Polar Bear Defense?
Published 2 years, 7 months ago in Defense, Animals Tags: animals, defense, guns, polarbears.
Someone asked the television show Shooting USA:
I’m hoping you can help me. Next year I will embark on a solo expedition to the North Pole. I’ll be leaving from the Russian side, and polar bears will be a significant danger through much of my expedition.I’m looking for a weapon to defend myself against polar bears. I’m an experienced shooter (NRA Expert Rifleman, Boy Scout Team); handgun, rifle, and shotgun. I’d prefer to go with a handgun, but shotgun would be my next choice.
Which caliber/handgun would you recommend for my needs? I appreciate greatly any advice/information you can share. Thanks kindly in advance.
The only possibility of using a shotgun is if you are shooting big slugs… not sabot slugs, but the full barrel filling rifled slugs.The handgun option would be the new Smith 500 Magnum loaded with five rounds of the high velocity Corbon Ammo developed for the new gun. Either choice will provide protection, but nothing less will guarantee your personal safety if you actually meet an angry Polar bear or Grizzly. Good luck with the tour!
Photo by brighterworlds.
9 Responses to “Polar Bear Defense?”
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There are a couple of rules for dealing with bears when you are relying on a handgun for protection. First, always travel with someone who runs more slowly than you do. Second, remember to count your shots, as there is a good chance you may need the last one for yourself.
Seriously, black bears are big, brown bears are REALLY big, Kodiak Browns are even bigger, and none of them stand a chance against a full size polar bear.
I’d tyalk to a few Alaska bear hunting guides and get their recommendations for a short barreled rifle. Maybe something around a .338 maybe?
……..Mr. C.
Mr. C,
You forgot to mention that the sights should always be filed down flush, so it doesn’t hurt so bad removing the barrel from whatever orifice the bear decides to insert it into.
This post has generated a bit of discussion over at The Other Side Forum. I thought you might want to check it out.
no you dont want a rifle for hiking, I have a smith and wesson air light 44 that is so light you can put in your pocket and forget about it, It kicks like a raging bitch but not enough to make you hesatate if a bear is charging. and for sleeping in the woods in high density bear areas I just got a mossberg mariner 6 shot shotgun which will make a mess when I unload.
I wouldn’t recommend any sort of handgun for defense against a polar bear attack.
A shotgun loaded with 12-gauge 3-inch magnum Brenneke slugs (NO other type of slug) would be about the minimum.
In the rifle category, the .450 Marlin would be the about the minimum.
If you can handle it, a rifle chambered in .458 Winchester magnum would be a lot better at rapidly putting down an angry polar bear. But the gun will be heavy and the recoil will be brutal. If you can’t shoot it well, you will be better off with either the .450 Marlin or the Brenneke slug options.
I spend alot of time (weeks) per year going solo through Alaskan Bear country with a heavy pack on, and sleeping out in gods country. I have had may encounters and most of them I didn’t even have a chance to pull my gun. One was a brownies nose against my tent at 3 am.
Most of the time I carry a 44 magnum with .300 gr Alaska backpacker ammo in it. I know a pistol is not the best thing to have in bear country, but rather then carry a rifle I trade off the wait and power of a rifle for a low energy pistol because Im trecking all day long.
I used to live in the Arctic circle and have had PB experiences up close and personal, If I was going up their and could afford it I would carry a .416, .458 or .375 magnum with a claw extractor bolt. or for a cheap but hell of a good gun a 12 guage 18in barrell with 3 in brenke slugs.
MAke SURE YOUR GUN IS COMPLETELY DEGREASED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
once you get below 0 the grease in firearms with lock them up and they will not fire, in ww2 the russians cleaned their guns with diesel and the german guns would not fir because they have oil in their bolts.
Then their is another thing if Ice and snow is blowing be sure to keep your sction free of ice and keep checking for freedom of movement with your bolt / slide on the gun.
None of those weapons can take down an attack polar bear fast enough, you should consider either of them deterrents. Get something that make a lot of noise. Perhaps a start pistol that fires off firecrackers?
What makes Polar bears dangerous is that they have not learned that snacking on humans is a bad idea. Don’t make loud noises to attract them.