Gun to carry on fishing trips advice

Think the point is been lost. If you need a bear gun what ever floats your boat, you need it with you and easy to use and get on target. I live in bear country and have them in my back yard all the time, I'm in city limits. I've been charged on my bike, in the woods and in my back yard! My good ol' Pitbull Rocky would always put the run to them. I also had a big boar turn on my dog, never did I have any firearms with me. I've done a few set ups for people and read read read about this and I truly believe a well maintained pump shotgun is the way to go. 18-20" and as much ammo as you can carry. Keep it simple and just a sling, you don't want me reading about the dumb axx that got killed cause his fancy leather little back pack thing failed or found dead with gun in back pack! Keep just a bead sight no heat shields nothing. I would not even put a shell holder on it. Keep weight down and user friendly up! If you have spent time with someone how has lived threw a bear attack and read about kills by bears you will have a different out look on this topic. Remember kids, it's a different game when things go bad to real bad, you can sit at home with a beer thinking how cool it would be but facts are when your being charged by 700 lbs of I'm going to kill you" most will just crap themselves. Train with moving targets and rember last resort is to kill!

I'll agree with 99% of what you're saying. (I have been stalked in the bush by a big boar black bear that ended in a confrontation. I didn't have a firearm, and I stood my ground. *end credentials*) Where we differ is the recommendation. Pump shotguns are great, the magazines can hold a lot of ammo, they're relatively light and trouble free...trying to cycle a pump with a sling is a mess, particularly if done under duress.
What a 12" double lacks in magazine potential it more than makes up for in its ease of use particularly WITH a sling. The fact that is is a hammered gun with transfer bars mean it can be carried chambered without relying on a 'shotgun' safety or carrying without being chambered.
I'm also very confident that both barrels of 3" magnum buckshot at 10-20' will drop or permanently deter any bear from further advances...no matter how motivated. AND, with a flick of the wrist 2 more rounds ready to go with little practice.
Setting off both barrels of 3" magnums at once is truly the closest thing to Thor's hammer...it is just incredible. Buck, slugs, take your pick. It's all effective.
 
You sure about your facts on barrels? But the biggest issue is mag capacity, more shots better chance of walking away! I'll take a 18-20" all day long. But I'm 6'5" 230 so it is different for a smaller framed person, so we are back to what works best for you.

Sound like my UTS would fit the bill...29" OAL, 18.5"barrel,15 rds capacity.
CG
 
Yes that platform works best for you! I agree 100%! Simple, what works best for you. Stick to what you know, but if your new to firearms a simple pump gun is easy to work and fast follow ups. I watched my hunting partner unload his rifle with buck fever in front of me, so anyone and ness up under stress. Know what your packing and learn to stay clam under stress, can practice this with your wife:).
 
I cannot say I would trust my life to a UTS-15. YMMV.

After shooting everything trough it in large amounts,I do. Those bad reviews are Gen1 and 2...and on top of that,US assembled or built. My Wolverine ( turkish built to their order ) ones are Gen3 and 4. reliable,quick and easy to point.

CG
 
I'm with Jeepaholic.... get a dog! :)

Get two dogs ...and by this I do not mean the member here on CGN.
One dog will be inquisitive of the smell and get close enough to the bear.
The bear will get anoyed and the dog will come running back to its owner for protection of the pack...
Remember dogs are pack animals and tow dogs will make to much noise together alerting the bear long before they can surprise it.
Bear will be long gone before dogs can annoy it enough to chase them back to you.
FLHTCUI
 
Within that price range the only choice IMO is the 88. Super relaible, light, quick pointing and affordable. Mine comes out quite often for fishing trips. Lots of blacks and the quite frequently grizz, enough I would never entertain the thought carrying anything norinco around the parsnip/mcgregor watersheds.
 
I didn't know that there would be so many differing opinions, but I suppose it's that way with anything. All these responses have certainly given me food for thought. I think I'm still leaning toward the Maverick 88, but who knows, I really need to do a lot more research. Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it.
 
I actually fished with a guy last August who carries that gun, it does seem like a great gun. I was just thinking that having a larger capacity, as some people here have mentioned, would be better, which is why I was thinking pump.

You already know what you need and your choice is a very good one. Just do yourself a favor and spend time shooting it and also getting use to it and where the controls are and feeding. I think the 500 or 88 are your but bets. Let us know how you like your new shotgun:). Cheers Jeep
 
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Here's a picture from shockwave technologies website. The raptor grip on a 14" Mossberg 590A1 comes in at 26.5" AOL. This is the shortest you can go and be legal. They also have one for the 870.
 
I'd probably bring my workhorse Moss 500 18.5" or 590A1 14". I wasn't impressed with my friend's Grizzly that I shot... I'm sure the Mav 88 would be more reliable than that one.

Why not get the best shorty (11" barrel, Non Restricted) you can buy for about a G-note? It's even threaded for chokes and just looks badass!
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How the heck have I missed the existence of this amazing shotgun? MUST HAVE!!!
 
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