Rifle Scopes Grizzly Bear Scope

[oubeta]

Well I finally talked the wife into letting me go to AK on a bear hunt.
I'm looking for a good scope for my 300WM. I haven't looked at hunting scopes lately, but I assume a good 'tactical' scope would work perfect.
The area we are hunting is wide open and long shots are likely.
If that area doesn't produce, we will stitch to a raft and float down a river.
I need a good long range scope & one that will work up close.

I was thinking a NF 2.5x10 ?
I would like to be able to have uncapped turrets so I can put my dope in quickly if needed.

 

[beretta_man11]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

bushnell 2.5x16-42 or 50mm. perfect power range for that stuff. get in the bush, put it on 2.5, find a bear at 600, bump it up to 16x and you are good to go. Saw one for sale on here the other day.

 

[Opticsspecialist]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

Chris is headed on a hunt soon too, he had a 2.5-15x44 swarovski bt on his 375 H&H, but has moved to a 1-6 BRT.

i think your on the right track depending on the terrain, what part of Alaska are you headed to?

don't forget to add pictures when you get back

 

[oubeta]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

Near a native village called Sleetmute.
I actually guided there for 3 years, so you think I should no.
I have a good idea what I want, but just wanted some ideas.
I'm wanting a tactical hunting scope

Want to be able to put my come ups in vs hold over and most hunting scopes have capped turrets.

 

[Zhurh]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

You all can laugh all ya want, but I see a few grizzly bears every summer, actually it will all start in a couple more weeks when they come out hungry as sin. I've saw them walking our road like they owned it. Taught in Indian Villages where I had to run out on play ground with rifle to chase young bear off looking the kids over, we kept a rifle in school office; serious stuff.

Most bear I see, I catch on the road. Come around a bend, about run into a bear, then they explode into the brush; they really move out quick. The fastest shooting scope I have is an ACOG with a red horse shoe. That horseshoe is fast for me.

I've caught bear bobbing up and down in the creek, splashing, playing around. I just watch those guys, never shoot them.

If you set up on a summit, spend the night, you'll see grizz usually. It is light most the night in Ak in summer.

HUnt kills too if you find a few in one area.

I'd probably want an illuminated scope, with a horseshoe or circle for quick shots. 2X10 be great. In canada, many people bait grizz, which isn't allowed in Ak; but it sure works. I have seen people in Canada collect salmon eggs when they clean fish, let them rot bad in the sun. Hang in a tree and have a bear come running in a half hour later, no joke.

Just remember, if you see a bear, he'll be doing 35 mph in like 2 seconds right through the thick brush; hard to hit.

 

[oubeta]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

Bears in AK have very different habits.
Where we hunt for instance if a bear crosses your path you walked 8 hours ago and smells anything he will run mountain ranges. Where we hunt they don't see people and still have their natural fear of man.

I've been in parts of AK where they are fishing right along with you. These bears where we are are so scared of humans they really distance themselves from camp and you which makes for a little harder hunt.
Unless we float the river (Holitna) more than likely I will be looking at a fairly long shot.

 

[fdkay]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

Personally, I would opt for something in th 1-4 to 1-5 range.

This is not precision shooting, it is hunting. I would want the low power if something was up real close and 5 power is completetly sufficient to put a shot in the vital zones at 500 yards.

This is dangerous game we're talking about, usually the closer the more dangerous.

Vortex Razor or SWFA 1-4 would get my vote.

 

[E3C3H3O3]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

In my opinion I think you were right on target with the choice of the NF, if price isn't a factor grab the NF and your good to go.

 

[Zhurh]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

Speaking of bears, one guy I know was mauled twice in his life years back while he was a guide for his dad's lodge (Sportsmans Paradise out Nabessna). Wife and I were teachers at Mentasta and I had to get my 12 year old boy outta the village every weekend so we went riding up and ice fishing out Jacksina glacier, Tanada & Copper lks, and the old Indian trail to Tetlin from Nabessna; pretty nice country the Wrangels. Anyway, after riding all day, I'd stay in the bar until like 3 am and ole Doug Fredricks would pull off his shirt, drop his pants to show off the scars from his neck to his feet. Super cool guy, hates all bears and throws huge fish fry every Spring you don't want to miss. We were offered jobs at Slana school but it was 30 miles from his lodge. I couldn't do the drive every morning, ended up on the Yukon; always kinda had regrets.

Most bear I see also are high tailin outta there. We do get a couple every year or so, tearing up fish racks around where we live come Spring.

My oldest boy had 6 pak license years back and would circle bear in deep water with small boat, have the tourists yelling at him to stop it. One year, he had some NJ devils with their dads in the boat, got big rush from bears yappin jaws up close.

Twice, I have had blk bears put the sneak on me, front quarters down, butt up in the air, like a cat on a rabbit; ears going back and forth like crazy; and they didn't want me to pet them either.

And last one, I had wolves get into my fish egg buckets (that I use for burbot trot line stink bait) last October, 50 foot from the house. They came back 3 different nights, I set up tree camera, they stopped coming in. Then a week went by and they came in got into my garbage cans, tracks were 5 1/2 inches long, stride prints were 5-6 feet apart, single prints; nice size wolf. First time they ever got in my garbage though. Neighbor had to run out with shot gun shoot a yearling female that had his springer spaniel by neck on the ground. The wolf wouldn't let go, neighbor was hollarin and shot the wolf from 6 feet away, blood sprayed everywhere.

You were in AK before, you probably seen the same stuff too, but that's why I call this country my home too; luv this place.

 

[BBsteel]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

^^^Those are some good reads Zhurh!

 

[jasonk]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

Any budget?

Leupold 1-8 would be sweet!

 

[ryodlsl]

Re: Grizzly Bear Scope

I have a couple of Swaro Z6i's, with ballistic reticles on a 2-12x and a 3-18x. Good magnification range and field of view. My favorite hunting scopes. Haven't tried one with a ballistic turret yet

Also have and like a Trijicon 2.5-10x

Would not buy the Bushnell 2.5-16 again, wasn't impressed with this one

Would love to have a .375 with the new/upcoming S&B 1-8x for bear