SD gun for deep woods walk, specificly bears...

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tra27

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Hey,

What would be your choice of the two guns against bears? Bolt action .308 loaded with heavy bullet or 12 gauge pump action shotgun loaded with slugs or 00 buckshot?

There might be lot of discussion of this on some thread, but im behind a really bad connection with tapatalk, so its easier this way. Sorry if im spamming.
 
Sounds like the issue is of defense rather than hunting. In hunting, the hunter has more control over the situation. Defense? Lots of "Oops! " involved.

Stopping a charge is the deal. So, bigger is better. From what I've read in numerous threads, if pepper spray doesn't work and a firearm is needed, many of those with experience have recommended a 12-gauge with slugs or a major rifle such as a .375 H&H. Break bones, end mobility.
 
Can of pepper gas.

Browning BLR in .325 Winchester Short Magnum.

A Freedom Arms .454 Casull for last ditch.

I'm glad I don't live in Alaska. It could get expensive. :D I'd probably just cheap out rather than buy new guns and carry a 12 gauge and my .45 Colt Blackhawk. I'd buy the pepper gas, though.

The .308 is a deadly enough chambering if you have time to deploy it. I'm a lot faster with a shotgun since I shoot it by pointing rather than aiming, wing shooting style. These things can close distance on you REAL fast. Apt to be a running shot with not much time.

But, don't listen to me, I'm a Texan. WTH do I know about brown bears!? Bwaaaaa, ha, ha, ha! :D
 
After being in a place for a couple months that has the cable TV hooked up I'm inclined to believe that all this bear talk and worry is coming from these reality shows, last night I think 3 shows in a row were all about bears and them getting you if you didn't watch out. Between that and the bicycle rim bow/tent pole arrow/lead arrow head killing that deer I guess I won't be hooking the cable up at home anytime soon.
Getting eaten by a bear would be a relief to some of those people.
 
Well, a guy in Orange, Texas didn't read the signs and went swimming with the gators. Heard that on the news just now. But, we don't have bears. :D If we did, it'd just be blackies. I understand parts of Texas, NE piney woods and western hill country are getting black bears BACK, though. I know they've populated the big bend from across the Rio in the last 35 years.
 
Because it is shorter and lighter than my rifle, and because it can hold both buckshot and slugs, I would carry my shotgun for defence only. Two buckshot shells loaded first, for up close last resort, four slugs ready to go. If that is not enough, I give up and say the bear earned its lunch. :)

For hunting, which is a serious activity, unlike just taking a walk, I would prefer my rifle. It can fire five shots faster than I can handle it anyway, if the need was to arise.

Luckily, over here, black bear is on the menu. They are usually more scared than I am. Never stumbled upon a female with cubs, though. :scrutiny:
 
I'm glad I don't live in Alaska. It could get expensive. I'd probably just cheap out rather than buy new guns and carry a 12 gauge and my .45 Colt Blackhawk. I'd buy the pepper gas, though.
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MCgunner

Well I do live in Alaska and I approve of your iron. In fact I put my life on them. That's what I carry a Ithaca M 37 12g 20" barrel and a Ruger Vaquero .45 with hot loaded 325 LBT's.

No more excuses not to come to Alaska tightwad:neener:
 
Of your options I'd carry the 308 loaded with heavy 200 gr Partitions. Shotguns, with buckshot have proven poor performers. Some of the newer generations of slugs would be an option, I just have more confidence in a rifle.

But since you stated brown bear I believe a 30-06 (loaded with proper bullets) is a sensible minimum with one of the 375's about ideal. Lots of test data as well as real world experience to prove those work. Most anything in between those 2 should work too, bullet selection is more important than actual caliber.

In theory your 308 loaded with the same bullets as a 30-06 should be just as effective up close. But there just aren't many people who have actually used that combo and I'd prefer to not test the theory. But if I had to go for a walk in brown bear country and a 308 was all I had I wouldn't stay home.
 
There's brown bear attacks here from time to time. No fatalities in years, but wife insists I carry a piece with me when we walk in the woods. I agree especially when our son is with us. At least its mental protection for the mind. :D

At the moment it would be easier to carry my rifle because it has 20" barrel compared to 26" barrel in my shotgun. Not a guide gun but shorter and lighter than my shotgun. That pepper spray would be a good idea but i dont know if its even available here. You need a licence if you want to carry a pepper spray can in self defence.. dont know whats the case with bears.

Shotgun might be faster to use and with buckshot its more forgiving than rifle. Also slug is quite the apex caliber if your talking about size.. was it .72? :D It's also quite accurate too.. even from smoothbore.
 
I'd have to opt for a 450 Marlin or 444 Marlin, and if only one gun the choice is always a 12 gauge shotgun.
 
Me? I live in northern europe. If I was in alaska, i would have something like 45-70 or 450 marlin as a lever gun. One option is also .44 cap and ball revolver.
 
I once pointed my camera at a bear who was running right to my stationary ground position I was deer hunting ...it was snowing and the black bear, about 300 lbs. was coming right at me...temperature was 28 degrees, te gorund was covered with snow and you could hear a chip monk fart at 100 yards... I click my camera to capture the memory, the bear hear the shutter click turn 90 degrees and ran up the mountain.. later my friends who were deeper in the woods followed the bear tracks to my stand..on their way out at the end of the day... I had the photo to show .

My point is if you want protection from a bear... in most cases any noise will scare them unless they are wounded or you get between them and their cubs.

Hunting is a different issue.
 
My point is if you want protection from a bear... in most cases any noise will scare them unless they are wounded or you get between them and their cubs.
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Once while hiking (in Colorado)a girlfriend and I startled a black bear busily doing bear stuff in a creek. The bear saw us the same time we saw it. My girlfriend screamed and sent the bear running. It paused to give us a dirty look and continued on its' way. I felt sorry for the bear.

On the other hand, the nice man at the Fred Meyers in Fairbanks sold my dad a 12 gauge and a few boxes of three inch slugs when berry season rolled around.
 
If there is such as thing as transmigration of souls, I pray to whatever gods that might be in charge to please not send me back as a bear. It seems everybody on the planet is talking about the best way to kill them.
 
I ran into the worlds fattest black bear several weeks ago while scouting for moose. I immediately shot it with my cell phone camera. Like 99.99999% of bear encounters we simply went about respective business without any worries or troubles.
67348890-b253-4f31-86a4-406ce0445e9c_zpseod80ppm.jpg
 
Evil-Twin said:
My point is if you want protection from a bear... in most cases any noise will scare them unless they are wounded or you get between them and their cubs.
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And just how are we to know if it is one of the "most cases". I don't speak bear, and I have never managed to learn the Vulcan mind meld. Of course, even if I had I'd still have to figure out how to get the bear to sit still while I performed it.

But I have very little experience with bears. Only killed one. 70 to 80 yd shot. One round of 30-06. Just dropped. Then again, I'm sure most of our experts on bears have much more experience than I. I figure they are bluff charged weekly at least.
 
I'm not looking to shoot or kill a bear, just if the situation comes to that, that a bear is running towards me i have something else than just bare fists. Theres a good change that i dont even ever see a bear, but why not prepare.. just in case..

Someone spotted couple of wolves few miles from here... What would be good caliber for those critters.. ;) ;)
 
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