What kind of gun for polar bears?
- Thread starter Tugela
- Start date
The problem with long guns in situations like that is the draw. Unless you plan to walk around in a patrol carry or similar posture, your weapon will be slung out of the way, or even not on your person.
That's an entirely useless weapon. You may as well carry a pickle. When people carry long guns approaching dangerous game, they are expecting to use them.
This is different than trekking through the bush, where a violent animal encounter will be sudden, unexpected, and any reaction will take place right between "holy shit" and "you're fucked".
A handgun draws much faster, and can always be on your person and ready to use. In those few seconds before "you're fucked", you can actually use the damned thing.
There are other, very effective ways to stop a large animal from charging, but they are terribly cruel, as well as dangerous and difficult to maintain for long periods of time while on the move.
Cheers,
Kennith
That's an entirely useless weapon. You may as well carry a pickle. When people carry long guns approaching dangerous game, they are expecting to use them.
This is different than trekking through the bush, where a violent animal encounter will be sudden, unexpected, and any reaction will take place right between "holy shit" and "you're fucked".
A handgun draws much faster, and can always be on your person and ready to use. In those few seconds before "you're fucked", you can actually use the damned thing.
There are other, very effective ways to stop a large animal from charging, but they are terribly cruel, as well as dangerous and difficult to maintain for long periods of time while on the move.
Cheers,
Kennith
Kennith, at the risk of getting drawn into a long discussion with a master debater, I beg to differ with you on the "length of gun/speed of draw" issue.
I appreciate your view to practicality, and in a different environment I would agree with your points. If we were operating in the jungle or uneven terrain you would be spot on. However our working terrain is wide open, flat as a pancake ice sheet with sight lines for miles. No polar bear is going to jump out from behind a rock and pounce on anyone. It's like one giant skating rink. If we see a bear during the day while we're working, we'll see it from a long ways off. Speed of draw is not going to be an issue most of the time.
If a bear comes into camp at night while everyone is in their tents then it will just have its way with the place. We had 17 people in camp in 11 tents with two firearms. Sooner or later someone would be able to lay their hands on a weapon and make a decision about opening fire, but by then it's almost too late.
From a practical and budgetary standpoint, we are not going to arm every single expedition member with hand cannons. The Coast Guard is not a fighting branch, and while there are specialists within that service who are accomplished marksmen, the Coasties on our trip either had desk jobs or were SAR, surgeons, pilots, and public relations officers- none trained in firearms. The civilians, like me, were mountaineering experts, mechanics, journalists, and scientists. We only had 2 people who were truly qualified and experienced in firearms, a former US special forces officer and a reservist fresh back from Afghanistan.
The terrain was, and remains, our best defense against bears. If I go back in the spring we'll be camped even further inland, so we'll have a better position still.
I appreciate your view to practicality, and in a different environment I would agree with your points. If we were operating in the jungle or uneven terrain you would be spot on. However our working terrain is wide open, flat as a pancake ice sheet with sight lines for miles. No polar bear is going to jump out from behind a rock and pounce on anyone. It's like one giant skating rink. If we see a bear during the day while we're working, we'll see it from a long ways off. Speed of draw is not going to be an issue most of the time.
If a bear comes into camp at night while everyone is in their tents then it will just have its way with the place. We had 17 people in camp in 11 tents with two firearms. Sooner or later someone would be able to lay their hands on a weapon and make a decision about opening fire, but by then it's almost too late.
From a practical and budgetary standpoint, we are not going to arm every single expedition member with hand cannons. The Coast Guard is not a fighting branch, and while there are specialists within that service who are accomplished marksmen, the Coasties on our trip either had desk jobs or were SAR, surgeons, pilots, and public relations officers- none trained in firearms. The civilians, like me, were mountaineering experts, mechanics, journalists, and scientists. We only had 2 people who were truly qualified and experienced in firearms, a former US special forces officer and a reservist fresh back from Afghanistan.
The terrain was, and remains, our best defense against bears. If I go back in the spring we'll be camped even further inland, so we'll have a better position still.
I'll admit that my outings are a little different. My objectives commonly require different practices than most, and the environments tend to be a bit more unfortunate.
That said, I have operated in flat terrain, and it's annoying. If I can see easily, I can be seen easily, and in such terrain, an animal's other senses can become a problem. Even dealing with humans, one must consider that everyone has an advantage in flat terrain.
Any lapse in situational awareness can remove the advantage of long range observation. It doesn't take long to close range when highly motivated. Environmental conditions can alter scenarios as well.
I recall a flat land that was so damned hot and blinding, a man could stand 100 meters away and remain invisible in broad daylight. It was a beautiful, but incredibly dangerous place.
Encounter one nasty weather event on that snowy terrain, and just about anything can sneak up on you; especially if it's quiet and white. In the evenings, without alert guards posted, things become even more dangerous.
Just remember those points about flat terrain. Every human has the same advantages and disadvantages.
Animals, however, have other heightened senses to augment their capabilities, and you never know just how long they plan to follow you.
Cheers,
Kennith
That said, I have operated in flat terrain, and it's annoying. If I can see easily, I can be seen easily, and in such terrain, an animal's other senses can become a problem. Even dealing with humans, one must consider that everyone has an advantage in flat terrain.
Any lapse in situational awareness can remove the advantage of long range observation. It doesn't take long to close range when highly motivated. Environmental conditions can alter scenarios as well.
I recall a flat land that was so damned hot and blinding, a man could stand 100 meters away and remain invisible in broad daylight. It was a beautiful, but incredibly dangerous place.
Encounter one nasty weather event on that snowy terrain, and just about anything can sneak up on you; especially if it's quiet and white. In the evenings, without alert guards posted, things become even more dangerous.
Just remember those points about flat terrain. Every human has the same advantages and disadvantages.
Animals, however, have other heightened senses to augment their capabilities, and you never know just how long they plan to follow you.
Cheers,
Kennith
kennith said:
I'm going to add to this for clarification:
I am not suggesting there is no place for a rifle. I am suggesting that a handgun should be carried as well, and always carried as if you mean to use it.
It's best to have both available, if firearms are to be carried at all. You don't need to arm yourself to the teeth for such an outing, but if you mean to be armed, do it properly. Give the rifle to a designated marksman, and keep your handgun openly holstered.
You'll have to determine for yourself how to train for guard duties when camp is set. I'm not going to suggest you pass weapons around without training for that scenario. Either way, when camp is set, someone should always be keeping an eye out.
Cheers,
Kennith