I would think more died from starvation then Grizzly attacks.
No doubt bigger is better (if you can shoot it well) against a big bear but keeping a cool head is the main thing that's going to allow you to not have to shoot in most cases.
Best all around bush gun (rifle or shotgun)
- Thread starter BCpopgun
- Start date
I would think more died from starvation then Grizzly attacks.
No doubt bigger is better (if you can shoot it well) against a big bear but keeping a cool head is the main thing that's going to allow you to not have to shoot in most cases.
My BLR in 450 Marlin with 525 gr Bear Tooth Pile drivers loaded to 1695 fps ! RJ
burnt_servo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- right in the middle of b.c.
back to the original post ......
it seems to me the guy wants small , light weight and easy to handle .
the second post hits the nail squarely on the head , a rossi ranchhand in 44mag .
myself I carry a rossi 1892 in 454 casull . with a 20 inch barrel it is maybe 5 1/2 pounds . it holds 9 or 10 rounds of ammo .
I also find it very easy to handle and a natural "pointer " .
the only thing that might be better would be a ranchhand in 454 , with a full size stock .... the only problem would be that now it will only hold 5 or 6 rounds , instead of 10 .
a friend of mine bought a inexpensive double barrel 12 guage from tradex and trimmed the barrel and stock down to 26.5 inches ..... not something I would recommend for someone with "girly " wrists .
just from reading some of the posts in this thread .... a lot of people need to get out more ,outside , away from their phones and computers and get some real life experience .
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Good point burnt_servo but a number of the key words in the first post have helped broaden the scope of discussion and resulting possibility of options.
MY BLR 450 Marlin is just as handy - Points just as well + Fast and HAS twice the POWER of a wimpy 44 or 454 ! and a a much bigger chunk of LEAD too ! 44 and 454 are handgun cartridges and thats where they belong ! I have them both and they do not compare to a 450 Marlin with a 525 gr bulldet at 1695 FPS for RAW knockdown power ! LOL RJ
Last edited:
- Location
- West Quebec
Oh oh... Cue up the 44Mag vs 30/30 vs 45/70 thread.
Theres NO real comparison in power between a 44Mag - 454Casull and a handloaded 45-70 Gov or 450 Marlin !
JMO RJ
Oh oh... Cue up the 44Mag vs 30/30 vs 45/70 thread.
A full power loaded 4570 will outclass a 44/45/454 but with lots of 4570 factory ammo the 4570 isn't that far ahead of the hot loaded revolver rounds actually. If I knew I was going to pick a fight with a grizzly I would choose the hot loaded 4570 but the little short barrelled carbines are so nice to carry, and a 300 gr bullet from a carbine isn't going to bounce off a bear.
Yeah that's why I said in my first post on the thread that I would be taking my 375 to some areas of BC.
But most people just want a bit of piece of mind and mostly encounter black bears, so the little carbines are easy to pack, easy to shoot accurately and will allow you to stand your ground if you encounter a bear- grizz or black.
It's what I use for bush bumming around here for the most part, except two particular drainages that always seem infested with grizzlies.
Superglide
Regular
- Location
- somewhere with a lot of standoff
My choice is a Marlin 336 30-30wcf, for the best all around bush gun.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
As I posted earlier, my most likely choice today would be my Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 and using handloads that it is capeable of handling.
Having shot Black Bear with a '94 in 44 Mag with 250gr handloads, I think one of todays handgun calibres in that size or larger with top end handloads
would be adequate as close range protection. Two of the three shots I've taken on decent sized Blacks using the 250gr handloads have passed through, end to end and the animals went only a very few yards at best. One of todays handgun calibres say from 44 Mag to the 500 S&W I feel would be an adequate close range choice, even in a handgun if we were allowed that as a firearm platforn.
A story that comes to mind along that line is one from the central B.C. interior, where a wildlife officer was attacked and badly mauled by a Grizzly. What saved his life was while the Bear was going about it's task, the gentleman in question, Framk Kibby, unloaded the contents of his .45 Colt SA into the Bear. He was badly scared and had a full beard after that time but he did survive.
With items like todays 460 and 500 S&W, I think the scales have been tipped in the favour of these as a 'possible' choice in these circumstances. The experiences of people like John Taffin and in particular the in field accounts of Mark Hampton in his article in The American Handgunner, "To Africa With A .500 S&W", show the possibilities of what todays handgun is capeable of.
Having shot Black Bear with a '94 in 44 Mag with 250gr handloads, I think one of todays handgun calibres in that size or larger with top end handloads
would be adequate as close range protection. Two of the three shots I've taken on decent sized Blacks using the 250gr handloads have passed through, end to end and the animals went only a very few yards at best. One of todays handgun calibres say from 44 Mag to the 500 S&W I feel would be an adequate close range choice, even in a handgun if we were allowed that as a firearm platforn.
A story that comes to mind along that line is one from the central B.C. interior, where a wildlife officer was attacked and badly mauled by a Grizzly. What saved his life was while the Bear was going about it's task, the gentleman in question, Framk Kibby, unloaded the contents of his .45 Colt SA into the Bear. He was badly scared and had a full beard after that time but he did survive.
With items like todays 460 and 500 S&W, I think the scales have been tipped in the favour of these as a 'possible' choice in these circumstances. The experiences of people like John Taffin and in particular the in field accounts of Mark Hampton in his article in The American Handgunner, "To Africa With A .500 S&W", show the possibilities of what todays handgun is capeable of.
BrotherRockeye
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rural Saskatchewan
Sharps saddle ring carbine 50-70 ; )
BeaverMeat
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nanaimo, B.C.
Since we be laying out the rifles on the carpet... A visual of my choice.
Yes, it is "only" a .308... But it will get the job done with proper shot placement. My choice for a lower-to-mid Sask bush gun. Light weight, balanced, easy to handle and comfortable to shoot.
...and damn good looking
Now, someone talk me into a 9.3x62
Last edited:
- Location
- Vancouver Island
1895 Guide Gun, 45-70. Ghost ring sights. Garrett +P ammunition. Will stop ANYTHING.
Thats where I'm going.
Got me a light, handy, 9.3x62 640 Husqvarna, with irons and a 1.5x in QD's ... for across-the-country general duty.
& a compact, 6 lb., folding stock LE carbine for eastern/canoe tripping bush time.
Since we be laying out the rifles on the carpet... A visual of my choice.
Yes, it is "only" a .308... But it will get the job done with proper shot placement. My choice for a lower-to-mid Sask bush gun. Light weight, balanced, easy to handle and comfortable to shoot.
...and damn good looking
Now, someone talk me into a 9.3x62
Damn that's a nice rifle.
I'd be happy with that.
