Bear charge vs self defense shooting article

SJB358 · May 5, 2016

Makes sense to me. I understand since you probably meet all kinds of folks.

I will add the piece about not being shot by an unloaded rifle. I've seen a couple of negligent discharges by folks that "swore" they unloaded their rifles.

Your right though. There is no reason for mishandling and having horrible muzzle awareness.

Thebear_78 · May 5, 2016

I'm with Jake on this one, loaded mag empty tube. I too have been charged a couple of times, never remember thrumming the bolt. Luckily he broke the charge and a warning shot was able to run him off.

Just too much traveling in rough country. I've never had a problem getting my gun loaded in time. Situational awareness is MUCH more important than a loaded chamber.

Oddly I don't know or hunt with anyone who carries a rifle with one in the tube up here. Our handguns obviously have one in the chamber but being in s good holster covering the trigger keeps them safe. There is just too much stuff out there to grab a safety or trigger.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fourtyonesix · May 5, 2016

They did a survey on another forum in Alaska about who carries their rifles loaded and it was over 40% load their guns when they step outa the truck. I was shocked.

Thebear_78 · May 5, 2016

I think a lot of those who answered in that poll were southern transplants with little Alaskan experience. I don't hunt with anybody who runs with one in the chamber.

I know one Arkansas transplant who shot a hole in the roof of his boat, runs with an empty chamber now.

80-90% of Alaskan hunting is really traveling, there is very little hunting up here like most deer hunting where you drive to the field, walk a hundred yards to your stand and sit all day. Even those guys would agree to unload while crossing a fence, well most of our time hunting is equivalent to crossing a fence.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Fourtyonesix · May 5, 2016

Lol your probably right! I've never met anyone who carries a hunting rifle loaded either. I had a client insist he carry loaded while hunting a salmon streams I told him go ahead, but I'll be leaving. He loaded up, I started leaving, got about a hundred yards and he decided he didn't want to be alone on that gravel bar! Lol

Thebear_78 · May 5, 2016

Some of these thick, brushy, braided river systems are so thick it's more like swimming thru them than walking. There are a million things grabbing at your rifle, half the time your threading it thru the alders and willows like a needle and thread. Open tundra can quickly become a impenetrable wall of brush, especially in vertical transitions.

Somehow a bull moose or caribou can carry thier headgear thru that stuff, I can hardly keep my hat or glasses on. Even someone like me who approaches muzzle control and gun safety in an almost religious zeal can have a hard time in those situations, empty chamber is the ONLY way I hunt and those with me. I'm betting Jake has seen down the pipe of way too many rifles over the years!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

truck driver · May 5, 2016

OK now that we know the conditions that your hunting under and the nimrods you have to guide for I would agree on the empty chamber and rounds in the magazine. I miss understood when it was said the rifle was empty.
I made a mistake of loaning a rifle to someone I thought was experienced and I could trust and when a ground hog made an unexpected appearance the nimrod had an AD with me and another hunter in front of him and the muzzle of a rifle. I made him carry it unloaded the rest of the day since we couldn't trust him. Yeah it may have been too late after the fact but I taught him a much needed lesson on hunting safety.

Anonymous · May 5, 2016

Yeah- I never carry one in the pipe and won't hunt with someone who does either. Just too much can (and does) go wrong. Lots of in and out of canoes/boats/rafts/wheelers/vehicles and lots of climbing/wading/brush busting etc. In a remote setting, a gunshot wound would suck to deal with- particularly one from a high powered rifle.

I guess I'd chamber one if I was sitting on a stand, but most of my hunting is walking or paddling or scrambling in the rocks. Most stalks are careful and pretty deliberate with plenty of time to get into a shooting position and chamber a round.