Bear Defense Rifle

I suppose some preffer more chances in the lotto called bear defence. :D

If one hasn't practiced this kind of defensive shooting at the range before heading into the woods they are prob' hooped anyway.
 
This wouldbe my choice, the tank is way to big
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Firstly, I think you're right on wanting a semi for any sort of bear defense gun; I've seen people get so screwed up in times of severe excitement or fear that they bind up a pump or a lever action and a semi is the hardest action to screw up. Also, you can generally fire twice as fast (at least) at very close range if you need to. Lastly, and I hope it never happens, you can fire a semi one handed if a bear has your other arm in his mouth.

The .44 magnum semi is a very good close range bear gun.

Personally I use my M1 Garand for the job (eight rounds of 30-06 as fast as you can fire is pretty hard to beat for firepower, and while the M1 is not as "handy" as the little .44, it gets back on target very fast in rapid fire due to its weight), or my M14.
 
I've used: a 303 without a clip (single shot) from about 4 feet (down now - head), stood beside a guy using a 44 Ruger semi who shot a blackie 6 times from 80 feet down to 20 feet (never again), then 308/3006 from 50 - 100 feet (bang flop around) - better, now 338 - much better.

From my limited experience in this I think it would valuable to be very practiced with whatever you are packing. I found I did not think much about things until after.

I also think bigger is better when it comes to bruins. Please, no flame wars, I know it is physically possible to off a bear with a 22 or even a pointed stick, but when they get their hair up they don't seem to go down as easy as plugging them while they're grazing or relaxed.
 
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Lever, pump or bolt. Bigger calibre is generally better, bears need to be 'aired out' and if possible break bone. Blacks are not terribly tough, but still.

375 h&h, 45/70(450 marlin), shotgun slug, all good choices. A 30/30 will do the job if that's what you've got, but if you're buying new anyway why not pick something that'll really do the job right?

Whatever you buy - practicing in conditions that are similar to a bear attack (fast snap shot on a moving target) will probably mean more than the precise cartridge you pick. That, and pick something easy to carry. A gun that's not with you because it's too heavy or big to cart around all the time is pretty much useless.

Interesting statistic, most effective defenses against bears who are charging happen very close in. The noise and fire tend to confuse the bear and cause him to break off. Chances are if the bear is charging you'll be needing to shoot close in so pick a sight system and gun that facilitates that.
 
I'm with Foxer re 45-70..Love my Marlin....But I'm addicted to western style rifles. The 44 mag is nice 94AE with 1xto5x scope. Some say a little to light. Did find article on colt45 250grain. by hornady bullet. Marlin in 45 colt is nice as is the winchester. Came across a few in the years moose hunting. Have a picture of a black taken by 308 semi by remington. . It wanted the peanut butter sandwich, of one of the guys who was seated in the canoe resting on shore. Almost climbed into the canoe.
Worse thing, it scared the crap out of me that night. It was hanging on the pole I went to the out house and walked into it. Forgot we had a bear down.
 
I carried a CZ 858 :) - It's scary so it just intimidates bears.

No, in all seriousness, I was bored and wanted to try taking it on a hike - with a folding stock it's great! Had a 5/30rd mag on it and it was still easy - slung over the back it stays completely out of the way, even in dense brush.

When sanity catches up with me I'll start carrying a 12 ga pump with 00 or slugs. I know you said no shotguns, but they're cheap, their ammo is cheap, they are effective, and I don't have one with a short barrel yet.

Oh, also been carrying a mosin nagant m38 on occasion.
 
my vote would go to either a shotgun a rem 870 a ruger 44mag or a browning leaver in 308 or 30-06 with a high mounted dangerouse game scope with see through mounts allowing use of the iron sites
 
bone-collector said:
I hope some of the city slayers and mall ninjas inform the wilderness schools there on drugs for promoting levers and pumps in bear deffence and detour on the thought of a semi
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I'm interested in knowing how much practical range time do these so called "wilderness schools" offer?

Do they do the bare minimum, such as tethering up a target shaped like a bear and run it towards the shooter at real life charging Bear speed?

If not then what are they offering besides classroom theories?

As History has shown that if you are not practiced with the rifle of your choice then you are prob' not going to respond the way you think you will in such an emergency. :wave:
 
Gunsite offers a 5 day course called Predator Defense. I thought Thunder Ranch did as well, but I don't see one listed there now. Gunsite includes rifle, shotgun and handgun elements to their course, and anticipates 400 rounds of pistol ammunition, 300 rounds of long gun ammunition and 25 rounds of buckshot being fired over the duration of the course. I'm tempted to take one of these courses to see if I can learn anything new.
 
Calum said:
I'm interested in knowing how much practical range time do these so called "wilderness schools" offer?

Do they do the bare minimum, such as tethering up a target shaped like a bear and run it towards the shooter at real life charging Bear speed?

If not then what are they offering besides classroom theories?

As History has shown that if you are not practiced with the rifle of your choice then you are prob' not going to respond the way you think you will in such an emergency. :wave:
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they realy need to sticky this bear deffence sh!t, this is about the 20th time we have had the same topic in 3 years

- courses are defined by student numbers and what is expected to be learned, usualy 1 weekend

- yes most have a moving target to simulate a charge as well as life sized targets in various situations

- 1 full day is usualy based on firearm BASIC training

-of course practise is everything, would you enter a marathon having never jogged a block, or would you enter a ski jumping contest never skied before?

its like any course in the world it prepaires you to deal with basic situations, after that learning is your responsability to continue with it or ignore it ;)
 
You dont have to worry about bears attacking. Chances of being attacked are very slim, by a blackie or grizzly. Your big game hunting rifle will do just fine. No need to carry another gun that just becomes excess weight. Anything else is just overkill. Its just funny when ppl ask about "bear defense", they're not zombies. Stay vigilante in the bush and you'll be fine. I've seen many many bears, black and grizzly, and they run when winded. Everything else is just a myth.
 
You dont have to worry about bears attacking.
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There are numerous attacks every year by black bears in most of the provinces with black bears. I have no stats on quebec, but ontario has a number and bc certanly has quite a few.

I don't know what the population of black bears is in quebec (obviously smaller populations mean smaller chances of a problem). But i've heard recently that it's on the increase. Which isn't surprising, it seems to be on the increase everywhere else. When you get an increasing population there is often pressure on the younger bears, who may be a lot more aggressive than historically may be the case.

Hunting rifles usually make less than ideal bear defense guns. I wouldn't carry ANOTHER gun on top of my rifle if i were hunting, but it's not what i carry for hiking in bear territory. As i understand the post, he's looking for a gun to have when he's not hunting.

To suggest that black bear attacks are a myth is just out and out wrong. They mostly attack out of hunger tho and not usually out of 'aggression'. The problem with that is when they DO attack - they're playing for keeps.

Again i don't know the stats for quebec, but if you talk to the forestry services there are HUNDREDS of hostile bear encounters in bc every year. It's hard to believe that someone from BC would be suggesting that black bear attacks are a myth - I'll say straight out that you haven't done your homework.

Yes - the attacks are not frequent. 999 out of 1000 bears will swap ends and run. But that 1000th' bear is a real ##### :) Attacks do happen every single year in bc.

I've never had a serious injury in the woods, but i take a medkit. I've never gotten lost for more than a few minutes, but i use maps and gps or compas, and mark my trail. I've never had a house fire for that matter but i carry insurance.

It's not wise to over estimate the danger of bear attacks, it just makes you paranoid. But it would be foolhearty and possibly terminal to underestimate them. They happen. People are killed by black bears every year in bc, and many more are injured. That does not include the attacks where people successfully drive the bear off with firearms or spray, or other means.


Having said all that however, i will agree with you that keeping your wits about you and using your brain is still your number one defense.
 
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Lee Enfield, sportered wood - Should cost you about $100-150 for a serviceable one, they are everywhere, the ammunition is available at Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart nationwide, and you would be carrying about 7 pounds of Canadian Tradition.

A good friend of mine is a regular hunter here in B.C. - I have every reason to trust the man: We were buddies in the militia in 1990, and I was one of his grooms' men.... At any rate, he claims to have seen a black bear skull near Cache Creek, with a roughly .44 diameter projectile stuck in the frontal bone of the skull. He had killed the animal with his 7mm Rem Mag, and found the well-healed bump on the skull as he was cleaning the critter.

Don't use handgun rounds for bears, please. It's kinda like carrying a golf umbrella instead of a parachute when flying with Air Canada.

Cheers,

Neal
 
Best and quickest defence for a bear surprise attack would be a 357 mag or a 44 mag revolver.
Start writing letters.:mad:

Failing that most guns will put yogi down. Anything in the 30 range or a short shotty with buck marbles is fine too.
Shot placement blah blah, ease of shouldering gun from hiking to "ready to fire" blah blah

I like bear spray because you can still use it while he has your leg in his mouth rather than the realy long legal shotgun that you can't seem to point at him as he's dragging you around because it's too long. Keep it on your belt.

Most bear attacks you won't see coming until it's too late anyway.

I think guns are a fine defence if it's someone else being attacked so you can get a shot off. I hope i never meet a pissed yogi unless i'm in my tree stand waiting for him.:)
 
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