Newbee - carrying for bear defense

930s are nice guns, and if it's only 2 weeks...I wouldn't get anything else. That said, to echo what's been posted already about pump guns. Just less possibility (IMHO) of any surprises when it matters most. I've been a Remington guy all my life, but recently picked-up a Mossberg 500 and really like it. That gun, with the 14" barrel/bead sight would be compact, little on it to snag on anything, smooth action, pack lots of punch, less weight than a steel-receiver 870, etc. I would be awfully tempted to get that 14" barrel 500 if bear protection was a serious concern.

For the record, the only time I've carried a shotgun for bear protection was while fishing in northern Ontario, and that gun was a 12.5" barrel Dominion Arms Grizzly. Fortunately, I never had to use it. Long carries with it made me wish I had something lighter. (those DA shotguns always feel heavier than they should for their size)
 
I've always found rifles or shotguns cumbersome to carry around, even when they are 12" shorty.. bear spray for me if I'm moving around lots. Work in a group if possible, make noise, keep your eyes open, don't run and you will be fine. If a bear wants to mess you up I don't think it really matters what you are carrying. If something happens chances are it will be fast and you wont be ready.. 2 guys got mauled by a griz out here a few years ago and had a shotgun the guy missed the bear 3 times. I would view the shotgun as a backup to bear spray in a truck, quad, or at camp.

Heres a quote from US Fish and Wildlife https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/es/species/mammals/grizzly/bear spray.pdf

"The question is not one of marksmanship or clear thinking in the face of a growling bear, for even a skilled
marksman with steady nerves may have a slim chance of deterring a bear attack with a gun. Law
enforcement agents for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have experience that supports this reality --
based on their investigations of human-bear encounters since 1992, persons encountering grizzlies and
defending themselves with firearms suffer injury about 50% of the time. During the same period, persons
defending themselves with pepper spray escaped injury most of the time, and those that were injured
experienced shorter duration attacks and less severe injuries. Canadian bear biologist Dr. Stephen Herrero
reached similar conclusions based on his own research -- a person’s chance of incurring serious injury from
a charging grizzly doubles when bullets are fired versus when bear spray is used."
 
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