Bear defense shotgun

As said, a Ranchhand in .44mag or .45Colt with a full stock is the lightest, easy handling repeater availlable for situations where you'd be packing a similar revolver if we were free to do so.....

Geo, you just can't resist can you? :)
 
Can-down said:
As said, a Ranchhand in .44mag or .45Colt with a full stock is the lightest, easy handling repeater availlable for situations where you'd be packing a similar revolver if we were free to do so.....

Geo, you just can't resist can you? :)
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A full house 158 gr .357 magnum softpoint from an 18" carbine barrel hits hard enough to take care of black bears if the range is less than 25 yards.
 
Rossi makes a variety of 5lb lever guns in 44Mag and 454 Casull. I don't see how the Ranch Hand stock would work for bear defense, I assume you change out the stock. Pity about the restricted Judges, they are super light.
So
4lb Rossi Ranch hand 44 Mag +new stock, maybe an extra half pound
5lb Rossi M92 Carbine .44 Mag/.454 Casull.

I know firing the hypothetical pump 5lb 12 ga would be worse than the bear, but 2lb of supplies might be more likely to save my neck than a gun. A 5lb .454 Casull would rattle my fillings enough, I suppose.
You could carry 44 special/45 Colt for small game I expect.

Edit: My brother organised a lot of adventure Racing in the UK, is now a landed immigrant, and is horrified by the weight of my 7lb Grizzly (Even though he was used to the SA80). He budgets every pound, and bear defense is a low priority. Although, he was sleeping beside a stream in BC when he heard a splash. He thought "Bear!" and (as a good UK citizen does) reached for his iPhone. He show me a couple of black photos. It was just a fish jumping.
He needs a bit more firepower than the iPhone, maybe I can sell him on the 4lb Ranch hand :).
 
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Juster said:
Rossi makes a variety of 5lb lever guns in 44Mag and 454 Casull. I don't see how the Ranch Hand stock would work for bear defense, I assume you change out the stock. Pity about the restricted Judges, they are super light.
So
4lb Rossi Ranch hand 44 Mag +new stock, maybe an extra half pound
5lb Rossi M92 Carbine .44 Mag/.454 Casull.

I know firing the hypothetical pump 5lb 12 ga would be worse than the bear, but 2lb of supplies might be more likely to save my neck than a gun. A 5lb .454 Casull would rattle my fillings enough, I suppose.
You could carry 44 special/45 Colt for small game I expect.

Edit: My brother organised a lot of adventure Racing in the UK, is now a landed immigrant, and is horrified by the weight of my 7lb Grizzly (Even though he was used to the SA80). He budgets every pound, and bear defense is a low priority. Although, he was sleeping beside a stream in BC when he heard a splash. He thought "Bear!" and (as a good UK citizen does) reached for his iPhone. He show me a couple of black photos. It was just a fish jumping.
He needs a bit more firepower than the iPhone, maybe I can sell him on the 4lb Ranch hand :).
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He will like a 700lb grizzly even less...
 
An angry charging bear won't be stopped with peanut butter sandwiches, bacon, or any such fodder. Once it had decided to take you out, you have to incapacitate it, bear spray can become nothing more than perfume at times.

I would rather have the extra two lbs of defence, than two lbs of supplies. It's the simple saying, I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. With regards to large angry bears it only takes once that you wish you had it, you most likely won't get another chance to make that choice.
 
Cleftwynd said:
I would rather have the extra two lbs of defence, than two lbs of supplies.
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It depends on your estimation of the relative risk of being eaten by bears through lack of gun vs dying of exposure/heat exhaustion due to lack of supplies. It is better to have a litre of water and not need it than to need water and not have it by the same token.
injurygraph.gif

That looks like one person every 6 weeks chewed up by bears in BC, and makes a good case for allocating 4-5llb to a gun.
 
Juster said:
It depends on your estimation of the relative risk of being eaten by bears through lack of gun vs dying of exposure/heat exhaustion due to lack of supplies. It is better to have a litre of water and not need it than to need water and not have it by the same token.
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If you can only haul enough supplies for 10 days, don't stay two weeks, that's a choice you have. You don't get to choose when and if you are attacked by a bear, no, it's not the same token.
 
Brutus said:

Ithaca Deerslayer Police Special from 1990.
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Ithaca's are a solid platform to make for existence hunting as well as sport shooting.
Rifled barrel models like the Deerslayer III are capable of excellent accuracy to beyond
200 yds. with the right ammo. The 20 ga. chambering is a potent slugger as well.

Your one is very suitable for the task.;)
 
Brutus said:
Thank you Shell Shucker. I guess we all tend to lean towards what we think is our best option.
Whatever that may be........

Cheers!
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No worries mate,
Everyones got their favorites when it comes to schoosting sticks, or anything else for that matter.
The main thing I figure is to just get out there and enjoy the sport/hobby/obsession that we are
currently allowed to partake in.
I feel the walls closing in on our freedom. Enjoy it to the full whilst we can.
Vostrovia!
;)
 
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Juster said:
It depends on your estimation of the relative risk of being eaten by bears through lack of gun vs dying of exposure/heat exhaustion due to lack of supplies. It is better to have a litre of water and not need it than to need water and not have it by the same token.
injurygraph.gif

That looks like one person every 6 weeks chewed up by bears in BC, and makes a good case for allocating 4-5llb to a gun.
Click to expand...

Not hard to find freshwater in the bush around here. Ill take the shotgun.
 
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