shotgun

[bruce william]

Hi all, now I have not owned a shotgun for a long time and I have noticed that alot has changed. What I would be looking for is a .12 3inch mag. I will be going into bear country and I have seen some big old bears in there.
I would like somthing that is light easy to bring to bear and put a lot of shot or slugs out in a hurry. There are parts of where I want to go there is alot of real thick brush. So I thought that I would ask for help to find a reliable shotgun.
Thank You for your help.

 

[ranger_dave]

Mossberg 500, light, reliable, good price. You can get wood or synthetic stocked and they are chambered for 2 3/4" and 3" shot shells. There is also many different barrels you can choose and easily swap out.

 

[hvmetalhead]

are you looking something just for bear defence, or do you still want to go duck hunting with it.

mosenberg makes some cheap 18.5" pumps for around $300-$400. or is you wanted tp still go duck hunting get a rem. 870 and get a defender barrel with it.

 

[Boomer]

Your choice is dependent on your personal preference and budget as much as it is on any other criteria, but I believe a bear gun should have the following elements:
12 gauge repeater; bolt, pump, or auto
20 gauge if anyone who might need the gun is recoil sensitive or too small to handle a large 12 gauge gun effectively
a conventional stock stock that fits you with a suitable recoil pad installed
20" barrel, open choke, smooth bore
5 shot unplugged magazine
rifle sights, open or ghost ring and post
a good sling
a side saddle so ammo is always with the gun.

Practice shooting 50 yards and in on both stationary and moving targets. Keep shot handy if you use crowded camp grounds or are in a cottage subdivision or a town. Don't use scare shells (cracker shells, rubber bullets, etc) in your killing gun. That gun must be reserved for lethal ammo only. Choose the slugs you can shoot the best, not the ones with the highest velocity. Federal 3" slugs recoil hard, Brenneke's slugs are a better design and are shooter friendly by comparison, but pricey for regular practice. I shoot 23/4" Winchester 1 ounce foster slugs for practice, but have my gun sighted for 3" Brennekes. If the gun is carried for extended periods of time in the outdoors, check the ammo regularly, especially if the weather is poor. Shotgun shells start to rust in a short period of time compared to rifle ammo, and these shells should be swapped out when this occurs. When I carry a shotgun for extended periods of time, I swap out the ammo once a month and keep the tarnished ammo for practice.

An auto-loader removes the chance that you might fumble or short stroke the action under stress. It requires ammunition that is in good condition and the gun needs to be well maintained, but this is true of other actions as well. The pump is almost the universal choice, but this isn't the best for everyone, just the most common and affordable. A bolt action can be a good choice if it can be fitted with a 5 shot magazine.

Treat your bear gun as if it was worth a million dollars. This is the tool that you will depend on to save your life. It can also be used to feed you under some circumstances. The number of defense guns that I have cleaned up because they were so neglected that they would not operate would amaze you.

 

[manbearpig]

Hi all, now I have not owned a shotgun for a long time and I have noticed that alot has changed. What I would be looking for is a .12 3inch mag. I will be going into bear country and I have seen some big old bears in there.
I would like somthing that is light easy to bring to bear and put a lot of shot or slugs out in a hurry. There are parts of where I want to go there is alot of real thick brush. So I thought that I would ask for help to find a reliable shotgun.
Thank You for your help.

$300 Dominion Arms Grizzly. 870 clone. not quite so light, because the Grizzly seems overbuilt compared to an 870. that 12.5" grizzly is heavier than my Wingmaster with an 18" barrel. handles 3" shells. IMHO pretty useless for hunting aside from the odd grouse.
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if you want an all-purpose shotgun thats reliable, can take a beating and good for pretty much anything a shotgun can hunt:

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Remington SPR 453. shoots any 12g ammo out there, even light target loads once it is broken in. you can buy it with a 28", 26", or 24" barrel.

or if you want something light, inexpensive and reliable get a Mossberg 500 Field Combo, and sell the deer barrel in the EE (or keep it). if you dont like the wood stock, im sure someone in the EE will trade you for a synthetic -- i would have in a heartbeat before i sold my Mossberg. Mossbergs are light and their aluminum receiver wont rust. IMHO you get more for your money with a Mossy 500 than an 870.

i would advise against the 8-shot Mossberg Persuader/home defence type things for several reasons:
-its heavy fully loaded
-i would not want to be stopped by a CO in the woods with 8 rounds of buckshot/slugs in my gun. yes technically you are not hunting, but tell him that. not worth it.


***edit
^listen to Boomer he does this for a living

 

[Norincoman]

Boomer - what about sabot slugs through a rifled barrel on the 20 or 12 guage? I read alot of use a 45/70 or 12 guage slugs but usually these refer to fosters. Any particular advantage to the sabots? I am thinking penetration maybe and of course the down side of cost.

I have tossed around the idea of eitehr selling my 870 wingmaster or just putting the 18.5" rifled barrel on it for bears.