Shotguns vs. Bears

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

monduconstruct

Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
80
Location
Boston (unfortunately)
I was reading a story on reddit this morning about grizzly bears in Alaska and got to thinking ... could a shotgun stop a bear? If not a grizzly, could it stop a black bear? My gut tells me any buckshot would just piss it off, so maybe a slug would slow it down? I don't live in a bear-prone area, but did grow up in one.

Just curious if any of the shotgun enthusiasts on THR have any knowledge on this topic. I think bears, grizzlies in particular, are completely fascinating and would love to see one someday - from behind some bullet proof glass hopefully.


ps. Here's the story I was reading for any curious: http://www.kaniut.com/abtsam.htm
 
Last edited:
Shotguns are the weapon of choice for most professionals who have to deal with problem bears after maulings, etc. A slug (or even heavy buck) has all the penetration needed for close range encounters with bears.

Some of those guys also use iron sighted rifles. I recall an old .375 H&H cut down to 20" in use by one biologist a few years ago. But, most of them now carry shotguns and nothing fancy or tactical, mostly short-barreled Remington pumps.
 
Slug in the brain will kill anything im sure. Under stress you might drop a shot but if you could mix up the rounds in your shotgun your laughing.
 
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Alaska Fish & Game LEO & biologists are issued 12 ga pump shotguns & slugs to deal with big angry bears, and whatever else comes along that needs killing.

rc
 
big angry bears
Click to expand...

like this one?

[Image removed]

Thank you guys for the comments - I was very surprised that they issue 12 ga. for this very purpose. Where would you shoot at a bear? You could easily miss the head, so center mass?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I encountered an overly curious brown bear one time, held up my 870 in profile and watched it retreat immediately! I'm pretty sure that bear at least would agree that a shotgun is enough for bears. :D

My load of choice in bear country is some kind of Brenneke or Gualandi slug, plenty of folks use Foster slugs and even 00 with success but I'm more confident in a tough, deep penetrating slug design.
 
Shotguns,especially a 12 gauge with the right slug is bad juju.
I have an old hunting magazine from the 1970's that has a story by the late outdoor writer Bob Brister,who while in Africa on a hunting trip and during an after the hunt campfire drinking session made a bet it was more than powerful enough at a correct distance to kill a cape buffalo.
His associates laughed at this.
So he used his Perrazzi over and under 12 gauge using Brenneke slugs and went out that next day with his friends and killed a cape buffalo.
The distance was about 25 yards if I recall.
That article always impressed the hell out of me.
 
Armed Bear,they were hunting some sort of bird called a sand grouse.
He most likely was hunting other game as well
His friends wisely backed him up with their powerful center fire rifles if his mission went south with the cape buffalo.
Of course they did not have to come to his help.
It was a very impressive story.
As was most anything the guy would write about.
 
Thank you guys for the comments - I was very surprised that they issue 12 ga. for this very purpose. Where would you shoot at a bear? You could easily miss the head, so center mass?
Click to expand...

Center of mass IS the head!

BearCharge.jpg
 
I don't think the state of Alaska issues shotguns, though there may be a mixed bag available at field offices.

The people I've met who do this are pretty particular about what they want and so they have their own guns. The state Troopers often have to deal with this situation and they have the standard cop Mossberg. But, the real pro's from F&G use what they want and that's typically (from what I've seen) a Remington 870.

You might be surprised to learn that they don't always go after a bear following a mauling or killing. A lot of times they just write it off as a sow with cubs or whatever and no action at all is taken. And of course, they usually can't ID which bear did the act and they aren't going to mow down every bear in an area just because some hiker got mauled.

When a bear is wounded in an attack (often the case) they do go after them and it's a dangerous business. When they go after a bear it's usually two or three guys and though I don't think there's a protocol, it wouldn't surprise me if at least one of those guys is armed with a rifle in case the bear is spotted at long range.
 
I agree, a 12 gauge - ESPECIALLY with a rifled barrel for slugs and any 3" Magnum reputable slug would kill darn near anything, I would think!
 
You don't need a rifled barrel for slugs.

Which would you rather shoot a big bear with?
A Sabot slug from a rifled barrel, which basically throws a .50 cal pistol bullet.

Or a 1 1/4 once, full 12 bore Brenneke slug from a smooth-bore, which hits like a brick outhouse and cuts a 3/4" hole all the way.

rc
 
Right between the eyes, or in this picture, right into his mouth thus taking out the upper spine and lower brain.
Click to expand...

The brain is much lower in the head than people think. Between the eyes is not a good shot, because at best you will only crease the top of the brain cavity. The brain is directly behind the nose/mouth.
 
Guys, you should clear off the poster as it's violating some core rules. Also, that's a zoo bear. The real ones are leaner, stronger and faster. They don't pose.
 
3" Brennekes are good to go but I'm a little leery of 3" Fosters for close range bear defence, I'm done a bunch of "backyard" media testing and it seems like the magnum Foster slugs don't always hold up well to the extra impact speed at bear defence ranges.

They'll break up or overexpand and underpenetrate, or badly deflect, or occasionally even flatten out and "frisbee" out the side of the target after going a short distance.

It doesn't happen all of the time but its often enough to worry, no such problems noted OTOH with the harder slug styles.
 
Why not use a semi auto shotgun, something like what bennelli,or winchester offers.I would rather pull the trigger,than pump then pull the trigger.
 
I always kept mine loaded with 3" magnum 00 Buck/slug/00 Buck/slug...

My decision was based upon a first shot needed multiple chances at a hit, IF there was time for a follow up shot... slug... thankfully, never needed to find out if my tactics were sound.
 
First, black bear I tend to think of as really big deer ('cept for the last one I saw in New Hampshire -- holy shoot)! So, I'm thinking this is really a Grizzly question. Yup, a 12 ga. pump (the shotgun to go with) and rifled slugs are the norm. Brenneke are probably prefered but I have to admit I have always loaded Remington Sluggers (Foster). However, I've carried copper plated 000 3" Magnums and would, as I have, staked my and others' lives on them. Same with the short .44 Mag revolver preferred by bush pilots in AK.

A hard slug and hard .44 bullet, the round, head on, will almost go thru the entire length and crossways, could easily go thru. Softer slugs and 10 harder .36 calliber Buckshot won't go straight thru a Brown Bear but should still give you the initial penetration as well as shock and trauma to stop even the biggest (I hope) grizzly dead in its tracks.

Al
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

F
  • Locked
12 GA 3in. slugs vs. grizz
2
Replies
36
Views
6K
RMc
R
R
  • Locked
12 gauge and big bears
2 3
Replies
55
Views
6K
FLNT4EVR
FLNT4EVR
C
  • Locked
What's a good shotgun load for bears?
2 3
Replies
55
Views
11K
ksabo45
K
R
  • Locked
Shotgun for Bear defense ??
Replies
19
Views
1K
pauli
P
R
  • Locked
Weapon for Hiking in Bear Country
2
Replies
45
Views
3K
Justin
Justin
Back
Top