

According to Terry Wieland, if you are in a close quarters situation you may only be aiming down the length of the rifle, not even seeing the sights. A scope will only further obscure your ability to put a hole where the hole needs to go.

 

[linux99]

What brand do you use and do you know where you get it? I've only ever bought 1% except when I went hiking in the states.

thanks,

Chris.

Cabelas Canada sell 2% "Counter Assault Bear Deterrent" - but you have to go to a store. They wont ship mail order.

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/118818/counter-assault-bear-deterrent

 

[m1008]

Don’t need to spend a lot for a durable quality setup
Weavers and fixed 2.5

 

[blakeyboy]

Feel like there's a story behind that gun, and guy who shot it perhaps? Is this a little history test? Some dude named Phil is coming to mind...

that's probably a banned rifle now lol, couldn't resist

Agree the 6.5 oz leupold 2.5x a good choice for the first step above irons or reflex sights. Now if trijicon or holosun (fiber optic and solar pioneers) would build some optics like this, lightweight 1" tube, fixed 2.5's to 6x for the pure hunters...I can't say enough how intuitive and quick the illuminated dot is over the regular crosshair, won't go back to the regular crosshair for hunting, definitely not for defence set ups. But batteries can't be included. Holosun has the micro solar to capacitor tech now and I've been using the trijicon accupoint fiber optic for a few years now...so we have the technology.

Agree with bear options, I carry bear spray everywhere, it remains handy always, often my rifles stuffed away I pack and not worried one bit. However, nice to have it and a rifle with a light on it when you go to sleep in a fart sack under a tarp in grizzly country camping on some sheep the night before the opener. Haven't needed it yet but caught up to a guy while coming out after a 6 day solo for sheep opener and he had big grizz chew on his tent at 11pm and he had to stay awake and deal with it for hours it wouldn't leave him alone, he was in a no motorized vehicle zone with his quad most of the way in, his quad was over heating on way out so limping home with tore up tent, I was on foot, easy to catch up to them near trail head. Likely the reason he didn't want to become famous due to killing a grizzly...quad thing. And maybe he should have as I'm convinced the same bear that chewed the guy up eating his breakfast a year or two later...and that guy is some kind of survivor! There's stories about him. Back to the quad guy...he said warning shots didn't phase the bear that kept circling him at 10 to 25 yards for hours, he said running alarms on his phone and other alarm seemed to be the best deterrent, didn't like those sounds, so he had them alternating. Long night for him, finally left him, he slept, woke up in am to see bear sunning himself above him on the side of valley and he packed up and left.

Not sure I would have done the same in that situation, but if circling me in the night for a couple hours and thinking about the kids I need to get back too....I was in there legally, don't think I would have let that carry on buy maybe 20 minutes tops, gotta try and think about the next guy too. If bear gets comfortable chewing on people in tents that's not good.

Sure a headlamp likely have worked, but options are nice, bear spray, head lamp, back up lights, rifles etc. Heck a buddy would have been nice too. Us solo sheep hunters are a bit nuts really. You definitely feel alive many kms back by yourself going to sleep in the bush with grizzly around.

 

[m1008]

not a test just “phil shoemaker” someone who makes a living guiding and hunting bears. If you want to know what works look to those with the most experience. You’ll notice the rifle he and his family have provisions for a light to be fixed under the barrel.

 

[Ardent]

What brand do you use and do you know where you get it? I've only ever bought 1% except when I went hiking in the states.

thanks,

Chris.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/...-deterrent-spray-set-225-g-2-pk-1759478p.html

There’s lots available, this stuff’s 1.84%. The brand varies we get at work but it’s usually just below the EPA 2% limit, and I’ve used it. It works!

The gun above is Showmaker’s ole ugly. The Echols rifle is his daughter Tia’s.

As for irons and instinct, practice practice indeed. I think my brain subliminally may use the irons, but I don’t “see” them while snap shooting. For any stopping rifle, I like to transition targets, from standing positions. It’s way more fun than statically shooting paper for groups, and a lot more realistic. It also generally shows you how much work there is to do, to become field proficient rather than range proficient. It takes a lot of rounds and time, especially as the guns get bigger. In the end, I left the big nitros behind and found the .375 and .300s best on Grizz. .338s would probably be near the perfect compromise but never made the leap.

 

[m1008]

^ doesn’t SCI or someone do shooting comps with moving african game sized targets? Something in the usa

 

[blakeyboy]

I'm bummed a bit after watching Brobee's meatmaker video. Slugs just a touch to limiting for general purpose work which consists primarily of big game hunting to me and chickens are left alone at primetime in the good spots as to not ruin a chance at big game. But what I did love was how fast that over under was, how narrow it was, and couldn't help but think that set up with a couple standard cartridge centerfires barrels...instead of the big side by sides....lightweight, fast handling like those over under, would be amazing in our regular North American cartridges, in stainless synthetic workhorse nothing fancy. I want one now. 20-24" options, in the 5.5 lb range, flexibility to mounting scopes, or reflex further along barrel to match pistol eye reliefs, lights under fore tip of stock for camp defence light, go long, go short, but definitely go fast when you need to and max simplicity for many reasons, maintenance, cleaning, can't jam it going for second shot. I need to stop thinking about this...

 

[blakeyboy]

not a test just “phil shoemaker” someone who makes a living guiding and hunting bears. If you want to know what works look to those with the most experience. You’ll notice the rifle he and his family have provisions for a light to be fixed under the barrel.

View attachment 670425

Right on, It took me a second when I saw your post, haven't heard or thought of that name in quite some time but it came back to me quick. I had to google as I was sure I had the name right but for some reason a horse jockey came up as possible second option and didn't want to get it wrong in front of all these fine people lol. Good posts.

 

[pounder]

I would stick 3 foot wood stakes in the ground every 10 yrds. starting at 40 yrds. stagger them left and right of center about 2 feet. hang a clay pigeon on the top. Start shooting at 40yrds. End at 10 yrds. Or space them as you want see how fast how accurate you are.

 

[conor_90]

^ I used to do this with lathe and paper plates

I always thought it would be fun to have 6 numbered and have someone roll a dice and engage whatever target is called out quickly

I like the brand “Yukon magnum” it has a cool name and logo, which is important. 1.75% or thereabouts

 

[medvedqc]

^ I used to do this with lathe and paper plates

I always thought it would be fun to have 6 numbered and have someone roll a dice and engage whatever target is called out quickly

I like the brand “Yukon magnum” it has a cool name and logo, which is important. 1.75% or thereabouts

and the top notch seller of that gas is a tv celibrity .... what not to like ...

 

[medvedqc]

I would stick 3 foot wood stakes in the ground every 10 yrds. starting at 40 yrds. stager them left and right of center about 2 feet. hang a clay pigeon on the top. Start shooting at 40yrds. End at 10 yrds. Or space them as you want see how fast how accurate you are.

we used a 12 wheel with a rubber tire in a slope when we trained for driven hunts in france ... an eye opener for sure ...

 

[Tokay444]

How far away is the bear?

 

[pounder]

How far away is the bear? If a bear is charging towards you and hits the 40 yrd line you need to start shooting. this is my experience with polar bears as they don't really bluff.