US Forest Service 1983 study about big bear defense cartridges...

[MCgunner]

Well, the Garand might not shoot a 220 grain load, but I bet it could handle a 180 or so Barnes X just fine and would no doubt out perform that 220 Core Lokt or whatever they used. But, yeah, you're right, they're HEAVY. Poor grunts back in WW2 had to hump those things over hell's half acre, but I bet they didn't mind it so much when the fire fight started.

Why hasn't some of our tacticool crowd mentioned .458 SOCOM? Yeah, I'm sure it's not enough. Them brownies wear 5" thick kevlar, ya know.

 

[jmr40]

The WW-2 grunts ditched the Garand for the much lighter M-1 carbine whenever possible. My dad was in Europe from late 1944 until the spring of 1946. He said the GI's much prefered the carbine. Just because they did carry them didn't mean they didn't want something lighter.

 

[MCgunner]

The WW-2 grunts ditched the Garand for the much lighter M-1 carbine whenever possible.

My uncle was in Europe about that time, fought over the bridge at Ramagen. He told me the newbs would go for a carbine if they could, but after the first action or two, they quickly ditched it for the Garand's range. So, I guess it's all opinion. He saw a lot of action over there, though and there was no doubt which rifle HE wanted. LOL

In the jungles of the pacific islands, the Carbine was a little more respected, but I know of one old grunt that thought the way my uncle did. This fellow is my best friend's dad, still alive and working on the farm at age 86. Ol' boy is strong as an ox, too. Appropriate I should think of these folks and your dad on Veteran's day. God bless those old soldiers.

 

[blacksan]

I need to find the picture of my dad feasting on a procured chicken in France on top of a bunker washing it down with a procured bottle of French wine. If I told him the 30 carbine was the preferred weapon of choice he would laugh in my face. Maybe thats because he actually used it and didn't simply carry a rifle for the sake of it..............

 

[MCgunner]

Well, my old man served in the Navy, Navy band. He toted and tooted a Saxaphone. ROFL! HEY, tough gig, but someone has to do it. He played in Jazz bands after the war, toured with the Tommy Dorsey band for a bit, settled back in Houston and got a real job and played on weekends.

Funny, I think everyone did something in the military in that war. I have more kin that saw action over there, know of one lady's brother that died on the Hornet. Different time, but God bless 'em all. They're all heros to me.

</veteran's day hijack>

 

[blacksan]

I actually had future kin on both sides but they didn't hook up until after the war. Odd how armed conflict makes the hormones run wild amongst kids!

 

[saturno_v]

I think I can speak from experience with the Garand....contrary to the majority of you folks, (unless there is some very old man in this forum )it was my actual service weapon when I enlisted in the Italian Army in the 1980's...at that time we had the M1 Garand (rechambered in 7,62x51 NATO) and the Beretta BM-59, which was a Garand action with a box magazine and capable of full automatic fire...the latter was called the FAL (Fucile Automatico Leggero, translation: Light Automatic Rifle, same acronym letters as in French but no relationship with the FN FAL)

The M1 was a bitch to lug around, we did hate it...the BM-59 FAL was a bit lighter.

 

[blacksan]

The BM-59 has always been on my wish list and I know where one is for sale with a 3 digit serial number, still packed in cosmo and unfired!!!! I had an M14 in boot camp and a slick side A1 variant of the M16 as my issue rifle along with a 1911 as my sidearm. Talk about a bitch you should have humped the M60 along with your gear whilst taking a nature walk with your comrades.

PS I was also in when you where in saturno v and haven't been active duty for a quarter of a century +, so I know how you feel brother.

 

[saturno_v]

I did carry occasionally the equivalent of the M60 in the Italian Army.....the MG 42/59.

 

[dmazur]

While I'd like to carry my Garand after reading this, I agree that they are just too durn heavy to lug around. And rather long, too, for brush bustin.

A lever-action .30-06 with a 20" barrel that would probably be the best choice of what I have. Only holds 4 rounds, but that's all you're going to have time for anyway, from what I've heard.

I am not going to rely on a handgun, no matter how convenient they are...

 

[Cosmoline]

It's a good study that reflects conventional wisdom from generations of bear hunters. Big slugs at moderate velocities seem to do the best. Buckshot is a bad idea.

Judge Folta carried his Garand for hunting brown bears after WWII, but it never caught on. As folks say it's just too heavy. Plus it's bad on the gun to run high pressure, heavy bullet hunting ammo through it.

How do the Ruger 77 Mark IIs function up in Alaska? I got one for my daughter for her deer rifle, and it seems to be a dandy.

I've seen a lot of them around here. They're inexpensive, come in magnum chamberings and can take a lot of abuse.

 

[FuzzyBunny]

Seems to me 8 rounds from a Garand would stop almost anything but an elephant.

But thats just me.

 

[Titan6]

Seems to me 8 rounds from a Garand would stop almost anything but an elephant.

I think it would stop the elephant too. Certainly kill it. Course with the shot placement qualifiers.

Wasn't there a dude in Alaska that took a large brown with a stubby .454 a couple of months ago? Not hunting but out hiking.

Yep here he is. 900 pounder.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/bears/story/897940.html