Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 35

Thread: Best for Polar Bears

  1. #1
    Senior Member kyratshooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    KY bluegrass region-the center of the universe
    Posts
    10,360

    Default Best for Polar Bears

    Due to these cold temps and my general lack of interest in getting out in this present mess I have restricted my self to some intense reloading activities and research.

    Due to the cold the research has drifted to the northern realms of the planet and a quest for the firearms used by troops operating in those regions where no other human with good sense would venture in the depths of winter, like Greenland!

    During the early 1900s it was decided by the world court that if Denmark was to maintain its claim to Greenland, based on the nationality of first settler Leaf Erickson, they would have to maintain a military presence to prove sovereignty.

    A unit was formed called the Sirus Sled Patrol.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirius_Dog_Sled_Patrol

    It is an elite unit of 14 men, highly trained in arctic survival and operating for a 2 year hitch after they have completed their standard tour of duty in the Dutch Army.

    They provide reconnaissance, police, and emergency services for the sparsely occupied Island of Greenland.

    I was especially interested in the firearms they carry.

    Standard issue rifle is an Enfield 1917 model in 30-06.

    They have been offered the best hardware available from all over the world and the patrols have determined that this bolt action rifle designed before WW1 is the best firearm for their use. It is strong, reliable under all the conditions imposed by the environment, and it is chambered in 30-06 which gives superior performance, over the 7.62x51, on Polar Bears and Musk Ox!

    They recently ditched their SIG 9mm pistols and replaced them with Glock 20 pistols in 10mm, for the same reason. During the course of 75 years the 9mm proved useless on polar bears.
    If you didn't bring jerky what did I just eat?


  2. #2
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    I guess that does not surprise me at all.......

    Calibers and loads come and go....but when push come to shove....the old 30-06 seems to be in the running somewhere.
    That and the 30-30 maybe the most popular rifle calibers and most used..... from the early 1900's to date.

    Polar bears are supposed to be the meanest, badazz bear around...
    One of the Alaska shows....show a little entry.... on a building....to check for bears before going out.
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  3. #3

    Default

    It makes you wonder, is this a good or bad detail to receive. Stuck in the middle of nowhere for 2 years sounds bad. But, the fact that you are there keeps the territory for your country. They might pay a lot for that.
    "The more complex the mind, the greater the need for the simplicity of play." Capt. James T. Kirk

  4. #4
    Senior Member kyratshooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    KY bluegrass region-the center of the universe
    Posts
    10,360

    Default

    Duty with the Sled Patrol is supposed to be the top "proof of Bad A$$" the Dutch Army has.

    It is an all volunteer unit and takes only single, unattached men that have already served at least one regular tour in the Dutch Army. They want no problems with long distance relationships not working out.

    Training for the unit is about a year of intense work, including advanced medical and dental training along with sled dog work, special marksmanship and a bunch of other stuff no one else would ever need to know.

    They have served in all the capacities they are allotted as well as raiding several German outposts and taking prisoners during WW2. That caused some real problems since the Sled Patrol was under command of the Dutch Army in exile and the Germans were in control of the Dutch Nation. The head of the Sled Patrol was charged with treason after the war and the charges were dropped the same day.

    The present Crown Prince of Denmark was a member of the Patrol back in the day.

    As a side note, I have owned a couple of the P17 Enfields these guys use and I have never found one that was not extremely accurate. One that I owned was a sporterized model that was the first rife I ever owned that would shoot MOA every time I picked it up. The only real "sporterizing" was a change of stock and stripping the excess metal hardware off and drilling for scope mounts. It still had the military barrel and trigger.
    Last edited by kyratshooter; 01-17-2018 at 04:50 PM.
    If you didn't bring jerky what did I just eat?

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Victoria, Texas
    Posts
    1,995

    Default

    I have read that one of the only reasons the 30-06 was not used for more dangerous game (in the past) was the lack of availability of RN solids in commercially loaded ammo. A 220 gr RN soft point from a 30-06 will kill anything in the Americas and most things elsewhere.

    Alan

  6. #6

    Default

    I think there is some confusion here between Dutch and Danish. Greenland is governed by Denmark. It is not Dutch.

  7. #7
    Super Moderator crashdive123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    North Florida
    Posts
    44,846

    Default

    You don't need a rifle or a pistol to deal with Polar Bears. All you need is a saw and a bag of peas. Cut a hole in the ice and scatter the peas around the edge of the hole. When the Polar Bear comes to take a pea, kick him in the ice hole.
    Can't Means Won't

    My Youtube Channel

  8. #8
    Senior Member hunter63's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    SE/SW Wisconsin
    Posts
    26,866

    Default

    Bhohahaha....Been waiting a long time for that one.....
    Geezer Squad....Charter Member #1
    Evoking the 50 year old rule...
    First 50 years...worried about the small stuff...second 50 years....Not so much
    Member Wahoo Killer knives club....#27

  9. #9
    Senior Member Antonyraison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Johannesburg South Africa
    Posts
    1,154

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Faiaoga View Post
    I think there is some confusion here between Dutch and Danish. Greenland is governed by Denmark. It is not Dutch.
    Indeed... VERY VERY different people... A lot of us out here are dutch decedents... (I am not, I am french decent)
    Very interesting Post though, Although I know pretty much next to nothing about fire-arms..
    I have fired a few in my time, but never have owned one... but very interesting post none the less, thanks for the education guys, in a while I likely know a lot about Fire-arms just reading the forum.
    Last edited by Antonyraison; 01-18-2018 at 05:03 AM.
    My youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ultsmackdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonyraison/

    (BOSWA) ELITE SURVIVAL RANGER - BSR/16/05

  10. #10
    Administrator Rick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    58,832

    Default

    Danish. That's the people not the pastry...right?

  11. #11
    Senior Member Antonyraison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Johannesburg South Africa
    Posts
    1,154

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rick View Post
    Danish. That's the people not the pastry...right?
    DRAT, now I am hungry for a well you guessed it a Custard Danish... and coffeee..Oooo.
    My youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ultsmackdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonyraison/

    (BOSWA) ELITE SURVIVAL RANGER - BSR/16/05

  12. #12
    Senior Member Manwithnoname's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Land of the free, home of the brave.
    Posts
    201

    Default

    9mm hell, even 10mm, a polar bear, really? I'm making sure the last round is saved for me!

  13. #13
    Senior Member kyratshooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    KY bluegrass region-the center of the universe
    Posts
    10,360

    Default

    Some of the 10mm loads match a .41 magnum in power level.

    I am sure the pistol is easier to use inside the tent rather than the P17 Enfield. That would be just plain awkward. Bear slices through the tent side and you have to haul that long rife out.

    Personally I would consider the 30-06 a little light for a big polar bear. Those guys probably do not realize that being much like the situation Anthony is in, with lack of exposure, therefore no experience in choosing proper caliber for the task. It's a gun, just shoot it.

    Be it Dane or Dutch or generic European, they will seldom get a chance to fire any firearm unless it is handed to them by the military and they are careful to keep their armies on the small side.
    If you didn't bring jerky what did I just eat?

  14. #14
    Senior Member Antonyraison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Johannesburg South Africa
    Posts
    1,154

    Default

    Our gun laws are extremely Stringent here, you need to apply for a licence for each weapon, do a competency, wait a very long time, loads of paper work, and the renew it every so often.
    I was brought up going to the farm every other weekend Shot rifles, and other fire-arms, did a bit of musketry.. shot guns here and there.
    But I have never really wanted a gun.. I have yet to have a need for it... even though I have been mugged, I have been hi-jacked also, and I have been tied up in a house robbery for several hours..been in a few brawls... (no fault of my own)
    I have still not really had the need or desire yet to have a fire-arm...
    My dad owned a few, he was in the Army, and when he had left the army he own a small side arm, my grand parents and great uncle etc had farms so they had several fire-arms...
    eventually My dad handed in his fire-arm to the police once gun laws became very stringent..and never owned one again.
    I am an advocate for people owning guns, and see the merit of them, I just simply haven't had the need for it.

    If I own A farm that story will likely be a very different ball game. 90% of my life is in suburbia.. only 10% in the Bush (its a hobby of mine Survival, but its a passion also, so with Time I hope it becomes more my vocation)
    My youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ultsmackdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonyraison/

    (BOSWA) ELITE SURVIVAL RANGER - BSR/16/05

  15. #15
    Senior Member Phaedrus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    The Last Best Place
    Posts
    1,508

    Default

    An ought six wouldn't be my first choice for big bears but I reckon it's probably a killed a whole lot of 'em over the last century.

  16. #16
    Senior Member Antonyraison's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Johannesburg South Africa
    Posts
    1,154

    Default

    All I know is a popular riffle here used for Most hunting purposes, is the good old 303... that is what most here swear by. well for mid sized to very large game, I wouldnt use it for rabbits now hahahahah yeah nooo hahah... and this can take a polar bear, a lion, a rhino, a cape buffalo, an elphant (its been known to do that even) Large antelopes, kudu, gemsbok, impala, eland, the works, it nabs it no issues, bolt action, has a magazine also.. reliable as hell.. Its quiet a legendary weapon here, very rare you wont find a hunter or a farmer that doesn't own one, the have mythical properties and large tales always attached to them... like really crazy mad stories , een dag ek het daar tissen die berge geloop en daar veer oor die koopie die mist het net begin om te vertrek, En daan ek het hom gesein die Groooste Bul ek het ooit in my hulle lewe gesien... bla blah blah.. Normal stories... hahah

    And they always told in Afrikaans, always lol..
    well It makes sense when some of the riffles where kept in the family from the anglo boer war era, they just keep handing them down father to son... so they are really highly prized possessions here..
    Last edited by Antonyraison; 01-19-2018 at 07:22 AM.
    My youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ultsmackdown Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antonyraison/

    (BOSWA) ELITE SURVIVAL RANGER - BSR/16/05

  17. #17
    Senior Member randyt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    tip of the mitt
    Posts
    5,258

    Default

    The 1917 enfield is a fine rifle, I keep a couple on hand at all times. Currently have a winchester and a eddystone.
    so the definition of a criminal is someone who breaks the law and you want me to believe that somehow more laws make less criminals?

  18. #18

    Default

    I read where a Canadian Ranger used his issue rifle to kill a big bear. If I remember correctly, the animal was supposed to be a polar bear and grizzly hybrid.
    I believe the cartridge used was .303 Enfield.
    Last edited by Faiaoga; 01-20-2018 at 12:44 AM.

  19. #19

    Default

    I picked the .30-'06 Spgfld as my go-to cartridge based on detailed research and study. My then-girlfriend was right-handed but left-eyed. When we decided to go deer hunging the only relatively cheap used rifle we could find for her was a left-handed bolt gun (I forget which) chambered in .30-'06. Since we wanted to limit the logistics 'tail' I decided to get the same caliber and what I bought was a -- get this -- Western Auto rifle. Years later, after killing a few deer and carrying it around northern Arizona for a while, I found out that it was a Mossberg made for Western Auto.

    It's still the only full-sized rifle I have and it still works just fine. Even though the mulies here dress out at about 150 pounds max, I feel a bit better if I am faced with a rampaging Ursus maritimus next time I'm hiking in the Sonoran Desert!

  20. #20
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Victoria, Texas
    Posts
    1,995

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Antonyraison View Post
    ....
    But I have never really wanted a gun.. I have yet to have a need for it... even though I have been mugged, I have been hi-jacked also, and I have been tied up in a house robbery for several hours..been in a few brawls... (no fault of my own)
    I have still not really had the need or desire yet to have a fire-arm...
    ....
    I have lots of guns and nothing like that has ever happened to me (except maybe the brawls, some of which were entirely my fault).

    Alan

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •