shot gun for bear defence
- Thread starter titleist
- Start date
Well - its about time we opened up this important topic for discussion. This forum has been silent on this issue for far too long! 
To start off the discussion, I can't imagine that you would need anything more than a 410 single shot, but I could be wrong. In fact, I'm often wrong.
To start off the discussion, I can't imagine that you would need anything more than a 410 single shot, but I could be wrong. In fact, I'm often wrong.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg
make it stop, make it stop...........................
I will save you a headache and a beating or two, use the SEARCH feature of the forum, we have done this to death, perhaps we can start a new 9mm vs. .40 & .45 thread again??
make it stop, make it stop...........................
I will save you a headache and a beating or two, use the SEARCH feature of the forum, we have done this to death, perhaps we can start a new 9mm vs. .40 & .45 thread again??
You will find a lot of people on this site who say that a Mossberg or Rem 870 12g would be best. Others will say that a guide gun in 45-70 is best. Whatever you do get, make sure that it's small and light enough to be easily carried in the bush with you.
Last edited:
I pack either my Fabarm Martial Pro or my 45-70 guide gun....either or will do, and I do carry them around in the great white north. A Mossberg 12gge shorty will be you cheapest bet i think, and a nice solid shotty too imho. Really though........90% of the time the bears will hear you and take off or not be interested.....8% of the time they are interested, any .223, .410, or whatever muzzle noise will scare them off (like a bear banger).....it's the 2% of the time they are interested and not scared that you pack these for right? Hope you find what you need and never HAVE to use it. Cheers.
There really is only one acceptable bear defense gun. You can see it here:
http://www.centuryarms.com.au/docs/4bore.html
Since it comes with both rifle and shotgun barrels, you have to decide between bullet or buckshot.
Everything else is a risky compromise, if you want to defend yourself, this is the gun.
Sharptail
http://www.centuryarms.com.au/docs/4bore.html
Since it comes with both rifle and shotgun barrels, you have to decide between bullet or buckshot.
Everything else is a risky compromise, if you want to defend yourself, this is the gun.
Sharptail
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
bears
I heard someone on gunnutz uses a spear for bears, I would bring coffee and donuts to that show.
I heard someone on gunnutz uses a spear for bears, I would bring coffee and donuts to that show.
- Location
- Hillbilly shack in the boonies
Good choice
canucklehead
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
14" Norinco 870 - cheap, short, kills bears dead.
- Location
- East ontario
i would go 14ich for defence, lighter and your not going to use it til lthe last second anyway.Gasanwu said:
het your self a good sling set up so you dont lose you shotgun in the bush.
One good fall or boat tipup and your gun goes one way and you go the other, what you going to do then?
Get a single point sling mount and a sling keep the gun on at all times even if you put the gun straped to your pack, have the sling on then no matter what happens you have it.
bbb
I'd get a 18.5" 870.
Why so long, when all recommend shorter bbls?
First, if you ever happen to cross the border.... you're going to have a cow..... They didn't let me in with a single shot 410 ... the backpacker...
Second... is that the only use for it?
If any upland birds or just fun plinking comes your way.. the blast of the 14" will ruin a lot of fun..
And I had to reactualize this post, because I never felt endangered by a bear. And I can give any advice to shot-gunners for bear protection, since I'm always using a rifle myself.....
How about that? How many of you are like me in this regard?
Why so long, when all recommend shorter bbls?
First, if you ever happen to cross the border.... you're going to have a cow..... They didn't let me in with a single shot 410 ... the backpacker...
Second... is that the only use for it?
If any upland birds or just fun plinking comes your way.. the blast of the 14" will ruin a lot of fun..
And I had to reactualize this post, because I never felt endangered by a bear. And I can give any advice to shot-gunners for bear protection, since I'm always using a rifle myself.....
How about that? How many of you are like me in this regard?
anything between 14" and 20" should be adaquate for bear defence as long as your profecient with it. make model and style are irrelevent because well bears dont give a damn what it looks like. if its soely for bear defence make sure if it has it remove the mag plug you may need the extra capacity. take BadBoy's advice on the single point sling i know with the winchester i have i can run it with the SPS and still comfortabley sling my pimped .303. i would avoid pistol grips and go with either a full length stock or adjustable LOP stock once you figure that all out you should be GTG
- Location
- AB foothills
Shotguns are for the birds
Please, do a search this topic has been covered a thousand times
Please, do a search this topic has been covered a thousand times
Last edited:
I carried a Mossberg 500 with an 18.5” barrel, very light (the lightest you are going to find) and decent gun, will carry six slugs in 2 ¾ “. As mentioned stay away from pistol grips for bear defense, they are ok for lighter power ammo, but hard on you firing full charge slugs and painful with 3” . my normal load is 2 ¾” slug, 3”x3 slugs and one final 2 ¾” slug
I just bought a 590 to replace it, the 20” barrel is a bit long, but I wanted the ghost ring sights, will be experimenting with new loads next week and will be looking at the copper jacketed sabot rounds as I have been told that they offer better penetration, although the effective range out of a smoothbore seems to be under 50m.
I also carry bearspray as a backup.
I just bought a 590 to replace it, the 20” barrel is a bit long, but I wanted the ghost ring sights, will be experimenting with new loads next week and will be looking at the copper jacketed sabot rounds as I have been told that they offer better penetration, although the effective range out of a smoothbore seems to be under 50m.
I also carry bearspray as a backup.
- Location
- AB foothills
Colin said:
Great advice
If the six slugs does not stop the bear spraying him with bear spray is surely going to do it.
the last time i ran into a bear was in it's den in april, all i had was a 20 shot lever action .22 that has a worn out spring so it will jam every shot!! and a 8 inch knife for show
it was all groggy and tired so we did something very very stupid and i don't regret it one little bit.........we got my dad to stick his arm in with the camera in hand and snapped off a picture, then we thought we'd take off.
now if you don't believe this really happen here i am in the den 2 weeks later
my expert opinion as a 16 year old would to carry any type of shotgun as long as your a good shot and it's light for hiking.....a 410
it was all groggy and tired so we did something very very stupid and i don't regret it one little bit.........we got my dad to stick his arm in with the camera in hand and snapped off a picture, then we thought we'd take off.
now if you don't believe this really happen here i am in the den 2 weeks later
my expert opinion as a 16 year old would to carry any type of shotgun as long as your a good shot and it's light for hiking.....a 410
JAMO said:
Cozy!
About the shotgun. I can vouch for the Norc HP9-1 (14") OR, for twice the money, one of these:
Fabarm Martial Proforces 14"
I have both, and yes the Fabarm is worth twice as much, although both are good guns.
