Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only "Walkin Around In Bear Country" Big Bore

More importantly which gun are you capable with of shooting a charging bear between the eyes in less than 2 seconds? Rather a 30-30 or a 270 Win with a well placed shot than a 505 Gibbs or a 454 Casull that misses.

And why does a 505 Gibbs or 454 Casull have to miss while a 30-30 or 270 doesn't?

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

We’re talking about one shot, it doesn’t matter for the first shot….if the shooter is at all capable! It’s recovery time from the first shot to the second shot…..that determines the riflemen from the wannabees! memtb

It doesn't I have a 500 Jeffery which I shoot well, the point is shot placement is most important.

I agree with the sentiment as I understand the intention, but disagree if the field is open as to cartridge. I recently addressed that in my blog. In better times, age wise, I could shoot my .340 Wby from offhand on a bull moose at 165 yds as well as a .223 Rem at the same range (but with far less confidence in shooting a bull moose with a .223 Rem or some larger cartridges than it, but less than a .340 Wby because I wanted it dead right there! I believe in true big bores that don't need the finesse shooting of small bores on big game if taking the shot that's given though the distance and angle may be less than perfect. In other words, I might take a calculated shot on large and potentially dangerous game using a large bore magnum that I'd turn down if using a .30-06, etc. In the case of a bear charge from less than 30 yds, at 30 mph there's no time for a second shot anyway (at 30 mph a bear at 30 yds will cover that in less than 2 sec. , so I want nothing short of a "stopping" rifle or 12ga slug (Brenneke type) pump gun, which is faster than a bolt-action repeater. So make it a big-bore for me - as you'r gonna get off one shot anyway from a rifle, so make that one count! Handguns, of course, is a different matter.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

A question for those who walk about in bear country: What would be your fastest time for a followup shot in a bear charge? No guessing or exaggeration please, just factual based on the rifle you'd be walkin about with. Aimed shots under pressure.

With my handicap of one eye, a pump 12ga would be fastest in 3 sec for a second aimed shot. Next my Tikka T3 in 9.3 x 62. It's a right-handed bolt that I shoot from my left side - about 4 sec for a rushed follow up that's aimed. So if my first shot missed or didn't stop the bear it might run over me, separating me from the rifle, in which case a bolt-action repeater would be no better than a single-shot (from which it takes me about 5 secs for an aimed followup.)

How about you? And no wimpy .223 calibers. . . A worthwhile, walkabout bear rifle. In days past I toted a lot of Marlins in .45-70. They were faster than bolt guns, but there's the matter of recovering from the recoil factor to be considered.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

If I was just hiking and not hunting, I'd carry a Mossberg 590 7 shot.

https://www.mossberg.com/590-7-shot-50778.html

IMO, Mossberg 590 hits all the points: the safety is in the right place, it has dual extractors, it's loose enough to cycle about anything, and it carries a decent ammo supply.

I'd paint the stock and forend with Blaze-Orange Krylon so I could see it easily if I dropped it or set it down.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Krylon-K...6oiHik-9HkaAhQiEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I'd put a Hi-Viz front sight on it.

https://www.hivizsights.com/product/mpb/

And I'd load it with Brenneke Black Magic slugs.

https://www.brennekeusa.com/hunting-ammunition/black-magicr-magnum/

And in the tail end of the mag, I'd load a couple Winchester Double X 3" high velocity copper plated 00 shells. At 1,450 fps, they are about the hardest hitting factory buckshot loads out there.

https://www.winchester.com/Products/Ammunition/Shotshell/Double-X/SB12300

And then I'd shoot the shyt out of it until it was second nature.

And I'd carry a Glock 20 with XS DXT2 express sights and loaded with Buffalo Bore hardcasts in a chest holster, for backup.

I've a similar type tactical/security Stevens/Savage M320: Has ghost ring rear sight and hooded fibre otic front sight. 39" OL. Holds 5, weight light = 7 lbs. Use is walking about in bear country and follow up of a wounded bear.
It's based on the old but good Winchester 1300. Was accurate right out of the box using the magnum Challenger 490gr slugs out of Quebec, employing the DGS out of Italy: 1550 fps from the 18.5", dead on at 50 yds first try without any sight corrections.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

404 grain Shock Hammer in 458 Win mag would stop a grizz in his tracks

For a rifle I carry a Siamese Mauser in .45-70 with a stout load behind Hornady 350 grain round nose bullets, very accurate. I'm also carrying either a Ruger Blackhawk .45 colt with stout hard cast loads or a Springfield 1911 Ronin in 10mm with similar loads for it. I don't feel under gunned.

[quote=CZ550]A question for those who walk about in bear country: What would be your fastest time for a followup shot in a bear charge? No guessing or exaggeration please, just factual based on the rifle you'd be walkin about with. Aimed shots under pressure.]

Quick enough so far. I know on one of mine I had three .375s underway in less than four seconds at bad breath distance.

I figure it takes me 1 1/2 second to swing,point, aim and shoot. 2nd shot probably add a second to that. Proven that with a 270 Win, 375 H&H and 500 Jeffery. Only the 375 H&H was on a brown bear not charging, just surprised each other. Shot him at 13 yards.

Gents:

Reading all this with appreciation, thanks for posting your input.

No one answered my earlier question...how about a Browning BAR in .458? 4 shots as fast as you can recover and pull the trigger!

One word answer……..sweet! 👍 memtb

Agree love it!

I'll be the negative nancy here. I'd not trust the mechanism of the BAR for rough, remote conditions for a hunting or working rifle. I'd also not want the liability of bumping the release on that detachable mag. The reality of hard use rifles means they'll be exposed to harsh conditions with limited maintenance opportunities. For example, how would the BAR do on day three of a hunt involving constant exposure to wetness with some freeze-thaw cycles, and then also being expected to function with ammo that's had a nice grunge develop on the cases as well?

Another issue to consider with using such a rifle in thick stuff such as I deal with is when brush busting the charging handle can get shoved back enough to put the bolt out of battery but still look normal enough to not be noticed.

It’s difficult to argue “any” of those points……but, it’s purty to look at! Just not practical for inclement weather or rough terrain hunting conditions!

A nice “safe queen” to impress the neighbors! 😁 memtb

It certainly does have a cool factor not possessed by the same model in chamberings such as the 7 mag.

I believe they were somewhat widely used in WWII (not that I was alive then!)