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svein@bearhunt.eu

peter@bearhunt.eu

- What equipment do we need?

This is an attempt to sum up all advice we have got when we have asked people with different experience on the field, both from Scandinavia and Alaska. As for ourselves we don’t have any practical experience from neither bear hunting nor the wilderness of Alaska.

WEAPON

It’s a general opinion that the most important is to trust and know your weapon. It’s better with a small-caliber weapon with which you shoot well, than a weapon of high caliber that you don’t know well. It is the first shot that counts, regardless of caliber. The first shot HAS to hit the lungs, otherwise the bear will only get angry.
Some people think that the caliber has to be at least 300WM for a brown bear/grizzly. A caliber that is recommended by many is 338WM with hard bullets, like Norma Oryx, or even better: Swift A-Frame. Another caliber that seems to be used by many guides is 375H&H. If you’re hunting moose only, a smaller caliber is good enough.
Weather in Alaska is stable during fall – RAIN. A rifle that can stand moisture for 10-14 days is a must. One manages well with a wood stock and blued barrel, but a synthetic stock and stainless steel barrel is probably the best.
Based on these advice I have chosen a 338WM with a wood stock and blued barrel (because of the price). 338WM is a caliber that I can live with. I’m lucky to have a colleague at another school who is really into shooting. I got to test his Winchester M70 338WM. I was quite anxious since my only experience so far had been a 6,5 and 308W. But it went well.

Svein wants a 9,3*62 with the possibility to switch barrel.

TELESCOPIC SIGHT:

We have found out that having too much magnification on the scope is not a good idea. “You should not hunt prairie dogs at long range. With too much magnification you won’t be able to spot the bear in your scope when it comes running towards you.”

I have been advised to have a scope with 8-10 times magnification, and I’m thinking of getting a 2.5-10x50. In addition, my scope should have an illuminated reticle, since I also go wild boar hunting at night.

WEAPON APPLICATION:

After having decided on the weapon, it was time to submit a weapon application to Drammen Police Station. They have given me the best service. They even called me while I was hunting moose in Sweden, “just” to tell me that I didn’t need a separate application form to import only one weapon.

BUYING WEAPONS:

Svein and I have been in touch with several companies here in Norway, but there is only one company offering the service that we expect, and this is Jaktdepotet in Drammen. They have the expert knowledge and a genuine interest in hunting and weapons. They have given us a lot of information and technical discussions about both weapons, ammunition, and telescopic sights. They have helped me a great deal, despite the fact that I bought my Heym in Sweden. That’s impressive.
Svein has bought a Sauer 202 in 6,5x55 caliber Swedish with silencer and telescopic sight for training and hunting. Additionally he has bought an extra barrel in 9,3x62 caliber. This caliber is more than enough for moose- and bear hunting in Alaska. Back home it is suitable for moose- and wild boar hunting in Sweden. The advantage of having two barrels is that you can practice with a smaller caliber. A small caliber barrel is cheaper to use and has about no recoil. The more you practice shooting, the safer you get. Then you can use the high-caliber barrel when you hunt wild boar, moose or bear. Svein chose an extra set of barrel by Schultz & Larsen, on recommendation from the guys at Jaktdepotet.
I have bought a Heym SR21 Standard in 338WM caliber. I chose the Heym based on it’s good fit, the perfect balance and the trigger. The price is also better than with other take-down rifles. I bought it from Fritid&Vildmarksliv in Piteå in northern Sweden. Here I have also received the best service, both before the purchase and afterwards. They too show a genuine interest in the field and in their customers.

BUYING TELESCOPIC SIGHT:

Svein has bought a Meopta Meostar 2,5-12x56 with illuminated reticle, which he is content with.

Initially I wanted a Carl Zeiss Victory, but I’ll do with a Docter Classic 3-12x56 with illuminated reticle. When we get back from Alaska, I’ll install a silencer on my Heym. Then I’ll use the Docter with silencer when I go wild boar hunting at night. Because of the balance I’ll use my “old” Nikon Monarch 2,5-10x50 without silencer for moose hunting. 

Svein and Peter
02.04 2012