What I Learned About Guns From A Man Who Kills Brown Bears For A Living

An argument for heavy rifles and big glass, even at moderate ranges

A year-and-a-half ago Virginia and I went on an Alaska Peninsula brown bear hunt with an outfitter who calls himself “The Grizzinator.” Greg’s outfitted brown bear hunts for over 30 years, and has likely shot, or participated in the deaths of more of the big bears than anyone else out there. So aside from proving a great opportunity to spend a couple of weeks listening to Gregorian chants, it was also a fascinating chance to learn about the practical application of firearms in challenging environments and potentially deadly circumstances.

When it comes to firearms, I am very much not an expert. If you are looking for that kind of advice, I recommend friends like John Snow, Tyler Freel, and Andrew McKean over at Outdoor Life. What I am is an average enthusiast who enjoys both recreational shooting and hunting, and who carries firearms for legitimate self defense needs involving both two- and four-legged predators, often in more dangerous circumstances than most other civilians. As I con…