Stopping Rifle for the Great Bears

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Loyalist84

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I'm looking at a job as a bear guard up in Nunavut this coming summer, and I figured I'd cast around the membership for more experienced opinions than mine on a good defence rifle. I currently have a Husqvarna 9.3x62 that I'm looking for hotter load data for (earliest loading manual in the house is from the late '80s), but I was wondering if it would be considered prudent to step up to an honest-to-god .40+ caliber considering I may have a hairy run-in with the largest carnivore on this side of sea ice, or if my Husky with stout loads and a Scandinavian bolt handle will be up to the job of keeping myself intact.
 
Bear guard, you ain't gonna be making 300 yd. shots. Remington 600 in .350 magnum used to be the gun of choice at one time.

Grizz
 
Marlin 45/70 is hard to beat compact, Holds 5 +and hits like a freight train with 400gr or heavier bullets.
Reb
 
12 ga? Slugs @ close range would have the bear reconsidering...

If I had to use a rifle, I do have a 375H&H...

Cheers
Jay
 
Saw a nifty little Sako Finnbear AV Bolt Action Mannlicher Carbine in 375 h&h with a 20" bbl and control round feed action that would make a good rifle for bear country.
Heavy hitter and fast on the swing.
 
not need to push to fast your bullet. use a slightly less weight 250 grains bullet and you are good to go ...

was wondering how can you be a bear watch guy if you not from there?
 
I worked in the High Arctic for 15 years. My go to was an 870 12 gauge with a rifled slug barrel. Compact, easy to carry. Doesn't matter what you have if you don't have it with you at all times.
 
Loyalist84 said:
I currently have a Husqvarna 9.3x62 that I'm looking for hotter load data for
Click to expand...

Grizzly Adams said:
Remington 600 in .350 magnum used to be the gun of choice at one time.

Grizz
Click to expand...

Six of one, half dozen of another...

59 grs. of RL 15 gets me to 2450 with Nosler Partitions. If you think you need more steam than that, get a much bigger rifle.
 
Bear guarding is boring boring boring untill it's not. If you keep your clients close to you and they follow instructions ( without question ) then your shot if needed is close sometimes very close depending on the cover the bear may have. We mostly carry rifles 30-06 , 416 's .375 's 45-70. they will all do the job if you do yours. We must carry shotguns on some sights ( Parks Canada ) and range limitations. We tell our guards that the best case scenario in a worst case situation is the bear attacks the bear guard,then you just wait ( takes big balls to wait ) but the closer he is the better the shot. Use a firearm that you are comfortable with and shoot it lots. Don't let it cross the 20 yrd. line.

Stay Safe
pounder
 
If I was choosing one of my several rifles for the task, I would still choose my 9.3x62. It's for all the power you need, half the recoil and lots of magazine capacity. In fact, when I lived in Nunavut I carried my 9.3 all over with me in case of Grizzlies. Now, we weren't dealing with Polar Bears where I lived, but even so I would still close the iron-sighted, flag-safety Mauser 98 over anything else in the safe. Not the 12.5" 870, not the 416 Rigby, not the 300 H&H, not the 470 NE. YMMV as it's all about balancing confidence and power and that rifle does it for me.
 
Yep. BUM's said it......no point having bigger without the confidence to make it work for you.......use your skill with the adequate caliber.
 
You will most likely be limited to a pump action 12gauge... 14"+ barrel and they'll want sights on it.

Most likely. Do your own research with whom ever you may be working for... you'll also have to make sure your up to date on other companies requirements who may be on site.
 
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