Grizzly Bear Defence rifle

Cougar dogs as well. Me wee Jimmy faced one down yesterday and was growlin' like a mean machine whilst in a low down, un-moving stance. Little bugger is only 7 months old but he knows bear & cat scent well & is amazing at spotting birds in the air and squirrels in the trees. OK, I caved in on the pooch end of the thread.
;)
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Defense or hunting?
If it's hunting .....a bolt gun in anything capable of say a ........had a number, sounded a lot like 30-06....180gr at 2800.

If it's defense....short range thumper.....Marlin guide gun in 45-70, throwing 500gr soft points. Big horn armory 460 sw. Maybe a 12 ga Slug gun, pick your brand and action.
 
nowarningshot said:
Defense or hunting?
If it's hunting .....a bolt gun in anything capable of say a ........had a number, sounded a lot like 30-06....180gr at 2800.

If it's defense....short range thumper.....Marlin guide gun in 45-70, throwing 500gr soft points. Big horn armory 460 sw. Maybe a 12 ga Slug gun, pick your brand and action.
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Or you could do what I did for both 500 - 600 yard range and up close and personal

Like I posted earlier 21" barreled Rem 700 in 375RUM = 260gr Accubonds @ 3020fps for that thump way out there and 350gr @ 2450fps for that up close and personal protection.
 
conor_90 said:
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The best thing you can do with it is wrap a piece of flagging tape tight around the safety cover. It will come off with a sharp pull backwards but not get pulled off while bushwhacking
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That's what we did. It's also some added security when flying around. I don't like how easy those safeties came off.

We had 12 gauge Winchester Defenders with Foster slugs. Not sure the ammo was appropriate for barrenland grizzlies. I've seen seven or eight of them, with only two being a camp problem.

Bear bangers worked on the first occasion. The other got rubber on his arse and moseyed off. This was many moons ago.

These days I would lean to a .30-06 bolt action with irons or a dot sight. The 12 gauge might work, but appropriate slugs still seem hard to find. A second shot with the rifle might be a bit harder to pull off, considering you have to wait until they are very close or it isn't defence.
 
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nulll said:
Hi all,

I do a lot of "hiking" in the back country in areas where ATV's cannot go, etc. Lots of wildlife, and lots of brown bear sign. I need a rifle that will not have a scope, is relatively light, and can stop a charging grizzly. I've been leaning towards getting a 45-70 but they seem to be over priced and have expensive ammo. Maybe not the best choice? ANY Recommendations?

Thanks!
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The biggest challenge for somebody never been charged by a Grizzly is standing your Ground while getting ready to fire if you have to. Have to for me is 10 to 15 Feet. Most Grizzles will hit the Breaks before they are that close and you don't have to shoot.
If you are in the Alpine (fairly open country) Most Grizzly's are smaller with a maximum weight rarely exceeding 450 Lbs. Unfortunately in the Alpine is also the home of most Sows with Cubs because they try to avoid places where the big Boars roam.
Big Boars like from 500 lbs up and yes some can get to 900 and more Lbs always roam in the best Habitat like River Flats with Salmon Streams and lots of Beavers which is Candy for any Bear. Those big and dominant Boars can be hard to stop in a full Charge.
Myself I prefer my old beat up Belgian Browning Bolt Action Rifle in .338 Win Magnum shooting 250 Grain Hornady Slugs. Never failed me and I been trough more Grizzly charges then I can remember.
My recommendation to you would be a 12 Ga. Pump Action Shotgun loaded with 1 Oz. Factory Slugs in a 5 Shell Tube Magazine. Then go out and practice practice practice, and should you get charged wait and hold your Fire, most likely you wont even have to shot. Btw. Challenger Slugs are very accurate, Velocity is arround 1200 Fps and fairly inexpensive.

Cheers
 
hawk-i said:
Brown bears will not harm you so no need for a rifle for protection.

Timothy Treadwell lived among wild Brown bears for 12 years without a gun and not a single bear harmed him.

Why is 13 considered an unlucky number?
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Hmm ! Pretty SURE a BBB Bear KILLED and partially ate him for Lunch one Day ! Timmy was a Friggin Nutter ! LOL RJ
 
gunlaker said:
That guy that was pretty much guaranteed to get eaten. Amazing that he lasted that long. It does show that, for the most part, they aren't too interested in hunting you down.

A mountaineering instructor I took a course from in Alberta years ago told me an interesting story where he was helping the parks guys track down a dangerous grizzly. They followed it's tracks in a huge loop until they intersected their own trail again and found the bear tracking them. Spooky sh*t if you are out alone.

Chris.
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Did he mention the Ya Ha Tinda?
 
shotzee said:
Dogs dont protect you. They protect themselves.

Unless a dog is specifically bred for large mammal aggression (Kalerian Bear Dog, my next potential purchase) They will "protect you" as long as it helps them.

My dog is a husky shep. I know that she would bark her face off at a bear or other large mammals and turn tail and run when shes threatened. lol. Which is fine cause it would give me enough time to grab spray or the gun or whatever.

But yeah. Lots of times dogs can make things worse.
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I never had a Karelian Bear Dog becouse when I first researched (1978) which Dog I needed for searching woundet Grizzly and Black Bears, there where no Karelian Bear Dogs available in Canada.
Then in 1979 I purchased my first "German Hunting Terrier - in German called Jagdterrier" and very quickly found I could not have done better. I had 4 in about 40 years of commercial hunting. Unbelievable Nose and Tenacity.
In short, If you have a Bear, Cougar,Wolf Problem, unleash the Jagdterrier and you soon will feel sorry for the Predator no matter what size. Would also be very suitable for a very active Hiker not wanting to pack a Gun.

Cheers
 
Haha. That picture was in my front yard just for fun. Did you spot the empty p-mags in the pouches? Appreciate the concern though.
 
Brassman66 said:
Cute Dog,
but anything attached on a Dog which could result the Dog gets snagged like on a Dry Branch could be a Dead Sentence for the Dog. Therefore I would suggest this Dog in the Picture with this setup should not be used as Bear Defense.

Cheers
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Bear defence dogs, like police dogs, are primarily like the friend who runs slower than you.
 
I'm working up at Jade City this year but I'm driving up there in my truck so I can bring whatever I want. Probably the 14" pump with ghost rings for in the village. Low risk there, probably run buckshot cause there's neighbors.

JM Marlin 1895 GS 45-70 with Buffalo Bore 400gr hard cast for fly camp or traversing. Keep a couple of 2.5" .410 birdshot for it in case.

Backup both of above with a BRNO 602 .375 H&H 20" carbine probably with my last two boxes of 300 gr Failsafes. In case it gets serious.

Never have one defense gun because 5hit happens and if you have to shoot and it gets into the bush, you don't want to go in after it without backup.

If I can find time to practice, I'll get my ATC as well.
 
Bear Defense threads are as much fun as reading Garand Thumb comments on YouTube. Life is Good!! :eek:

Thanks for all the information and levity… we need more of the latter. :wave:

Cheers,
Barney
 
geologist said:
... probably run buckshot cause there's neighbors.
...Never have one defense gun because 5hit happens and if you have to shoot and it gets into the bush, you don't want to go in after it without backup....
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Are your neighbours really that bad?

And a backup firearm is a great point, this could be a serious consideration for many people.
 
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