Mini-14 (another post)

Ruger30-06

Ruger30-06

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Would a Mini-14 make for a good bear/cougar defence gun? Since its lighter than some rifles/shotguns you could pack it around a little beter. And since its semi-auto you got some quick noise-maker rounds.


Im asking because its the only short barreled firearm (besides the HG's) we have.
 
mmm but why would you shoot at a bear from far away :confused: - for defense?
If your need to do a job - bring the right tool or don't do the job.
What's with these endless bear defense threads? How many people in Canada actually face a life or death situation with a bear? I've hiked, fished and mountain biked ALL OVER British Columbia for years including the island and NEVER been mauled by a bear (and never carried a gun)--> and yet there are 10,000 car accidents a day in north america where 1000's of people die and people have no problem driving while SPEEDING, drinking, eating, smoking and talking on their cell phone.
Anyway, nothing personal LCpaintballer but
NO a .22 is not a bear defense gun.
 
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Wow, a bear defense thread. Haven't seen one of these in ages.
I think the bear might laugh at you Mini-14's amazing accuracy, and just walk away. What do you guys think?
 
I still dont get it why people bash the Mini, I can shoot 6" plates (####ty old ikea ones hehe) at 150-200 yards no problem with a Mini-14 that I believe is around 20-25 years old.
 
Typically that's about the best a Mini can do. I just read an article (a couple years old) where they were talking about the Mini's great accuracy. Typical 3 round groups were 6" at 100 yards with a couple 3 round groups being 2". The small print said the 2" groups were off a rest at 50 yards. Nothing I'd brag about.

I still dont get it why people bash the Mini, I can shoot 6" plates
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i wouldnt trust .223 against a bear at any range. If you wouldn't rely on it to make a kill hunting chances are you for sure don't want to be using it as last resort self defense.
 
First off, you have to determine what kind of bear you want to "defend" against that are in your area - black bear or grizzly. This is best determined by examining the scat left in the area.

Black bear scat typically can vary in color from dark brown to a bluish color (if blueberries are in season) and often contain bits of nuts, seeds and even tufts of fur from small mammals.

Grizzly scat is usually the same color, but also contains spent .223 caliber cartridge casings, smells like pepper spray and may also contain a receiver and barrel marked "STURM, RUGER AND COMPANY." :D :D :D
 
Couch-Gator said:
mmm but why would you shoot at a bear from far away :confused: - for defense?
If your need to do a job - bring the right tool or don't do the job.
What's with these endless bear defense threads? How many people in Canada actually face a life or death situation with a bear? I've hiked, fished and mountain biked ALL OVER British Columbia for years including the island and NEVER been mauled by a bear (and never carried a gun)--> and yet there are 10,000 car accidents a day in north america where 1000's of people die and people have no problem driving while SPEEDING, drinking, eating, smoking and talking on their cell phone.
Anyway, nothing personal LCpaintballer but
NO a .22 is not a bear defense gun.
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Ive lived in Lake Cowichan for 4 years now. Every year I run into a bear atleast 4 times. Last year it was a little close for comfort.

The reason I am asking this is because the mini-14 we have is the only shot barreled firearm we have in our safe. I wouldnt want to luggin around a shotgun with a 28" barrel.
 
Absolutely not. The .223 is a varmint round. Shoot any bear with one and you'll have a PO'd wounded bear that can still run faster than you can.
"...people bash the Mini..." It gets bashed because it's over priced and inaccurate. The current MSRP is $775US for a blued carbine, $885US for SS. The new 'Target' model hasn't been out long enough to be tested by non-gun rag writing shooters. However, the MSRP for it is $995US with no sights.
 
The reason I am asking this is because the mini-14 we have is the only shot barreled firearm we have in our safe. I wouldnt want to luggin around a shotgun with a 28" barrel.
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Buy a shorter barrel. They're not expensive.
 
Read the book in my signature...

"Bear Attack II: Myth and Reality" by Gary Shelton

He's the most prominent bear encounter researcher in Canada, and his programs are very regularly used by forestry company and the MoF/E.

Book has a lot of accounts that paint a decent picture of bear encounters...

A lot of people use the numbers to argue that you don't need to carry a gun...and I agreed until an acquaintance was mauled two summers back. She was saved by some guy with a gun. My opinion is that there's absolutely nothing wrong with taking the correct precautions, especially for someone like yourself whose chances of being attacked are much higher than the standard weekend warrior.

+1 w C-G...right tool for the job
 
LCpaintballer, my comment was not intended to bash the mini-14 nor your question, in fact i've almost bought one a couple times and I have camped all around Cowichan lake for years including off-road areas toward Nitinat (lots of bears). I think they are over-priced but are fun for what they were intended for --> fun plinking and short-range varmint rifle. Having said that, if faced with an angry bear actually running me or my family down, of course the mini-14 would definitely be better than a stick. With a full magazine and some lucky shots, you would most likey turn that bear away or possibly even kill it. So in a very unlikely situation where you or your family are hiking and just happen upon a bear with cubs and ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT get away by the normal means (ie. backing up slowly but still facing the bear) then that mini-14 is gonna come in handy. However, the situation I envision in my head when I read these posts(read: not necessarily you), is a person who feels they always have to walk around with a rifle slung on their shoulder *just in case a BEAR's gonna get me*, accidently run across one in the bush while its eating berries or something, and freak out and start shooting at it with a .22 effectively just wounding it so that it dies a slow agonizing death because it was minding its own business. I'm not suggesting that person is you and I'm not saying that one can't protect themselves and their family from the elements (including bears) where there is no alternative. Take the CORE hunting course, and spend $140. on a reasonaly reliable milsurp like the enfield .303 or similar and you'll survive another 4 years in Cowichan just like you survived the previous 4 without one.:)
 
No...it is not what you want/need.

As some folks being ok with not having a shotgun while fishing in BC...It depends alot on where you fish:rolleyes: And who is fishing with you;)
 
Couch-Gator said:
Take the CORE hunting course, and spend $140. on a reasonaly reliable milsurp like the enfield .303 or similar
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I have taken the CORE course and I do hunt. The only other option(s) would to bring a 28" barrel shotgun or my Ruger M77 MKII in 30-06 (both of witch are heavy).
 
send me a PM and I'll sell you a good solid, matching numebers #4 sporter for 75 bucks problem solved
 
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LCpaintballer, if the 30-06 is too heavy for you and the shotty too long, you could pick up a cheap used pump 12 guage and cut the barrel down for slugs/buckshot. My 18'' barreled Stevens 820b pump shotty (I think I paid about $160 for) is pretty reliable and the Foster slugs I've but through that thing are deadly accurate under 30 yards. Plus, if your bear is not down with two slugs in it, then your next best bet is to reach your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye:runaway:
 
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