Practice for a Charging Bear

[Deaf Smith]

Ok guys, now we have those here who prefer a 12 gauge shotgun, others a largebore powerful revolver, while others a largebore levergun or boltgun.

So let's say you pack your preferred weapon, and the Grizz decides to invite you for lunch. We know from AlaskaBear that you have only a few seconds to react. Now, how to practice for that furry meeting????

Since I'm a 12 gauge man, for those who pack them we know most 12 gauge shotguns are NOT drop safe fully loaded. So it seems to me one would carry it chamber empty (I dunno about double 12s, but pumps and autos I do know.) We also know you can short stroke the pump and not have anything in the chamber.

So for shotguns I'd suggest quail hunting or something like that but with the weapon chamber empty and one has to throw the gun up and pump it for the first shot. That way it will be a surprise encounter and you will not only have to rack the gun fast, but also reliably.

So what about rifles like leverguns and bolt actions? Or SAA revolvers? And can you draw and fire a DA revolver accurately enough? So how do you practice that?

Deaf

 

[Sam1911]

I've shot this target mover before and it's just about perfect for that use:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eZKd2LW9zQ

If you start holstered, it is ... tough. Gets your blood pumping for certain.

A simpler version that doesn't cost several grand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWTub54qwDk

 

[hardworker]

If I'm expecting bear problems I'm gonna load as many shells and keep one loaded and just be careful not to drop it. i'd like to think a gun full of slugs will get the job done

 

[Hondo 60]

You didn't include enough time to lose control of your bladder & bowel.

 

[Oyeboten]

My own preparedness for a possible 'Charging Bear'?


Competion Grade Running Shoes, laced up 'snug'.

 

[BCRider]

The best preparation is to have your Will up to date...

For the quick draw of a double action revolver may I suggest IPSC or IDPA matches where you have to draw from a holster? Then as long as the bear activates a BEEP toner before charging you're all set...

Truthfully I seriously doubt there's any way to prepare for such a thing. It either goes right, you become a hero and everyone practices what your response was in the hope that it works for them or it goes bad and we don't ever know if what you did or didn't do made any difference. And it may well have been the exact same thing that everyone else is practising but because it was a different bear that didn't get the "memo" it doesn't work in that case.

 

[wlewisiii]

Fall on knees. Pray. Pull hand gun and fire straight up.

If you've lived a good life, bruin will fall sideways and stop twitching quickly.

If not, you'll miss and be dinner.

(burp)

 

[Oyeboten]

Aerosol Can of 'Skunk' Odor, hooked to a pull-chain, discharging to behind, as one run?


I wonder if that'd help...

 

[Norrick]

Ruger 77/44. It has the 3 position safety that holds the firing pin. just keep one in the chamber. Remove safety, pull trigger. Low powered scope or iron sights.

 

[Sport45]

A stream of bear spray might be easier to get on a moving target since you can see the stream. Or maybe a full-auto with tracers?

Or bear spray in the face of my hiking buddy. The bear would probably then find him much more interesting than me....

 

[Karl Hungus]

So for shotguns I'd suggest quail hunting or something like that but with the weapon chamber empty and one has to throw the gun up and pump it for the first shot. That way it will be a surprise encounter and you will not only have to rack the gun fast, but also reliably.

You're forgetting the all-important "fear factor". The above training method would only be effective if 1) quail were 300lb + carnivors who flew directly at you and 2) you had an overblown irrational fear of quail before you even stepped into the wild.

Those suffering from terminal Bearanoia may want to check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3CzYw5-qdA

Sure it's nearly impossible to even walk in such a contraption, but your days afield will be completely worry-free!

 

[8830]

If I'm out and about and worried about a bear attack while armed with a 12ga I will have a 1oz slug in the chamber. As for training for it I like to face away from a target and quickly turn, sight and fire.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I've always carried shotguns with a loaded chamber and never killed anyone yet. I'd say the best training is pheasant hunting. I hunted pheasants for much of my life and they never failed to give me a heart attack when they took off. Still, you manage to recover, ID it as hen or cock and (mostly) bring them down.

 

[rcmodel]

I'd suggest you practice shooting for the leg.
Then, always hunt with a pardner.

If a Grizz attacks, shoot your pardner in the leg.

That will make it easy to outrun him.

rc

 

[KodiakBeer]

Always hunt with a pardner.

If a Grizz attacks, shoot your pardner in the leg.

"Bear" gun...

 

[Cosmoline]

They seem to carry best in a backpack scabbard like the AK Sportsman model. I've seen some knockoff designs lately as well. Rig it so you can reach over your shoulder, grab the stock and swing it around. Obviously this is NOT a draw you can practice at the range or anytime anyone may be behind you. But it works pretty slick as long as you don't have a lot of stuff to snag on like a sling or swivels.

I prefer Mossbergs because they have a big tang safety instead of that dinky little toggle that can get kicked to one side or the other. I feel comfortable carrying C&L in the scabbard, but not really when it's loose and I'm balancing on river rocks. So that's another reason to have a scabbard.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I just slide my double coach gun down the interior of my backpack, with the butt over my right shoulder as you describe. I have some stiff leather in the bottom to to keep the barrels from wearing a hole. A pump gun would be longer, so that might not work as well.

The link below is my next project gun (hats off to Twaits!). I'll check out one of the AK Sportsman scabbards you recommend, since this puppy will be a bit longer than my double.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=519066

 

[BCRider]

LOL, Remind me to never go out in the woods with any of you lot...

At least THIS bear gun thread is a bit more light hearted yet realistic at the same time than some.

 

[Manco]

Maybe I'm just being naive here, but wouldn't a .30-06 or .308 semiautomatic rifle provide a good balance between per-round effectiveness and the number of accurately aimed shots one is able to fire? I'm not convinced that a 12 gauge slug would be more effective, and it seems slower, at least in a pump-action shotgun. Obviously a more powerful rifle would be nice, but I like the idea of taking as many shots as possible, too.

I'd suggest you practice shooting for the leg.
Then, always hunt with a pardner.

If a Grizz attacks, shoot your pardner in the leg.

That will make it easy to outrun him.

If life were anything like "The Simpsons" then the bear would probably kill your pardner in a split-second without even breaking its stride, and then run you down and do the same thing. Of course, real life isn't much like a cartoon--if you think that you'd have trouble outrunning a grizzly, try outrunning a well-deserved bullet sent in your direction by your lame pardner.

 

[cougar1717]

Another man vs. bear thread! I think it's funny how this hollywood scenario is played out in our minds about how it would happen. You see an ominous bear in the woods. It stands up on it's hind legs and roars before it starts charging at you. You rack the pump on your shotgun/draw your revolver and cock it/cycle your lever action and begin firing. Bullets are missing and hitting as the bear approaches at full gait. Just when its' claws are about to swipe, it falls dead right in front of you as deal the death blow with your shotgun/handgun/lever action/etc., saving your life and the lives of those in your group. Bear mace is an effective deterrent and non-lethal, but it is unpopular on such a forum because we want the glory, the story to tell, and the taxidermy for killing a charging bear.

 

[HappyHunting]

Somebody somewhere on here recommended throwing a soccer ball or something up a hill and then trying to draw and pop it as it rolls back down towards you. The irregular bouncing is what makes it more of a challenge. You could go to WM and get a kick-ball or something for cheap and it would just be a slower version.
HH

 

[Cosmoline]

If possible practice aiming low and shooting low, like at a target between 3-4' up. Even the brown bears are low slung and burrow around in the undergrowth.

Bear mace is an effective deterrent and non-lethal, but it is unpopular on such a forum because we want the glory, the story to tell, and the taxidermy for killing a charging bear

Bear spray has certainly worked, but given the speeds involved and thickness of cover you're likely to get only one shot with whatever you have. The idea of using one thing, then trying something else, is unrealistic unless you've got lots of people in your group who've prepared for that tactic.

Plan to use one device or weapon and make sure you can get to it quick.

 

[KodiakBeer]

I think it's funny how this hollywood scenario is played out in our minds about how it would happen. You see an ominous bear in the woods.

Some of us have experienced the event and know it as a real-life scenario. I would guess that in Alaska at least, you are more likely to defend yourself against a bear than a human assailant. It happens frequently.

Pepper spray is for threat displays, guns are for attacks.

 

[Cosmoline]

If you want to experience it, just come up and take some hikes in the Chugach. I've been hiking in there since 1998 and and this is the most bear activity I've ever seen. Mostly blacks, but the brown ones are there too. Most assuredly.

 

[Deaf Smith]

I've always carried shotguns with a loaded chamber and never killed anyone yet. I'd say the best training is pheasant hunting. I hunted pheasants for much of my life and they never failed to give me a heart attack when they took off. Still, you manage to recover, ID it as hen or cock and (mostly) bring them down.

Just the idea I was thinking, Kodiakbeer.

Snap shooting and if possible the way you will be carrying the gun in the wilds of Alaska (which means anywere I guess, even inside!)

Maybe snapshooting rabbits for those who carry largebore handguns. If you can hit a running rabbit, then the brainpan of a bear ought to not be so hard.

Deaf