This bear stuff reminds me of a guy my dad was stationed with. They were in Kodiak and they are cruising through the woods and notices all the bark is gone from the trees from 10 feet down. He asks one of the other guys WTF. He says that's where the bears sharpen their claws. Just then he says the squad leader announces that this would be a good place to sleep for the night and they did. Don't think I would have slept well that night....

This (Marlin 1895G)


Loaded with these:


And become very profficient with it and the recoil.

I normally don't reccommend Bushy, but in this case:
http://www.bushmaster.com/catalog_xm15_BCWVMS20-45.asp

I read a few articles about this monster, if I was potentially going to roll up on a bear, this might make me feel better....

With extra mags at $37.00 (a 10 round mag in in the works), I would carry this monster with 4-5 mags (2 mag cinched), replace the A2 stock with a 6 position with rubber pad or CTR with rubber pad, and mount a AGOG TA33 and some TROY irons.
I don't want to end up as a pile of bear shit 3 days after I go missing.

This setup would give you the flexibility to engage the bear beyond pistol range and be assured of taking the bear down, regardless of his/her size.

250Gr @ 2220FPS with a muzzle nrg of 2686ft/lbs will stop anything with a pulse.
http://www.midwayusa.com/Eproductpage.Exe/showproduct?saleitemid=979384
20 rnds for $27 is not too bad.

quote:

Originally posted by turnercm1776:

quote:

Originally posted by ILL DILL:
I could care less if it stopped 99.9% of attacks and only 0.000000000000000000000000001% resulted in injury.

I'm not facing a bear without a firearm. Call me stupid, mean, blood thirsty, paranoid, whatever...it's a bear and I'm very frail in comparison.

If it's a bear...and it's comming towards me...it's getting every bit of lead I can give it.

this begs the question: where can a man find an M79 around here!?

Don't foget these little warlocks,

http://www.vietnamgear.com/kit.aspx?kit=497

When I was working at Stone Bay as a PMI myself and another Marine found a case of these in our ammo area, our SNCOIC told us to get rid of them. What he meant wsa go get a Humvee and drive them to EOD on Geiger to dispose of them. What we did was go to the armory, check out 2 M79's (they still had them for launching flares on the sniper range) and each of us shot 25-30, @ the pistol range! We tore up the impact area and shredded almost all of the target stands. We shot all these rounds in under 10 minutes and got out of dodge. We did it all without helmet or flack and without the range being hot. If we had been caught, my ass would still be stinging. (circa spring 1995)

Our tour guide for the Kenai Nat'l Wildlife Refuge was packing a pepper spray can as big as a can of Lysol in a quick release holster. Handguns are cool and I'm always looking for an excuse to buy more, but I think these tend to be more effective.

She (yes, she) said the Kenai was the only Nat'l Wildlife Refuge where you can pack a gun (because of the bears) but she stuck to pepper spray to keep the tourists calm. When I asked her if she was to use a gun instead, instead of mentioning any kind of pistol she said she would use her A-Bolt in 338 WinMag. Like most who have immigrated and lived in Alaska for a long time, she was a character.

I noticed that most Alaska residents had a keen respect for bears.

quote:

Originally posted by tinfinger:
Our tour guide for the Kenai Nat'l Wildlife Refuge was packing a pepper spray can as big as a can of Lysol in a quick release holster. Handguns are cool and I'm always looking for an excuse to buy more, but I think these tend to be more effective.

She (yes, she) said the Kenai was the only Nat'l Wildlife Refuge where you can pack a gun (because of the bears) but she stuck to pepper spray to keep the tourists calm. When I asked her if she was to use a gun instead, instead of mentioning any kind of pistol she said she would use her A-Bolt in 338 WinMag. Like most who have immigrated and lived in Alaska for a long time, she was a character.

I noticed that most Alaska residents had a keen respect for bears.

I'm willing to bet a good bit of cash that if her boss let her carry a gun she would.

What about a Puma 92 by legacy sports international. You can get it a .454 or .480 ruger if I recall and they are less expensive then the marlins.
Buffalo Bore
.454 Casull 360 gr. L.W.N.G.C. (1425 fps / M.E. 1623 ft. lbs.)
(Big game up to 2000 lbs.)
.480 Ruger 410 gr. WFN 1200 fps/ M.E. 1311 ft. lbs.
I think that these loads would work very well on big bears.

If you're thinking in terms of intervention rather than prevention when traveling in bear country you're already well behind the power curve. A sound understanding of bear biology and behavior is an absolute requirement for the kind of trip you're proposing. There is virtually zero chance that you'd be able to shoot your way out of an encounter that you had blundered into unless you were a highly skilled marksman able to perform under the stress of imminent dismemberment. An armed individual would be more likely to piss a bear off by shooting at him when he presented no threat whatsoever.

Asking this question makes you a prime candidate for a guided trip IMO.

http://www.brockmansrifles.com/beast.asp

with these:

http://www.garrettcartridges.com/ammo2.asp

More info: http://www.garrettcartridges.com/420.asp

and a Glock 10mm. My brother is up in Alaska and that is what he carries. His wife carries a 12 bore.

Just got back from Anchorage...I carried all I had when I was fishing, a P-220. My buddy that lives there carries a Glock 10mm...All of the fishermen I saw carried either big revolvers or 45s or 10mm. Several said that you don't have much time if you spook a bear...and to aim for the head if being charged.

There have been four maulings this year in the city limits.

I fished the Kenai area and the Little Susitna...Great trip

What kind of shotgun shells for close range big bears? Just regular deer slugs, or something extra heavy, slow moving and hard?

I've camped in bear country a few times. I keep a 10mm Glock and 12ga with slugs handy

For backpacking you really want minimal weight, and you need the gun on your person all the time. It won't do you any good if your long gun is propped up against a tree 20 feet away when the bear jumps you.

If I were hiking alone in Alaska I would carry a Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in 454 Casull caliber (I actually have a .480 Ruger but ammo is really hard to find) in a Simply Rugged chest holster.

And I would practice with heavy hard cast loads until the recoil didn't bother me.

I would also carry a couple of canisters of Counter Assault - one is the spare in case you have to fire the primary. And bring some baby shampoo in a small squeeze bottle in case you get some pepper on your hands or in your eyes.

The bear spray is for discouraging nosy animals who aren't intent on ripping your arm off. The revolver is for all the others.

If you feel up to also carrying a long gun, I suggest a Marlin Guide Gun in 45/70.

John Davies
SPokane WA

quote:

Originally posted by John E Davies:

And I would practice with heavy hard cast loads until the recoil didn't bother me.

I wouldn't think that kind of recoil ever gets more tolerable by shooting more rounds.

I think gunsites bear course recommends 12ga pump with slugs or 45/70 lever gun.

Although I can find better things to do be bear bait, I would probably go with a 12ga, maybe a sidearm and a large canister of pepper spray.

Don't forget three or four Karelian Bear Dogs. You might actually get some sleep at night.

quote:

Originally posted by teddy_gammell:
If you're thinking in terms of intervention rather than prevention when traveling in bear country you're already well behind the power curve. A sound understanding of bear biology and behavior is an absolute requirement for the kind of trip you're proposing. There is virtually zero chance that you'd be able to shoot your way out of an encounter that you had blundered into unless you were a highly skilled marksman able to perform under the stress of imminent dismemberment. An armed individual would be more likely to piss a bear off by shooting at him when he presented no threat whatsoever.

Asking this question makes you a prime candidate for a guided trip IMO.

touche. you make a good point, i am totally aware that i am pushing the limits of my experience and understanding with this trip. that's part of what makes it fun! but yes, much much studying of alaskan bears is necessary before attempting this.

quote:

Originally posted by Gunit:
Don't forget three or four Karelian Bear Dogs. You might actually get some sleep at night.

also a good idea! i love dogs and hell, they're waaaay more sensitive to their surroundings than we humans can ever hope to be.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:


Marlin 45-70 with the proper loads would make a nice handy choice.

That is a really nice set-up you have there - tell us about it...

I forgot to put in my original post that Garrett cartrdiges suggests you use their 540 grain round for close range bear defense. My brother also carries a 458 Socom AR with a 405 grain bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by msg-84:

quote:

Originally posted by cas:


Marlin 45-70 with the proper loads would make a nice handy choice.

That is a really nice set-up you have there - tell us about it...

That looks like a blued 1895G with an XS lever gun rail, Wild West Guns big loop lever, rear and front sights, topped with a Leupold Scout scope? I agree, nice!