20 gauge hornady sst slug for black bear?

[mossberglad]

I have been reading about a possible black bear season in NJ. I was wondering if the 20 gauge hornady sst slug is enough for your average blackie. I think their 250 grains and leave the muzzle at 1900 or 1800 fps. All shots would be within 50 yards. Thanks and happy shotgunning

 

[ds92]

no clue, but i think you might have better luck in the hunting forum. happy hunting!

 

[MCgunner]

At the muzzle using 1800 fps as the velocity, I get right at 1800 ft lbs for 250 grain projectile. Now, there ain't a lot of sectional density in that slug, but I think to 50 yards it'd be plenty just on the numbers if you can place your shot. I've never shot anything with a slug, but after all, that's a 60 some caliber projectile there and packin' some serious energy. I'd prefer it to a 58 caliber round ball from a Hawken which has downed many a griz and black bear.

 

[rcmodel]

The 20 ga SST will give you about twice the muzzle energy of a .44 Mag carbine, or as much energy at 100 yards as the .44 carbine has at the muzzle.
No one could argue that the .44 Mag carbine isn't a very good black bear gun.

The only thing is, you have to shoot them out of a fully rifled shotgun barrel.

If all you have is a smoothbore 20, they won't work.

rc

 

[MCgunner]

How's about Remington Buckhammer out of a smooth bore? I've heard yea and nay on that one. I haven't picked up any to try 'em, yet, though. All I seem to be able to find locally is regular Remington Slugger foster slugs, but that's really all I need, personally. I'm not seriously hunting with 'em, just carry the gun with 'em in case I see a hog when I'm out and about. We don't have any bears to worry about down here.

 

[Jubjub]

The SST slug has a reputation for being very soft, that is to say expanding rapidly at the expense of penetration. Great for deer, maybe not so much for bear.

 

[earlthegoat2]

It will be fine black bear medicine. Those things arent too tough even when they are cranky. If you can use it on feral swine you can use it on Black Bear.

 

[WVMountainBoy]

I've seen two blacks taken with a smoothbore, but they were with Rem. Sluggers out of a 12. I know its a foolish thing but in my little area 20's are starter guns, used usually only till the shooter is comfy with a 12. Going on the numbers though, it should more than do it. Blacks aren't very tough.

 

[bad_aim_billy]

The 20 was what I started on years ago, never had any reason to move to a 12. The SST slug should be fine at the ranges you're considering. Having shot deer with 20 gauge slugs of less power than this load, it's still impressive what all that lead can do at close range...

 

[Birdhunter1]

The SST slug has a reputation for being very soft, that is to say expanding rapidly at the expense of penetration. Great for deer, maybe not so much for bear.

Where did you experience this, from what I have personally seen the SST slug is a piece of crap, doesn't expand unless it hits a MAJOR bone (and event then it is iffy) and leaves a small wound channel with little damage to tissue, heart, lungs etc. Really it looks like full metal jacket ammo through a deer, I swear those SST's are a solid bullet that isn't designed to expand, and I am talking about 6 deer that finally died, but only because the guy who shot them each time saw them drop, often times twice the distance most other slugs would have taken.

My opinion, go with a Lightfield!

 

[rcmodel]

I'm always amazed at hearing:

"Those dang bullets aren't any good, and I have six dead deer to prove it!"

rc

 

[blakem]

I know this is common knowledge but a poorly shot deer will run for a long time no matter what you hit it with. There are too many variables, specifically shot placement and specifc deer anatomy to judge the effectiveness of a given round. Deer don't not die because you got a heart shot on it but the bullet didn't expand.