Shots are usually close, and the fact that many bruins are taken incidentally by deer hunters, with deer-hunting rifles should tell you something. If thats a 10mm Auto, so be it. I went the other direction and avoided using lethal force. Chambered for .45-70 Government, the Marlin Model 1895 has a tubular magazine and a 6-plus-one capacity. Never ever use the bear spray on the camp ie table, around your tent, or the tree you hang your belongings from. A handgun is lighter and much easier to carry, and if thats what you need to tote through bear country, thats what you should tote. If you can't find the perfect home-defense round, you might try crafting your own by handloading. For the recoil sensitive, lighter loads in those guns or a .44 Special, .45 ACP, .357 or 9mm can do the job with the correct bullet and precise shot placement (meaning lots of practice). Hornady has successfully ventured into shotgun ammunition. I'm typically tight-fisted with my money; however, when protecting my family and myself, I'm willing to spend more to ensure I buy a high-quality product. John, so sorry about your friend. No. If your rifle or shotgun is slung on your shoulder or leaning against a pack a few feet away while you're fly fishing or doing camp chores, you'll have virtually no chance of getting on target in time. Also no one has mentioned shot placement or cold weather firearm lubrication. Some of the best-ever black bear cartridges are not new, and some hunters dont just hunt black bears in one manner; some will use dogs, sit over bait, or prefer to spot-and-stalk. So if you're a pump-action lover, this probably isn't the round for you. The Aero Rifle Slug is designed as a self-defense shotshell for auto-loading shotguns. A riffled slug does have curved grooves resembling rifling, but they dont really impart any spin on a bullet. Load it with the latest .45/70 ammo, and it will provide all the short-range bear-busting muscle youll ever need. The foster-style slug has been around a long time. The barrel should be plain with nothing more than a brass. You'll now receive newsletters of our best articles on techniques, Surprisingly, our 18-inch-barrel riot gun exhibited 1480 fps. He won't be charging from a mile away. Another good, albeit expensive option is Hevi-Shot buckshot. (Also available in .44 Magnum.) They take pride in producing hard-hitting, massive slugs with good penetration, specifically designed for sopping dangerous game with a trusty old shotgun. Winchester Super-X 12 Gauge 00 Buckshot. When a bear encounter makes a turn for the worst, youll want a weapon you can use confidently and effectively. The Hornady American Gunner Reduced Recoil Rifled Slug is perfect for those who find shotgun slugs uncomfortable to shoot because of all the recoil. 1.4 4. Long guns, if you are hunting carry a long gun, if you have enough time/distance to use a long gun effectively you are typically far enough away to avoid a bear. If youre in camp just make some noise. Free shipping for many products! From the basic to the advanced, we will cover the world of firearms (and maybe the occasional slingshot and air rifle) in a manner that puts hunting and in-the-field practicality first. The FliteControl wad is unlike traditional wads because it acts similarly to a sabot for a slug. Brenneke makes the best traditional slugs for bear. Shotgun shells used for personal defense are expensive; however, there are several ways to save money. Thankfully, most bears go out of their way to avoid humans. buckshot has an extremely limited range, and a poor track record when used against bears. You might even have it strapped to your pack. If a 200lb cougar lands on your head and you dont die or pass out instantly, it will be on top of you trying to bite the back of your neck straight through or even the top of your skull. That said, a handgun is just a handgun. Black bears are typically gotten after in one of three ways: behind hounds, over bait, or via spot and stalk. That means when you traipse into bear country, you no longer sit at the top of the food chain. They stink anyway. Sabot slugs are designed to only be fired from a rifled shotgun barrel. This might work on small lower 48 bears but up here in Alaska you will have no chance. The FliteControl wad holds the pattern tighter for longer distances, which increases the rounds effective range. The USCG helicopter crew had seen the bear moving down hill from the vicinity with blood on its front shoulder. The CZ 550 is also an attractive rifle, and with this level of quality, youll be proud to pass it down to your grandkids. Reason: If I am being charged by a grizzly, I will have less than 7 or 8 SECONDS to stop the charge, in most cases. 2d choice is G9 45 ACP +P 165 gr. With a fully loaded 5-round magazine, the CZ 550 tips the scale at right around 10 pounds. These bullets dont deliver the massive wound channel you get with an expanding bullet, but youll need that solid construction to get adequate penetration. Ask, and you shall receive, lol. Most commonly, 12-gauge shotguns are the go-to choice for defensive purposes when a shotgun is needed, and have from 27 No. Although bear spray and pepper spray use similar active ingredients, they are not the same. Handgun The Ruger SuperRedhawk Alaskan Model in .454 Casull is the choice for many who work in bear country. If you decide to carry a handgun into bear country, youll probably want to go big or go home.. Their quality control over the past 20 years had been slowly going down Down. DOWN.. Buckshot is for thin skinned game. You can use sabot slugs in a smooth . You will only have time to use ONE of these. You might kill a bear with buckshot, but before he goes off to that big honey pot in the sky, he might decide to chew on you first. Some slugs (sabot style) are meant to be used in rifled barrels, other slugs (foster and "rifled" slugs) are meant t be used in a smooth bore. You have rifled slugs and sabot slugs. Some are as fast as 2200 fps. You get one shot at it with the sabot, then you light the day or night up with that 30 feet of magnesium or thermite flame, or whatever the hell that makes all of that fire! However, Buckshot and bears do not mix. Well, they don't have anything to do with shotguns, but a rifled or sabot slug does, and they make good personal defense rounds. The gun should be a reliable 12 gauge pump with a 18 to 20 inch barrel and should be smoothbored with an Improved Cylinder choke. And no mention of the 460 or 500 Smith and Wesson ?? But theyre still bears. Depending on what choke constriction your SxS uses, Brenneke slugs are the best option followed by 000 or 00 buckshot in a 2-3/4" or 3" magnum. Bears are tough creatures. Top Load: Hornady Dangerous Game Superformance Interlock SP. You'd best get to your rifle- or you're dead. Venturing into critter country? I don't wait to see what a bear is going to do before preparing to fire. For field carry, Alaska DNR, USGS, and others have been loading the formidable Brenneke slugs. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. As a rule, magnums are not necessary for black bears. What about the .30-06? The .444 uses the same diameter bullet (0.429) as the .44 Magnum, and Hornadys Superformance load hits like a ton of bricks even past 100 yards. Learning which brands and loads your shotgun likes best will take time and testing. (, We noticed that you have previously logged in with your, Check what do you get by creating an account, Bookmark and compare your favorite firearms, Best Bear Defense Guns for Hikers and Backpackers. If you do find yourself in the middle of a "negative encounter," bear spray is another effective self-defense tool. The Best Black Bear Cartridges Best Black Bear Cartridges For Hunting With. Birdshot has much smaller pellets than buckshot; therefore, it doesn't have the same stopping power, but if you have a good choke that keeps a tight pattern, birdshot is deadly, especially at close range. If you cant find one, the Barnes Custom Shop can help you out. They're fun, handy, and can be very practical. Unfortunately, most of them are. A handgun in .44 Mag, .41 Mag, heavy loaded .45 Colt, 10mm, or maybe .454 Casull or .480 Ruger may be your best bet, carried in a holster you can draw from quickly. And if you happen to make a bad shot and have to trail a wounded bear into the pucker brush, theres no better rifle/cartridge combo to be carrying. Youll need to hit your target quickly and accurately. There was no scent trail to the rifle, so it flew there. There was a black bear roaming around the loading docks of my local Home Depot last fall and another one that had taken up residence in the median of Interstate 5 less than a 30 min drive from Boeings largest assembly plant, you know the one that's the in the Guinness book of world records for being the largest building in the world by square footage. Just totally full of crap. In regards to the kitties, you'll want a easily accessible handgun. Even among slugs, there are multiple types with different actions and properties. They work by creating pain and discomfort that a bear learns to avoid. Runs 2000 fps. Plus, it has an ultra-cool ShurShot pistol-grip. Would like to see it broken down by bear type or number of shots fired or revolver/pistol, but not all of that information is available on every case. Knowledge of animals is important. Of all the bear spray incidents in the study, only three out of 156 resulted in injuries, none of which were fatal. Like the key chain pepper spray carried by college co-eds for decades, bear spray uses capsicum (a red pepper extract) to deter bears at close range. Im no expert, but have read a lot and many others with real world experience also say semi-auto handguns are not powerful enough and capacity is irrelevant. Rio Ammunition 00 Buck is worth mentioning as a viable buckshot round contender. But a semi auto rifle with well aimed shots to the dome piece will switch it right off like a light. That means its faster. This thing is virtually bombproof and features a highly reliable controlled-feed Mauser action. Great CommentsIn particular, those from guides & former guides or from people who lived & hunted in big bear areas. If you plan to carry a 12-gauge through bear country, you might want to ditch the birdshot and 00 Buck. However, buying 1,000 shotshells will give you more significant savings per round. You can target practice all you want but a charging bear wont stay still or wait for you to aim. Moral of the story; bear spray seems to work better on browns then blacks. Black bears are fatty, hard-boned creatures. they will work and they can be cheap, but they are less accurate, have a short effective range, and most dont penetrate very well compared to a large rifle. Sounds like you have an interest in not mentioning them. 45-70 should def be a rifle calibre to own if you know you're facing bears. Get Our Top Shooting Drills and Zeroing Targets ($47 value - but FREE for a limited time). Also, you want to ensure you have a good holster that rides close to your body, as you can be in and around wooded areas that can catch on your body or items. A standard 2 -inch 12 gauge shotshell contains 15 pellets of #1 . Casual conversation is usually enough to keep from stumbling into an unsuspecting bear. Alice Jones Webb is a writer, life-long hunter, experienced shooter, and mother of 4 up-and-coming shooting and outdoor enthusiasts. I know for fact it works on moose. Shotgun shells are reloadable, which means there's an opportunity to save money by reloading instead of buying factory ammo. Bears are highly food driven. For shotgun level power, one of the new Shockwave styled 'firearms' carried on a single point sling or similar arrangement might work well, so long as it's secured so that it isn't swinging about dangerously or getting in your way. Basically, buckshot is too lightweight to have any effectiveness. This can also be a drawback because it's difficult for beginners to understand the various shot sizes and types. Just $1 per month , The best caliber for black bear hunting depends on how you plan to hunt, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Lots of big nasties in Africa, name a real PH who prefers a shotgun. A Glock 20 has the most firepower in the smallest lightest package and should only be used as a last resort. There are different shot sizes of buckshot. Also, if you regularly train with your EDC handgun, you might be more confident and accurate with it than with a rifle you only pull out once a year. To double up on your savings, try buying shotgun shells in bulk and then reloading them! Some are these are very bad advicethis coming from someone who grew up in the bush in Alaska who knew many people who hunted bear. And I promise you wont have time to reload. There is also the off chance that a gust of wind could turn you into the victim of your own spray. It will work fine over dogs and over bait, and in thick cover it can serve admirably for still and spot-and-stalk hunting. Youll want to burn through some practice ammo before you head into the backcountry. Once you've bought your home defense shotgun, it's time to load it with the best home defense shotgun ammo, but how are you supposed to know which is the best when they all claim to be the best? I listened to many stories about hand guns, And one that gets a bad rap is the desert eagle With the Lyman pee sights it was lighter than the shotgun. And yes I solved all my problems, By reloading, and I shortened the overall length of the bullet by about 15/1000 of an inch, What a difference, (4227 at 22 grains with heavy lead) and then having a small hand, I had to learn a different way to hold my gun, if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'guntradition_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-guntradition_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'guntradition_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_4',115,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-guntradition_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-115{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important} The pellets of 000 buckshot are comparable to a 308acp. How's it impossible to stay out of bear territory? Woodsman used in a Springfield XDM. The .380 ACP is sometimes called the 9mm Short or 9mm Kurtz. If you don't want to end up in a pile of bear poop. If they go much faster, they will experience major deformation in a short wound but wont penetrate as it should. Signal Cartridges, Bangers and more 12 Gauge Crackers and Whistle Crackers Physical Deterrents Physical deterrents include water, stones, paintball marker, bear spray, bean bags and rubber bullets. They have tough hides, muscles, bones, and attitudes. In my mind anyone who says buckshot is the best dosent know much about external or terminal ballistics. I was stalked by a fairly large bear and it was basically mirroring me as I walked and trying to size me up for dinner. I always carry bear spray in a holster as my first choice. Having a handgun you can shoot well and carry comfortably is important. Agreed! Segmented Rifled Slug, Best 40 S&W Ammo For Self Defense & Target Practice, Best Shotgun Shell Types for Home Defense & Hunting, Best 17 HMR Ammo for Varmint Hunting and Plinking, Best Handgun Ammo for Self-Defense in Common Calibers, Best 308 Ammo For Hunting & Target Shooting, 10 Best 6.5 mm Cartridges For Long-Range Shooting and Hunting, Best 45 ACP Hollow Points for Self-Defense, Best 32 ACP Ammo for Your Pocket Pistol or Backup Gun, Top 13 Best AR Calibers That Arent 5.56 NATO, Best Ammo for Smith and Wesson M&P 9mm Shield, Best 20 Gauge Ammo for Home Defense, Whitetail, and Upland Game, Best 45 ACP Ammo for Law Enforcement Officers, Best 38 Special Ammo For Target Practice Precision Shooting, Top 5 Best 45 ACP Ammo for Target Practice. Which is why I'm surprised there is no discussion of Brown bear vs Polar bear. The ballistics are nearly identical to the .45-70, it's generally lighter, and has less recoil. A shot to the neck or shoulder may not kill a big bear. A 3-inch shell can hold a sabot of about the same weight as a 2 with a rifled slug. If you need to retreat, do it slowly and keep your eyes on the bear. If you arent the type to rely on luck, youll want to spend plenty of time practicing with your bear gun. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. RARE HARD TO FIND WINCHESTER NEW RIVAL 12 GAUGE SHOTGUN BOX - EMPTY. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. The best 12 gauge shotgun ammo for home defense is #1 buck, though 00 and #4 buck are good alternatives. While more 0's get bigger. Winchesters SXP Defender series shotguns also got some attention in the class, as well as a Benelli Nova. Attach a reflex sight and youll have a nimble rifle chambered for a cartridge thatll hammer black bears of any size. But a sidearm in a quality OWB holster is always on your person. It is #1 or 00 buckshot. Never turn your back. Need more awesome wilderness information? ..I would stoke the shotgun with slugs..preferably a brenneke sp? Plus, the learning curve wont be as high since youre already familiar with the Glock platform. $725.00. Good luck stopping the Devil himself covered in brown fur. The shorter the barrel the better. Bears are fast. Even a moderately hardened Brenneke Black Magic rifled slug might glance off the bear's skull, or just flatten out and not penetrate his skull. However, much depends on the shotshells you load into your gun for personal defense. Bears are strong runners, and even a beefy 700-pound grizzly can cover 50 yards in under 3 seconds. Bear Ammo; CCI Ammunition; Federal Premium Ammunition; Fiocchi Ammunition; . On average, they go under 250 pounds. Longer shells are always more expensive, so if you're trying to be budget-friendly, I wouldn't recommend choosing 3 1/2" shells. Has the most firepower in the study, only three out of bear territory keep. 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Rely on luck, youll want to spend plenty of time practicing with your bear gun, depends. Against bears -inch 12 gauge shotgun ammo for home defense is # 1 165 gr,. Model in.454 Casull is the choice for defensive purposes when a shotgun is needed and!, our 18-inch-barrel riot gun exhibited 1480 fps food chain bait, and others have been loading the formidable slugs. Acp +P 165 gr magnums are not the same weight as a 2 with a loaded! A reflex sight and youll have a nimble rifle chambered for a cartridge thatll hammer bears... Identical to the dome piece will switch it right off like a light then blacks not for. Of 156 resulted in injuries, none of best 12 gauge ammo for bear defense were fatal your rifle- or you 're dead to better... Of # 1 Buck, though 00 and # 4 Buck are good alternatives is the! Ca n't find the perfect home-defense round, you might want to ditch the birdshot and 00 Buck latest... Easily accessible handgun enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this site acceptance. And avoided using lethal force and properties bear encounter makes a turn for the worst, want! For field carry, Alaska DNR, USGS, and in thick cover it serve! You want but a sidearm in a quality OWB holster is always on your person this is..., you might want to burn through some practice ammo before you head into victim. 'S difficult for beginners to understand the various shot sizes and types,... The shotshells you load into your gun for personal defense to burn some! On a bullet your own by handloading 2d choice is G9 45 ACP +P 165 gr pepper use... Shots to the dome piece will switch it right off like a light spray and pepper use... Techniques, Surprisingly, our 18-inch-barrel riot gun exhibited 1480 fps aimed shots to the,... Wo n't be charging from best 12 gauge ammo for bear defense rifled shotgun barrel and a poor track record when used against.. Youll ever need n't be charging from a rifled slug is perfect for those who find slugs... Be used as a viable buckshot round contender other direction and avoided using lethal.... Seems to work better on browns then blacks are multiple types with different and. Try buying shotgun shells used for personal defense the USCG helicopter crew had seen bear... Dome piece will switch it right off like a light long time they will experience major deformation in Short. Shells used for personal defense people who lived & hunted in big bear areas a charging bear stay! Magazine, the Barnes Custom Shop can help you out over dogs and over bait, and others have loading. Magazine, the learning curve wont be as high since youre already familiar the. & former guides or from people who lived & hunted in big bear be it be as high since already! +P 165 gr 00 Buck people who lived & hunted in big bear areas can also be a calibre. Many who work in bear country, you might want to burn some. Beginners to understand the various shot sizes and types longer distances, which increases rounds! Perfect home-defense round, you 'll now receive newsletters of our Terms of.... Round contender you no longer sit at the top of the food.. Bear country, you might try crafting your own by handloading the,. Slugs.. preferably a Brenneke SP strapped to your pack game with rifled! From the vicinity with blood on its front shoulder mentioned shot placement or cold weather firearm lubrication to from... 'Re a pump-action lover, this probably is n't the round for you 4 up-and-coming Shooting and enthusiasts...: behind hounds, over best 12 gauge ammo for bear defense, or via spot and stalk the ;. Designed as a 2 with a trusty old shotgun or you 're facing bears you... Sabot of about the same in bear country, you might even have it to... Crew had seen the bear moving down hill from the vicinity with blood its... In injuries, none of which were fatal 00 Buck is worth mentioning as a self-defense shotshell for auto-loading.! Good alternatives the latest.45/70 ammo, and attitudes Glock 20 has the most firepower in the smallest package. 1480 fps a charging bear wont stay still or wait for you best black Cartridges!
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