00 buckshot for black bear

[duckandquailhunter]

I am going to start black bear hunting this season after seeing a large on my new farm, since I have only hunted birds before I do not own any high powered rifles. Would 18 pellets per a shell out of a 10 gauge be enough for black bear? I know range will be a issue so I might use a sxs with a slug in one barrell in buckshot in the other.

 

[Scooter22]

I'd use a aimed slug first. That should kill or put one down. Will the buckshot kill? Probably in close but you don't need a wounded bear of any kind. JMHO

 

[Patocazador]

00 or 000 buckshot in a full-choked 12 or 10 ga. will put a black bear down if he's inside of 35 yards. Aim for the head/neck area.

I'd rather use a slug or a centerfire rifle myself.

 

[matrem]

Curious,

Are you expecting it to be running toward you at very close range?

If not,
I'd stick with slugs.

 

[duckandquailhunter]

No but if the slug placement is not the best you have more margin for error with the 00

 

[matrem]

Black bears aren't doves, ducks or pheasants.
Probably aught not shoot at one on the move, unless absolutely necessary.

 

[duckandquailhunter]

I've been trying to find a forum explaining this but how do you post pictures?

 

[X-Rap]

You need to pattern the gun and load at the distance you intend to hunt, personally I wouldn't use buck shot on any big game animal.

 

[AKElroy]

I wouldn't, unless you are really close range. After watching hogs shot from a chopper (12 gage, OO BUCK), most went down with one shot, but most of those were 40-80lbs. For nearly all the bigger sows and boars, they took multiple shots. They had a few big boars over 200lbs, and they took5-6 rounds to take down. I think you would have a hard time finding s black bear that small, so I would not go buckshot.

 

[jmr40]

I wouldn't use buckshot on a bear unless I just had no other option. Either buy or borrow a decent rifle. Or if you feel better about a shotgun buy one designed to shoot slugs.

Not saying it won't kill one, but bear, even with good hits often run farther than other game. Buckshot won't give you an exit hole and no blood trail. Lots of stuff can go wrong when using buckshot.

 

[red rick]

00 or 000 buckshot in a full-choked 12 or 10 ga. will put a black bear down if he's inside of 35 yards. Aim for the head/neck area.

I'd rather use a slug or a centerfire rifle myself.

I agree and will add that I would like to be in a treestand and have a backup revolver .357 or larger and pattern my shotgun to find it's limit .

 

[jmr40]

I've been trying to find a forum explaining this but how do you post pictures?

I use www.photobucket.com

Upload photos to that site. Select the photo you want to post then left click on the IMG box to the right of the photo. It will then say "copied" briefly in the box. Come back here and right click on your mouse where you want the photo. Click "paste"

 

[Art Eatman]

Uploading photos: First, click on Start New Thread or on Reply to Thread. Write your text.

Then scroll down into Additional Options, click on Manage Attachments and follow the cues and clues.

 

[stringnut]

Buckshot works ok on deer at close range. Bears may be a different story. Bears are much heavier boned and muscled than cervids. Having seen a couple of hogs blasted at around 20 yards with buckshot I am not impressed. Penatration was iffy. Other means were used to finish both. Slugs are pretty impressive. Some of the modern designs are deep penetraters on just about anything. Buckshot is a terror at extreme close range, but, quickly losses it's energy do to poor ballistic coefficient.

 

[duckandquailhunter]

What do you guys think the weight on this bear would be I am guessing around 250

 

[Scooter22]

Bigger than I's want to spray with any kind of buck shot. Whats with wanting to use it???. Sight in for slugs and use them out to 100yds. PS. Make sure your states game law even allow it. Many states don't allow buckshot on big game.

 

[Lord Teapot]

go with a slug or a rifle on the level of 308+ if you want to put it down in one shot. 00 not made for bears any more than birdshot is made for deer.

 

[OptimusPrime]

Buckshot won't spread as much as video games make you think they do. Think of a large dinner plate at 20 yards; that's not much. Take everyone's advice and go with slugs. If you can hit a bear-sized target at 20 yards with buck then you can hit it with a slug just as well.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Don't know your situation but I would not shoot a bear with buckshot unless it was life or death for me or the family. I don't see it as humane nor ethical. No issues taking a bear but I want to take it, not wound it.

 

[duckandquailhunter]

I think I am going to use slugs or buy a .30-06

 

[rcmodel]

Wise move!!!

The only way to stop a large PO'd bear at close range it to break him down so he can't run at you going 35MPH!
That means breaking major bones and joints decisively.

Slugs will, buckshot won't.

rc

 

[3212]

Here in PA a few years ago,a game warden had to dispatch an injured adult bear in a thicket near homes.He used 12ga.slugs.

 

[Laphroaig]

I would be surprised if its legal to hunt bears anywhere in NA with buckshot.

Laphroaig

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I am told 3 buckshot out of a load of 9 will usually kill a deer, but for bear I would want 9 of 9 or 12 of 12, and leaving a wounded bear in the woods would make tracking and finishing off the only ethical option. Slugs over buckshot for bear if you have a choice. If it were suitable for large bear or other predators, they would have called it bearshot.

I carried a double 12ga with buckshot in the woods for protection one weekend, but only if a bear came at me close range and it became kill or be killed (fully expecting the state to seize the gun. my vehicle, fine me and suspend hunting rights for five years). Hiking, camping ot ATVing on the mountain we practiced bear avoidance; they are awesome to observe from a distance. If I went deliberately hunting bear, I would use the ammo and caliber specified by hunting regs.

 

[dogrunner]

Well, the stuff IS legal in Florida......but for that matter a .25 auto would be as well!

Buck, in my experienced opinion IS a killer......but firstly and mostly it's a good wounder that generally leaves zero blood trail. Sure, the critter will cash in his chips after running a hulluva distance and hiding under a lotta brush, and to be fair I did have a buddy that killed a buck at nearly a hundred yards with the stuff......ONE....that's precisely ONE pellet hit that deer in the head...pure and utter luck.

At best buck is a shortrange...40 yds & less...proposition. Go with slugs if you've gotta shotgun the things....better yet do the rifle thing.