Best 12 gauge round for bear protection

[Bill K]

Problem with that is, up close,

Spent a lot of time up there in the 70s and 80s, gold panners and salmon canners all carried short 12ga pumps, slugs and buckshot and usually the last shot would be #8s, sometimes two loads of little shot. Told me that under up close they wanted him blind and his eyes were right up front. Said they figured if he's blind they would have a better chance.... John

the choke of the shotgun does not allow the shot to spread very much, if any. Plus slugs and OO buck have more shock/stopping power.

 

[farmerjohn]

Problem with that is, up close,

the choke of the shotgun does not allow the shot to spread very much, if any. Plus slugs and OO buck have more shock/stopping power.

Yeah, I personally never put much stock in shotguns for bears, I carried an old mod 70 375 H&H everywhere I went, it was slung over my shoulder or in my hand for 18yrs. Never had to use it defensively but I figured a hip shot with it was better than a shotgun ... John

 

[Webster]

I haven't had a need for this information for way too many years. I have a couple of friends that are head up to Alaska and asked me what is the best 12 gauge round for bear protection.

Looking for some specific information here.

Thanks in advance.

Firearms and Ammunition for Hunting in Alaska, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Information on hunting and trapping in Alaska.

www.adfg.alaska.gov

Alaska Fish & Game dept. discussion on what rifle to use on bears. I wouldn't think 00 Buckshot would penetrate. Alaska recommends a bullet that will pass completely threw the heart/lung area and exit. Your life may depend on it. If a bear lives 5 seconds after you shot it before it dies it could cost you your life.

 

[3Ackleys]

Firearms and Ammunition for Hunting in Alaska, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Information on hunting and trapping in Alaska.

www.adfg.alaska.gov

Alaska Fish & Game dept. discussion on what rifle to use on bears. I wouldn't think 00 Buckshot would penetrate. Alaska recommends a bullet that will pass completely threw the heart/lung area and exit. Your life may depend on it. If a bear lives 5 seconds after you shot it before it dies it could cost you your life.

That is a general guide to hunting ALL big game in Alaska. Nothing in there pertains to stopping a charging grizzly.
1)How are you going to get a bullet to pas through the heart/lung area of a charging grizzly??
2) IF you could you will probably die. The only thing that works is a hit to the CNS.

 

[Fuj]

Look up Breneke greens, for killing bear.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Yeah, I personally never put much stock in shotguns for bears, I carried an old mod 70 375 H&H everywhere I went, it was slung over my shoulder or in my hand for 18yrs. Never had to use it defensively but I figured a hip shot with it was better than a shotgun ... John

I agree with you . Shotgun is no easier to carry than a rifle . Have you ever heard someone recommend hunting the big beats with a Shotgun? So you have an aggressive, maybe mad bear and you chose a weapon no one would tell you to take when hunting him . John I like your Farmer common sense.

 

[okie]

Have been told having a dog gives you extra time...idk it makes sense if the dog is getting chewed up you might have a second more to shoot...

 

[rayporter]

the trouble with a yap yap is that it would bring what is chasing it right back between your legs at high speed.

 

[DGP4]

All this talk about anything short of a howitzer being ineffective against bears makes me wonder who the heck would confront a bear with "bear spray"? Maybe they should label it "bear irritant"?

 

[L.Sherm]

How many people have shotguns for home defense? Close quarter and night time come to mind.
There was a guy 10 years or so ago in the Ronan, MT area bird hunting one fall who killed a charging G- bear outta the brush with a 20 guage and bird shot from the hip
literally just feet away.

 

[762willdo]

We carried SP-10’s…….

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

Bazooka..........RPG

 

[okie]

the trouble with a yap yap is that it would bring what is chasing it right back between your legs at high speed.

I meant a Dog, somethin with some grit, like an airedale...not a toy poodle lol

 

[daniel brothers]

a load of # 6 bird shot to the face might change it's direction in a hurry.... while still having a pretty good punch near blank ranges.

 

[darkangel_r2]

If you have to use a 12 gauge shotgun for bear. Heavy hard cast flat faced lead slugs. Brenneke black magic magnum or similar. I do not recommend any type of buckshot for griz. Even plated 000 only has low to mid 20s" for gel penetration which for a torso shot is probably not adequate.

Hand loads in 12 gauge can be more effective.

But something between a .375 and .458 on a .532 bolt face can be made relatively inexpensively and loaded with some dangerous game solids will likely be better suited for the task. Several examples of these chambers can produce over 5k ftlbs out of a 20-24" barrel.

 

[DGP4]

a load of # 6 bird shot to the face might change it's direction in a hurry.... while still having a pretty good punch near blank ranges.

I was thinking the same thing! It would certainly blind him and might cause him enough confusion that he would forget about his attack. I refuse however to be the guinea pig for this one!

 

[daniel brothers]

back in 1991 I bowhunted Sitka Blacktail deer on Kodiak Island and always carried my short stock/barreled mossberg shotgun, loaded with slugs... BUT... it never felt like Great Medicine for a charging Kodiak Bear even if I got a few slugs into it. I knew that there could be trouble if I couldn't stop it before it got me. That earlier comment about the face full of bird shot made me wonder about that option.. but I agree with DGP4 about not wanting to be the test case...LOL. I guess I would try those Black Magic slugs.... but I still like the idea of making it blind. Slug guns have no choke in them, so heavy bird shot should make for a wide spread and cover it's face pretty well. My Buddy... Wade Nolen always told us on that hunt, that we should not shoot until it was inside 10 yds, because they like to false charge up to that point... but I thought the smell in my pants might change it's mind if it got that close.

 

[paperpuncher]

I was thinking the same thing! It would certainly blind him and might cause him enough confusion that he would forget about his attack. I refuse however to be the guinea pig for this one!

Judge for yourself slowed it but mostly undeterred

 

[DGP4]

Like I said, I won't be testing the theory anytime soon! However, I will say that if he had taken a couple more shots it might have worked.

 

[ckrifles]

I don't think anybody here has survived a charge from an enraged Grizzley bear. What stopes an enraged animal is massive destruction of vital organs. Period, I don't think bird shot would be my choice bears got small eyes and a BIG nose.