Is a 12-guage shotgun powerful enough to hunt a bear with?

[Chris Mint]

With a 12-guage shotgun using a medium-powered load, is it possible to hunt a bear reliably under 100 meters?

Also, would you recommend to carry bear deterrent pepper spray just in case the bear charges at me?

 

[natman]

With a 12-guage shotgun using a medium load, is it possible to hunt a bear reliably under 100 meters?

Also, would recommend to carry bear deterrent pepper spray just in case the bear charges at me?

1) Yes, if you use Brenneke slugs and keep the distance short enough that you can hit with a shotgun

2) Not if you are carrying a shotgun with slugs.

 

[buttrap]

I would hope so as here most use deer or rodent guns on bear. The main issue is that most that use a 12 on bear shoot them in the tiger tank plate they have as a skull top and it glances off. Mr bear gets really pissed then after he has his ears and scalp blown off and will slap some hurt on you.

 

[Sav .250]

".... medium load...........?" What exactly are you talking about ?

 

[MCgunner]

You must be Talking about polar bear or maybe Kodiak browns, right? Sounds like it, anyway. I mean, people kill black bear with .357 revolvers.

Buy a .338, if so.

 

[evbutler462]

When I was a kid, back in the Great Depression, we hunted black bear all the time with 2 3/4" 00 buckshot. Food on the table was our main problem and slugs were hard to find. Pumpkin balls were available but few trusted them. We hunted with dogs so the bear was usually riled up and fighting mad. Within 30-35 yards, 00 did the job. Since most of the poor folks in the backwoods where I came from had old doubles, they let loose with both barrels for extra insurance.

On the big bears, I wouldn't trust it unless I was real close. Jack o'Connor in his famous Shotgun Book, stated that a full load of buckshot within five yards of any dangerous animal would do the job. So, he waited until a charging bear or lion got real close before firing.

 

[Fred Fuller]

There's bears, and then there's bears. A 300 pound NC blackie is a far cry from a 1500 pound Katmai grizzly...

Which did you have in mind?

lpl

 

[mossberglad]

If your using buck shot keep the range within 30 yds on black bear(00 or 000). Use remington buckhammer or brennekke slugs out to longer ranges.

 

[jmortimer]

With the Brenneke 3" Black Magic in a smooth bore you could kill anything on the earth. For sure it would be a great bear gun even for the "great bears."

 

[huntsman]

I wouldn't hesitate to use a shotgun with slugs for bear protection but it wouldn't be my first choice for hunting one.

 

[Ditch-Tiger]

I knew a guy who was an avid bear hunter (black bears over bait) who only used a pump shotgun with slugs; he used to say that a shotgun loaded with slugs is a poor mans express rifle.

 

[goon]

Loaded with slugs, yes it is. FWIW, if your shotgun happens to put slugs right on top of the bead it can be very quick on target - even quicker than a rifle. I'd use one inside of 60 yards or so without any worries.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Seems Mr. Mint was just trolling.

Nothing to see here, move along...