12 gauge and big bears

[PJR]

In many of the rural areas of Northern Canada you will find few gun laws ACTUALLY exist.(i.e. are inforced) I carried a .44mag SRH openly for years without a permit and was only once asked about it by a RCMP officer. He asked if I had a permit. I said "no, I am a bear guide". He said, "oh, eh...ye ever had to used dat ting?"

This is BS. The laws exist coast to coast to coast. To even imply that our American friends could bring a restricted firearm into Canada and carry it is irresponsible. If caught it's potentially a three-year mandatory minimum no matter where you are in the country.

In parts of Ontario it is still a maximum capacity of 10rds,....even though "provential law" states 5 rds for autos and higher for pumps. I had no problem obtaining and using a magazine extension for the 835 that brought maximum capacity to 8 2.75" shells when I was in Kapuskasing.

More BS. There is not now nor has there even been a magazine limit of ten rounds in Ontario or anywhere else in Canada for a pump gun. That's the reason you had no problem with your Mossberg. It's a pump gun.

Anyone coming to Canada would be seriously well advised to ignore the advice that is posted by tango2echo.

For more information here are some links:

Canadian Firearms Act (including regulations pertaining to carry)
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cs/F-11.6///en?noCookie

Canadian Firearms Centre
http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/default_e.asp

Canadian Firearms Centre Information for Visitors
http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/info_for-renseignement/non-residents/default_e.asp

Info on the Tackling Violent Crime Act (contains mandatory sentences for illegal firearms possession.)
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/news-nouv/nr-cp/2008/doc_32273.html

 

[cameron.personal]

You put the words "bear" and "shotgun" in the same thread, you are asking for trouble!

 

[Readyrod]

When I was working up north one summer a forestry guy showed me his magnum revolver and we shot off a few rounds. He told me that he didn't openly carry it as it was illegal. But he did carry it. I don't know if it was common practice but I imagine that in a small community up north a local can get away with a lot more than you can in other places. Specially as you are really on your own in some areas. It's vast open territory up there and there is a lot of game.
On the other hand I also knew a border guard once and he said that they really loved busting people who tried to cross the border with handguns, so I really wouldn't try it.
I did read a story once about an American who was RVing on the Canadian side of the Alaska highway who was attacked by a guy with a shotgun. He shot back with his shotgun and killed him. The paper said that they didn't even lay charges. Moral is bring a shotgun and don't mess with the border guards.
Back on topic, I went to the local zoo (Ueno zoo in Tokyo. It sure ain't San Diego.) and had a look at the bears. The Hokkaido brown bears were big. Massive heads. If one was coming for me it would be hard to hit any other part without the head getting in the way. I'm wondering if a head shot with a 12 gauge would stop one or only give it a headache. The polar bears were smaller and had small heads. They looked a lot more menacing though.

 

[colemanw]

12g is just fine... typically there are standard 2 3/4" shells and 3"Magnum. The 3" kicks very hard and may be overkill. The real problem with 3" shells is that once they are fired the front lip of the plastic case may be a hair too long to eject from the receiver (as i found out on my 500As) this will cause a nasty jam! test your setup! good luck

 

[Cosmoline]

Just use hardcast slugs, not soft deer slugs and not buckshot. Brenneke makes great ones. I'm pretty sure they're totally legal in Canada and I know AK troopers use them. I carried a Mossberg 500 with those slugs and a slug barrel for years on fishing trips here. It kicked like a mule but hit like one too. There's no question these will stop and kill a bear with as much reliability as anything this side of a mountain howitzer. There's always a chance they won't stop it in time, but nothing else you could carry would do better. Rifles give you longer range, which isn't a factor in DLP shootings.

Do not fall into the trap of using buckshot to help hit. The spread at these ranges is minimal and buckshot simply does not have the penetration or bone-breaking ability you need.

 

[FLNT4EVR]

BIG BEAR DEFENCE! Once again the topic comes up.In a defence situation you are talking about ranges measured in feet not yards.A12ga smooth bore pump gun loaded with slugs,should be your weapon of choice.You want the bear down and dead right where he stands ,and this gives you the power to do it.