Anyone *actually* killed a bear with a shotgun?

Smoothbore

Smoothbore

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A bear defense thread with a twist I hope: FACTS! :)

I am looking for first-hand confirmation that you can
actually kill an angry bear by firing slugs from shotgun.

Any info on rifled vs smoothbore slugs, range, etc would
be appreciated.

I am considering getting a shotgun with a rifled barrel
and rifled slugs to carry for defense in the woods.

I don't want a theoretical debate here, I am looking for
first-hand or solid second-hand info that it works in
a life-threatening situation.

Thanks.
 
I cannot say that the bears were angry but I have shot 2 black bears with a Rem. 870 12 ga. using slugs. It was a smooth bore and a 20" barrel. The bears were repeat offenders in a park and live trapping was no longer an option for these particular bears. They were not charging when shot but were somewhat iritated. The one was shot out of a tree and the other on the ground. One shot kills with Federal slugs. For what its worth I am quite comfortable with the same setup for camp defence.
 
Excellent guys, thanks!

I like the idea of a shotgun for camp defence because I
could switch barrels and shoot clays on a casual basis.

Thanks also for setting me straight on rifled barrels and slugs.
Do you recommend a rifled barrel over a smooth one for slugs only?
(I would get a second barrel for shot.)
 
I killed one in Northern Saskatchewan about 10 years ago, a Winchester 1300 Defender firing a slug.
 
Smoothbore said:
"...Thanks also for setting me straight on rifled barrels and slugs. Do you recommend a rifled barrel over a smooth one for slugs only?..."
Click to expand...

A smooth-bore barrel is probably more flexible (works with both slugs and shot).

Probably just as important is giving strong consideration to upgrading the factory bead sight (if that's what comes with whatever you end up buying). Although you'll never get true 'rifle' accuracy shooting shotgun slugs (regardless of the type of barrel or ammunition you use), what accuracy you can get will be much easier to achieve with either rifle style or ghost-ring sights. I can easily pick off clays layed on a backstop from 30 yards with rifled slugs shot from a smooth bore 18.5" barrelled 870 using ghost-ring sights.
 
teclaydon said:
Although you'll never get true 'rifle' accuracy shooting shotgun slugs (regardless of the type of barrel or ammunition you use), what accuracy you can get will be much easier to achieve with either rifle style or ghost-ring sights. I can easily pick off clays layed on a backstop from 30 yards with rifled slugs shot from a smooth bore 18.5" barrelled 870 using ghost-ring sights.
Click to expand...

+1.

I had some Wilson Combat shotrings put on my 870 Marine Magnum last year, and all of a sudden my accuracy with slugs improved rather dramatically :).
 
teclaydon said:
A smooth-bore barrel is probably more flexible (works with both slugs and shot).

Probably just as important is giving strong consideration to upgrading the factory bead sight (if that's what comes with whatever you end up buying). Although you'll never get true 'rifle' accuracy shooting shotgun slugs (regardless of the type of barrel or ammunition you use), what accuracy you can get will be much easier to achieve with either rifle style or ghost-ring sights. I can easily pick off clays layed on a backstop from 30 yards with rifled slugs shot from a smooth bore 18.5" barrelled 870 using ghost-ring sights.
Click to expand...


I have to disagree witht he statement in bold.....I just sold my slug gun, a Mossberg SSi-One. F24" fully rifled and ported, it would put 3 slugs into 1.5" @ 100 using winchester supremes (considering the diameter of the slugs, that is indeed rifle like acuracy).
Kind of a moot point though. If you are buying a barrel for defence/birds/upland, a 20-24" modified choked smoothbore shooting rifled slugs will be plenty accurate at "defence" ranges, plus have the versatility to shoot shot at upland ranges as well.
 
Wrong Way said:
"...I have to disagree witht he statement in bold.....I just sold my slug gun, a Mossberg SSi-One. F24" fully rifled and ported, it would put 3 slugs into 1.5" @ 100 using winchester supremes (considering the diameter of the slugs, that is indeed rifle like acuracy)..."
Click to expand...

I think it safe to say that is less than typical. Generally speaking, the vast majority of rifles will shoot with greater accuracy than the vast majority of rifle barrelled shotguns shooting slugs.

;)
 
Shot one that was hanging around the kids with a shoty, it stood approx 75 ft away while I had enough time to ring a reg 7 1/2 shot load. Bang Flop performance.
 
I just purchased a Norinco 12 ga 14" for bear defense and/or grouse. Last year when I was salmon fishing, a female black bear, about 150 pounds, came for my pack on the shore. I was in waders about 20 yds away in the river. My only defense was a flare gun and even though the flare scared the bear, she didn't go far away and wouldn't let me get back to my pack. It's not my first experience with these animals on the river and my main comment is that they seem to be getting less and less afraid of humans so you need something to defend yourself. A short barrelled shotgun was my choice because it can be slung alongside my backbone without interfering with flycasting too much and it won't get easily hung up in the bush when moving around. Finally, I can still use it close range for upland game if I feel like it. I might put ghost ring sights on it but waiting to try it for pattern/accuracy after a modified choke is installed next week.
 
senior said:
Shot one that was hanging around the kids with a shoty, it stood approx 75 ft away while I had enough time to ring a reg 7 1/2 shot load. Bang Flop performance.
Click to expand...

Do you cut it all the way through or just score it? How far up from the brass?
:confused:
Rich
 
I've never used a shotgun personally, though I have worked with people who have / do...Brenneke is king, although I've only heard nothing but good about Federals.

Keep shot placement in mind though...one foreman knew that a medium black was stalking one of his workers to a bad extent, so he decided to shoot. First shot literally knocked the muzzle off the bear. It started running. His follow up was a gut shot...bear continued running. He eventually tracked it down 300 yards later, where it died. Did the job in his case, but...they're fast buggers, and it makes you wonder what'd had happened if the bear didn't run the other way.

Shoulder shot anyone?
 
Years ago I had shot a 200 lb ish bear over a bait, Federal 3" slugs at maybe 10 yards after the hit it did 2 spins and fell over dead. Found the slug inside the off side ribs flattened like a pancake.

Not sure I would want to face an angry griz , I'd want something tougher than a huge chunk of pure lead if I was to break down a charging bear with that load. But it should bust up just about any blackie you would face.
 
I've been packing a 500 with a couple boxes of 000 buck for bear defence. Seeing all this talk about slugs makes me wonder my choice of a ammunition.

I never considered taking slugs along. If it ever came down to shooting, my aim might not be good enough to land any slugs (the fresh crap in my pants might spoil my aim)

My original plan was to imitate a CIWS with the 500/buck combination. Bad idea?
 
Although I have not killed a bear with a shotgun with slugs, I recently killed a wild boar with a brenneke classic 12 gauge slug.
Using a Deerslayer M37 Ithaca, and original iron sites,at a range of 75 yards, I put that slug through both of his lungs.
Had complete through and through, pig died in less than a minute, right there in this tracks.

At the range at 50 yards, and from a rest, the brennekes actually would cloverleaf.
I now have great confidence in these tools. I did my homework and these similar choices are very popular in coastal Alaska.

Acceptable accuracy is very acheiveable with pracitce.
PS Smoothbore 20 inch barrel.
 
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