Author Topic: Bear guns ? (Read 10985 times)

Pat/Rick · « **Reply #30 on:** December 28, 2010, 04:01:31 PM »

Team Nelson. I have to give you a big PLUS ONE on the functioning .22. As much as we all love our shotties and centerfires, even big game hunting does the average Joe see more tweety birds, squirrels, chipmunks, grouse, etc.,etc,? That brick of .22LR will give around an average of three tries a day at protein for a year.

pastorp · « **Reply #31 on:** December 28, 2010, 08:09:26 PM »

I have killed every wild game animal in the southeast states up to and including wild hogs, that most of you guys think you need a big bore for, with 22rifles & revolvers.

. And in the event I needed to kill a bear or moose or anything else I believe I could do so again.

Any when most of you are out of ammo I'll still have lots......

Regards,

Swampman · « **Reply #32 on:** December 29, 2010, 03:22:07 AM »

One longgun is all any one needs. Having hunted big game with handguns for many years, I'll take a rifle.

pastorp · « **Reply #33 on:** December 29, 2010, 03:55:14 AM »

I agree swamp man, if I'm hunting. But can't you get it through your head that it's not possible to always have a rifle with you. That why so many Alaskans Carry a large bore handgun.

You get something stuck in your head and you just keep making short statements that sometimes are not even relevant to the discussion. I don't think your great wisdom includes bear guns. Bears are no different than any other animal and it dosent take a 375 or 458 to kill one. I was talking with a native lady last night. She was raised in the interior of Alaska. And has spent her life in the outdoors. Berry picking is one of her favorite activities. I asked her if she ever had bear problems in the berry patches. Her response was she had never seen a bear in the wild.

The mathematical probability of having a bear confrontation in Alaska is probably about 2in a million. I seldom carry a rifle anymore. The odds are just against me needing it. A handgun works for me.

Actually wolves and wild dogs are a bigger problem than bears. Situational awareness is your most important defense.

Regards,

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #34 on:** December 29, 2010, 07:49:08 AM »

OP was that bear guns were most likely not needed . To be honest in bad times dogs , bears, deer , wolf , domestic stock etc wiil be gone for food. What will be here is rats etc. Rats reproduce at a fast rate and could provide food for a long time if climate conditions allow a long breeding season. Most would do better trying to survive on limb rats and such than on deer in a short survival time. If you want to stay undetected leaving dead dear along your way would be bad form. Trapping would be good where you stopped for a few days but along the way picking off a limb rat or rabbit would be good . A quiet gun would be the best . Or even a slinced pistol.
What do we really need not want.
BTW I think 22 LR ammo is the problem . Its construction begs moisture to attact it.

sachel.45 · « **Reply #35 on:** December 29, 2010, 09:57:15 AM »

If you go back to the original question what is the one gun some one would need on a day to day basis for survival then I agree with swampman I would rather have a long gun (in my case most likely a shotgun) than a pistol yes there are some handicaps to a longgun on a day to day basis (mostly carry method and always having it close by) but I think they out weigh the convience factor of a pistol by being more versatile IMO.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #36 on:** December 29, 2010, 11:33:26 AM »

Many years ago, Sports Afield ran a series of articles by a well known author on post war survival..he was sporting the idea of a .22 handgun as the survival weapon..lots of ammo, and easily carried..as in this discussion someone pointed out a .22 rifle would put more meat on the table than a pistol, but it would not be carried easily...while a shotgun is also an option, ammo would be heavy to carry, and range limited...probably the best deal would be to have a stash of survival weapons and ammo...in the east, and south, the shotgun would be a great weapon, here in the open west, not so great, but still handy for defense..this is interesting..makes me glad I have a number of weapons of different types, and lots of ammo for each...

sachel.45 · « **Reply #37 on:** December 29, 2010, 08:12:26 PM »

I don't think one gun is ever going to be able to do everything there all comprises in one way or another. I do belive that that some sort of .22 should be in your survival battery i've got a couple. Part of the fun is searching for the perfect survival (or big game, small game, etc) gun so i'll keep searching till I find it

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #38 on:** December 30, 2010, 05:13:40 AM »

When you go 22 mag you get a better bullet to case seal with the normal bullet type , ie not a heal type .
The shotgun is what mostly went west with those who could only afford one I have read .

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #39 on:** December 31, 2010, 03:46:12 AM »

I have pistols and rifles in damn near every caliber from 22 short to 45-70. I live and run around in Montana, see just about everything that could put a big hurt on a fella during the year. More worried about mountain lions attacking from behind than anything else, but when any animal has young, you need to maintain a constant lookout for angry mamma's. Most often carry pretty warm loads in 45 colt, 300 plus gr hardcast with a flat nose. Ruger Blackhawk or Redhawk send em out in pistols, for rifles, have used the same load in light levers and feel pretty well covered. Sometimes a 444 Marlin or 45-70 goes but they are heavier to carry if not hunting with them. Around the cabin, I'll carry lighter, but keep a Rossi lever in 454 Casull in the Polaris Ranger. Those are pretty nice to carry, light accurate, quick to handle and get darn close to 45-70 in a much smaller package. I have 2, one with 20" barrel, one with the 16". 44 mags with heavy cast bullets would work as good. What do I shoot at most often

, wylie cayote, rocky rattlesnake and little prairie poodles.

A little overgunned for them, but ya dance with who ya brung.

DP

Lost Farmboy · « **Reply #40 on:** April 04, 2011, 02:10:16 AM »

Say what you want about bear guns. I had to face a big black bear with a bad reputation last year. He had been killing dogs and hogs in the neighborhood. He was about 20 feet away and I had a 357 Mag in my hand. I really wanted my shotgun but he was standing next to it. I fired a shot over his head. They are fast! If he went for me instead of away I don't think I would have got a second shot.

For many reasons I think I will use the 12 ga shotgun as my one long gun for TEOTWAWKI. But, I want a 357 on me always because I might not be so lucky next time a bear is standing next to my shotgun.

Many people preparing for TEOTWAWKI plan to go to Idaho, grizzly country. I think that is why bears come up so often in survival gun threads. In Idaho I would want a 30-06 and a 44 mag. But for my Appalachian last stand I feel good with the 12 ga and a 357.

Tigers rarely develop a taste for man in India. It is a lot more common in Bangladesh. The reason is cyclones leave a lot of dead bodies around tiger territory in Bangladesh. When the SHTF here there may be a lot of dead bodies around and a lot of animals may develop a taste for man. Maybe dogs, wolves, bears and things that escape from zoos. I think one large caliber gun sort or long would be smart.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #41 on:** April 04, 2011, 02:32:12 AM »

if your talking a real shtf senerio other men will be your biggest consern. They will be much more dangerous then any wild animal and alot more prevelent. My shtf gun if only one would definately be an AR. Either a .223 loaded with partions or my 762x39. Biggest thing we have to deal with here are black bears and they could be easily taken with either of them. One charging me in the woods would be about the last thing id be worrying about out there.

Lost Farmboy · « **Reply #42 on:** April 08, 2011, 02:21:45 PM »

Greatest danger two legged predators, yup. My way of dealing with them is what puts me at risk for bears. I believe that if you are willing to die to defend you home, you will. I'll be in the wilderness. The real danger is at night. It's so dark in the mountains I can't see my hand 6” in front of my face. The bears can see fine. Your perception of the danger my depend on if you plan to live in a house or in the woods. I recently saw a show in the history channel about the first frontiersmen in the West. It was amazing how many were killed or maimed by bears.

In a TEOTWAWKI world lighting a fire will get you killed. If you had a fire it would keep the bears away. But the greater danger is attracted to the fire. Fires will be small and only when necessary to purify water or cook.

Don't and won't have anything semiautomatic. In thousands of acres of dense forest and mountains I feel good with a 12 gauge and a 357. Both good for both threats.

Shu · « **Reply #43 on:** May 04, 2011, 10:12:18 AM »

For general walking about it is really hard to beat a 22lr. The weight and price of ammuntion cannot be beaten. A rifle or a pistol would be great. Each of my 22 rifles has a box of shells in the buttstock under the pad. I have them set up so I can remove one screw and swivel the pad out of the way. I change the box out every couple of years. This way I know I will always have ammo. My preference is a 16 inch barrel with a youth stock but I have a nice little ruger MK2 with a red sight on it. I have taken rabbits at about 60 yards with it. If I am going to be gathering and working or even fishing I carry the pistol. A 22 lr is just one of the best all around guns you could have.

For the SHTF and Zombie appocylpse scenarios, well there is no danger if you can't be found. Invisibilty is a great thing and camoflauging your place and making sure you leave no signs behind you.

If I knew I was going to be in a gunfight that would be a different gun all together and a different mind set. I will use stealth and my little 22 for most things though and leave the end of the world scenarios for others.

reliquary · « **Reply #44 on:** May 06, 2011, 11:42:36 AM »

I'm fairly new to the site and am just now feeling my way around the forums (fora?). Bear with me here... =-)

I vote for the .22 as the EOTWAWKI gun of choice. I have several in the safe, plus three older ones in underground storage, each with a brick of ammo, and a 12 gauge single with 50 mixed rounds in underground storage.

If I had to bug out with only one gun, it would be my carry piece, a Commander .45. In the go-bag under it on the shelf are 5 loaded mags plus 100 mixed rounds in a plastic box, a Ciener .22 conversion with a brick of hi-velocity HP, plus some emergency food bars and water. Since I'm 68 with a semi-invalid wife, bugging out is unlikely, but I believe in preparedness.

I was stationed in Alaska '75-'78, did lots of backpacking and recreational prospecting. Carried a BH .45 LC, 250 gr Keith-style hardcast over 9.5 grains of Unique. Still have the BH, still like the load, also use it in a Puma lever. Either piece will take out feral hogs. Had three encounters with bears up north, never had to shoot one, none around where I live now.

If I was just out looking for bears, I'd take a long gun with large bore and heavy slug. Otherwise, a pistol is handier if you're just out in the woods and don't like to be unarmed. Won't argue about which calibers are better. Use whatever you're comfortable with. I simplified my battery to mostly things that shoot the .45 ACP or the .45 LC, have several of each.

For mutant zombie UN troops offloaded by black helicopters, with Hell's Angels doing recon, I have some hi-cap rifles that I buy bulk ammo for and a couple of 12-gauge pumps. For most reasonable scenarios, I vote for the .22 LR.

wwjmbd · « **Reply #45 on:** June 19, 2011, 10:20:12 PM »

Id vote for a 22 mag revolver and or rifle as a meat getter and protection for every day carrying, you can carry lots of ammo and it has a bit more punch and range than a 22lr for the 22 legged predators if it came down to that.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #46 on:** June 20, 2011, 01:42:42 AM »

probably the most practical set up for up here would be a 94 wincheter 3030 and a 12 guage pump. A guy an get 3030 ammo about anywere up here and theres probably 3030 and 12 guage ammo in 90 percent of the homes up here.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #47 on:** June 20, 2011, 02:33:53 AM »

A set up that uses military or police ammo could be an advantage also for the long haul.

Swampman · « **Reply #48 on:** June 20, 2011, 04:36:08 AM »

.45-70

Lost Farmboy · « **Reply #49 on:** June 20, 2011, 11:24:11 AM »

Swampman Nice! Do they have bears down in the FL swamps?

Swampman · « **Reply #50 on:** June 20, 2011, 12:04:08 PM »

We have bears in our yard. They leave bite marks on the handles of our garbage cans.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #51 on:** June 20, 2011, 02:04:53 PM »

been a few bears in jacksonville a few weeks back

we have even had bears here on amilia island fl in the past

Casull · « **Reply #52 on:** June 20, 2011, 02:59:04 PM »

Quote

Within a few months, all large game, including the large bears, will have been hunted to the brink of practical extinction.

I often read this, but don't really accept it. Back in the late 1800's and early 1900's, it took the market hunters years and years to do that. And, those were guys who knew what they were doing.

Swampman · « **Reply #53 on:** June 20, 2011, 03:19:39 PM »

Within a few months 99% of the human population will be dead from waiting on the government to help them.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #54 on:** June 22, 2011, 03:02:27 AM »

those out of shape then those who's meds run out , those who get an infection , some can't cope others ................ maybe a few mos maybe sooner .

schuetzen · « **Reply #55 on:** June 22, 2011, 06:26:04 AM »

This video describes bear hunting in Russia with smoothboar shotgun and steel slug ammo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kiwq95oT0zQ

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #56 on:** June 22, 2011, 06:36:54 AM »

Shotguns and slugs are the gun of choice by many in Manatoba.

The point of my OP was that there will be more need for a smaller gun say 22 mag than a 3006 . Maybe a 223 rem over the larger guns .
Am reading THE FIRST SECOND AFTER in what I have read a good 22 is worth its weight in gold for getting food . Ammo is wort 10 times its weight in gold.

Swampman · « **Reply #57 on:** June 22, 2011, 07:24:54 AM »

$165.00 out the door......

schuetzen · « **Reply #58 on:** June 22, 2011, 07:58:52 AM »

Quote from: SHOOTALL on June 22, 2011, 06:36:54 AM

Shotguns and slugs are the gun of choice by many in Manatoba.

The point of my OP was that there will be more need for a smaller gun say 22 mag than a 3006 . Maybe a 223 rem over the larger guns .
Am reading THE FIRST SECOND AFTER in what I have read a good 22 is worth its weight in gold for getting food . Ammo is wort 10 times its weight in gold.

The price of .22lr has everything beat, but .22 mag is in the price range of 12 gauge target loads (~20¢ per round). Even shot shells for .22lr are pretty pricey. If I were to shooting anything that is not on the ground, such as birds or squirrels in trees, I would not want a .22 magnum (or a 22lr) bullet flying somewhere unknown beyond the tree.

The versatility of a shotgun can be used for a wide variety of game, from the smallest to the largest animals, not to mention home protection.

Check out these videos on 12 gauge ammo creativity that could be used in survival situations.

Lost Arts Part 3- Wax Slugs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhqosJmUS-0

How to make your own Wax Slugs for Shotguns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBWWqXVbAfA

The lost art of "Cut Shells"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3M46XVfVOU

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #59 on:** June 22, 2011, 08:42:03 AM »

I have to ask if you had to leave your home and survive on your own , !- would you worry about a stray bullet ? 2- could you tote enough shells on your person to supply yourself with food for a year or more ? Most shots will be on small critters and not in a sporting mannor.