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The Range
Rifle & Shotgun Discussion
Which rifle for Alaska?
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<blockquote data-quote="criticalbass" data-source="post: 1189782" data-attributes="member: 711"><p>Depends on where you'll be. If big bears are not going to be a factor, any of the above recommendations will do fine.</p><p></p><p>But, if you might have to kill a big brownie or a polar bear, consider a .375 H&H as a minimum. Consider .44 mag loaded with 300 grain lead to be marginal at best. </p><p></p><p>About "lots of bullets," you can kill bears with lots of .30 cal bullets, but it can take a while. In some situations that can be time you don't have.</p><p></p><p>Small handguns do have a use there. Shoot yourself before the bear gets you, or shoot your buddy in the foot and run like hell. And, always smooth off the front sight so it won't hurt so much when the bear shoves it up your you know what.</p><p></p><p>An old friend happened on some bear cubs and, being a tenderfoot, forgot to get away from them immediately. This pissed off momma bear mightily, and she charged him from about a hundred yards. He had an M-1 loaded with 180 grain silvertips. The seventh one hit the bear in the eye, and she died at his feet. He freely admitted to stupidity and amazing luck. Four rounds in the chest, two bounced off the skull, and the lucky eye shot. He put number eight in the other eye just to be sure.</p><p></p><p>Don't depend on being this lucky, and even if you are a superb shot, conditions can neutralize anyone's skill level. This is the only place where I consider the .500 Smith to have a realistic application. For bear defense I would carry an uber-reliable 12 ga loaded with Barnes slugs. The Federal rep told me that slug penetrates 48 inches of ballistic gel. CB</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="criticalbass, post: 1189782, member: 711"] Depends on where you'll be. If big bears are not going to be a factor, any of the above recommendations will do fine. But, if you might have to kill a big brownie or a polar bear, consider a .375 H&H as a minimum. Consider .44 mag loaded with 300 grain lead to be marginal at best. About "lots of bullets," you can kill bears with lots of .30 cal bullets, but it can take a while. In some situations that can be time you don't have. Small handguns do have a use there. Shoot yourself before the bear gets you, or shoot your buddy in the foot and run like hell. And, always smooth off the front sight so it won't hurt so much when the bear shoves it up your you know what. An old friend happened on some bear cubs and, being a tenderfoot, forgot to get away from them immediately. This pissed off momma bear mightily, and she charged him from about a hundred yards. He had an M-1 loaded with 180 grain silvertips. The seventh one hit the bear in the eye, and she died at his feet. He freely admitted to stupidity and amazing luck. Four rounds in the chest, two bounced off the skull, and the lucky eye shot. He put number eight in the other eye just to be sure. Don't depend on being this lucky, and even if you are a superb shot, conditions can neutralize anyone's skill level. This is the only place where I consider the .500 Smith to have a realistic application. For bear defense I would carry an uber-reliable 12 ga loaded with Barnes slugs. The Federal rep told me that slug penetrates 48 inches of ballistic gel. CB [/QUOTE]
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