Polar bear defense shotgun

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse

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Hi,

A friend of mine works in the arctic and has been charged with obtaining a bear gun. It is supposed to be a 12 ga. and the budget is $400ish. It's supposed to be both slug and buckshot capable.

I recommended that she get an 870 deer gun (20'' barrel, but told her to be sure to get the smooth bore). I suggested a synthetic stock since it is a working gun, and also because of the possibility of putting a youth stock on it. She has shot my 870 and it seems a bit big for her.

Anyhow the guy and Gagnon (Oshawa) just tried to sell them a Baikal 3.5 inch semi auto. Supposedly used and with 3 chokes, new price $700 on sale for $350 because of a rough refinishing job but otherwise supposedly perfectly functional. I've suggested a few potential objections, including that the gun will probably to be too big, both to fit her and too long (30'' barrel) for a work gun. I suggested too that there are some major drawbacks to a potentially picky semi in a defense gun, and that if all that is available is perfectly ballistically capable 2.75 inch loads they might have cycling trouble.

Does anybody have experience with this gun? I'm going to call to make sure they don't go for it unless someone can convince me this is somehow a good choice.

btw I pointed out the marine magnum 870 and marlin stainless GG for fun, even though they are out of the price range.

RG

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Second the idea of a pump with rifle sights or ghost rings.

Better yet a degreased, iron sight, CRF bolt action rifle in 30-06 or if she can handle it, .338 Magnum.
 
Pump 870.

If stainless/marine is to much, go black/synthetic. Pump.

Make sure it's a pump.


Your trusting lives to it. Does everyone know semi's inside out? (Get a pump)

Cold weather could have an effect. (Get a pump)

A pump will cycle any load. (Get a pump)

Get a pump. (Get a pump)

GET A PUMP!
 
This is repeating what I'm saying to them. Thanks! I'm pretty sure they trust me on it. Does anybody know anything about these Baikal shotguns? I've never owned a Baikal anything, and I understand that their rifles are not known for the greatest accuracy, but I know nothing about this particular gun, other than that is is a goose gun, not a bear defense gun.

RG

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:DAs mentioned, x2 get the express model.or the mossey 590
870 , 20/21 inch barrel, rifled, and use sabbot slugs, 2 3/4 " to be certain of
that 870 cycling. iron sights (rifle sights, std. on rifled barrel).
If in winter, clean, degrease, add some teflon, only where needed, a drop here and there.
 
Anybody posting here a prospector or other such worker with particular first hand experience in this. i.e. I'm looking for some particular credibility to support my argument against this particular gun.

RG

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Riffled barrel is out because she was instructed that it should be both buckshot and slug capable. Personally I'd just have a cf, but this is partly DFO controlled so she has some parameters she has to stay within, regardless of what gunnutz know better.

RG

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My arctic camp rifle is a BRNO 602, CRF .375 H&H with the barrel chopped to 20", factory express sights.

For bush camps a 12 ga pump with rifle sights is fine. In the arctic, you want a bit more range.

Degrease whatever long gun she decides on. Just run it dry if it's cold.

It's more important that she be comfortable with it, practice lots and be able to place her shots accurately out to 50m.

A suitable bargain basement rifle would be a LE No. 5 or No. 4.
 
Oops didn't see your post about her idiot employer requiring buckshot.

Buckshot and grizzly or polar bear = BAD IDEA/NEW GIRLFRIEND

Tell her to buy a 20" Remington 870 Marine/Police and a case of Brenneke 2.75" rifled slugs.
 
I worked in mining and exploration camps from 1988 to 2006 paying for university - I worked in Northern BC, Yukon and Alaska (for one project)

I always carried a pump shotgun with slugs - defender style shotgun. Never buckshot. That is just insane. In some camps on a drilling platform I would keep a .338 remington handy too.

Geologist said:
Tell her to buy a 20" Remington 870 Marine/Police and a case of Brenneke 2.75" rifled slugs.
Click to expand...

Yep, that would be perfect imo.
 
Geologist,

Actually, friend needs new girlfriend, I'd send my wife with a marlin .45-70!

And yes, I'm going to strongly suggest skipping the BS (or alternating BS and slugs as seems to be common practice in the groups she has worked with in the past) and just loading slugs.

I'd personally rather see her take her boyfriends Whitworth p17 .30-06 over a shotgun. It's as reliable a gun as you could ask for.

RG

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I have worked in the Arctic for 10 years, living in remote field camps for extended periods of time. I have encountered a few dozen polar bears. I have never shot one, but I have fired bear bangers at 3 of them. I have an 870 marine Magnum for this purpose, and I would trust it (lead slugs) to do the job. I have only worked up there in the summer. Although below zero, not extreme cold, so I can't comment on the lubricant part of the issue.
 
I have seen rifles fail to fire at -20C due to oil thickening up in the bolt and preventing the firing pin from doing its job. Just hunting so it was not a life changing event.

If the firearm is to be used in cold weather degrease it. Just break down the action and soak everything (especially the bolt) in varsol, let it all dry (compressed air helps) and then re-assemble it dry.
 
I live in Yellowknife, (lived in Cambridge bay for 4 years) and can say that even a pump can and will malfunction if not kept perfectly clean. The round will chamber, but if the firing pin assembly is not kept impeccibly clean, it WILL freeze and give puny primer hits.
I suggest a double barrel coach gun with hammers. They seemed to be the ticket as it created enough inertia to smack that firing pin through the frozen bits.
I suggest that if and when you purchase the gun, you also buy a can of brake cleaner and some GRAPHITE LUBRICANT. The brake cleaner will dissolve all the old oil and dirt and wash out all the nasty potential freeze up bits, and then it evaporates leaving little to no residue. Then wipe it out thoroughly and allow to dry fully. Use the graphite spray to lubricate all the inner parts. Graphite is a dry lube that is applied via an aerosol spray. It dries super quickly and has a super low freeze point (-73 C). If you are exposed to that low a temp, you have a bad boss. I would avoid buckshot as penetration is spotty at best, stay with slugs.
 
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