RE: Alaskian Hunters
 

Old, their pressures kinda scare me. They claim that they are very safe to use in any 870 express. Its hard for me to believe these numbers. But I agree its one heck of a wallop.


Dixie Terminator-.729"-740 gr-40 grs Alliant "Steel" powder-1350’/"-10,500 psi

RE: Alaskian Hunters
 

Actally it looks liek they have came down in price to 7.50/5, min 5 box order.

RE: Alaskian Hunters
 

I would love to pancake a deer with that load and it would do that I am sure. THose tri-ball loads look wicked

RE: Alaskian Hunters
 

500 alaskan or 3 inch 1 oz rifled slugs. thats what a friend of my family who is a fly fishing guide in alaska uses.

RE: Alaskian Hunters
 

I lived in Alaska for 25 years, and hunted big bears a fair amount.

From what i saw, the average guide didn't live, breath, and eat guns, and didn't know a lot about reloading or the different types of ammo. Several of them came into my shop and asked me for recomendations as to what worked for me.

I'm NOT implying that i'm so smart, i'm just pointing out that they aren't either!!! Most of them would carry anything that had they figured would penetrate well, and i loaded NP's for some of them.

From what i saw, many just carried a 375H&H "just because" they figured it was "big enough" and ammo could be easily bought.

It seems everyone is more worried about how fast and how many shots they can get off, than what cal. they are carrying, hence shotguns and extended magazine are talked about all the time.

Look at this site right here, have you seen the answers when someone ask a question useing a single shot rifle for DEER!!! Seems today, everyone is worried about the 2, 3, and 4th shot, instead of the FIRST!

When i went in after a wounded bear, i used the same gun i was hunting with!! I didn't use a shotgun to hunt bears with, why should i use one to finish one off? I wouldn't use a gun i didn't have full confidence in, in the first place!!!

Sorry, i got off topic a bit :>)))

Drilling Man

RE: Alaskian Hunters
 

Well, I was wondering why it took ya so long to chime in. I was wanting to hear you opinion on the subject.

RE: Alaskian Hunters
 

IMO if I was carrying a just incase gun it would be a short barreled semi-auto that I was confident wouldnt jam 12ga. loaded with 3-inch mag slugs and buck shot with a sling so it is at my waiste not my back. It is true that a well placed shot will do the trick but if you have an eight foot grizzly charging at you I know I wouldnt be holding to aweful steady. All in all if you dont think you will stay steady enough for a good shot just fill the air with lead if it is a life or death sisuation. I am in no means saying that you shouldnt go for one shot one kill. I am saying if you are a 6 foot 250lbs person in you have no chance aginst a 8 foot 1000lbs grizzley.

Rember the bullets that miss travel for a distance and every inch could mean big problems for other hunters.

RE: Alaskian Hunters
 

Andy,

I'm NOT picking on you, but the seems the mentality today!! Just fill the air with lead and hope for the best!!!

How about takeing your time, and let the animail get close enough so you "don't" miss??????

All too often a hunter fills the air with lead, and ends up with an wounded animial that would have broke off the charge before it ever even got to you! I've had it happen myself!!! I set the distance i'd fire my first round at 20 yards, and at about 30 yards the bear stopped and looked for me. I never moved, so it couldn't see me and after a time moved off. As it came toward me i kept the sights where i wanted the bullet to go and waited... Didn't take long either!!! LOL....

I find that most bears charge useing there nose, and loose the scent once chargeing. They then have to pick it up again. If you run, they can see that and just like a dog will chase you. When they stop to pick up the scent, they think it over again, and move off.

Anyway, filling the air with lead is stupid, and a wounded bear will do what it takes to find your @$$ and finish you!!

In my life i've been attacked by more dogs than bears, and i've been around bears a bunch!!! Save the shotgun and #4 buck for the dogs!!!


Lastly, i'm NOT saying shotguns won't kill a big bear, i'm saying in my book it's NOT my first choise!! Not even close to first!!

Drilling Man

RE: Alaskian Hunters
 

I've never hunted in Alaska, but I did take a Black bear here in Arkansas this year. It was my first bear.

What I learned from the experience is that Bears can move FAST......VERY FAST!

The shot I took was a perfect broadside at about 25 Yds with a T/C 209 50Cal Muzzleloader w/150 grns of powder. At the shot, the bear turned and covered aprox 35 Yds before he crashed. Elapsed time between shot and crash was no more than a couple of seconds (i.e. 2 seconds) Now if you figure that out, it's better than 30 MPH.

My bear went into some real thick stuff and I had to go in there to make sure he was down. At first, I was really concerned about entering the thicket as I knew I only had one shot with the muzzleloader. Then I got to thinking, he had covered 30 Yds in 2 seconds!......if I was charged, I was only going to be able get one shot off anyway no matter what kind of gun I had.

Now I don't know how fast the Big Bears can move, but I agree with DM, I would much prefer to be carrying a gun that could get the job done with the FIRST shot, rather than be in a position to have to rely on a second or third shot that I may never get the chance to take.

firstshot

RE: Alaskian Hunters
 

Hey DM, I didn't mean to sound like rambo but when I said a just incase gun I ment in the likely hood you have one charging and don't have your primary rifle handy. Like if your down gutting out ur moose and notice one at close range and it decides its hungry and you startled it.


I would like to restat what I said. I must of been thinking faster than I was typing becuse what I ment to say is that if you have a grizz charging and your not steady enough to put one good placed shot. Fill fill the bear with lead, (not the air) if it is a life or death sisuation. In this I ment don't worry about the meat just you life. I have never been charged by a bear but I have seen them run and climb trees and it is very impresiave.

And i did miss spell my last statement

what i ment to say is "Rember the bullet that misses travels for a distance and every inch could mean big problems for other hunters"


I am sorry for the way i sounded and would like to appolgise. If you dissagree with what I ment to say than thats okay its your opion. I do understand why you or anyone else with a lick of sense would be upset and dissagree what I actually said.


Andrew