Bear defense carry

[Marinus]

Hello!
I have a quick question. Please share your opinion if you’ve got one.

I bought an All Weather 45-70 primarily as a bear defense gun when camping. I live in Alaska and bear guns are considered a necessity by many folks up here. But here’s my question: when on the move in brush, rifle slung over the shoulder, how do you carry your rifles in this situation? Hammer cocked and ready to go, or hammer down requiring a second or two longer to fire? Or something else entirely?

Just curious how others do this. I’m new to carrying a rifle in the field. Thanks!

[John E Davies]

You have a great gun but you also need to carry a large bore pistol in a shoulder or chest holster for immediate access. That way you can sling the long gun off your back, or set it against a tree if you are stopped, without being completely defenseless.

I have never carried a long gun in bear country so I can’t answer your exact question. Except you should never carry the Henry with hammer back, unless you have a firm grip around the stock and are fully in control of the muzzle direction. At all other times the hammer should be down. (Think tree branch gets caught in trigger guard!)

John Davies
Spokane WA

[leverjc]

I would think with practice it would not take any longer to pull the hammer back as you pull the gun up on target. Carrying one with the hammer back might be more dangerous than a bear.

[Vaquero]

One in the chamber, and Hammer down.
Only takes a second to pull the hammer back.
Just askin fer trouble with the hammer cocked.

RP

[Sir Henry]

Half-cock.

[pennsylvaniapete]

I am not sure that rifle has a 'half cocked' position. Someone correct me if I am wrong!

[North Country Gal]

Awareness is the best defense, as always. Knowing which areas are currently having bear problems, how to set up a camp that doesn't attract grizzlies, knowing how to read sign and knowing potentially dangerous trail areas was always foremost in my mind, back in the days when I backpacked in grizzly country. For sure, it's hard to beat local knowledge, so talk to people in the area you plan to camp. Rangers, wardens, loggers and other locals who work the bush are great resources.

As for carrying a rifle slung over your shoulder, if you study the case histories of fatal grizzly attacks, way too many of them involved victims carrying a rifle slung over their shoulder or a handgun/bear spray in a holster and the victim never even having time to raise their gun or the bear spray. That's how sudden a grizzly attack can be. Not trying to be the voice of doom, here, but if you are in a situation where you have to shoot a charging grizzly, the odds are very much against you, despite all the fantasies that get posted on gun forums. Hope you're never in that situation, of course.

As to a 45-70, yeah, if I felt the need to carry, that would be on my list of guns to use. Best of luck up there in Alaska. Was there once back when I was fresh out of college and it is truly an amazing place.

[Kissmybrass]

Ditto to the hammer back... that's a never never ever never :-)

Big ol double action revolver would be easier to manage than a rifle. Not sure what kind of terrain you're in but trying to get a rifle off your shoulder might take way too long compared to pulling a handgun out especially in tight brush or if you have other packs attached to ya. I keep my 9 on my backpack waist belt for an easy pull. Have a .357 now with hard cast bear loads but haven't been out with it yet.

IMG_3885.jpeg

[Vaquero]

Half-cock.

Another of my pet-peeves with Henry, why does the H001 22lr have one and neither of the damn CF's don't.
Neither the BBB44, nor the 41 BBS??????
So my guess is the 45-70 don't either.

Now if I were hunting in bear country, I'd be tootin one of my Marlin 444's, probably the P model which is an 18" barrel model.
And the 41 mag. BH, or one of the 44 Mag. pistolas.

RP

[Marinus]

For the record, I’m not comfortable with carrying with the hammer back either. Just throwing it out there to see the consensus. Henry swears up and down it won’t fire unless you pull the trigger, and I think they’re right. But as someone pointed out, a twig might do it for you. Or your own fumbling fingers. I was just curious.

The H010 does not have a half-cock.

In terms of not being able to get the gun out in time before a bear attack occurs, you’re absolutely right. Up here there are bear attacks every year. Almost everyone who spends a reasonable amount of time outdoors has some bear stories, including myself. Most bear attacks occur when one party surprises the other. By then it’s sometimes too late, even for a pistol in a chest rig. But still… I’d rather have something powerful in case I get time to use it. The 45-70 is not an uncommon gun to carry up here from what I understand. Lots of people carry Glock 10mm nowadays which I’m not sure I agree with.

Talking bear defense on a gun forum (or at a gun shop) is sort of frustrating. Talk to 20 people and you get 20 very different, and very adamant responses.

[leverjc]

Henry Big Boys do not have a half cock but it is safe to carry with the hammer down.

[John E Davies]

Defense Against Bears with Pistols: 97% Success Rate, 37 Incidents By Caliber:

https://www.ammoland.com/2018/02/defen ... y-caliber/

John Davies
Spokane WA

[Kissmybrass]

Interesting fact I just found looking at bear stats:
Mosquitoes kill 750,000 people every year. (and they are a @%$# to hit)