Light short 12 gauge? Best outdoor hiking defense

aaron.b.hahn

aaron.b.hahn

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Ok. So I am an avid hiker living in interior BC. I often come across bears (no cougars yet) and I would like to have the lightest LEGAL firearm to carry for protection (I have a restricted license but I will not carry a handgun because of the legality).

I was thinking of a shorty 12 gauge with pistol grip loaded with slugs. Any suggestions? please include make and models please :)

PS. I often pay more money for camping gear that is only a few ounces lighter because you DO NOT want to carry unnecessary weight on a 5000 ft elevation
 
aaron.b.hahn said:
Ok. So I am an avid hiker living in interior BC. I often come across bears (no cougars yet) and I would like to have the lightest LEGAL firearm to carry for protection (I have a restricted license but I will not carry a handgun because of the legality).

I was thinking of a shorty 12 gauge with pistol grip loaded with slugs. Any suggestions? please include make and models please :)

PS. I often pay more money for camping gear that is only a few ounces lighter because you DO NOT want to carry unnecessary weight on a 5000 ft elevation
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Perhaps this would be a question best asked in the Black and Green shotgun forum. It's the forum beneath this one.
 
I bought a DA Grizzly 12.5" kinda for hiking, but more for just fun.

If you want light, look somwhere else. This thing is as heavy as my buddies 20" mossberg.

Also, stand alone pistol grips are not very good for firing full loads. If you actually need to use the shotgun, you're really going to wish you had the stock.
 
Haagen_Dazs said:
I bought a DA Grizzly 12.5" kinda for hiking, but more for just fun.

If you want light, look somwhere else. This thing is as heavy as my buddies 20" mossberg.

Also, stand alone pistol grips are not very good for firing full loads. If you actually need to use the shotgun, you're really going to wish you had the stock.
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This is entirely dependant on experience and practise. Believe me, you can get good with a pistol grip and padded mechanics gloves go a long way to reduce the recoil felt in your palm from 3" loads, 2 3/4" are just fine bare handed. To the OP, a Maverick 88 pistol grip is a great little gun. If you want to go pistol grip, either PG only or PG full stock, I would recommend the Maverick over the mossberg due to the crossbolt safety. The tang safety is hard to get at with a pistol grip. The aluminum reciever and polymer trigger group make it one very lightweight little shotgun and the factory mossberg pistol grip puts OAL at 28.5". Dont add any accessories to it if you want to keep it light.
 
Maverick 88 pump is a light SG about 6 lbs with the 18.5 inch barrel. Holds 6 - 2 3/4.
Light synthetic stock.
You can swap any Mossberg barrel onto it, and you should find it for about 200.
 
I agree with the maveric. It's pretty light, holds 5+1 3" shells. The trigger gaurd safety is in the best location, it's hard to bump bu accident, yet easy to operate even with gloves. Pgo is alright but I way prefer my
side folding stock.
 
Ithaca 37 is pretty light for a 12 gauge pump with 4 shots, a single shot is a bit lighter and another option would be a short lever action trapper or even better a rossi ranch hand with a full stock.
 
The Maverick 88 is the way to go 100%!

Cheap so you can beat it up and not worry, light as it gets for a 12 gauge, and the cross bolt safety is far superior to the Mossbergs tang safety when using a pistol grip!

Here is mine. Best $220 I ever spent. I have a deer barrel, and 28 inch bird barrel, as well as full stock so it is a triple threat.

shotty.jpg
 
So if any of the above shotguns are used for hiking?,I presume you are limited to three shells?....just wondering about the MNR here in Bantario.
 
Tarn said:
So if any of the above shotguns are used for hiking?,I presume you are limited to three shells?....just wondering about the MNR here in Bantario.
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Only true when hunting, from what I understand. If you are just backpacking, or target shooting you will have no issues.

One thing I usually suggest to make sure you never get mistaken for hunting, is to carry a few targets in your pack. If you ever get stopped you are just target shooting.;)
 
mlehtovaara said:
Only true when hunting, from what I understand. If you are just backpacking, or target shooting you will have no issues.

One thing I usually suggest to make sure you never get mistaken for hunting, is to carry a few targets in your pack. If you ever get stopped you are just target shooting.;)
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Yeah I think its up you to prove that you are not hunting!,good idea about the targets.
These MNR boys have a lot of power.
 
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