And they tell us we are testosterone, macho & ego motivated.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
kabluey--Yes indeed that .458 is versatile I bet it would really do a job on a prarie dog and be just the ticket for an all day shoot. BTW how many bears have you ran into while out hunting? 30-06 too light? I see what the problem is now.

I have always had a near loathing for those who shoot prarie dogs. I always figured if they had to cook and eat what they shoot, that would put a stop to it. I suppose it goes back to what my daddy taught us as boys with 22s. Don't shoot critters, just to kill.

FYI, I have run into BIG brown bears several times while out hunting, or hiking, berry picking, fishing, etc. Several times sow with cubs. Several times I could hear the bear, but couldn't see him or her. I have no idea how many times I have encountered a bear and didn't know it, but I suspect lots. I haven't had a bad incident, but I know they are there, because the places I sometimes go, the trails are beaten out well, tracks all over the place. Sometimes I can smell them but not see or hear them. I try to behave myself, and hope the same for the bear. So far it's worked out OK. Sometimes I feel pity for those who live in places where big preditors were killed off long ago. When I'm amongst them, the hair stands up on the back of my neck, and a 30-06 definately feels like not enough gun.

There just aren't many places in Alaska where stepping off the road, into the bush, one won't be entering the domain of the brown or grizzley bear.

I do admit that living in Alaska gives me plenty of excuse to have a big bore rifle. Besides, I have wanted one for a long time, with the special throat, short barrel, handy like a sooped up 45-70, but I like bolt actions. So, I did what Marlin couldn't do. I used the 458 brass as the starting place, primarily because it feeds well, and set the chamber up and twist rate for 405 gr bullets and lighter. It's sort of a specialty rifle, to satisfy just me, since I have no use for the really heavy bullets, and I wanted as much accuracy as I could get, yet stay consistant with the real purpose of a 458, which is give me at least a chance to stop a brown bear, should I need to.

Sure, the 30-06 will kill a brown bear, but stopping one right now is a whole different scenerio. That's another issue that annoys me too. I think shooting a brown bear with a 30-06, especially the typical 150gr bullet is a good way to wound one. The bear may die or not, depending on the hit, but its going to get mad for sure. I've seen several bears limping around from some injury, which I suspect is a rifleshot wound. The point is that these bears go hungry and are in pain, and often don't make it to hibernation or through the winter. They are the worst kind to run into. Avoidng being the cause of that is as simple as use enough gun to finish what's started.

I do like to use my 30-06, and carry it sometimes, when I estimate the probability of a bear encounter is low. Lately, the bullet of choice is the 168gr TTSX (for accuracy). I think the 180gr TTSX or TSX would be better for bear, but as I said, I carry the 06 when I'm thinking I probably won't need it for bear.

I can definately understand how someone who thinks a 223 is right for deer would think a 30-06 with 150gr bullets plenty for brown bear.

Carpetman, go to this link and take the test. Get back with us on your score, then let's talk some more. http://www.dumweb.com/idiot.php

KB

KB; if you are worried about gettin' et, you might want to keep an eye on those blackies they are probably more apt to attack you.

sw,
Yea, you are right. They can be a real menace, and kinda spooky because sometimes they ambush or stalk a person, because their intent is to eat ya. That is most often not the case with a brownie. I sometimes forget to mention them because where I used to live, on the island, there were no black bear. The brownies caught and ate every last one of them.

Where I live now, there are lots of black bear. Prince William Sound has world class black bear hunting.

KB

kabluey--got 19---missed the Math.

quote:

Originally posted by Kabluewy:

Carpetman, go to this link and take the test. Get back with us on your score, then let's talk some more. http://www.dumweb.com/idiot.php

KB

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
kabluey--got 19---missed the Math.

OK, then I won't worry about using smaller words, and shorter sentences, just for you.

You did better than I did. I got 16 the first time, and 18 today.

The last one really got me confused until I realized the test is dated, and an update would probably not be correct since we can't prove when or where Obama was borne.

KB