Is 12ga slug enough for bear ?

[Callipygian]

What is it about the bear threads that brings the walter mitty's outta the woodwork? I mean, every one yields dozens of knowitalls who've never been to Alaska, never been bear hunting (prolly never even been big game hunting of ANY kind), don't own any of the weapons they're apparently expert on, and have absolutely no basis in experience for their authoritative opininions...

12 guage slugs will be fine.

BTW, the moose kill far more people than bears- faaaar more.

[Dead*Reckoned]

12 gauge slug penetration is out of this world. From what I understand, a guides weapon of choice is a 12 gauge loaded with slugs and a large bore pistol as backup (.454 casull and the like).

[appagohm]

Yeah

Yes if you get a good shot. A smaller caliber will penetrate further though.

You're not going to tell me though that a shotgun is the best choice. Unless you are expecting a bear attack and have it in your hands, a handgun will be easier to draw and line up a shot. You will probably have a shotgun slung over your shoulder, revolver will be on your hip... which will be the more handy weapon?

@OP sorry for the tangent. Use 12 ga slugs, stay alert and stay alive.

Having a 44magnum on the hip isn't that bad, but is not better then 12gauge slug in the hand. And most times, take in consideration this is alaska and not the woods, you'll see the bear from a distance. Also with the right sling you can have a shotgun in your hand fairly quick.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100104073031AAoA6nE

Force=Mass*velocity. The longer barrel in a shotgun will also produce a faster bullet. If we're talking about whats more effective it's a 12gauge slug. Doesn't have to be magnum slug, a 2 3/4 inch is fine.

Also if i had a one point sling i can have a shotgun in my hands just as fast as hand gun. 454, 44 mag, and s&w 500 are good backups but for pure stopping power you can't beat a 12gauge, and follow up shot will be better on a shotgun then a hand gun.

Penetration is relative, if you have enough force behind a bullet penetration becomes negletable. 45acp vs 9mm is one of those debates. i'm a fan of both but for self defense i'll choose a 45acp. It's like saying a cannon ball doesn't penetrate as deep as 308 so the 308 is better, not true.

But bottom line avoid bears. Bears run at 30 to 40mph the slowest bears run at 30mph so you get one or two shots max before it's too late. BTW I own one weapon of each caliber mentioned above. But shoot a 22lr is better then nothing.

[stitchnicklas]

12 gauge flecthette round might be nice....or

[Zeiss700]

I see some slugs for sale that are 385 grain and go 2100 fps. Sounds good to me. I would feel confident with it.

[duckman1]

My cousin is a retired Alsakan Fish and Game Bioligist. He said they carried 12ga with slugs and he had to use it twice. It was extremely effective both times effecting one shot stops at very close range.

[THT]

My cousin is a retired Alsakan Fish and Game Bioligist. He said they carried 12ga with slugs and he had to use it twice. It was extremely effective both times effecting one shot stops at very close range.

Did they also carry spare pants? I'd likely need them after such an encounter.

[YourHuckleberry]

If a shotgun is your only choice, nothing less than a magnum slug. If you have high powered rifles, 308 would be a bearly acceptable choice. 30-06 would be better. If you have a 44 mag or S&W 500, those would be great. Shot placement is gonna be key with Grizzlies though. Any non-vital shot with anything under 50 BMG will probably piss it off something nasty

ETA: THE DUDE ABOVE GOT IN WHILE i WAS CHICKEN PECKING AT THE KEYBOARD, BUT 100% AGREE.

So much fail here I'm not even going to start.

Are you saying that the .44 mag would somehow be better than a 12 gauge slug? How can a 200 or 240 grain bullet @12-1400ish fps be a better idea than a 437 grain slug at 1500-1600 fps??

Absolutely not. Slugs would work just fine. Shotguns are kinda heavy and bulky though, so if you're gonna be backpacking/ hiking it's gonna be harder to sling your shotgun around and line up a shot, than it would be to pull out a hand gun. I know that yall are ninjas though...



Slugs will be deadly in the right hands, but dont forget they are super fat as compared to a 30 to 50 caliber bullet. They will have a lot of energy on impact, but they might not penetrate as deep, because of their sluggish dynamics. Again, slugs should work just fine if you get a good shot on a bear. my personal preference though would be a smaller, more compact 44 magnum.

Just stop. You make waaaay too many assumptions and clearly have no real world experience on the matter.


OP: As per your question and info given, your 12g with slugs will do you just fine for bear defense.
I've never had to discharge in the field, but after 4 trips to AK, I picked up on what the locals were laying down. Slugs are the way to go

[foxtrot66]

What is it about the bear threads that brings the walter mitty's outta the woodwork? I mean, every one yields dozens of knowitalls who've never been to Alaska, never been bear hunting (prolly never even been big game hunting of ANY kind), don't own any of the weapons they're apparently expert on, and have absolutely no basis in experience for their authoritative opininions...

12 guage slugs will be fine.

BTW, the moose kill far more people than bears- faaaar more.

Opinions, by definition, are in no way authoritative.

You never mentioned whether you have been to Alaska, bear hunting or big game hunting of any kind....or if you own any of the mentioned weapons.

I don't recall reading that anyone claimed to be an expert on anything in this thread.

If you have the weapon to stop a bear, it will work on a moose as well.

You don't need to have been to Alaska, have hunted a grizzly, or own the weapons in question to provide useful information on a given topic.

I apologize if this is a build up based on a series of bear threads and I do not have all the information you referenced to generate your reply.....if that is the case I may very well be telling you that you have some good points but not pertaining to this thread specifically.

[repubconserv]

So much fail here I'm not even going to start.

Just stop. You make waaaay too many assumptions and clearly have no real world experience on the matter.

Hunting/ SD against Kodiak? you're damn right I have no XP, but I went deer hunting in kentucky and hit a deer with a slug at 50 yds. not a great shot, it entered right below the rib cage, and the deer ran for good 300 ft before it bit it. it weighed around 180 lbs.

All that to say a slug is not the be all, end all round. a good shot will put a bear down though.

454, 44 mag, and s&w 500 are good backups but for pure stopping power you can't beat a 12gauge, and follow up shot will be better on a shotgun then a hand gun.

I never said anything different, I said I personally would not carry a 12 ga because of size and weight.

And most times, take in consideration this is alaska and not the woods, you'll see the bear from a distance.

If it's anymore than a few hundred feet away, why would you want to F@#$ with it? It's probably not going to charge you at that distance if you leave it the hell alone. It will probably be when it gets closer towards you and starts acting defensive when it will attack, probably within 44 range. "Take in to consideration this is alaska and not the woods," carrying a 12 ga all the time probably won't be convenient

[CalNRA]

If a shotgun is your only choice, nothing less than a magnum slug. If you have high powered rifles, 308 would be a bearly acceptable choice. 30-06 would be better. If you have a 44 mag or S&W 500, those would be great. Shot placement is gonna be key with Grizzlies though. Any non-vital shot with anything under 50 BMG will probably piss it off something nasty

I never said anything different, I said I personally would not carry a 12 ga because of size and weight.

actually from your first statement, it's easy to interpret that you said 2 3/4 inch slugs will be inadequate while 44mags will work better.

Read that post again and see if you can see it.

[lewdogg21]

This reminds me of the slug vs. AK thread.

[repubconserv]

actually from your first statement, it's easy to interpret that you said 2 3/4 inch slugs will be inadequate while 44mags will work better.

No. I said 44 or 500 would be great. And they would be. but no where did i say they would be better than a 2.75 slug. I also never said a regular slug was inadequate, I just said a good round would be nothing less than a mag slug. A normal slug is adequate sure.

By your logic I also thought a 308 was a better choice than a regular slug

Damn Im starting to think Im gonna need a lawyer to write posts on here for me

[Reductio]

The real question is, will it kill an elephant at a thousand yards?

[CalNRA]

No. I said 44 or 500 would be great. And they would be. but no where did i say they would be better than a 2.75 slug. I also never said a regular slug was inadequate, I just said a good round would be nothing less than a mag slug. A normal slug is adequate sure.

By your logic I also thought a 308 was a better choice than a regular slug

Damn Im starting to think Im gonna need a lawyer to write posts on here for me

"if shotgun is your only choice, nothing less than magnum slugs...44 or 500 would be great".

If you can't see it, you can't see it.