Bear Protection Shotgun

I’m going to chime in with questions !
I’m not sure this is possible but let’s try and establish something in this bear defence situation .

I’m not trying to be cute here !
What is a defensive situation ?
Well it certainly isn’t after a bear attacks you is it ?
Because where is your firearm of choice after a bear attacks you ?

At what distance do you deem the bear to be a danger ?
 
Leavenworth said:
I’m going to chime in with questions !
I’m not sure this is possible but let’s try and establish something in this bear defence situation .

I’m not trying to be cute here !
What is a defensive situation ?
Well it certainly isn’t after a bear attacks you is it ?
Because where is your firearm of choice after a bear attacks you ?

At what distance do you deem the bear to be a danger ?
Click to expand...
It isn’t May yet! Try to stick to shotguns vs rifles… or… you could be the first bear defence thread in 2026!

R.
 
Leavenworth said:
I’m going to chime in with questions !
I’m not sure this is possible but let’s try and establish something in this bear defence situation .

I’m not trying to be cute here !
What is a defensive situation ?
Well it certainly isn’t after a bear attacks you is it ?
Because where is your firearm of choice after a bear attacks you ?

At what distance do you deem the bear to be a danger ?
Click to expand...

Defensive situation is when a bear is interested or acts aggressively towards you.

Distance largely depends on the bears behaviour. I've been within a few yards of a bear that was not acting aggressively and didn't feel it was a danger (other than the fact it was a bear)

If a bear is coming at you aggressively and less than 50 yards away it's sure as hell a danger. It may break off the charge but once it gets past 50 you better be ready to shoot. Hopefully you won't have to but you better be ready.

I had a grizzly that kept coming towards me, not fast, not super aggressive but wouldn't stop advancing despite warnings (he was trying to decide what I was) and I picked a spot about 20 yards out that if he went past there I was going to shoot. Luckily the wind changed and he didn't like my scent so turned around and ran off.
 
riversrest said:
How so ?
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A bullet traveling over 2200 fps has a major difference on impact, it has a large amount of hydrostatic shock, turning the organs to jelly, there is a reason every gun that burns smokeless for hunting dangerous animals runs at least 2200fps. You can read about them figuring out the effect of the speed on game and the science behind it.

also a bullet spinning at 350,000 rpm while it expands plays a major role too.
 
Suther said:
What is your opinion of the 12ga shotgun as an option?
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I have never liked shotguns for bear work they don't have the power to break big bears down. Understand I worked with polar bears which are kind of a different kind of bear. Having said that most people I know working in bear country would rather face a polar bear than a grizzly bear , not because a grizz is tougher just more aggressive. Polar bears don't bluff if he's coming he's coming , draw your line and don't second guess it. We were forced to carry shotguns when working for parks Canada as they said we could fire cracker shells out of it as well as slugs ( never ever a good idea ). In my own company we carried rifles and trained bear guards with rifles. My son who has taken over the company does the same thing.
 
Evanguy said:
A bullet traveling over 2200 fps has a major difference on impact, it has a large amount of hydrostatic shock, turning the organs to jelly, there is a reason every gun that burns smokeless for hunting dangerous animals runs at least 2200fps. You can read about them figuring out the effect of the speed on game and the science behind it.

also a bullet spinning at 350,000 rpm while it expands plays a major role too.
Click to expand...

If you read my post again, maybe you misunderstood what I was talking about.

If a larger diameter object impacts a surface at same energy than a smaller diameter object. Then more energy will be "released" by the larger object on impact.

ft/lbs per square inch it's called.

The bigger (potentially slower) object will obviously not penetrate as much due to more friction/resistance when entering the surface !

It's really common sense...
 
riversrest said:
If you read my post again, maybe you misunderstood what I was talking about.

If a larger diameter object impacts a surface at same energy than a smaller diameter object. Then more energy will be "released" by the larger object on impact.

ft/lbs per square inch it's called.

The bigger (potentially slower) object will obviously not penetrate as much due to more friction/resistance when entering the surface !

It's really common sense...
Click to expand...
I guess I did kind of miss read your post.

More to my point the energy isn't the only factor when you get above 2200 fps and a fast twist.

The slug may have more energy transfer on impact, but way less where it actually matters. why release the energy in the skin and fat layers? Let all the energy be dumped inside the bear or into bone.

With a slug you can eat right to the hole, with a fast moving/spinning it leaves a mess.
 
Evanguy said:
I guess I did kind of miss read your post.

More to my point the energy isn't the only factor when you get above 2200 fps and a fast twist.

The slug may have more energy transfer on impact, but way less where it actually matters. why release the energy in the skin and fat layers? Let all the energy be dumped inside the bear or into bone.

With a slug you can eat right to the hole, with a fast moving/spinning it leaves a mess.
Click to expand...

Rotation rate has nothing to with expansion or energy transfer. Bullet design has.

Use a FMJ at 2200 fps or use a TTSX at 2200 fps will make the difference...
 
Fatal bear attack are seldom from bears that you have seen from a distance, usually are bears that you surprised usually within a few yards and unless your firearm is at the ready all the time cause chances are that you won’t have time to unsling your gun, load it and shoulder it. Of course if you see the bear coming from far then you have time to get ready… then you get a bear coming at you at 50-60km/hr with the head bobbing up and down if and only if you practice a lot you would have a chance to hit him properly to take it down cause if you don’t you’re Fvcked!! Lots of bears are shot way to soon, most bears will do at least one bluff charge and sometime more than one! So do you shoot no matter what? In reality it doesn’t matter much what you use you need to really know how to use it! Phill shoemaker used a 9mm semi pistol in a defensive way on a bear that wanted to get to his clients… that was not his first choice but that is what he had at the time and the man knows how to use what ever he carries!!
I’m way faster with a bear spray but they also have there limitations.
A friend up here that spent all his adult life in the bush as a trapper and a guide, always says what ever you have if your time as come it won’t matter!
 
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pathfinder76 said:
Can you link the article? As I recall it he was stopping a wounded bear that was charging. Was it the Lon Paul 06?
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Yes, the Lon Paul custom and yes on the bear being wounded by a client. I'd say ol' Phil had a charmed day that day. Sorry to be dense, i'm not sure what you mean by posting the link. If you mean online, i have the magazine hard-copy. Dunno if the article exists online or not.
 
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