what gun for home defense of black bear?

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cajun47

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after reading about the 11 year old boy that was taken from a tent, dragged 400 yards, and killed by a black bear im somewhat concerned. i live in south louisiana, my town is a strip of slightly higher land about 2 miles wide and 15 miles long in the middle of a vast swamp. thankfully i dont think black bears hang around the wet swamp much but its sometimes dry cause of levies/flood control.

a town about 30 miles away does have a black bear problem. they actually go in people's yard. so its not impossible for me to find one in my back yard. i would say i have about 100 yards from my house to the woods. i don't know the louisiana law on this but if i see one, im killing it. i have a 2 year old girl and a 1 year old girl running around here sometimes.

the only guns i have that i think would stop a bear are my ak47/30 & 40 round mags, 12 gauge with slugs, and an old 8mm mauser.

if i see a bear i could grab 2 of those guns real quick. which ones would be better?

im not sure of my abilities with a 12 gauge/slug at 100 yards. i can hit a paper plate with my ak47 at 100 yards all day but i wonder how effective it would be on a bear at that distance? but if he charges i could pepper his ass with forty 7.62x39mm rounds quickly. i have wolf fmj and hollow points for the ak47. which one? should i rotate them in the mag?

what about the 8mm mauser? i have some old ww2 fmj and some federal 8mm hunting rounds/soft points.
 
12ga is what is recommended for the crews working the Alaskan pipelines for grizzly protection it should do fine with the much smaller black bear

I don't know about where you're at but here in central Florida if you are taking 100 yard shots at aBlack you will be taking a ride in a blue light cruiser later
 
The Mauser with hunting ammo or the Shotgun with slugs. Either will work just fine. Now, this assumes you see the bear at a fair distance. If he's up close and personal, I guess multiple hits from the AK, with whatever ammo is loaded.

Time and your proximity to any of your weapons is the key. If you're just wandering around the yard, well, best luck to you. :D

You might check about Louisiana laws. If you're indoors and the bear is merely wandering through the yard and making no effort at entry, odds are you better not shoot him.

Art
 
i can't take that chance with the kids. i'll kill the bear no matter what. man made laws are not my #1 priority.
 
12ga with magnum slugs, if ur concerned about accuracy, put a 4x scope on the shotgun. You will easily be able to hit something the size of a bear in the vitals/head out to 125 yards or so...there isnt much that 1oz of lead at 1800fps wont knock down.
 
12 Gauge w/ slugs. 100% hands down will stop a 300-400 lbs animal (and thats a BIG black bear) :D Good luck!
 
yea i really want a .44 mag to carry while im hunting small game with a .22 rifle. but for at the house a 3" 12 gauge slug would be better or not?
 
for at the house a 3" 12 gauge slug would be better or not?
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Absolutely!!! Or just throw 00 buck in there and call it a day as well... we are talking about defense and within 25 yards. I would bet my life on taking a large animal down fast with a 12 gauge 00 buck or slug than any pistol (.44, .454, 500 whatever). And because its my house gun I do not think that protability is really of concern.. just that BIG boom for that ANYTHING that needs it :D
 
We've had numerous posts from folks who seem credible in stories of bear-hunting who say that 00 Buck is much less effective than a slug.

cajun, if your kids are outside, then you're indeed protecting, and there should be little or no problem with any law. If all of y'all are in the house, it's harder to make a realistic case about protection. IOW, don't borrow needless trouble.
 
We have many black bears around here. We had one within 50 yards of the house night before last. The thing about bears is that you see them when you least expect them. If you need a weapon for protection you need to have it with you. You simply do not have time to go get something. A pistol makes more sense than a shotgun or rifle because of ease of carry plus you can shoot it one handed while you grab your kid. While the rifles and shotgun you listed will all do a fine job. Slugs for the shotgun. The 8mm with a Nosler and the 7.62x39 with a quality soft point.
Before I shot a bear at 100 yds I would call wildlife enforcement and get his opinion. It just may save you some jail time and money.
 
The black bears I keep around the house are quite friendly. They eat from my hands and snuggle up to us on Winter nights.

I definitely want to protect them from violent criminals in our home.

Then I found out this thread was actually about how to defend your home FROM black bears...

Oh well.
 
Vern,

You clearly haven't read the 2nd Amendment. It clearly states that we are to "arm bears." What is so hard to understand about that?

;)
 
Vern,

You clearly haven't read the 2nd Amendment. It clearly states that we are to "arm bears." What is so hard to understand about that?
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I'm a-tellin' ya -- ya give them bears guns and they'll be a-turnin' over yer garbage cans, rippin' the doors offn' yer kitchins and I don't know what all.
 
im not sure of my abilities with a 12 gauge/slug at 100 yards. i can hit a paper plate with my ak47 at 100 yards all day but i wonder how effective it would be on a bear at that distance? but if he charges i could pepper his ass with forty 7.62x39mm rounds quickly.
Click to expand...

Given the nature of black bears, you probably don't have any reason to shoot them from your home at 100 yards. You and your house are not in that much danger, especially the house.
 
A bear about 100 miles north of here grew accustomed to a particular suburban yard. The homeowners had video of him hanging out in the jacuzzi, swimming in the pool on hot days, sitting on the back porch, etc. He never hurt anyone or tried.

Finally, the local zoo got him and put him on display. He was considered a safety hazard, as he clearly didn't mind being in close proximity to humans. Most bears would rather stay away from us.

Anyway, my point is that there probably ISN'T a reason to shoot a bear "in self defense" at 100 yards. What are you going to tell the warden, anyway? "He was comin' right for us!"?

100 yards away is called "hunting.":)
 
Anyway, my point is that there probably ISN'T a reason to shoot a bear "in self defense" at 100 yards. What are you going to tell the warden, anyway? "He was comin' right for us!"?
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No, I'm going to tell him, "He was right thar! I coulda reached out and touched him! He filled my rifle scope -- all I could see was hair! When I pulled the trigger, he knocked me down and put that scar on my rifle stock -- I'm gonna bill the Fish and Game Department to have it refinished, too."

And the bear is not going to say one word to dispute me, either.:D
 
When I was planning a hunt for bear, the guide stated firmly that I should bring an 870 12 gauge for back-up, and load it with:

1) buckshot
2) slug
3) buckshot
4) slug
5) buckshot

Doc2005
 
And the bear is not going to say one word to dispute me, either.
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No, but Gil Grisom will.
Anyone that can deduce meat bullets from a certain type of bug in the corpse will see through your story before you finish telling it
 
No, but Gil Grisom will.
Anyone that can deduce meat bullets from a certain type of bug in the corpse will see through your story before you finish telling it
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Was that Gil Grissom? I thought sure it was another bear!

A man shouldn't wander around in these woods with a beard like that.
 
Up north, you can use a .32 Winchester special, .30-30, .30-06, 44 magnum (rifle), .35 Remington, .308, 270. Take your pick. We are talking Black bear here?

Note: some of these cartridges are available in certain actions. Lever, semi-auto, bolt. Depending on some (cartridges), all.
 
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