Another bear question: 20 ga w/ slugs

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PurpleMountainOutdoors

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Would a lightweight youth 20 ga w/ slugs be enough for Wyoming Brown bear defense? Thinking about a trip to Yellowstone, and I'm worried my G20 10mm might not be enough gun. I'd rather not spend $900 for a fancy new revolver in 454 casull.
 
Or carry fresh salmon either.


The short answer is it will be better than most especially with hard cast slugs.

Check the regulations for legalities.... if you care.
 
^^^
;)

When you say you're going to Yellowstone do you mean the National Park? Where will you be going while there? It isn't like they have a lot of unprovoked bear attacks in Yellowstone (any)?
 
with the 20ga. (as with 12ga.) its more about the kind of slug than it is the gun... besides, there is a difference in hunting and shooting in defense.
 
Buy a $40 can of bear spray.

The gun will probably work, but I'd avoid the long gun. As long as you have a carry permit valid in Wyoming you can now carry in National Parks. You cannot carry into any federal building in the park. Outside yes, In hotels, giftshops etc., no.

I've been to Yellowstone twice and all over many places full of black bear with my G-20 loaded with 200 gr Double Tap ammo. They chrono a bit over 1300 fps from my gun and are not that far behind 44 mag loads from 3-4" barrels. I sleep well, but the bear spray is better than either the handgun or most long guns.
 
jmr40 said:
Buy a $40 can of bear spray.

The gun will probably work, but I'd avoid the long gun. As long as you have a carry permit valid in Wyoming you can now carry in National Parks. You cannot carry into any federal building in the park. Outside yes, In hotels, giftshops etc., no.

I've been to Yellowstone twice and all over many places full of black bear with my G-20 loaded with 200 gr Double Tap ammo. They chrono a bit over 1300 fps from my gun and are not that far behind 44 mag loads from 3-4" barrels. I sleep well, but the bear spray is better than either the handgun or most long guns.
Click to expand...

I was gonna carry bear spray and my g20. Thinking a 20ga might be enough (w/ proper hard casts) and wouldn't break my lady's shoulder if she needed to use it.

I carry that same load my friend. I did the same thing and looked at a snubby 44 and saw similar ballistics, except one carries 6 and the other 15. Also half the price of the 44.

Idk, this is mostly a philosophical topic, trying to help decide what the next purchase from "the list" it's gonna be :)
 
Shoot a bear in Jellystone? Think "Graybar Hotel". Bummer. Think hostile people with no sense of humor. Legal fees. Paperwork.

ANY bear in Yellowstone is best observed through a closed car window.

Camping out? Pepper spray plus a double-handful of caution and common sense.
 
When I camped there (in a tent) the ranger told us that a family of grizzlies had walked thru the middle of the campground, right by my tent and check out every campsite. He walked behind them the whole way armed with a Glock on his belt.
I said that we had locked up our food in the bear lockers. He said "I know, or the bears would have found it".
 
for all the trouble you would be in for shooting the bear, i would be tempted to at least let him gnaw on you a bit till he got full or tired rather than face the legal ramifications. i hate legal ramifications almost worse than bear bites.
 
i think its a decent choice. my boss in high school used to have an over/under that his daughters used for black bear hunting.

IIRC the older daughter used it to kill a 680lbs one shot and a drop from a tree was all it took
 
Make sure your lady isn't menstruating if you are camping out while there. Most of the fatalities in Glacier NP have been on menstruating women if the news reports are valid.
Click to expand...

This urban legion is so popular Yellowstone has a whole page on it. Summary:
  • There is no evidence that Grizzly or Black bears are attracted to menstruating women.
  • 79% of bear attacks are on men.
  • Don't feed bears and lock up your food
  • Don't mess with the bears and they don't mess with you.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/bears_women.htm
 
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