37, 870, or 590A1

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PeeWee 15785

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My mother lives in Ohio on 872 acres and has a few bears reported. Most of the ground is in trees, 3rd or 4th growth as to rough to farm much of it. When walking the woods which would you carry for SD with small black bears being seen, also hogs are in the next county west so is just time tell she has them. There is a Ithaca model 37 and a Remington Express Police Magnum 870 that I have used over the years on tree rats and bunnies but I like Mossbergs and would like a Mossberg 590A1. Of the 3 guns which would you use and what would you load it with for just woods walking not hunting. Or would you go with an auto shotgun. I forgot but there is a Model 12 Trap with a 28" or 30" barrel will used, that as a youngster I could do 23-25 clays all day long but never 100 together.
 
For a simple walk in he woods, I'd carry the same handgun I always carry, whether on 9mm or 45ACP.

Balance of risks, the threat of blacks and hogs is minimal, and the handgun is already with you. Carrying a shotgun on a stroll seems overkill, and you're likely to stop strolling, or not enjoy yourself.

Maybe you've got the only patch of Ohio that resembles Kodiak Island, but it seems unlikely.
 
Woods walking with a combat shotgun?

In Ohio??

I’d carry a warmly loaded .44 special or .45 Colt, or a 10mm, on my hip before ever thinking about doing that.
 
A handgun would suffice.

Having had all the pump shotguns listed, I prefer the 870. Mossberg doesn't fit me as well but is a fine gun too.

Ammo? Pends, are we anticipating a bear attack or just a bear that might not want to move out of the path?

Rubber slug or rubber buckshot for the first shot would move a problem bear and remind them to stay away.

Slugs will kill them if they are a threat. Most places you can't shoot a bear of it's just there. Most of the time they have to be in the acts of attacking or stalking or charging you before you can legally kill one.
 
The only time you would have a problem with black bears, is if you would get between the sow and her cubs causing her distress. I also vote for a handgun in a holster....mine would be a S&W M&P 40cal. Chances of having to use it are almost 0.
 
I'd be comfortable with a .357 or .45 ACP. No need to tote a slug/buck gun for Ohio-sized bear. Montana.......that might be a place for the shotgun.
If you are dead set on carrying one of the three, any of them will do.
 
Likewise as others have already expounded on carrying a handgun instead of a shotgun, I would do that as well. I would go with my Colt Lightweight Government in .45 ACP or my Colt Officer's Model ACP.

To answer your question, assuming all three shotguns are 12 gauge, I would go with the one that had the shortest barrel. Would load it with slugs; something like the Brenneke Black Magic Magnum should do the trick.
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Handgun for me. Anything from 9mm up should be fine. I might choose my loads carefully. I usually carry a 10mm when in bear country with Double Tap 200 gr loads. But I've seen enough to feel comfortable with the better loads from Double Tap and Buffalo Bore in 9mm, 45, or 357 mag. Those loads are expensive, but I bought 2 boxes of each cartridge. About 1/2 box to feel good about reliability and confirm POI and I figure the rest will last my lifetime unless I get into an extended firefight with a bear. And that ain't likely.

If I were to choose a shotgun it would be only to do double duty as a hunting gun at the same time. Use the one you like. That is 870 for me, but the others are good too.
 
of the 3 listed, the 870, because I grew up with one and it's my favorite. That said, I think the risks posed by wild mammals is minimal. And a rock works really really well for snakes. you're probably more likely to hurt youself carrying a firearm than being attacked.

but hey, if it makes you feel better, toss some buckshot and a slug or 2 in the 870 and hike away.
 
JCooperfan1911 said:
Woods walking with a combat shotgun?

In Ohio??
Click to expand...

Obviously, you haven't heard. On May 20th of this year, there was a Big Foot sighting in Ashland, Ohio. A combat shotgun with bayonet affixed would seem apropos for people daring to frequent Buckeye farm lots until this rouge Sasquatch has been captured. Not to mention the boar groundhogs that haunt the pastures.
 
Of the three, I’d choose the 870. The Ithaca is a classier hunting gun in my mind and the Mossberg, while tough, has a lot of competition to overcome with the 870.

On a side note, is there any such thing as an Express Police Magnum? I know there is the Express, Express Super Magnum, and Police Magnum, but I am not familiar with the Express Police Magnum.

My understanding is that the Police Magnums (both 870 and 11-87 variants) are parkerized while the Express line of guns uses a matte blue finish.
 
I would pick the Ithaca 37 because it is lighter to carry, and I would put a sling on any of them for woods carry. Use a slug as the last round out of the tube just in case of larger prey. If the first two don't get them to back off the slug should. Maybe equip the chosen shotgun like this or something similar. This and the loaded magazine will be at the ready when you go to the woods.
RLO_-_Shotgun_Butt_Stock_-_3_2048x.jpg
 
Sounds to me like you need a 590A1. For peace of mind if nothing else. It's stylish and useful and a great choice for a defensive shotgun. My camp load is buck-slug-slug-buck-buck. If I am in the mountains during the Hungry Time, when a black bear attack has some degree of possibility, it's slug-slug-buck-buck-buck. I'm sure there was an initial logic to the difference in load, but that's lost to time and now it's just habit.
 
giggitygiggity said:
Of the three, I’d choose the 870. The Ithaca is a classier hunting gun in my mind and the Mossberg, while tough, has a lot of competition to overcome with the 870.

On a side note, is there any such thing as an Express Police Magnum? I know there is the Express, Express Super Magnum, and Police Magnum, but I am not familiar with the Express Police Magnum.

My understanding is that the Police Magnums (both 870 and 11-87 variants) are parkerized while the Express line of guns uses a matte blue finish.
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as an Express police model. That's an oxymoron.
 
Despite your concerns with the recent bear sightings, the most likely predator that will be run into is a meth head or similar two legged predator.
 
Picking one gun for walks in the woods goes against my nature. That's kinda like asking which t shirt would you wear.
 
Any of those guns could do the job. Pick whichever you like the most and load it with buck or slugs.
 
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