Soldier Killed by bear on JBER Army Base, Anchorage

[Bear Paw Jack]

U.S. Soldier Killed in Bear Attack on Alaska Army Base

The unidentified soldier was operating with a small group on a training area near Anchorage, Alaska, when the attack took place.

www.fieldandstream.com

 

[contender]

Prayers for the family.

Too few details,, but I wonder if a food smell brought the bear around.

 

[Jeepnik]

It’s also likely that while armed the soldiers didn’t have any live ammo. While the 5.56 is really only a varmit round a full mag would likely be enough to stop even a very large bear.

 

[hittman]

Appears a mamma was protecting cubs and/or a den.

US soldier killed in bear attack at Alaska base identified

Staff Sgt. Seth Michael Plant was identified as the U.S. Army soldier who was killed by a bear this week on a remote part of Alaska’s Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

www.foxnews.com

 

[the_leper_colony]

It’s also likely that while armed the soldiers didn’t have any live ammo. While the 5.56 is really only a varmit round a full mag would likely be enough to stop even a very large bear.

Seems like I've read about an Inuit man being attacked by a polar bear, while he was armed with an M-16 (w/ live ammo) from the National Guard armory. The man survived, but the bear did not.

 

[arfmel]

Lots of Inuit use a bolt action .223 for Polar Bear and everything else. They’re good shots though.

 

[XP100]

I heard a lot of the Inuit's used a .222

 

[ediogenes]

It’s also likely that while armed the soldiers didn’t have any live ammo. While the 5.56 is really only a varmit round a full mag would likely be enough to stop even a very large bear.

I would suggest that several 3-4 round full-auto bursts would discourage even a large grizzly. Penetration is key, and there would be no lack of it.

 

[badguybuster]

GODspeed. What a tragedy

 

[Jeepnik]

Many moons ago I attended a little course. At the end was an exercise and you were give 10 rounds for your walk in the swamp.

There’s always one idiot and the one with us ask what the ammo was for. The answer came back, the alligators. They weren’t joking.

You’d think that if you’re in bear country you have something capable to deal with, yep you guessed it, bears.

 

[gramps]

I heard a lot of the Inuit's used a .222

When I was there in 2010, and 2012, they used. 243, 22-250, and the occasional .223. They were good shots plus they were good at getting CLOSE. They also used 12 ga shotgun( REM 870) also.
gramps

 

[One at a time]

Lots of Inuit use a bolt action .223 for Polar Bear and everything else. They’re good shots though.

.22 Hornet and dogs. Shoot them in the ear at close range while the dogs kept them occupied