Bear VS shotty?

Chris Phelps · January 10, 2008, 01:41 AM

I'm thinking of picking up a 12 Gauge pump or auto just to have with me when my friend and I go out hunting yote... I want something as a last resort, just in case. The largest animal in the area that I would have to worry about would be black bear. Chances are slim that one would ever attack us, but I'd rather not be undergunned. Is a 12 Gauge a good choice in the roll of backup for this?

oldbillthundercheif · January 10, 2008, 01:47 AM

Heck yes, that's about as good as it gets.

Chris Phelps · January 10, 2008, 02:08 AM

Would you use buckshot or slugs?

bestbod85 · January 10, 2008, 07:23 AM

slugs, i'd want the most penetration possible, but thats just my .02

YukonKid · January 10, 2008, 04:05 PM

with slugs thats about the best you can do. In the handgun threads people say "with my glock whatever i am not undergunned in bear country"

i would rather have 8 rounds of 12 then 15 rounds of 9.

Glenn E. Meyer · January 10, 2008, 04:15 PM

I don't think most Glockers have said that. Bears and handguns has been done to death and the consensus is long arms with some big revolver if one must but not preferred.

Also Glockers use big letters in sentences when they are supposed to.

JBriggs · January 10, 2008, 04:56 PM

Slugs would be the best choice. Will penetrate bone, muscle and fat.

SDBuckaroo · January 10, 2008, 06:11 PM

I just have to post this quote. It is my sig line over at GT....

"You have more of a chance of meeting 5 naked supermodels that want your hot body than you do a bear that wants to eat you." (so says GJJ)

Other than that truth I agree that a shotty is best. It is the weapon of choice among AK guides and such from what I understand.

SDBuckaroo

oldbillthundercheif · January 10, 2008, 06:52 PM

Slugs have plenty of penetration but I bet it would be a lot easier to hit a fast-moving bear with buckshot.

Chris Phelps · January 10, 2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDBuckaroo

"You have more of a chance of meeting 5 naked supermodels that want your hot body than you do a bear that wants to eat you."

so so so so so true. I've seen quite a few bear at a close enough range to make me almost pee my pants, and I've never had any problems. I just don't want to be the one the state starts their "bear attack" statistics on when I am mauled by the first bear in the New England area to have rabies. (Exaduration, I know.) Plain and simple, I feel better knowing I am ready for anything, even though there is a .000000001% chance of anything actually happening.

Glenn E. Meyer · January 10, 2008, 09:54 PM

Hitting a fast moving bear with buckshot - well, that's an interesting thought given the spread of the shot - 1 inch / one yard typical.

If the bear was at distance and you spread the shot, you have a relatively low penetration 30 cal ish pellets against the toughness of the bear. You would want the hit it with the more compact mass, which hasn't spread. But that's close.

Slugs seem better to me - but I don't have to worry about bears in TX.

Tbag · January 11, 2008, 12:23 PM

Bear vs Shotty, shotty wins 9 out of 10 times, it's that one time that really eats you up.

hogdogs · January 11, 2008, 12:44 PM

I would want 00 or 000 for my first 2 shots... If attacked you likely won't be at your best shootin' style. i don't think many alaskan guides load slug first. They are facing a much bigger bruin. But the shotgun is the best bear gun for defense.
Brent

SDBuckaroo · January 11, 2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Bear vs Shotty, shotty wins 9 out of 10 times, it's that one time that really eats you up.

Glenn E. Meyer · January 12, 2008, 10:56 AM

That really bites. Great line, BTW.

I wonder if bears discuss this. Now, Smokey Jr. see that guy with a handgun - yes, you can eat him.

banditt007 · January 13, 2008, 08:21 PM

i'd go slugs only. buckshot is going to glance pretty easily off its skull. its not like its going to come after you broad side. its head on, and you have skull and chest/ribs to get through before you hit vitals. if you really want some good bear slugs check out the heavier offerings of brenekke and dixie slugs. also a bear attack is going to be very close (infact at contact distance haha), if you are worried about buckshot spread, that means the bear is far enough away that its not considered self defense, its considered over reacting.

might just be good to have a bird bomb or two on hand, so if you see it at a distance you can just scare it off.

January 10, 2008, 01:41 AM	#1
Chris Phelps Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: South China, Maine Posts: 814	Bear VS shotty? I'm thinking of picking up a 12 Gauge pump or auto just to have with me when my friend and I go out hunting yote... I want something as a last resort, just in case. The largest animal in the area that I would have to worry about would be black bear. Chances are slim that one would ever attack us, but I'd rather not be undergunned. Is a 12 Gauge a good choice in the roll of backup for this? __________________ Bushmaster Superlight AR-15 5.56mm / Custom 24" Heavy BBL Varmint AR-15 5.56mm / Ruger M77 .257 Roberts / Ruger MKI 22LR Pistol / EAA Witness 9mm Pistol / Daisy 2202 22LR / Remington Viper 522 22LR / Stevens 200 .223 / Savage 10FP 24" .308 / Mauser 98 Sporter 30-06

January 10, 2008, 02:08 AM	#3
Chris Phelps Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: South China, Maine Posts: 814	Would you use buckshot or slugs? __________________ Bushmaster Superlight AR-15 5.56mm / Custom 24" Heavy BBL Varmint AR-15 5.56mm / Ruger M77 .257 Roberts / Ruger MKI 22LR Pistol / EAA Witness 9mm Pistol / Daisy 2202 22LR / Remington Viper 522 22LR / Stevens 200 .223 / Savage 10FP 24" .308 / Mauser 98 Sporter 30-06

January 10, 2008, 04:05 PM	#5
YukonKid Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: NW Posts: 744	with slugs thats about the best you can do. In the handgun threads people say "with my glock whatever i am not undergunned in bear country" i would rather have 8 rounds of 12 then 15 rounds of 9. __________________ This is ten percent luck, twenty percent skill Fifteen percent concentrated power of will Five percent pleasure, fifty percent pain And a hundred percent reason to remember the name!

January 10, 2008, 04:15 PM	#6
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	I don't think most Glockers have said that. Bears and handguns has been done to death and the consensus is long arms with some big revolver if one must but not preferred. Also Glockers use big letters in sentences when they are supposed to. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

January 10, 2008, 09:54 PM	#11
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	Hitting a fast moving bear with buckshot - well, that's an interesting thought given the spread of the shot - 1 inch / one yard typical. If the bear was at distance and you spread the shot, you have a relatively low penetration 30 cal ish pellets against the toughness of the bear. You would want the hit it with the more compact mass, which hasn't spread. But that's close. Slugs seem better to me - but I don't have to worry about bears in TX. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

January 10, 2008, 01:47 AM	#2
oldbillthundercheif Junior member Join Date: April 21, 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 2,450	Heck yes, that's about as good as it gets.

January 10, 2008, 07:23 AM	#4
bestbod85 Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Posts: 161	slugs, i'd want the most penetration possible, but thats just my .02

January 10, 2008, 04:56 PM	#7
JBriggs Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 328	Slugs would be the best choice. Will penetrate bone, muscle and fat.

January 10, 2008, 06:11 PM	#8
SDBuckaroo Member Join Date: December 6, 2005 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 64	I just have to post this quote. It is my sig line over at GT.... "You have more of a chance of meeting 5 naked supermodels that want your hot body than you do a bear that wants to eat you." (so says GJJ) Other than that truth I agree that a shotty is best. It is the weapon of choice among AK guides and such from what I understand. SDBuckaroo

January 10, 2008, 06:52 PM	#9
oldbillthundercheif Junior member Join Date: April 21, 2006 Location: New Orleans Posts: 2,450	Slugs have plenty of penetration but I bet it would be a lot easier to hit a fast-moving bear with buckshot.

January 11, 2008, 12:23 PM	#12
Tbag Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2007 Location: FL Posts: 238	Bear vs Shotty, shotty wins 9 out of 10 times, it's that one time that really eats you up.

January 11, 2008, 12:44 PM	#13
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	I would want 00 or 000 for my first 2 shots... If attacked you likely won't be at your best shootin' style. i don't think many alaskan guides load slug first. They are facing a much bigger bruin. But the shotgun is the best bear gun for defense. Brent

January 12, 2008, 10:56 AM	#15
Glenn E. Meyer Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 20,064	That really bites. Great line, BTW. I wonder if bears discuss this. Now, Smokey Jr. see that guy with a handgun - yes, you can eat him. __________________ NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens

January 13, 2008, 08:21 PM	#16
banditt007 Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2006 Posts: 694	i'd go slugs only. buckshot is going to glance pretty easily off its skull. its not like its going to come after you broad side. its head on, and you have skull and chest/ribs to get through before you hit vitals. if you really want some good bear slugs check out the heavier offerings of brenekke and dixie slugs. also a bear attack is going to be very close (infact at contact distance haha), if you are worried about buckshot spread, that means the bear is far enough away that its not considered self defense, its considered over reacting. might just be good to have a bird bomb or two on hand, so if you see it at a distance you can just scare it off.