Polar bear defense shotgun

Hey there, I also work in the Arctic and carry my Mav88. We have both Grizzly and Polar bear because I work a bit inland. Hasn't failed me yet. Just like the others have said, do not trust an auto loader up there. They can do some funky stuff when you take it out of a 20 degree truck and instantly subject it to -68. I just recently have switched to 12 Gauge Hornady SST Sabot Slug 2-3/4" 300 Grain 2000 fps. I chose a shotgun over a rifle do to the fact that, when you're all bundled up and working outside a bear can get up on you pretty darn fast and i wanted something that would give me improved maneuverability for close quarters emergencies.

EDIT: Forgot to mention that if you're using the SST Sabot in a smooth bore and are 1500 FPS or over, invest in a rifled choke tube or you stand a very very good chance of having the projectile key hole on you.
 
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I recomend REM 870 18inches barrel with folding stock for easy transport.

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The Baikal Mp 153 is excellent gun for the money. Very reliable and will cycle 2 3/4-3.5 no problem once broken in according the manufacturers recommendations. For hunting it is totally reliable and incredibly unlikely to malfunction vs many other much more expensive semi autos. All of that being said though I love it for hunting but for life/death defense I wouldn't go with anything other than a pump I know will work every time.
 
For some people, an autoloader is a better choice than a pump. A dangerous bear encounter is a stressful experience, and should you need to shoot, a pump, especially a pump with a stiff action like a Maverick 88, could lead to short stroking the action. Now you've got an expended shell in the chamber, a shell on the elevator, and a bear that is about to kill you. The auto fires and cycles every time with just a press of the trigger, all it asks is to be kept clean and fed good ammunition. If you've carried your rounds in a sidesaddle for the past two months and they've become corroded, yes its possible that they could tie up an auto. But if the auto is of good quality, is properly maintained, and you swap out the ammo every few weeks, it will prove to be a reliable saviour.
 
The reliability of the Benelli M4 and those Rem 7/8 ounce rifled slug @ 1900 fps, that combo give 2.5 inch group and 3000 pounds of energy, very good any bear medecine... JP.
 
Folks find the bear defense stuff fascinating I guess. I just got back to the hotel from Wholesale, and while browsing around after finding bullets could use, but not dies, I checked out their book section which is usually not bad. I was struck by the fact that there were more books dedicated to bear attacks then to any other single topic other then perhaps fly fishing. There were several others that tempted me, though none had to do with bears, and I settled on Bell's "The Wanderings of an Elephant Hunter."

Edited to add . . .
There are two bear defense threads running concurrently.
 
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styles828 said:
Pump 870.

If stainless/marine is to much, go black/synthetic. Pump.

Make sure it's a pump.


Your trusting lives to it. Does everyone know semi's inside out? (Get a pump)

Cold weather could have an effect. (Get a pump)

A pump will cycle any load. (Get a pump)

Get a pump. (Get a pump)

GET A PUMP!
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I lent an 870 pump with 18" barrel to a friend who went on an Arctic expedition. He used it when a polar bear came into their camp. He was glad it was a pump. Worked like it was supposed to first time. Get a pump.
 
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