12 as a good bear protection shell??
- Thread starter Alfonso
- Start date
canadaman30
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Far from the City
Callenger Slugs 2,3/4 inch mag
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
It's a good gun for bear protection. Buy slugs, some are better than others, but it doesn't matter that much. They are 1 oz (~420 GR) give or take a little and cause some major ruckas. High powered ones hit harder and low powered ones are easier to shoot and control for follow up shots.
For other than bears, 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 buckshot (~8 - 40 pellets) are good. They may only make a bear mad though as it's like shooting a bunch of handgun bullets at your target.
Set up a piece of printer paper at different ranges and see how far you can hit it reliably. I think if you can hit a piece of paper reliably under stress at a distance, you are probably good for that distance.
But then what do I know. I only shoot guns because I like loud noises.
Ryan
For other than bears, 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 buckshot (~8 - 40 pellets) are good. They may only make a bear mad though as it's like shooting a bunch of handgun bullets at your target.
Set up a piece of printer paper at different ranges and see how far you can hit it reliably. I think if you can hit a piece of paper reliably under stress at a distance, you are probably good for that distance.
But then what do I know. I only shoot guns because I like loud noises.
Ryan
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta
If you can't pack out anything bigger then a 20mm you have no reason to be out in the bush where bears are....I took a black bear with a 150 grain 308 just fine this spring. It's a little light for a grizzly for sure so I'd jump up to a 180 grain in grizz country. Personally anything smaller then a 30-30 I wouldn't trust on a black bear but any gun is capable of dropping a bear if placed properly (the whiskey creek grizzly ended up dieing from a 270 behind an ear after taking a few Load of buckshot from the park rangers. Black Grizzly of Whiskey Creek by Sid Marty. Good read) A Plains Grizzly also died from a .22 short to the eye by a native woman in a berry patch I believe. Take what you like/trust and can shoot and use it in good faith.
Have fun Going camping Thursday bring either my 12 Gauge BPS or my .308 and my .22
CHEERS
Have fun Going camping Thursday bring either my 12 Gauge BPS or my .308 and my .22
CHEERS
- Location
- Pile of Bones, SK
It will do, but a small short rifle would be better in my opiniuon, even a 30-30.
Regular 12 gauge slugs transfer a lot of energy quickly but don't penetrate worth crap. So it's very possible to knock them down just to see them get back up - stick another couple rounds in 'em even after they go down.
Using Shotgun for Camping
I've used a short barrelled pump shotgun with slugs/ 00 buck combination for mountain hiking and camping. A shotgun is generally lighter than a rifle and precision aiming is not as critical. I've considered bears as a random encounter, my biggest concern was cats. I figured 2 rounds of 00 buck may slow down the charge to make slug aimimg more effective. Patterns and groups on paper to 25 yards demonstrated this theory was effective in range conditions with no distractions.
I've used a short barrelled pump shotgun with slugs/ 00 buck combination for mountain hiking and camping. A shotgun is generally lighter than a rifle and precision aiming is not as critical. I've considered bears as a random encounter, my biggest concern was cats. I figured 2 rounds of 00 buck may slow down the charge to make slug aimimg more effective. Patterns and groups on paper to 25 yards demonstrated this theory was effective in range conditions with no distractions.
Ask the guy from GP that killed a grizzly sow with a hunting knife last year. LOL, I'd say a 12 ga, 30-30, M14, Ruger SBH 44, S&W SVR460 or Tauras Raging Bull 454 (if you can get a carry permit, good luck). Hell, a 444 Marlin would work like a charm too. Side note: if you "have" to shoot a bear to save yourself. All bullets have to be from the front or you'll have a trouble with F&W.
JT.
JT.
