What's a good shotgun load for bears?

[crazykayaker]

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good defense load for black bears? I have a Maverick 18'' 12 gauge pump. I use 2.75'' 00 buckshot for HD, but I'm not sure that it would penetrate very well in a bear. Maybe rifled slugs?

 

[withdrawn34]

If you don't have a rifled barrel, I don't think that rifled slug is going to do you much good.

 

[amd6547]

"Rifled" slugs are actually designed for smoothbore barrels, and would be the preferred load for bear defense.

 

[mbogo]

I'd load 0 or 00 buckshot for the first shot, and aim for the face; you may not kill it, but you might blind it, giving you the opportunity to escape.

Load the magazine with Brenneke slugs and aim under the chin as it's coming toward you.

mbogo

 

[highorder]

Load the magazine with Brenneke slugs

This.

 

[jon86]

I'd load 0 or 00 buckshot for the first shot, and aim for the face; you may not kill it, but you might blind it, giving you the opportunity to escape.

What advantage does this give you? The bear will die later with a face full of buckshot. If it doesn't die from the face wound it'll die from not being able to find food. What is more humane, to kill it immediately with slugs or give it a face full of buckshot so it dies a slow painful death?

Fill your magazine tube to the top with slugs.

 

[dak0ta]

You don't miss as easily with buckshot under high stress situations as if you only had the 1 slug. Maybe no time to aim or something. Bears don't necessarily indicate that they're going to attack...

 

[Cosmoline]

This has been discussed in about 1,000 threads to date. Buckshot at DLP range isn't going to give you any better chance of hitting.

Answer: Brenneke hardcast slugs.

 

[Pete D.]

again

You don't miss as easily with buckshot under high stress situations as if you only had the 1 slug

Yeah, you do. If you can miss with a slug, you can miss with a pattern that is only a few inches wide.
Pete

 

[ReloaderFred]

I live in bear country and can't put out my trash the night before pickup, or they'll get into it and make a huge mess. They come through my yard at night and are a pain in the butt.

Forget the 00 Buck and go with rifled slugs. My wife and I have been cornered by an ornery bear while walking the dogs behind our house and the 9mm I had in my hand got smaller as the bear got more aggressive. When he finally tired of the game after about 20 minutes, the 9mm felt like a .22. You haven't lived until you've had a bear "posture" back and forth in front of you, letting you know he's boss.

A well placed rifled slug at close range will handle a black bear just fine.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[rcmodel]

and aim for the face; you may not kill it, but you might blind it, giving you the opportunity to escape.

Oh great!

So now you set a wounded, pizzed off bear that is going to be starving loose on your neighborhood!

Shoot the dang bear with a slug and kill it DRT!!
Then somebody else won't get hurt or killed having to deal with your wounded bear later!

rc

 

[lloveless]

The National Park Service in Alaska issues 00 Buck for the 1st shot followed by Brenneke slugs.
ll

 

[ReloaderFred]

I've worked with people from the National Park Service and they aren't the brightest lights on the tree. Stick with slugs for bears.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[lobo9er]

So now you set a wounded, pizzed off bear that is going to be starving loose on your neighborhood!

Shoot the dang bear with a slug and kill it DRT!!
Then somebody else won't get hurt or killed having to deal with your wounded bear later!

up close and personal 00 buck to the nogg'n and a black bear will be DRT

though slugs would be my choice

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

Birdshot. At the distances you'd be shooting a bear in defense it'll act like a single column of lead. (this was sarcasm, don't flame me)

 

[jmr40]

Good quality slugs. Forget about buckshot.

 

[Cosmoline]

The National Park Service in Alaska issues 00 Buck for the 1st shot followed by Brenneke slugs.

Source?

 

[Jason_W]

If chemical deterrents 9bear spray) actually work, it would probably be the easiest way to hit under stress. Of course, wind conditions could be an X factor.

 

[geologist]

2 3/4" Brenneke slugs.

 

[RMc]

Forget 12 gauge...

...soft lead thimbles! This 3" Winchester 1 ounce slug broke up on small doe at 15 yards - dead deer but poor penetration for bear defense!

 

[ArmedLiberal]

All the bears that I know that prefer shotguns for self defense agree that slugs are the best load. And who would argue with a shotgun totin' bear?

 

[DBR]

I suggest Brenneke hard cast slugs. Around here Dick's Sporting Goods sells the KO version. They are not very expensive. Regular foster slugs are very soft and may not penetrate far enough to do the job.

 

[RandyB]

Slugs. Breneke would be first choice, but any slug over buck would be better in my opinion.

 

[lloveless]

Cosmoline: National Park Service in Kotzebue, Alaska. Talking with the rangers- who took out some archeologists and issued the guns for defense at a "dig". I also questioned the use of the Buckshot, but this is what they reccomended. They have more bear experience than I who has only seen grizzlies in a zoo setting. I have seen the damage they can do to infrastructure(water pipe from resevoir bit and clawed), for no apparent reason. Awesome! I am sure I do not wish to see a griz/brown bear up close and personal.
ll

 

[evan price]

3" magnum 15-pellet 00-buckshot. Then 1-oz slugs. Then running shoes.