slugs or buckshot for bear or hog?

old fart · March 28, 2012, 09:05 AM

i just bought a pardner protector, and will be using it for home defense as well as a camping (hiking) gun. what would be the best for it in case i run up on a bear that decides to take me out? i'm gonna load buck shot for the home but don't know which would be best for bear. i live in kentucky and coyoties will be my major threat but those black bears sightings are starting to happen more often as well as wild hogs, so i waNT TO BE PREPARED. thanks

beeenbag · March 28, 2012, 09:18 AM

either would be fine, although i would keep a few slugs handy. I dont think you are in much danger here in ky though.

old fart · March 28, 2012, 09:26 AM

i do believe coyoties will be my main threat but you never know, i didn't even know wild hogs were near me till this last deer season. a guy just 15 miles from my home was deer hunting and was forced to kill one that charged him. it weighed 394lbs, now thats pretty big for a hog in kentucky and i thought they were only in the east.

JimPage · March 28, 2012, 10:21 AM

Slugs, no doubt about it.

UtopiaTexasG19 · March 28, 2012, 10:23 AM

I'd really hate to **** off a decent sized bear with buckshot. I would go with slugs.

Old Grump · March 28, 2012, 10:49 AM

If the bear is supposed to have a bad day you load with slugs. If you want you and the bear to have a bad day use buckshot.

FrosSsT · March 28, 2012, 12:27 PM

"If the bear is supposed to have a bad day you load with slugs. If you want you and the bear to have a bad day use buckshot."

LMFAO

Alaska444 · March 28, 2012, 12:35 PM

Quite a few threads on this issue here and other places. Buckshot lacks penetration, sectional density and is essentially equal to a .380 shooting nine shots all at once. If that is what you want against a bear, go for it, but not my cup of tea so to say. Slugs all the way.

model18 · March 28, 2012, 12:41 PM

3 in. magnum slug.....no buck for bear!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave McC · March 28, 2012, 01:06 PM

Slugs....

shortwave · March 28, 2012, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Slugs....

^^^This^^^

Emuricah513 · March 28, 2012, 01:41 PM

Slugs no doubt and yes I would probably go with 3" Magnums I have to agree with model18

Irish B · March 29, 2012, 11:41 PM

I don't care what anyone tells you buckshot will not work effectively on bear. Period. I have personal experience with this. I (in my less experienced days) have personally shot a 300 lbs black bear in the vitals from 25 yards with 3" mag hardened 00 buck and it didn't even phase him. Absolutely use slug. And not all slugs are created equal either. The cheap federal or remington expanding slugs you buy from your local gun shop for deer hunting are nowhere near the level of effective as brenneke black magic magnums.

radom · March 30, 2012, 05:49 AM

slugs unless you like to have people see how you look in used jam piles.

Colvin · March 30, 2012, 10:06 AM

The plus side of having buckshot is that it comes with a free obituary!

chucknbach · March 30, 2012, 12:43 PM

First one 00 the rest slugs. Better to hit with 00 than miss with a slug. This was the configuration I used as a salmon fishing guide in Alaska. Sometimes a double 10ga with 1 of each.

Also carried .44 with the front sights filed off.

anonymousFolk · March 31, 2012, 03:18 PM

...or bear pepper spray. There's an old thread somewhere on here where we talked about bears and slugs vs bear specific pepper spray. Yes it's dog the bounty hunter cannister style mace.

Depends if you're hunting, or defense

Glockstar .40 · April 1, 2012, 01:19 AM

sluuuugs! sure 00 has 9 pellets but whose to say all of those are gonna hit the bear depending on how far away your shooting from and they dont have the penetration youll need for a tough skinned bear imho

FrosSsT · April 1, 2012, 01:29 PM

slugs, the ones with shells.....no not those slugs....no i dont have salt.....

tAKticool · April 1, 2012, 02:45 PM

Now I of course will agree slugs are best for the bear, but cmon guys some of you are making it seem like 00 Buck is basically throwing a rock at the bear.

My Mossberg 930SPX is modified to be NJ legal, so instead of the factory +3 Choate extension it has a +1 on it, making it 5+1 instead of 7+1. I almost always have it loaded with Hornady TAP FPD 2 3/4" 00 Buck. I *AGREE* I would be better hitting a bear with a slug than a round of 00 Buck, however, I am REALLY Confident that if I shoot the bear with 6 rounds of Hornady TAP FPD 00 Buck it's going to at the very least stop and most likely die in its tracks.

Also, I do agree, if you shoot the slug and MISS you not only are in big trouble, you might have to deal with the ramifications of where and what that slug did, if u live the encouter with the bear.

Sheikyourbootie · April 1, 2012, 02:48 PM

Brenake slug, if you can't get a Dixie slug.

Irish B · April 1, 2012, 02:55 PM

You cant argue the effectiveness of buckshot on bear without having actually used it on a real bear. Yeah maybe 8 rounds of buckshot will stop or mutilate a bear but the average number of shots someone gets off during a bear charge is 1 to 2. The bear isn't going to sit there and let you unload 7 or 8 rounds into it. Like I said before I've shot a bear broadside in the vitals with hardened magnum 00 and it only made him flinch. I wouldn't be willing to take that risk again. Also people have this idea that if they're loaded with buck they can just point and shoot and they'll hit anything and everything in the general area they're aiming at. You still have to be a good shot to be effective with buck.

lamarw · April 1, 2012, 03:10 PM

I don't think you will have a human threat problem with coyotes unless it is rabid. Either would work on them. I have killed one with # 6 shot but it was close range and not attacking me. I agree with slugs for bear and/or wild hogs.

johnbt · April 1, 2012, 03:11 PM

"but cmon guys some of you are making it seem like 00 Buck is basically throwing a rock at the bear."

That's correct. A tiny handful of little rocks.

Webleymkv · April 1, 2012, 03:17 PM

While buckshot is just fine for erect bipeds or more slightly built game like deer at short ranges, the extra penetration needed with bears and feral hogs due to their bone structure and anatomy calls for slugs. While a foster slug might work OK, my preference would be for a harder slug like a Brenneke Black Magic Magnum.

March 28, 2012, 09:05 AM	#1
old fart Senior Member Join Date: May 24, 2009 Posts: 405	slugs or buckshot for bear or hog? i just bought a pardner protector, and will be using it for home defense as well as a camping (hiking) gun. what would be the best for it in case i run up on a bear that decides to take me out? i'm gonna load buck shot for the home but don't know which would be best for bear. i live in kentucky and coyoties will be my major threat but those black bears sightings are starting to happen more often as well as wild hogs, so i waNT TO BE PREPARED. thanks

March 28, 2012, 10:21 AM	#4
JimPage Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2010 Location: Rome, NY Posts: 941	Slugs, no doubt about it. __________________ Jim Page Cogito, ergo armatum sum

March 28, 2012, 10:49 AM	#6
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	If the bear is supposed to have a bad day you load with slugs. If you want you and the bear to have a bad day use buckshot. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

March 28, 2012, 01:41 PM	#12
Emuricah513 Member Join Date: February 9, 2012 Location: North Dakota - From Ohio Posts: 45	Slugs no doubt and yes I would probably go with 3" Magnums I have to agree with model18 __________________ "When the law disallows both the means and moral authority to defend one's self and property, crime and violence fill the void between common sense and the hoped for utopia."

March 29, 2012, 11:41 PM	#13
Irish B Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 359	I don't care what anyone tells you buckshot will not work effectively on bear. Period. I have personal experience with this. I (in my less experienced days) have personally shot a 300 lbs black bear in the vitals from 25 yards with 3" mag hardened 00 buck and it didn't even phase him. Absolutely use slug. And not all slugs are created equal either. The cheap federal or remington expanding slugs you buy from your local gun shop for deer hunting are nowhere near the level of effective as brenneke black magic magnums. __________________ If a man hasn't found something worth dying for, he isn't fit to live Last edited by Irish B; March 30, 2012 at 11:52 AM.

March 28, 2012, 09:18 AM	#2
beeenbag Member Join Date: May 30, 2010 Posts: 61	either would be fine, although i would keep a few slugs handy. I dont think you are in much danger here in ky though.

March 28, 2012, 09:26 AM	#3
old fart Senior Member Join Date: May 24, 2009 Posts: 405	i do believe coyoties will be my main threat but you never know, i didn't even know wild hogs were near me till this last deer season. a guy just 15 miles from my home was deer hunting and was forced to kill one that charged him. it weighed 394lbs, now thats pretty big for a hog in kentucky and i thought they were only in the east.

March 28, 2012, 10:23 AM	#5
UtopiaTexasG19 Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2011 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 743	I'd really hate to **** off a decent sized bear with buckshot. I would go with slugs.

March 28, 2012, 12:27 PM	#7
FrosSsT Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 595	"If the bear is supposed to have a bad day you load with slugs. If you want you and the bear to have a bad day use buckshot." LMFAO

March 28, 2012, 12:35 PM	#8
Alaska444 Junior member Join Date: April 3, 2010 Posts: 1,231	Quite a few threads on this issue here and other places. Buckshot lacks penetration, sectional density and is essentially equal to a .380 shooting nine shots all at once. If that is what you want against a bear, go for it, but not my cup of tea so to say. Slugs all the way.

March 28, 2012, 12:41 PM	#9
model18 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2006 Posts: 419	3 in. magnum slug.....no buck for bear!!!!!!!!!!!!

March 28, 2012, 01:06 PM	#10
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Slugs....

March 30, 2012, 05:49 AM	#14
radom Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 1,353	slugs unless you like to have people see how you look in used jam piles.

March 30, 2012, 10:06 AM	#15
Colvin Senior Member Join Date: August 15, 2011 Posts: 127	The plus side of having buckshot is that it comes with a free obituary!

March 30, 2012, 12:43 PM	#16
chucknbach Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2011 Location: Gillette, WY Posts: 135	First one 00 the rest slugs. Better to hit with 00 than miss with a slug. This was the configuration I used as a salmon fishing guide in Alaska. Sometimes a double 10ga with 1 of each. Also carried .44 with the front sights filed off.

March 31, 2012, 03:18 PM	#17
anonymousFolk Member Join Date: March 24, 2011 Posts: 63	...or bear pepper spray. There's an old thread somewhere on here where we talked about bears and slugs vs bear specific pepper spray. Yes it's dog the bounty hunter cannister style mace. Depends if you're hunting, or defense

April 1, 2012, 01:19 AM	#18
Glockstar .40 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2012 Location: West of the Rockies Posts: 435	sluuuugs! sure 00 has 9 pellets but whose to say all of those are gonna hit the bear depending on how far away your shooting from and they dont have the penetration youll need for a tough skinned bear imho

April 1, 2012, 01:29 PM	#19
FrosSsT Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 595	slugs, the ones with shells.....no not those slugs....no i dont have salt.....

April 1, 2012, 02:45 PM	#20
tAKticool Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Posts: 430	Now I of course will agree slugs are best for the bear, but cmon guys some of you are making it seem like 00 Buck is basically throwing a rock at the bear. My Mossberg 930SPX is modified to be NJ legal, so instead of the factory +3 Choate extension it has a +1 on it, making it 5+1 instead of 7+1. I almost always have it loaded with Hornady TAP FPD 2 3/4" 00 Buck. I AGREE I would be better hitting a bear with a slug than a round of 00 Buck, however, I am REALLY Confident that if I shoot the bear with 6 rounds of Hornady TAP FPD 00 Buck it's going to at the very least stop and most likely die in its tracks. Also, I do agree, if you shoot the slug and MISS you not only are in big trouble, you might have to deal with the ramifications of where and what that slug did, if u live the encouter with the bear.

April 1, 2012, 02:48 PM	#21
Sheikyourbootie Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2010 Posts: 379	Brenake slug, if you can't get a Dixie slug.

April 1, 2012, 02:55 PM	#22
Irish B Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 359	You cant argue the effectiveness of buckshot on bear without having actually used it on a real bear. Yeah maybe 8 rounds of buckshot will stop or mutilate a bear but the average number of shots someone gets off during a bear charge is 1 to 2. The bear isn't going to sit there and let you unload 7 or 8 rounds into it. Like I said before I've shot a bear broadside in the vitals with hardened magnum 00 and it only made him flinch. I wouldn't be willing to take that risk again. Also people have this idea that if they're loaded with buck they can just point and shoot and they'll hit anything and everything in the general area they're aiming at. You still have to be a good shot to be effective with buck. __________________ If a man hasn't found something worth dying for, he isn't fit to live Last edited by Irish B; April 1, 2012 at 03:02 PM.

April 1, 2012, 03:10 PM	#23
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 3,311	I don't think you will have a human threat problem with coyotes unless it is rabid. Either would work on them. I have killed one with # 6 shot but it was close range and not attacking me. I agree with slugs for bear and/or wild hogs.

April 1, 2012, 03:11 PM	#24
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	"but cmon guys some of you are making it seem like 00 Buck is basically throwing a rock at the bear." That's correct. A tiny handful of little rocks.

April 1, 2012, 03:17 PM	#25
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	While buckshot is just fine for erect bipeds or more slightly built game like deer at short ranges, the extra penetration needed with bears and feral hogs due to their bone structure and anatomy calls for slugs. While a foster slug might work OK, my preference would be for a harder slug like a Brenneke Black Magic Magnum.