410sxs vs black bear

[Canadian Bush Wacker]

I going on one last fly in, due to payload, I am thinking of taking a 410 and as camp tent gun. It's seems to be the only one that will fit in my pack!

Do you think it will work, close range from this little kitty?

 

[Colin]

If you do, stick with slugs

 

[mvarley84]

If you do, stick with slugs

+1, 410sxs with slugs will do just fine.

 

[pharaoh2]

I wouldn't want to be hit with even bird shot from a .410. Besides, I think it's pretty safe to assume you won't need it. But if you do, I want pic's.

 

[H4831]

I going on one last fly in, due to payload, I am thinking of taking a 410 and as camp tent gun. It's seems to be the only one that will fit in my pack!

Do you think it will work, close range from this little kitty?

The best gun for defense is the gun you have in your hands, when defence is required.

 

[Dorian Gray]

x2 on the slugs.

My uncle killed a very nice bull moose with a single shot .410 and slugs about 20 years ago. If he can kill a moose with it i'm sure you'll be fine for bear. I hope you don't actually have to use it though.

 

[B]

If you can use it well then there is nothing wrong with your choice. 2 slugs may not stop a black bear in it's tracks but it'll likely consider you more trouble than you're worth!

 

[Suka]

Well, you can always poke it in the nose,
Sorry, couldn't resist, with all the "howitzer needed to stop a bear threads".

 

[tjsudbury]

A 410 slug weighs between 87 and 109 grains, and is travelling at about 1800 fps, or, about the same as a 25-20. Would you be comfortable entrusting you life to a 25-20 in a bear attack?

Here's the thing. When you got to kill a bear YOU GOT TO KILL THE ####ING THING, NOT PISS HIM OFF.

my.02

 

[John Y Cannuck]

The slug is the obvious choice here. Although shot acts much like a slug at close range, it's not going to penetrate as deeply.
It depends on where you put the shot, and how close you are.
The reason I said that, is the presence of large quantities of fat, and hair. On a large diameter, but light, and relatively slow projectile, that's going to make a big difference, if you can't manage say a head shot a foot from the barrel.
If you were to for example hit a shoulder bone, expect a few scratches, and maybe a few tooth marks when they examine your corpse.


A small lever gun like the model 94 Winchester trapper in 30-30 would be a better choice.
You can take the butt stock off for the flight.

 

[Cole]

Far better to have it and not need it , than to need it and not have it.

 

[rustysdream]

...A small lever gun like the model 94 Winchester trapper in 30-30 would be a better choice.
You can take the butt stock off for the flight.

+1

Also, I would feel safer with a single shot take down 12ga (slug or 00).

 

[Papaclaude]

I would rather use pepper spray than a 410 slug. I've personally used it on a bear (mind you it wasn't charging) and it went away real quick.

If in bear country, it's very important to know if you're dealing with black or grizzly bear. You can easily tell by the dung - black bear poop usually has berries or chokecherry pits in it, whereas grizzly poop has little bells in it and smells like pepper spray.

 

[scanner]

I going on one last fly in, due to payload, I am thinking of taking a 410 and as camp tent gun. It's seems to be the only one that will fit in my pack!

Do you think it will work, close range from this little kitty?

I think you should adjust the payload in your pack to fit a 12ga pump with slugs. Something like a Rem 870 20" security should fit with the barrel off, or wraped inside a bed roll.

 

[Until the Angels Fall]

Just make sure your aim is true!!!

 

[davemccarthy707]

Mosin nagant m-44 cheap and deadly.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Wouldn't be my first choice, or even very high on the list. If you have enough time to plan "what should I take" you have enough time to get something adequate for the job.

 

[X-fan]

Use your hunting rifle for Petes sake.

The 410 is a piss poor excuse for a bear rifle.

 

[Woodsman]

If you are concerned about weight, size and $$, get a single shot 12 gauge. The sell anywhere between $75.00 and $150.00. 410 is a piss poor performer in slug format. It is not like a rifle bullet. The lead slug is designed like a shuttle #### and isn't heavy enough to hold together for any serious penetration other than a broad side lung shot and not accuate enough for a head shot (due mainly to the shotgun used likely with no sights). Heck, I'd rather have a semi-auto .22!

 

[thebigslide]

Heck, I'd rather have a semi-auto .22!

Agreed. Seriously. A lot of people don't catch on to this, but because penetration is a function of surface area, a 12 ga slug and a .22 have about the same penetration power. A .410 slug won't make it through the head of a bear from the front and that's what your bear defence gun needs to do.

Right now is a fairly dangerous time for bear encounters.

A charging or rearing bear isn't presenting any vitals to you except the heart/lungs and you're going to have a hard time dropping it dead with either of those firearms. You really want something that can take out the spine/neck/brain.

When is your trip? I can show you how to make a birdshot load for a 45-70 guide gun that will work well for fetching small game. Then you have the option of a 500 grain HC for bear defence - which will pass nose to butt through anything in Canada. One screw removes the buttstock and it'll pack smaller than your .410.

JohnPaul is selling a stainless guide gun on the EE right now for $750. You can turn around and sell it when you're done with it. My hunch is you may like it enough to keep it though.