Best Polar Bear Killer
"The last active-duty military unit in the world still using the M1917 rifle is the Sirius Sled Patrol (Sl?depatruljen Sirius) of the Danish possession of Greenland. The M1917 is designated Gev?r M/53-17 by the Sirius Sled Patrol. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century and first decades of the 21st, the Danish military repeatedly offered to re-equip the Sirius Patrol with more modern assault rifles. Every time, the force refused. The Grenlanders feel that no cartridge is better than the .30-06 Springfield for stopping a polar bear. The cartridge has a legendary reputation on the island. Additionally the M1917 rifle is, for whatever reason, impervious to cold and snow and functions perfectly in the worst conditions.
https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/m1917-rifle-in-21st-century-greenland/
https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2015/07/24/m1917-rifle-in-21st-century-greenland/
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Pow.
Drop the Mike...
https://youtu.be/-mc8iZV7P28
Catch me outside.
8-)
Mike0 -
As a sound man in a past life, having a performer drop a mike really sucks. A good microphone is expensive. 0 -
I was thinking global warming or that damned hole in the ozone. Did global warming trump the hole in the ozone? If so bring back Aqua-Net. I love that stuff on women's hair, it makes hair like cotton candy. 0 -
Despite milling off rabbit ears / rear sight and replacing it with a simple fixed carcano carbine style set up just forward of the receiver ring...
I am intrigued.
A bolt action rifle (including a pattern 17 enfield) chambered in .30-06 with a late 50's - early 60's "Dutch V" or "VAR" stamped bbl is a no brainer...
These guns did not see much use after the bbl's were replaced and the platforms modified to the Pattern 17 rifle / 1953 variant so reports say that the chambers / throats / rifling / muzzles are usually in pristine condition and we'll cared for...
If I was forced to choose a .30-06 bbl for a bolt action or semiautomatic rifle I would go for one marked LMR on VAR or NM (in that order) for best performance and tightest specs...
I would prefer a forward mounted long eye relief low power wide field of vision scout scope over the simple notch and post system they are using - but I understand that in snow conditions shooting a bear in motion at short ranges - the ability to have a wide unobstructed field of vision that can be mounted and put in battery and placed on target quickly and easily would be of prime importance...
Oddly this gun is not referenced in Rifles of the World.
Another blast from the past from Ricci.
Mike0 -
The Canadian forces only recently got rid of the old 303 Enfields for artic use, pretty much same reason. Personally I think the C1A1 woulda done the job, but they stopped using those a while ago as well. 0 -
They Traded in their SIG 210's for Glock 20's in 10mm. 0 -
Fascinating story. I never heard of this, the .303 rechambered to .30-06, and dogsled teams in Greenland.
And, a two inch red stripe across the stock with ".30-06" written on it.0 -
When the British had issued troops the pattern 14 enfield bolt action rifle in .303 and the Americans had issued the pattern 17 enfield bolt action rifle in .30-06 (externally identical clones)
Some problems arose and things were fraught with peril...
Let me clarify again...
The British pattern 14 and the American pattern 17 are for all purposes identical clones except for the clambering...
The British cartridge being rimmed and the US cartridge having a straight case with no rim.
That is one of the reasons for the red paint stripes...
Analogous to the German Luger's and broom handle Mauser's having a "9" carved I to the grip panels and painted red...
Some British troops were issued Japanese arisaka rifles purchased prewar - Japanese aircraft often mounted machine guns chambered in .303 British...
The Italians had cardamom marked arisaka clone Japanese pattern rifles...
Things can and did get quite perplexing and confusing - I am certain that other GBGD members could cite another 12 similar common examples of the issue.
Things only got worse after the war ended.
Mike0 -
Speaking of Greenland, what ever happened to Peter (HappyNanuq). Is he still on here? He told us way back that semi-auto's were legal for civilian use, but suppressors were. He even made one from a Mag Light.
I understand the rifle choice, I'd rather have a gun that is slower feeding but 100% reliable. Though I think many of the newer semi-autos have proven to be reliable even in -60 or +120 degree weather.
I like what Sam06 said above, I think for a semi-auto in this (and most other) terrains, the G20 would be a great choice. If I were going to be faced with polar bears often though I MIGHT opt for one of the 'super mags' revolvers though I do not shoot wheel guns very well at all and they have never felt good in the hand.0 -
Tough environment for a rifle and a soldier.I love Huskies 0 -
These guys patrol a huge area that is very desolate. They carry the Enfield in 30-06 and the Glock G20. The have not only Polar Bears to contend with but also drunk natives, musk ox and large sea lions.
They have been carrying the Enfields since day one but they used to carry a SIG 210 in 9mm. They traded them for the G20 in 10mm.
These guys operate in 2 man teams and are out on patrol for weeks on end. They are extensively trained in Navigation, survival and field medicine. I went to a school on L3 Harris Radios up in NY and we had 2 of them in our class, great guys and tough as nails.
BTW I am going to go out on a limb here and really PO a bunch of folks and say; As a combat rifle I think the 1917 Enfield in 30-06 is a better rifle than the Springfield 1903 :shock: One more round, better sights, cock on closing(Fast operation) great safety all add up. Sorry if that blew your mind0 -
It?s a lot of rifle that?s for sure. The one I just listed on the auction side is very nice with a perfect bore. 0 -
When we were supplying the Nord weather station at the top of Greenland in the 1960's, I saw those dog teams come in. I distinctly remember they had a Schultz & Larsen rifle tied on the dog sled. It was scoped. If there was a 1917 Enfield also I did not see it. The team soldiers were very quiet in the chow hall; just sat there and ate and didn't say a word. The best Danish pastry I ever had. 0 -
They were allowed to carry any .30-06 rifle - but the enfield was standard issue and part of their TO&E - stored in quantity in their armory
The government would only supply .30-06 ammo per the video referenced above
I am told that even our Marine Recon L.R.R.P. spec ops ghosts considered them serious operators...
You guys have caught me short on this one as I have never seen or handled or fired on of these and a quick check of my top reference books comes up empty...
I do have a sporterized pattern 17 enfield in .30-06 but close is no cigar.
Mike0 -
Neat stuff. 0 -
Love the 30.06
So, so versatile.0 -
A lot of years ago I spent time in eastern Greenland just south of the national park area. I was amazed at the number of natives carrying small caliber rifles.... .222 Remingtons were considered to be ideal for seals and other game. We would consider them to be severely under-gunned in polar bear country but I never met one Inuit that was concerned. 0 -
Have spent time on North Slope of Alaska- Polar Bear Central. Yes, local folks there have been known to use what I consider a VERY light rifle to take bear.
Bear is swimming, they put bullet in the ear, no mo bear.
They are an apex predator, have no fear of anything, think you look tasty- and my weapon of choice would be a Browning M2. At about 1000 meters. Anything that is bigger than my refrigerator gets my respect and as much distance as I can put between us.
You are free to call me a coward, but you can make that Mr. LIVE Coward, thank you.0 -
Fear of the big and fast and strong and clawed and toothsome apex predator is good and proper - along with respect and knowledge...
But the .50 BMG Ma Deuce from a traditional heavy bbl belt fed crew served platform on a tripod or vehicle turret ring mount may be a tad overkill.
The last time I had the opportunity to let fly with John Moses brownings finest design my target was a small 4 person shelter made from lag bolted telephone pole sections and rail road ties...
The above referenced aforementioned weapon chopped the structure apart sending bits and remnant chunks flying and creating a cloud of sawdust...
You could see and feel and smell the little redoubt yield to physics...
Like a chainsaw into balsa wood.
Now if you are thinking bolt action Barret light .50 with iron sights or a low power wide scan scope that's alright - I can get on board with that - though you still may ruin the pelt and lose quite a bit of meat (do Inuits eat polar bear when they kill them???)
And yes I have read accounts of Canadian Indian / native American / Inuit hunters using a .22 hornet on moose and elk and reindeer and bear with well placed ear shots / brain pan blender bounce around inside bullets...
Heck their was a guy who took elephants and cape buffalo with bow and arrow - but you won't catch me lining up for the chance to try it.
You can purportedly take out a tank using a bayonet to jamb the turret ring and interfere with its ability to rotate / bring the main gun to bare - and finish it off with Molotov cocktails or ersatz hand placed limpets...
But I would rather kill it at a distance with a FOG-M or TOW II...
Or call in the A10 warthogs...
Mike0 -
Mike- I mentioned the Browning M2 because I have a lot of trouble finding 120mm Cannister loads, and a spare M1 Abrams to shoot them!
https://www.military.com/video/guns/tank-guns/shotgun-tank-round/659487128001
As a grunt we were taught to shoot tanks until they are on fire or change shape. Same principle applies to polar bears.0 -
So while I do occasionally state that the 03 Springfield is not the greatest bolt action rifle fielded in the 1886 - 1950 time frame / and not in my opinion even the best Mauser action clone...
Especially late production WWII exigent circumstances builds with 2 groove bbls and phosphate metal finish...
It does not conversely mean I fully embrace the pattern 17 enfield either.
I do like cock on closing rifles - and the action itself is certainly robust and adaptable for high pressure cartridge builds...
The gun lacks certain ergonomics and is homely - the super rabbit ear rear sight protection is a bit much - the safety design could have been done better...
My experience also shows that the 17 dispenses much more recoil energy into your shoulder than the Springfield does - it just seems to hit harder and punish you more / I the lines of the gun simply impart more energy straight back.
Post war the Remington model 30 and the more advanced 721 refined the design quite a bit and cleaned up the lines - leaving a much more attractive and accurate rifle.
Now have you considered an area denial weapon for polar bear defense needs???
Say the 81mm mortar with laser guidance capable copperhead munitions - homing in on a page penny man portable rifle stocked projector / emitter - allowing the in flight rounds some rudimentary ability to change point on impact and home in on the laser back scatter off of the target...
Straight high explosive ordnance or airburst munitions or maybe Willie Pete in a pinch...
Of course we have had members claim to kill polar bear at 200 yds with a worl class ruger 10/22 custom build and mercury filled bullets - with the stock made by Mattel...
Mike0
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