Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES MODULE 4 Deterrents 12-gauge pump action shotgun 4.2.4 – 12 Gauge Shotgun Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES POLAR BEAR DETERRENTS Power Point: A4.2 PPT - Deterrents Pyrotechnics Slide Description 30 Shotgun Title slide w/ most versatile 31 List of must have features Props: 12 gauge shotguns and dummy cartridges. CRITICAL: No live cartridges in classroom! Dummy Rounds Only. If no “dummy” rounds are available for the shotgun the demonstration of proper loading procedures will only be done at the live fire exercise. Trainer Notes: MUZZLE CONTROL: Prior to demonstrating the use a shotgun, identify a “safe wall”. During demonstrations the muzzle of the shotgun will only be pointed at the safe wall or directly up, if safe. Module 4 4.2.4 12 Gauge Shotgun US Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska June 30, 2015 T4-42 Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual 4.2.4 12-GAUGE SHOTGUN There are many types of 12-gauge shotguns available to the shooting public. The two types recommended for bear management purposes are the12-gauge pump action and the single or double barrel break-action. 12-gauge pump action shotgun 12-gauge break action double barrel shotgun Action The part of the firearm that loads, fires, extracts and ejects ammunition. Shotguns used for bear deterrence must have the following features: 3” chamber (s) smooth bore barrel(s) open or cylinder choke (no narrowing of the barrel at the muzzle) Any shotgun that will be used to fire lead slugs or direct contact rounds such as rubber bullets and beanbags must have the additional feature of front and rear sights. Capabilities The 12-gauge shotgun is the most versatile deterrent launcher available to bear responders. It can be used to launch pyrotechnical (shell crackers), direct contact deterrent rounds (rubber bullets, beanbags, oleoresin capsicum) and lethal rounds. Module 4 4.2.4 12 Gauge Shotgun US Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska June 30, 2015 S4-42 Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES POLAR BEAR DETERRENTS Power Point: A4.2 PPT - Deterrents Pyrotechnics Slide Description 32 Limitations 33 12-gauge Break-action shotgun considerations Props: 12-gauge break-action shotgun and dummy rounds CRITICAL: No live cartridges in classroom! Dummy Rounds Only. Trainer Notes: Demonstrate the operation of the break-action shotgun including checking for obstructions in the barrel. Trainees will be able to handle the shotguns during the hands-on session of this module. Module 4 4.2.4 12 Gauge Shotgun US Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska June 30, 2015 T4-43 Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual Limitations In order to use a shotgun successfully, bear responders must complete firearm safety training and complete a firearms safety course. The presence of a firearm can give people a false sense of security; this means that people may become less attentive to the bear’s behaviour and the circumstances of the encounter. Considerations by shotgun type 12-Gauge Break-Action Shotguns have single or double barrels. Ideally, a double-barrel shotgun with the barrels mounted side- by-side is recommended for bear deterrent work. With two barrels the shooter can quickly follow-up a deterrent round with another of the same or different type of round, without having to reload. In a break-action shotgun a hinge pin joins the two parts of the shotgun, the stock with its firing mechanism and the fore stock and barrel which holds the shells to be fired. Chambers Barrels Action Release Safety Stock Hinge Pin Forestock Trigger Loading of a break-action double barrel shotgun is simple. A shell is inserted into each barrel chamber; then the action closed by swinging the barrels up into place. A latch mechanism on top of the action locks the barrel(s) in place; the shotgun is now ready to be fired. Module 4 4.2.4 12 Gauge Shotgun US Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska June 30, 2015 S4-43 Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES POLAR BEAR DETERRENTS Power Point: A4.2 PPT - Deterrents Pyrotechnics Slide Description 33 12-gauge Break-action shotgun considerations 34 Need for armed back-up Props: 12-gauge break-action and pump-action shotguns and dummy rounds CRITICAL: No live cartridges in classroom! Dummy Rounds Only. Trainer Notes: Use shotgun and dummy ammo to demonstrate the loading of the break-action shotgun with deterrent and killing rounds. Trainees will be able to handle the shotguns during the hands-on session of this module. Module 4 4.2.4 12 Gauge Shotgun US Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska June 30, 2015 T4-44 Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual After firing the round(s), the break action is unlatched and the barrel and forearm are allowed to fall forward and the spent shell(s) removed. The shotgun is now ready for reloading. The break-action is the safest of all action types, since simply opening the action reveals whether the firearm is loaded and renders the shotgun inoperable. The residue powder from pyrotechnical rounds fouls the firearm quickly. The low powder loads of the direct contact rounds can lead to them becoming stuck in the barrel. With the break-action in its open position the shooter can easily and safely check for barrel obstructions by simply looking down the barrel(s) from the breach end. In the open position the action mechanisms are fully exposed making the break-action shotgun one of the easiest firearms to clean. These traits make the break-action shotgun a good choice for firing deterrent rounds. View looking down barrels of Armed Back-up double barrel break-action When the 12-gauge break-action is used to fire deterrent rounds shotgun the shooter must be backed-up by a person with a firearm loaded with lethal rounds. The preferred firearm for back-up is the 12- gauge pump-action shotgun; however, this will depend on local policy requirements. The pump-action can provide rapid firing of killing rounds at the shorter ranges better suited to bear management purposes than high-powered rifles. The 12-Gauge Pump Action Shotgun is sometimes called the slide or trombone action because the fore-end stock is pumped back and forth to operate the action. Operating the action extracts the spent shell and inserts a new one while cocking the hammer. A pump action shotgun is typically fed from a tubular magazine underneath the barrel but rounds can also be placed directly into the chamber if desired. Sights Action Barrel Tubular Fore-end Stock Magazine Stock Trigger or Slide Module 4 4.2.4 12 Gauge Shotgun US Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska June 30, 2015 S4-44 Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES POLAR BEAR DETERRENTS Power Point: A4.2 PPT - Deterrents Pyrotechnics Slide Description 35 Pump action shotgun considerations 36 Placement of rounds in pump-action shotgun Props: 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and dummy ammo. CRITICAL: No live cartridges in classroom! Dummy Rounds Only. Trainer Notes: Use dummy ammo and pump-action shotgun to demonstrate the proper placement of deterrent and killing rounds. Trainees will use dummy ammunition to practice loading deterrent and lethal rounds after the trainer has demonstrated all the skills. Module 4 4.2.4 12 Gauge Shotgun US Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska June 30, 2015 T4-45 Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual The pump-action is the fastest manually operated action and the easiest to operate from the shoulder. Rapid reloading only requires a simple movement of the firearm supporting hand without moving the muzzle away from the target. The alignment of the action and the barrel makes it difficult to check for potential obstructions in the barrel. If a shooter suspects that something may have lodged inside the barrel, the barrel must be detached from the gun before checking. If using pump-action shotgun to fire deterrent rounds ALWAYS…… Place deterrent rounds directly into the chamber of the shotgun one at a time. Chamber Ejection Port Fully load the magazine with lead slugs so that the gun is ready if the bear attacks. Loading Port Magazine All shotguns must be cleaned routinely to ensure that they operate safely and reliably each time they are needed. Module 4 4.2.4 12 Gauge Shotgun US Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska June 30, 2015 S4-45 Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual INSTRUCTOR GUIDELINES POLAR BEAR DETERRENTS Power Point: A4.2 PPT - Deterrents Pyrotechnics Slide Description 37 Loading of follow-up deterrent rounds Props: 12-gauge pump-action shotgun and dummy ammo CRITICAL: No live cartridges in classroom! Dummy Rounds Only. Trainer Notes: Ideally responders will be using a hinge action shotgun for firing deterrent rounds and the pump for lethal rounds but often there will only be one shotgun, the pump action. Emphasize the importance of knowing and verifying that the correct ammunition is loaded into the shotgun Use dummy ammo and pump-action shotgun to demonstrate the proper loading of follow-up deterrent rounds. Trainees will use dummy ammunition to practice loading follow-up deterrent rounds after the trainer has demonstrated all the skills. Module 4 4.2.4 12 Gauge Shotgun US Fish and Wildlife Service - Alaska June 30, 2015 T4-46 Polar Bear Deterrent - Training Manual Precautions when loading follow-up deterrent rounds - When lethal rounds are in the magazine, and the shooter wishes to fire two or more deterrent rounds, the shooter must adjust this transition/reloading technique so that a lethal round is not released from the magazine and placed into the loading port/chamber of the shotgun. To transition to load a follow-up deterrent round, with a shell currently in the chamber, the shooter must: 1) Grip the forestock of the shotgun with the left hand and rest the butt on the left hip, being sure to always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.