Since we determined the best bear gun.......

[Slats]

So I recently added a new shoulder cannon to the arsenal (Marlin 1895 SBL Guide Gun) and it got me to thinking about the bear gun thread. How many of you actually bring your firearm of choice flying with you? I don't all the time, but I've never known anyone other than myself that does. Seems to me that the extra 7 pounds of weight it takes up could really help tip the scales favourably in a survival situation, especially with something as capable as a shotgun (signal flares, various loads). Apparently the place I fly for used to send a company issued one with the floatplane, but no longer.

So, how many here actually tuck a boomstick away in the back of the plane when they go flying?

[SuperchargedRS]

The 870 will travel with the plane when ever it leaves the ground. I forgot the company but you can buy a soft case for long guns that will not only protect the weapon but it also will float up to 10lbs! Think the case was about 15-20 bucks. The 870 doubles as a flair launcher.

Its like insurance, the day it lapses is the day your going to need it lol

[railroad]

My bear gun of choice is a trusty old coach gun. The little side by side only weighs about six pounds. It breaks apart and bulds up quick. Many people don't consider it for a bear gun because as a side by side, it only holds two shots. However, I believe it's value is in it's simplicity. I got a local seamstress to sew me a nice compact carring case that holds the gun nicely. It fits perfect beside the seat of a twin otter, under the seat of my truck or in the rod compartment of my boat. I don't always carry it on flights to communities or mines, but it is beside me on every flight into the "bush". It may not carry five or more shots, but with tripple 0 buck in one barrel and an ounce or more of lead in the other it will be a capable tool if it is ever "needed".

If you are swithcing aircraft often or never know until flight time what plane you are taking or where you are going, it is a bit of a hassel to always be carrying a long gun. Hence there may be days you leave it at home. The little coach is a bit handy'er. And I figure a gun you have is a better bear gun than the one you left at home.

[Highsea]

The 870 will travel with the plane when ever it leaves the ground.

I love my 870 Express tactical with the ghost rings. I plan to take it when I'm over-nighting this summer.

[sheephunter]

My feeling is that I am not worried about having a firearm to protect me when I am able. It is to protect me when I am not. That is why it needs to be within reach at all times and all the time, every trip. There would be nothing worse than surviving a crash only to be eaten. That being said, I fly where there are grizzlies, brown bear, polar bear and most all provinces have black bear and wolves. For hunting it is absolutely a different choice of firearm but for in close and personal... it is something different.

[SuperchargedRS]

Dont forget the other half of the "being eaten" problem and that's being able to eat other critters.

I always carry some bird shot so I can bag a goose or whatever else if the need arises, that plus being able to chamber and fire a 500' flair in a seconds notice.

One of the pluses of the floating soft case is you can also stow some other stuff in it (like space blankets) while staying under the 10lbs so it will still float with the weapon in it.

[HS-748 2A]

My Grandad suffered an engine failure in a Fairchild-71, back in the late 40s.

He had a shotgun and blasted a swan to eat.

Said it tasted absolutely horrible.

I have a real old 30-30 Savage Model 340 I like to carry. It's great because I don't care if it gets banged up a little and it is relatively light.

That old gun has actually put a lot of bacon on the table, over the years.

'48

[Shayne]

... blasted a swan to eat.

Said it tasted absolutely horrible.
...
'48

He wasn't hungry enough.

[HS-748 2A]

True - It was for contingency. He was rescued within a day and a half.

Oh, and I had the story wrong. It was a loon.

Martin Hartwell would have been more than happy with a swan or a loon, I'm guessing.

[Mr. North]

Correct me if I'm wrong (because I don't avidly hunt waterfowl) but I remember from somewhere that if you don't achieve a clean kill, the adrenaline released into the waterfowl's bloodstream will spoil the meat?

[Slats]

I think that goes for just about anything....maybe not spoil it, but make it funky.

[HS-748 2A]

Don't eat loons is another rule of thumb. (or any other 'fish-ducks')

'48

[moose_meat]

Don't eat loons is another rule of thumb. (or any other 'fish-ducks')

'48

Unless you boil em for 24 hours before cooking

[Siddley Hawker]

Eider ducks are good eating, meat's a little strong though. I find loon tastes like spotted owl.

[rigpiggy]

Eider ducks are good eating, meat's a little strong though. I find loon tastes like spotted owl.

[medEvac]

as far as im concerned a lot of ducks i have shot did not die suddenly and they were still dillicious.

reminds me of when i learnt to hunt duck.
my first duck was a mud duck.
carrying it home i thought i was the best hunter in the world..
i went home cooked it and learnt where the name came from.

moral of the story, never eat any diving duck!!!!!!
trust me.

[HS-748 2A]

I find spotted owl tastes a lot like baby giant panda. Very tender if you stew them long enough.

[niss]

I find spotted owl tastes a lot like baby giant panda. Very tender if you stew them long enough.

Baby Giant Panda tastes exactly like the hooker that used to be tied up in my basement.

[Lurch]

Puffins are both divers and fish birds, but they taste great.

Lurch

[Brewhouse]

I found that the loon tastes alot like Bald Eagle!!

I have given up on the wilderness carry permit for hand guns, though I still have one in my flight bag at times when up on the coast. For the most part I carry an old 30-06 in polar bear country. I want to be able to kill them while they are still out there a little ways, no use waiting untill it is chewing on my leg. I have plenty of bigger and better guns, but the old 06 can be banged around a bit and I can find ammo for it at any small comuntity. Try finding 338 Lapua mag ammo in Rankin Inlet.

[Salty_Balls]

I like the idea of a .30-06 as well, the krauts never had any complaints in WW2! The farther away you can nail a polar bear the less chance you have of ending up dinner!

[SuperchargedRS]

A center fire rifle will require a higher level of proficiency then a 12 gauge. Are you that great of a bear spotter? personally I am more worried when trecking through the woods where the biggest clearing is 20 yards and spooking a bear!

Secondly, lets say your rifle will group at 1/2" @ 100yrds, can you? If your not putting rounds downrange this is a bad idea. It's like a weekend warrior pilot that only goes up once every 6 months, would he be better off with a docile 172 or a DHC-2 on floats?

[Brewhouse]

A center fire rifle will require a higher level of proficiency then a 12 gauge. Are you that great of a bear spotter? personally I am more worried when trecking through the woods where the biggest clearing is 20 yards and spooking a bear!

Secondly, lets say your rifle will group at 1/2" @ 100yrds, can you? If your not putting rounds downrange this is a bad idea. It's like a weekend warrior pilot that only goes up once every 6 months, would he be better off with a docile 172 or a DHC-2 on floats?

The only bears I am worried about are white. I don't have to worry about them much when there is snow on the ground, they are out on the ice packs. There are no trees for the most part where they roam and you can usually spot them quite aways off.

I personally shoot at least once a week, but I understand your point on proficiency. In tight cover I would also choose a 12 guage with alternating SSG, and slugs. Or if our government ever pulls their head out of their a$$es a nice little AR would be a good sidekick.

[Brewhouse]

Remington also sell a round called an Accelerator. Its a sleaved 22 cal. bullet; in a 06 casing, great for ptarmingan, partridge etc. to keep the belly full.

Can a guy still get those? I was under the impression that they were outlawed. The reason I heard was they were being used for crime since they were untraceable due to the fact that the rifling doesn't actually make contact with the projectile. I would like to get my hands on a few boxes they would come in handy for the reasons you point out.

[Slats]

Personally, I think taking potshots at a predator that isn't acting threatening, as some sort of a "pre-emptive strike" is highly unethical and could end up opening up a big can of worms with the ENR types, especially if you wound or kill a polar bear. You could end up in a lot of really hot water.
Are you using some sort of hard-cast bullets in the -06? I don't think I'd trust an -06 with hunting ammo to stop an angry/hungry polar bear.