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bear in a scope
Posted by mariner on Dec 05 2005
Ask a question and get several opinions. First thing is to look at ballistics. Rifles are created for shots at a distance, not at say, oh, 10 yards. Has anyone here ever tried looking at a charging bear at 10 or 20 yards thru a 4 power scope. You know what you see, a blur. I've been there, done that, and it is a hit or miss proposition. Can you point and shoot a rifle like a handgun, doubtfull. In my opinion, yes, I will restate that this is only my opinion, tempered with close encounters with a mountain lion in Colorado, moose in Maine and several huge black bears in the U.P. of Michigan, given some distance and time, sure, a rifle, large bore, will be sufficient. The same rifle with iron sights would be sufficient for those really close charges. But if you do use a scope, as nearly everyone does now, a big bore handgun, .44 on up to .500, with hardcast heavy slugs will allow the fastest target acquisition. Now, here is the problem, you purchase a fine sidearm and a nice piece of leather to carry it. New leather is stiff. Ever tried drawing a weapon from a new holster, no fun. Like anything else you have to practice, and iron out the bugs, make it all smooth, practiced, rehersed until you can do it with your eyes closed, open and you are on target. I am tired of reading questions from folks that are met with "do your research and read past posts and stop wasting my time". I thought the purpose of these forums was for folks to come in, and ask quetions, any questions, and get answers, regardless of how many times that question had been asked in the past. Bet not many younger hunters/shooters, etc come back here since all that they are going to get is the afore mentioned snub by the few that have marked this forum as their own private territory. Okay, enough on that. Back to the question at hand. Study the ballistics. 100 yard ballistics don't mean anything, you need ballistics at muzzle, 10 and 20 yards. And don't practice at 50 yards. Practice at 7, 10, 15 and 20 yards. Shoot the largest weapon that you can draw, acquire, fire and reload the fastest and most natural with. If you can shoulder a scoped .338, acquire a moving target at 10 yards and hit your mark, not once, but several times, more power to you. Keep in mind that the moving object will be coming straight at you, teeth beared, at about 40 mph, and all you get is a head or neck shot, maybe a shoulder at a very oblique angle. Enough said.
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