qcsmitty
Member
Given that the handgun standard for brown bear would be 44 mag or better, a slug must be the correct answer. Yes? Wouldn't buck shot just pi-- him off?
What's a good shotgun load for bears?
- Thread starter crazykayaker
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USAF_Vet
Member
Hmm, year before last I took a small doe with a 3" Winchester 1oz slug and it went clean through her (spine shot) at about 30 yards. She dropped on the spot and was dead by the time I got to her.
Rail Driver
Member
I don't know about you all, but a bear makes a guy like me feel mighty tiny... If I were in a situation where all I had was a shotgun and I HAD to go into bear territory I would do one of 2 things... #1, pay someone else to go or #2, cast some of my own steel core rifled lead slugs and load up some 3.5" magnum shells.
Youngster
Member
Foster slug performance can vary greatly at 3" velocities at close ranges, especially on tougher target materials. I've seen them break up, flatten out to a thin wafer and underpenetrate, or even flatten out and "frisbee" out of the target laterally after penetrating a short distance.
For bear defense I'll only carry the tougher Brenneke or Gaulandi style slugs, even in regular 2 3/4 format.
Mark8252
Member
Bear Defense
Slugs and more slugs. Nothing but slugs. Period. My friend shot a bear in his cabin with a 357 mag cause thats what he had with him. The bear was finally killed with a 20ga slug by another friend. Not a huge monster bear but big enough to do them all in if it wanted to. Now they have a 12ga with slugs ready at all times.
Slugs and more slugs. Nothing but slugs. Period. My friend shot a bear in his cabin with a 357 mag cause thats what he had with him. The bear was finally killed with a 20ga slug by another friend. Not a huge monster bear but big enough to do them all in if it wanted to. Now they have a 12ga with slugs ready at all times.
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