the 270 win is ideal for hunting FOR ME, but I'm scared of coming across a Grizzly..

338 fan said:
You've got just as good a chance of being hit while crossing the street as you do of being attacked by a grizzly.
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You are almost 7000 times more likely to die in the shower/bathtub, and 890 times more likely to get hit , and killed, by lightning that to be killed by a bear. The last guy that got mauled in BC actually got a shot off, possibly hit the bear, and the bear still mauled the crap out of him. The only thing that saved him was that he played dead. If you're that worried about the boogie-man, carry bear spray, and practice with it. A lot.
If you're still that worried, stay home................and be careful in the shower. And crossing the street. And playing golf with Bill Murray.
 
Anybody remember stories about Hosea Sarber? This guy, a long time Alaskan game warden, had more grizzly experience than O'Connor had on sheep, and his choice was a .270, although I don't know which bullet he preferred.

I was brought up to hold the .270 in low regard. But I've since overcome that prejudice, and today, I wouldn't have any qualms about using a .270 for personal defense against a big bear, but my choice of bullet would be a 160 gr Partition or a 180 gr Woodleigh. A word to the wise though, apparently you need faster than a 1:10 twist to fully stabilize the Woodleigh.
 
ElkMasterC said:
You are almost 7000 times more likely to die in the shower/bathtub, and 890 times more likely to get hit , and killed, by lightning that to be killed by a bear.
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The odds of winning the LottoMax are 1 in 28,000,000, but still, somebody manages to beat those odds quite regularly. Just because the odds are low doesn't mean it won't happen.
 
A fear of bears is healthy...it's when that fear turns irrational that things go awry. I'd agree with Boomer that education is the key.
 
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Boomer said:
Fear of bears is simply a matter of education. Once you've been educated, then you'll understand.
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Boomer, I've been around black bears my whole life. Hungry ones, wounded ones, sows with cubs, curious ones,angry ones, etc. I respect them, but I don't fear them. I realize polar bear and grizzly have a different demeanor, but there's still no reason for fear. Complacency is what gets most into trouble.
 
9.3mauser said:
The odds of winning the LottoMax are 1 in 28,000,000, but still, somebody manages to beat those odds quite regularly. Just because the odds are low doesn't mean it won't happen.
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But I don't go out and buy a Bentley because I expect to win the lottery because it would be irrational to do so. I KNOW that winning is very unlikely, and living my life as if it is likely to happen is only going to make my life less fun in the end. I do not wear a tinfoil hat in case the aliens want to control my thoughts (it COULD happen), I don't spend as if I might win the lottery, and I don't walk around in the bush in constant fear of a bear. Bears are just not real life problems. REALITY is where I live, not some fantasy of woods full of slobbering, raving attack bears (or zombies). I love being in the bush; I feel sorry for everyone who is afraid of it, because being comfortable in natural environments is not only more fun, it's therapeutic.

Irrational fears are ..... well .... irrational. Insisting that irrational fears are somehow rational, is just not a good sign.
 
9.3mauser said:
The odds of winning the LottoMax are 1 in 28,000,000, but still, somebody manages to beat those odds quite regularly. Just because the odds are low doesn't mean it won't happen.
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All statistics are relative.... For example, you are far more likely to get struck by lightening than you are to get attacked by a shark... But that takes into account the population as a whole... The majority of whom don't live on a coastline or swim in the ocean... I would wager that, for south african surfers the likelyhoods are probably reversed....

In other words, if you are venturing out into grizz country it never hurts to be prepared... In spite of what the statistics say...
 
rral22 said:
Irrational fears are ..... well .... irrational. Insisting that irrational fears are somehow rational, is just not a good sign.
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It isn't about being afraid, irrationally or otherwise, it's about recognizing the possibilities and being prepared. I've never HAD to get a fire going to save my life, but I still carry matches in my pocket. Just because I've never been hypothermic doesn't mean I won't ever be.

I haven't been afraid of bears since I was 12, but I'm not in denial about the potential dangers.
 
sunray said:
You'll never be fast enough anyway. Nor will a .30-06 make any difference. As mentioned, a .270 will kill a big bear, but not if you can't make the shot.
"...and/or 000 buckshot..." Absolutely not. Buckshot is totally useless for doing anything but annoying Yogi.
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Sunray, you are wrong again. I have actually shot a bear with buckshot from 35 yds. Dead....
 
gunrunner8 said:
X100. This is post #25 and #1 that makes any sense.
I am amazed that some hunters hunt with 4-12 and higher power scopes.
Even at 4x with FOV of 4' at 20yrds, finding running predator in the scope is next to imposible.
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While not a super close nor running encounter, this bear was taken at 9 yard with a 4.5-14 scope. I'd say it's more about being comfortable/competent with your rifle/scope combination.
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Superbrad said:
A charging angry one? Or did you have time to take a well placed shot?... Two completely different things...
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It was well placed. The gun isn't the issue with shooting a charging bear. The shooting ability is the issue. A big hammer is useless until you hit something with it.
 
bearkilr said:
Boomer, I've been around black bears my whole life. Hungry ones, wounded ones, sows with cubs, curious ones,angry ones, etc. I respect them, but I don't fear them. I realize polar bear and grizzly have a different demeanor, but there's still no reason for fear. Complacency is what gets most into trouble.
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bearkilr, I haven't been around bears all my life, only the last 16 years. Never feared black bears because every time I came across them in the woods, they just took off. Until... a few years back, when one young male didn't (take off). he just kept closing in very slowly. I had no gun or spray (hiking in a Provincial Park). There was a 5 minute face off and actually nothing happened. However, he put the fear of God in me. Can't explain it, but ever since I DO fear them.

I suspect there is an understandable difference of opinion between those who have been in (or close to) an unpleasant situation with a bear and those who haven't.
 
emerson said:
It was well placed. The gun isn't the issue with shooting a charging bear. The shooting ability is the issue. A big hammer is useless until you hit something with it.
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Yes... But you can practice shooting a stationary target and you can practice shooting a moving target to develop proficiency at those...how does one go about practicing a surprise charge from a large anumal intent on snuffing you out?
 
sheephunter said:
While not a super close nor running encounter, this bear was taken at 9 yard with a 4.5-14 scope. I'd say it's more about being comfortable/competent with your rifle/scope combination
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I'm thinking that you weren't really planning on being that close to her bear. IIRC, rifle of choice was a .338; would you have been as happy if she'd had a .270 in her hands?
 
Superbrad said:
Yes... But you can practice shooting a stationary target and you can practice shooting a moving target to develop proficiency at those...how does one go about practicing a surprise charge from a large anumal intent on snuffing you out?
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One shooter, one helper. Beach ball (soccer ball is more realistic) on rope @20 yds. Rifle carried as hunting; on "go" helper pulls rope toward shooter as fast as possible. I don't get many emergency calls at work but still practice firefighting and first aid though. The obsession about the choice of firearm is a red herring.
 
emerson said:
One shooter, one helper. Beach ball (soccer ball is more realistic) on rope @20 yds. Rifle carried as hunting; on "go" helper pulls rope toward shooter as fast as possible. I don't get many emergency calls at work but still practice firefighting and first aid though. The obsession about the choice of firearm is a red herring.
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Ok... Then try making the same shot except cover the beachball in razorblades so if you don't make the shot it slices you up.... I have never heard of a bear that waited for the word "go" to charge...
 
9.3mauser said:
I'm thinking that you weren't really planning on being that close to her bear. IIRC, rifle of choice was a .338; would you have been as happy if she'd had a .270 in her hands?
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No the plan wasn't to get that close but it does demonstrate what a competent shooter can do. The shot was rushed and off hand. Would I hunt grizz with a 270....no....would I feel confident with a 270 in my hands in bear country.....absolutely.

I don't think most people appreciate the speed with which a bear charge happens and what the chance of getting a single shot off is, let alone several. I'd venture to say that most "self defence" kills could have been avoided if the person had a better understanding and more experience with bears. With that said, I'd never criticize anyone that shoots a bear at close range that is in fear for their life. In a true surprise charge.....good luck doing anything but getting your arm in front of your face. In an expected charge, you may get one shot off and if you do, it better count. We all head into the woods knowing bears are there and that they have been known to kill humans. We do what we can to prepare ourselves but the truth is, if a bear actually charges.............you are likely to get chewed on regardless of what you are packing. At the end of the day, bear spray is still your best defence but it's a blow to the ego for most to admit that..
 
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