Ideal Grizzly defense rifle?
10-31-2010, 07:16 PM
#11
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,679
For purely a defense situation I'd take a 12 gauge pump with slugs any day.
Second choice would be a Marlin 1895 SBL with a heavy, cast, flat nosed bullet.
I sure as hell wouldn't want anything in a semi auto. Leave the semi at home when going after big bears.
Second choice would be a Marlin 1895 SBL with a heavy, cast, flat nosed bullet.
I sure as hell wouldn't want anything in a semi auto. Leave the semi at home when going after big bears.
11-01-2010, 11:29 AM
#12
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location:
Posts: 5,130
"defense only? 12 gauge pump shotgun with slugs and 8 shells in it."
TXhunter
+ 1 more - Plus my .357 mag Ruger revolver, plus my bear spray (and hopefully not wearing my heavier boots LOL).
TXhunter
+ 1 more - Plus my .357 mag Ruger revolver, plus my bear spray (and hopefully not wearing my heavier boots LOL).
Last edited by Sheridan; 11-01-2010 at 11:33 AM.
11-02-2010, 04:16 AM
#14
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Virginia
Posts: 542
11-02-2010, 05:53 PM
#15
Spike
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North-Central Montana
Posts: 20
I'm just curious as to what everyone's afraid of?! Why such big calibers? I'd figure a good rifle for defense against a bear is whatever hunting rifle you have with you at the moment the bear decides to charge.
My family and I have used a .308 to hunt dang near everything on the North American Continent, to include Alaskan Hunting and I've never had any problem with the performance of the caliber. Does a person really need the latest and greatest Mambo-Magnum to do the job of other rifles or is it just that the higher the numbers in a rifle caliber seems to make someone feel more comfortable?
There is a documented case where an elephant has been taken in Africa with a .270 and it did the job just fine. The person who did it wasn't using the latest .600 or .700 Nitro Express.
Maybe I'm just old fashioned....
My family and I have used a .308 to hunt dang near everything on the North American Continent, to include Alaskan Hunting and I've never had any problem with the performance of the caliber. Does a person really need the latest and greatest Mambo-Magnum to do the job of other rifles or is it just that the higher the numbers in a rifle caliber seems to make someone feel more comfortable?
There is a documented case where an elephant has been taken in Africa with a .270 and it did the job just fine. The person who did it wasn't using the latest .600 or .700 Nitro Express.
Maybe I'm just old fashioned....
11-02-2010, 06:28 PM
#16
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 868
There is no doubt in my mind that a 308 or 30-06 will kill a bear, but as was mentioned in one of the previous posts, killing the bear and stopping a charge are two very different things.
With either of the 30 cal rounds, I have no doubt the bear will succumb to his wounds, however would it die before mauling you to death on a 20 yard charge?
For sheer knockdown power, a large caliber, heavy slug with a wide meplat is what you want. Deep penetration with significant tissue damage.
Take a look at what PHs are using as backup rifles in Africa. Granted not the same species, but the PH is there with a backup gun to stop a charge if necessary. That means incapacitating the animal in a very short period of time. That means large calibers with heavy solid bullets.
With either of the 30 cal rounds, I have no doubt the bear will succumb to his wounds, however would it die before mauling you to death on a 20 yard charge?
For sheer knockdown power, a large caliber, heavy slug with a wide meplat is what you want. Deep penetration with significant tissue damage.
Take a look at what PHs are using as backup rifles in Africa. Granted not the same species, but the PH is there with a backup gun to stop a charge if necessary. That means incapacitating the animal in a very short period of time. That means large calibers with heavy solid bullets.
11-02-2010, 06:48 PM
#17
Spike
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North-Central Montana
Posts: 20
There is no doubt in my mind that a 308 or 30-06 will kill a bear, but as was mentioned in one of the previous posts, killing the bear and stopping a charge are two very different things.
With either of the 30 cal rounds, I have no doubt the bear will succumb to his wounds, however would it die before mauling you to death on a 20 yard charge?
For sheer knockdown power, a large caliber, heavy slug with a wide meplat is what you want. Deep penetration with significant tissue damage.
Take a look at what PHs are using as backup rifles in Africa. Granted not the same species, but the PH is there with a backup gun to stop a charge if necessary. That means incapacitating the animal in a very short period of time. That means large calibers with heavy solid bullets.
With either of the 30 cal rounds, I have no doubt the bear will succumb to his wounds, however would it die before mauling you to death on a 20 yard charge?
For sheer knockdown power, a large caliber, heavy slug with a wide meplat is what you want. Deep penetration with significant tissue damage.
Take a look at what PHs are using as backup rifles in Africa. Granted not the same species, but the PH is there with a backup gun to stop a charge if necessary. That means incapacitating the animal in a very short period of time. That means large calibers with heavy solid bullets.
Knockdown power is all fine and good, but are you hitting the bear in a vital area? If you're not then you can have a gun with the greatest knockdown power in the world and it ain't gonna make a damn bit of difference. It's almost the same argument as the famous 9mm vs. .45ACP that has existed for years. If you can place your shot, even in a stressful situation (and if you train for it) then you don't need the .50 Cal. BMG or the .458 Lott!
The discussion here is about knockdown power, but how many people will actually take that .458 Lott or .416 Ruger or whatever and practice what we would always call snap-firing: Snapping it up from the hip or from the sling to a place with a good sight-picture and firing it rapidly while still hitting the target?!
11-04-2010, 07:22 AM
#20
Spike
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Northern BC, Canada
Posts: 47
As a hunter that has shot and killed many bears, both griz and blacks in close range. I would recommend the 12 gauge for a strict defense only gun. The defender is beautiful as it can pack 8 rounds (one in the chamber) of slug then buckshot, slug buckshot, slug, buckshot.... I have been charged by multiple bears while doing "pest removal" from oat fields up here, and have used successfully my trusty old .06 and haven't been chewed on yet...
Ecorrigan is completely correct with posed question to all the cannons... I have seen some fella pack these huge guns into the field and i always get a little chuckle, they are scared more of the gun than they need to be of the wildlife!!
if you wanted more of a duel purpose firearm, the .45-70 is very popular with guides here in BC and the Yukon, as it is a great bush gun, hits hard, easy to pack... Yes it can be hunted with, and yes it can drop charging bears...
Ecorrigan is completely correct with posed question to all the cannons... I have seen some fella pack these huge guns into the field and i always get a little chuckle, they are scared more of the gun than they need to be of the wildlife!!
if you wanted more of a duel purpose firearm, the .45-70 is very popular with guides here in BC and the Yukon, as it is a great bush gun, hits hard, easy to pack... Yes it can be hunted with, and yes it can drop charging bears...