Anyone *actually* killed a bear with a shotgun?

Wrong Way said:
You need to read my post again. Why do I have 7 1/2 in first? Cause it sucks having to cycle through all the slugs and buckshot to load one in for that grouse. And the chances of me running into a grouse is far more likely than running into a bear.
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When grouse hunting, I keep my slugs, and buckshot on the shotguns sidesaddle, and practice allot loading through the port in an emergency.

Just in case you haven't seen them...My fav vids:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=786jVtVxShc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmH-TwBgKcg
:D
 
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Well, i shot a black bear with my 20 gauge single shot using a foster type slug.My first shot hit it broadside and went through the chest making the bear summersault backwards with me missing the second shot as it rolled.It ran off into the bush so i waited 10 minutes before i followed.

Found it 50 yards in and finished it with a head shot when it started to get up about 5 feet from me off the trail.

Now i use a 12 gauge SxS for grouse hunting and keep brenneke slugs in the chambers and swap them out for birdshot when i see the grouse. I live up in northern bc and running into grizzlies has become a normal experience while hunting.They tend to hang around where the moose are.:) I figure i may get 1 or two shots if i'm lucky and thats if i get 2 seconds to shoot before they get to me.So far i have never had to shoot one, last fall one came out 30 feet from me and the closest has been 8 feet and you just don't get much time to swap out birdshot if they get a bad attitude about you.:slap:
 
Wrong Way said:
Heres my loads: 7 1/2, Slug, 000 buck, 000 buck, 000 buck.

The 7 1/2 is great for when a grouse flushes, and if I'm surprised (close range) by something that wants to eat me......a face full of 7 1/2's will buy you lots of time to aim your second (slug) shot. The bear can't get you if it can't see/smell you.

If the bear is far enough away, you just jack out the 7 1/2 and you are good to go with the 1+ OZ sledge hammer. If he keeps coming, the buckshot will increase your odds in a hurried situation.
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I would go with a slug for the first shot, because it will be your best shot. Then buck for second because it will be more hurried. Then another slug as a close finisher. Then pick one for yourself if the first three didn't work:dancingbanana: :evil:
 
none said:
Well, i shot a black bear with my 20 gauge single shot using a foster type slug.My first shot hit it broadside and went through the chest making the bear summersault backwards with me missing the second shot as it rolled.It ran off into the bush so i waited 10 minutes before i followed.

Found it 50 yards in and finished it with a head shot when it started to get up about 5 feet from me off the trail.

Now i use a 12 gauge SxS for grouse hunting and keep brenneke slugs in the chambers and swap them out for birdshot when i see the grouse. I live up in northern bc and running into grizzlies has become a normal experience while hunting.They tend to hang around where the moose are.:) I figure i may get 1 or two shots if i'm lucky and thats if i get 2 seconds to shoot before they get to me.So far i have never had to shoot one, last fall one came out 30 feet from me and the closest has been 8 feet and you just don't get much time to swap out birdshot if they get a bad attitude about you.:slap:
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your story has a few holes.
 
Wrong Way said:
OK Gatehouse, so....you and I go grouse hunting up here at one of the tree farms/berry patches. You have your O/U loaded with 2 #6's, and I have my pump loaded 7's, slug, 000 buck. A bear decides to try and make us lunch....we have 5 seconds to react and empty the gun into said bear, In your opinion, who's better equipped?
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Well, I guess you woudl be, but you won't be making many doubles or follow up shots on grouse!:evil:

For strictly bear defense purposes wiht a shotgun (not my first choice) I load a pump action wiht Brenneke slugs, 2 3/4"
 
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Wrong Way said:
One thing to remember re: birdshot. At 5 feet you are essentially shooting a slug anyway. The shot charge hasn't even left the wad at that distance. Next time you are at the range, try shooting a 4X4 with a slug at 5 feet.....then do the same with an upland load of 7's.....what the 7's will do will shock you.

At "up close and personal" ranges, you don't have to remember whats loaded...you just have to remember to pull the trigger. Its at the longer ranges (20 yards or more) that a slug really shines.
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Youknow, this afternoon, after you posted that, I grabbed a shotgun out of the rack, and walked outside to try it out.

I had some 4x4's but instead of blowing holes in good lumber, I used a 4" round piece of firewood, and at about 5-6 feet, shot it wiht 7.5 12 guage. I really wasn't impressed.,,, there was hardly any penetration.

Impact:

Leopardhide116.jpg



Split the log in half:

Leopardhide117.jpg





I tried it wiht another piece and some Old School High Brass Imperial #2 loads, ad they made quite a bit more of an impression- split the wood, actually!:D

Leopardhide120.jpg


Although they didn't penetrate much, either....

Leopardhide121.jpg


I am sure either one of them woudl give a bear a headache (probably smash some skull at 5ft, too) and I woudlnt' hesitate to shoot one in the head if that's all I had, and it was 5 feet away...But I can't imagine being so oblivious to my surroundings that I woudl let a bear get THAT close!!!:runaway: :runaway:
 
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A single shot break action shotgun can be reloaded really fast if you keep extra shells in your fingers on your left hand.:wave: Almost as fast as a lever action for the follow up shot.And thats grizzly that i haven't shot not blacks.
 
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i never understood the whole slugs and buckshot mix.
i pack just slugs.

but if i were grouse hunting id have the #7 first, unless i was in an area with alot of bears
 
Yes, 6 or 7, all with Lyman cast (wheel weight) slugs, over a very stiff load of BlueDot. Paper patched for a snug fit in the 24" (I think) slug barrel of a Bennelli M121. This would give me 6" groups at 100m. I never recovered a slug, every one was a through-and-through.
Distances ranged from almost contact range (less than 2m) to about 30m, all on Vancouver Island in the tall salal, where you REALLY don't want to be trailing a wounded bear. Thus I always shot the bear at least twice, 4 times if it was possible.
 
Splatter said:
Yes, 6 or 7, all with Lyman cast (wheel weight) slugs, over a very stiff load of BlueDot. Paper patched for a snug fit in the 24" (I think) slug barrel of a Bennelli M121. This would give me 6" groups at 100m. I never recovered a slug, every one was a through-and-through.
Distances ranged from almost contact range (less than 2m) to about 30m, all on Vancouver Island in the tall salal, where you REALLY don't want to be trailing a wounded bear. Thus I always shot the bear at least twice, 4 times if it was possible.
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Which is exactly why I got a pump over the O/U or Break!
 
Shot has one application when used as a bear defence load. That is when you must kill a bear in a populated area when the risk of a slug exiting the bear is unacceptable. This was brought into sharp focus for me one morning on my way to work. A fellow killed a polar bear on his porch with a load of bird shot from contact close range as the bear tried to push his way into the house. The bear ran off on rubber legs, and died a short time later. Had that shotgun been loaded with slugs, I might not be telling the tale - we were directly in the line of fire.

Senior - I know that trick (ringing a shot shell) although I haven't tried it for real. No one else commented, so we might be the only ones here that do.

Slugs can be effective against bears, but much depends on the circumstances as to when I feel comfortable using them. Does the firepower offered by the shotgun over a bolt action rifle make up for it's lack of penetration? I don't think so, which is why I want my rifle in the willows, but close to town I carry the shotgun. If I was an infrequent visitor to bear country and wanted a "just in case gun" I would choose a shotgun loaded with slugs.
 
i've shot about 20 with slugs and OO buck. slugs are good but you will have pass through, so pay attention to whats behind the bear. buck shot works too but you should be within 10 yards.

the last thing i would want to see while camping is some yahoo, scared of bears, running around with a shotgun trying to kill something. i'd rather take my chances with the bear. black bears anyway.

bears can run at around 50 km/h dead quite, if it wants to get you it will.
 
Splatter, where did you ring the shell (at what point on the hull?)

I've never tried it....and now, of course....I must.:D

Booomer, I am sure we are all pleased that the fellow was using shot that day!:eek:
 
What seemed to work best was cutting through the shell just below the shot cup part of the wad.

I wouldn't do it in a light barreled antique or a fine double tho. Remember that you are stuffing most of the case through the forcing cone and down the barrel
 
Splatter said:
What seemed to work best was cutting through the shell just below the shot cup part of the wad.

I wouldn't do it in a light barreled antique or a fine double tho. Remember that you are stuffing most of the case through the forcing cone and down the barrel
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I was taught this by an Vietnam vet years ago. I was telling him about how Teddy R. used to mix wax with the birdshot to produce a slug. He explained an easier way. They used to cut the hull right above the brass, devastating he said. You have to make sure you cut right through the outer hull or the empty hull will stick in the chamber and jam your shotgun. The entire hull/shot goes out the barrel and acts like a slug, the brass is ejected. I tried this with a 20ga. single shot years ago from about 15ft IIRC, shot a 5" poplar, blew a hole right through it an the tree fell over. I figure in a pinch it would work on a bear.

I would only use this in an emergency situation.
 
northwoodslivin said:
You guy's are having to much fun with reloading :D
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I would n't call it reloading...I'd call it "tampering wiht factory ammunition in an unsafe manner which will surely void the warranty and any expressed or implied liabilty":D :D

I'll try some tonight when I get home -if I get home during dayligth hours...:dancingbanana:
 
Gatehouse said:
I would n't call it reloading...I'd call it "tampering wiht factory ammunition in an unsafe manner which will surely void the warranty and any expressed or implied liabilty":D :D

I'll try some tonight when I get home -if I get home during dayligth hours...:dancingbanana:
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Gatehouse:

Please let us know how it works.
 
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