newbie needs help

B

b15uty

New member
Location
bc
Hi guys , I am new ish to guns having spent most of my life in a coutry that doesnt agree with them.
I have a issue in the woods arround my house with bears ,and was wondering what kind of protection people would recomend ,I am in bc and have my PAL so i was thinking of a defender style shotgun, ???? What are
the complications of sawing off a older 12 gauge???
I like to hike with the dog and so dont really want to be carrying my old field gun.

Thanks guys

Sorry dont know how to use these ### smiley faces below but pretend i put one.
 
Well, most bear defence threads often are a wash. It's a touch subject. If you really do fear for your life, or that of others, .45-70, 12 gauge, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, I mean there is a whole host of things. As far as legalities of sawing off a barrel, I don't know enough to comment. If you can afford a lever action in a large caliber that has a high grain hard cast projectile, that'd be the way I went, but a million different people will give you a million different answers. A 12 gauge cheap should do the trick. Should be able to drop 200$ and get what you needed. Bears are misunderstood, I guess if they're in your back yard looking at your dog for lunch it's another story though. Good luck.
 
b15uty said:
Hi guys , I am new ish to guns having spent most of my life in a coutry that doesnt agree with them.
I have a issue in the woods arround my house with bears ,and was wondering what kind of protection people would recomend ,I am in bc and have my PAL so i was thinking of a defender style shotgun, ???? What are
the complications of sawing off a older 12 gauge???
I like to hike with the dog and so dont really want to be carrying my old field gun.

Thanks guys

Sorry dont know how to use these ### smiley faces below but pretend i put one.
Click to expand...

cyclone.... paging cyclone....


(read some of his posts, you'll get it)
anyway, there's a whole bunch of bear defense threads in the general firearms discussion forum.... opinions vary, but the previous poster gave you some good advice.
 
Hey B1!

Welcome to gunnutz. If you gonna shorten a barrel, read this:

LESS THAN 18"/457mm BARREL LENGTH RULES: (http://www.nfa.ca/node/128)

CC s. 84(1) "prohibited firearm" (d): If the barrel has been SHORTENED to less than 18"/457mm, after leaving the factory, "by sawing, cutting or ANY other alteration or modification" that forces the firearm into the "prohibited firearm" class.

AND THIS: http://www.nfa.ca/node/79
 
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As long as the overall length is at least 26 in and the barrel isnt shorter than 18 in you are ok..it is non restricted and you can cut it yourself if you wish.There are lots of old single shots around for 100 bucks or so to be had .
I made one for my ATV , I shortened the barrel only and I like it ( flame suit on :) )
DSC04066.jpg
 
$230(ish) at various retailers, holds 5+1 3" slugs, legal 18.5" barrel, fiber-optic front sight, rear peep sight. Stevens (Savage) 350 Security.

xlg_stevens350pumpsecuritys.jpg
 
I'd say lock your garbage up - away from your dwelling if possible. Better if you burn it and containers that contained food, again away from your dwelling. I've camped in tents with bears walking about in the back country, and the worst I feared was the falling dead trees they were pushing down in the middle of the night for grubs (how close did we pitch our tent to the nearest dead tree away?).

Not to say a good gun is a bad thing to have around for defense in situations where you're bound to surprise bears, but there are about 100 precautions that will help prevent unwanted encounters that should be explored as well.
 
My personal experience with bears is pretty limited, and although I've scared off a couple with shots from a 12-gauge (lived in Idaho), I've never killed a bear. I think it might be wise to check with the wildlife officers in the area about the problem. There may be laws that would affect your situation (assuming the things weren't breaking into your house). I know that the guys in Manitoba who monitor the polar bear migratory routes around Churchill don't kill bears until they've really exhausted other options. It's worth checking first. The Manitoba guys carry 12-gauge pump guns.
 
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