Stopping Rifle for the Great Bears

Loyalist84 said:
Thanks for all the advice guys! I've got a 12 gauge in the cabinet just in case that I carried for Grizzly protection this past summer, but it looks like the 9.3 is the way to go by all accounts, probably with Woodleigh PP 320 grainers. is there a commonly available reloading manual around with that sort of information?
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The Woodleigh Reloading manual lists load data for it's bullets. Tradeex has the manual.
https://www.tradeexcanada.com/content/woodleigh-bullets-loading-manual
 
BigUglyMan said:
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.
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Really good advice!!
 
Loyalist84 said:
Thanks for all the advice guys! I've got a 12 gauge in the cabinet just in case that I carried for Grizzly protection this past summer, but it looks like the 9.3 is the way to go by all accounts, probably with Woodleigh PP 320 grainers. is there a commonly available reloading manual around with that sort of information?
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You will enjoy reading this article: http://www.norma-usa.com/index.php/...onth/188-cartridge-of-the-month-9-3x62-mauser

Ganyana is the nom de plume of Don Heath.


And, here is some stompin' load data: www.realguns.com/loads/93x62mm.htm

Believe me when I tell you that those 320s and 325s at over 2300 fps will wake you up!

Ted
 
So, I got three black bears to kill. I will use my Xbox, my .44 mag, or the .458 WM. I believe the standing Polar Bear record for many many years was with a .270 Winchester. With ####ty 1950s bullets.
 
X box! That's an extreme close range weapon! Slightly more lethal than a phone book!
(Sorry couldn't resist!)

Fuzzy:)
 
medvedqc said:
polar bear?
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No, just that in my experience they adhere to pretty strict rules regarding what they can use, you'd think that would be the case for most professional outfits. As pounder pointed out this is not always the case, but he also mentions,
pounder said:
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
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Hank44 said:
Every bear guard ive worked with had a pump action 12 gauge, foster slugs and bear bangers. Ive never seen anyone carrying a rifle.
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Smart ones use bennike slugs... but the rest you've got correct.

As I posted already the company safety policy will dictate the gun. It's not a run what you brung event.
 
As I posted already the company safety policy will dictate the gun.

Sometimes it's stupid.

One case of an oil worker being devoured by a Polar bear, while the rest of the camp, watched, unable to do anything. Company policy dictated no guns in camp.

Grizz
 
Grizzly Adams said:
As I posted already the company safety policy will dictate the gun.

Sometimes it's stupid.

One case of an oil worker being devoured by a Polar bear, while the rest of the camp, watched, unable to do anything. Company policy dictated no guns in camp.

Grizz
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I might be confused... but the case your thinking of I believe it was a black bear. It was a woman that was killed. Her coworkers had fire extinguishers and shovels. No guns, bangers or spray allowed.
 
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A bear guard's choice of firearm might well be mandated, or the circumstances of his work dictates the correct choice. A few questions that a perspective bear guards might consider are:

A) What is your shooting experience?
B) Under what circumstances have you killed a large animal?
C) When do you think using a shotgun is more appropriate than a rifle?
D) When do you think using a rifle is more appropriate than a shotgun?
E) What is your target if a bear is on top of someone?
F) What is your target if a bear approaches from a higher elevation?
G) What is your target if a bear must be shot from broadside?
H) What danger is associated with cracker shells?
I) What is the risk associated with using lethal, and less lethal, ammunition in the same gun?
J) How much have you practiced practical marksmanship in the last 6 weeks, and what drills have you run in preparation for this work?
 
Most of the bear monitors I've had the "pleasure" of working with just stand around smoking darts and collecting a pay check with their "defender" full of "buckshot" on their back. One even asked my why his "gun wouldn't work" and I quickly found out he had stuffed two shells in the mag tube backwards. I've had one or two that were reasonably switched on though.
 
We had "The bear guy" show up on location with his dogs in a crate and drive right past the bear to talk to the guys watching it on location. He never even saw it, and the dogs never barked. It would be a joke, except after one of our guys was killed I just don't think bears at the workplace are funny anymore.
 
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