Bear Guns in Norway

[Kurusu]

Following this thread...

With keen interest.

 

[Echo40]

If I had to go out anywhere in which Bears would or could be present, then I would pack a 12 Gauge loaded with Brenneke Black Magic Magnum Slugs, preferably my Mossberg 590 Shockwave for ease of carry and quick deployment.

Frankly, I wouldn't want to be stuck carrying anything that leaves me hoping that it will be enough should the need arise, especially not something non-lethal like Bear Spray.
I don't know if there's any truth to this, but I've heard that certain brands of Bear Spray are actually less potent that the average Pepper Spray meant for Self-Defense is due to various regulations as well as lopsided ideals regarding the ethical treatment of animals. It sounds far-fetched to me, but at the same time, I see so many instances of nonsensical, contradictory, and outright absurdity present within society today that the idea of laws in which one can lawfully shoot a bear in Self-Defense, but non-lethal options such as Bear Spray must be no more painful than getting V05 Shampoo in your eyes, otherwise it's animal cruelty sounds entirely plausible.

 

[Kurusu]

If I had to be in Polar bear country.

I would carry this.

Hint. I don't mean the pistol.

 

[FoundFather]

Interesting that handguns are restricted to minimum .44 caliber. The interwebs are full of posts and reposts about Norwegian game wardens being issued Glocks in 10mm for this purpose. You would think they would know what they are doing, but I guess the Governor of Svalbard is not convinced.

 

[BearBio]

Swedish dogsled patrols are also issued 10mm Glocks.

And modified 1917 Enfields in 30-06.

 

[jmace57]

I'm sorta thinkin' 600 Nitro Express if I ever go for a visit...

 

[Buford57]

With keen interest.

So do I want red wine or white with that Norwegian?

 

[Walter Rego]

I imagine that until recently, plenty of Norwegian polar bears were dispatched with a well placed shot from a Norwegian Krag loaded with a 160 grain 6.5mm bullet.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Always go with a "friend." If he/she is faster than you, do like the one post said up above about the knee thing. Actually, call me what you may, but if it's below 20 and there's nothing around but snow, I see no reason to be outside to begin with.

 

[Absalom]

I imagine that until recently, plenty of Norwegian polar bears were dispatched with a well placed shot from a Norwegian Krag loaded with a 160 grain 6.5mm bullet.

Just to be clear on one thing:

The Svalbards are Norwegian, but there aren't any polar bears in actual Norway (see map below).

I've camped in Norway all the way up to the Nordkap, the northern tip of Europe. There are so many clueless semi-wild reindeer ambling about the tundra, if polar bears ever made it this far south, it would be a slaughter.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

While I don't have any experience with large bears(black is not considered a large bear),one of my friends used to go way up there as a teacher(Inqualauit,Qc.).He is an ardent hunter and knows a lot about the biology of any animal he hunts.
He also says that one thing that is different with the polar specie vs any other type of bear is that the thing is not scared by the smell of man 50% of the time.If you happen to be on the wrong 50%side,you better have a caliber with enough oooomph to snuff out a CP rail locomotive.Bear spray;the bear will probably use it to spice up the flavor of your tender flesh!

 

[LCC]

Small town only reachable by boat, Dangerous Polar bears, school kids biking with their rifles, way too much alcohol, and a couple of other suprises..check out the show Fortitude on Prime Video..highly entertaining

 

[LCC]

Just to be clear on one thing:

The Svalbards are Norwegian, but there aren't any polar bears in actual Norway (see map below).

I've camped in Norway all the way up to the Nordkap, the northern tip of Europe. There are so many clueless semi-wild reindeer ambling about the tundra, if polar bears ever made it this far south, it would be a slaughter.

reports are polar bears are slowly moving south as the north heats up and the ice melts, so that may likely happen

 

[BearBio]

The Danish Sirius patrols in Greenland use 30-06 Enfields for polar bear and muskoxen. (Don't know if I said that already but it's early and only one cup so far!)