M44 for Bear Defense?

[itgoesboom]

I don't know what all the negativity is about on this thread. Maybe they are all jealous that someone is getting to go to Alaska for a brown bear hunt.

Nope. I have no desire to be bear scat.

Really, there is a little negativity on this thread. I think that stems from it being farely obvious that the thread starters "friend" doesn't seem to A. value his life, and B. have done all the necessary research for such a dangerous hunt.

As for me, I don't really care if Yogi makes him a snack or not. Hey bears gotta eat too you know. I was just concerned about the statement "I figure if it can kill a man it can kill a bear with a well placed close range shot". I figure that is a fairly dangerous statement, and needed to be adressed.

That statement concerns me because some day someone is going to plan a trip to Alaska, and come on here, do a search, and see that line, and decide that bringing their Glock 19 loaded with Gold Dots would be a good and wise choice when bow hunting grizzlys. Hey if it works for humans.....

I.G.B.

 

[The Real Hawkeye]

As for me, I don't really care if Yogi makes him a snack or not. Hey bears gotta eat too you know. I was just concerned about the statement "I figure if it can kill a man it can kill a bear with a well placed close range shot". I figure that is a fairly dangerous statement, and needed to be adressed.

That statement concerns me because some day someone is going to plan a trip to Alaska, and come on here, do a search, and see that line, and decide that bringing their Glock 19 loaded with Gold Dots would be a good and wise choice when bow hunting grizzlys. Hey if it works for humans.....

I.G.B.

I think what he meant, perhaps carelessly expressed, was that most rifle cartridges of that era were designed to be tremendously overpowered (i.e., not just adequate) for human beings at anything approaching close range, so as to enable them to be adequate for human beings way out yonder at around 800 yards, having massed fire tactics in mind. That happens to be an accurate assessment. That is why most any military rifle cartridge developed in that time period is in fact adequate for even the largest of game animals, including some large and dangerous species, at close range, with the right loads, and the right men behind the rifles. Three-03 British and 8mm Mauser, for example, have killed, at close range, untold numbers of African lions. Just to take one of them, for example the 8mm Mauser with 170 grain soft pointed round nose bullets, it's delivered energy level at close range is equal to The energy delivered by its modern-day cousin the 8mm Remington Magnum (certainly an adequate brown bear hunting caliber), with the same bullet at around a hundred yards. The energy such weapons deliver within 25 yards is nothing short of awesome, and assuming heavy-for-caliber, exposed-lead, round nosed loads are used, they are extremely effective at converting that energy into real world stopping power.

 

[cracked butt]

You're either buying garbage Nagants or just shooting behind your back, because every Mosin Nagant I have ever encountered has been a quality rifle capable of remarkable accuracy.

I have 3 of the carbines, all of them in 'rearsenalled condition." In my opinion, they are garbage rifles, unless you consider hitting a 8 1/2 x11 sheet of paper at 50 yards most of the time to be remarkable accuracy. My worst mauser rifle, a worn out turk with chunks of rifling actually missing halfway down the bore is a far better shooter.

 

[student]

you guys are soooo full of cr@p!!!!
.44 mag, 12ga vs 8mm, 7.62x54R?????? bolt vs lever vs pump??
Everyone knows that the only realistic bear defense (and the one most used by our forefathers who actually had to live in a world frequently populated by such beasts) is an M79 or maybe a chaingun, a quad .50 or if you can swing it some airstrikes......

 

[M.E.Eldridge]

Today he bought a 30-06 Savage bolt gun, used, at a gunshow for $135. Its an old one without the acutrigger thing, but it shold work, so, I guess the problem is solved.

 

[Cosmoline]

I have 3 of the carbines, all of them in 'rearsenalled condition." In my opinion, they are garbage rifles, unless you consider hitting a 8 1/2 x11 sheet of paper at 50 yards most of the time to be remarkable accuracy. My worst mauser rifle, a worn out turk with chunks of rifling actually missing halfway down the bore is a far better shooter.

I take it you ordered those from a mail oder place sight unseen. I can't imagine anyone having that problem slecting the rifles themselves. "Rearsenalled" is usually wholesaler speak for "thrown together parts guns."

I've owned dozens of Mosin-Nagants and as many Mausers. Over the years I had FAR MORE PROBLEMS with sticky bolts on old Mausers. If you get one of the unissued Polish M-44's with matching parts you are unlikely to have these problems.

 

[Cosmoline]

Today he bought a 30-06 Savage bolt gun, used, at a gunshow for $135. Its an old one without the acutrigger thing, but it shold work, so, I guess the problem is solved.

Only if he got one with iron sights. A standard hunting rifle with a 4X or greater scope isn't the first choice for bear defense. You'll end up seeing a bunch of fur.

 

[M.E.Eldridge]

Only if he got one with iron sights. A standard hunting rifle with a 4X or greater scope isn't the first choice for bear defense. You'll end up seeing a bunch of fur.

It has iron sights. Its an older model and I didn't see anything on their website.

 

[M.E.Eldridge]

I think what he meant, perhaps carelessly expressed, was that most rifle cartridges of that era were designed to be tremendously overpowered (i.e., not just adequate) for human beings at anything approaching close range, so as to enable them to be adequate for human beings way out yonder at around 800 yards, having massed fire tactics in mind. That happens to be an accurate assessment. That is why most any military rifle cartridge developed in that time period is in fact adequate for even the largest of game animals, including some large and dangerous species, at close range, with the right loads, and the right men behind the rifles. Three-03 British and 8mm Mauser, for example, have killed, at close range, untold numbers of African lions. Just to take one of them, for example the 8mm Mauser with 170 grain soft pointed round nose bullets, it's delivered energy level at close range is equal to The energy delivered by its modern-day cousin the 8mm Remington Magnum (certainly an adequate brown bear hunting caliber), with the same bullet at around a hundred yards. The energy such weapons deliver within 25 yards is nothing short of awesome, and assuming heavy-for-caliber, exposed-lead, round nosed loads are used, they are extremely effective at converting that energy into real world stopping power.

Thats closer to what I meant. In fact, I read somewhere that the maneaters of Tsavo were killed by a 8mm round, which is only slightly more powerful than the 7.62.