- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
That’s the thing with shotgun barrels, performance varies from one to the other with any given ammo brand or load. Pattern and buy what works for the specific gun your using.
Slug Recommendation Bear Defence
- Thread starter YouAreInOilCountry
- Start date
That’s the thing with shotgun barrels, performance varies from one to the other with any given ammo brand or load. Pattern and buy what works for the specific gun your using.
The Challenger Magnum are 3 strikes and they're out for me (too spendy to risk disappointment again). The Challenger Low Recoil shoot well for me though as do Federal Tru Ball. I had a Brno Combo and it really liked the Basic Winchester Slug, which shot poorly in everything else I tried it in.
OP, If I may suggest to your common sense.
If you insist on using a slug fine, but make the slug the THIRD cartridge in the tube.
I don't know how good your reflexes are under stressful conditions and I can tell you from real life experience, a pizzed off Bear in close proximity is about as stressful as it gets, when you're the object of its attention at the time.
Make your first TWO cartridges in the tube "00" Buck.
Up close and personal, especially when you dont have time to aim you want to mangle something on that Bear to get its attention and stop it so you can finish it off with another shot.
If you need a third, you're really in trouble anyway and the shot is either point blank or ??????
Most Grizzlies will charge within ten yards or so then stop. It's usually a false charge brought about by a fear or whatever instinct and I can tell you, it takes a lot of determination on your part not to pull the trigger before it's necessary.
My standard move is put the sights in front of its path and the instant you see hair, pull the trigger. You likely won't kill it but it will certainly stop it long enough for a second shot to be placed where it will do the most good.
If you're serious about carrying a shotgun for Bear protection, be more worried about a Black. They don't give any warning an as often as not seem to come out of nowhere.
One thing you need to do is practice taking a fast shot without warning and no time to aim.
My now deceased hunting partner from almost two decades back had a good reaction trail set up on his property. There was a trail we used to take to the tree stands on the power line on the hill above and often encountered Bears along the way. Only had a couple that were aggressive. One wanted the freshly killed Deer we were packing out and the other was just curious and succumbed to a heavy dead fir branch smacking it on the snout.
If you have your shotgun slung over your shoulder, it will take most of your time to react and get a round chambered and into a position to fire it in such a manner that you're actually going to make some sort of difference in the Bear's attitude. That type of reaction takes practice, anything else is FLUFF.
My old bud and I would park ourselves along the trail with an old tire and roll it out at the least expected time. Believe it or not, the tire won a lot.
This isn't just something you do lightly. We had to be extremely careful to make sure we weren't on the receiving end of the buckshot, when rolling out that tire.
That's why we stuck with "00"Buckshot. The pattern was only about 6-8 cm across at ten yards but that's a lot bigger than a half inch (1 cm) and it makes all the differnce in the outcome of the situation.
Another thing to consider, which choke tube you're using in your shotgun. I don't know if your Benneli is cylinder bore or not.
If you insist on using a slug fine, but make the slug the THIRD cartridge in the tube.
I don't know how good your reflexes are under stressful conditions and I can tell you from real life experience, a pizzed off Bear in close proximity is about as stressful as it gets, when you're the object of its attention at the time.
Make your first TWO cartridges in the tube "00" Buck.
Up close and personal, especially when you dont have time to aim you want to mangle something on that Bear to get its attention and stop it so you can finish it off with another shot.
If you need a third, you're really in trouble anyway and the shot is either point blank or ??????
Most Grizzlies will charge within ten yards or so then stop. It's usually a false charge brought about by a fear or whatever instinct and I can tell you, it takes a lot of determination on your part not to pull the trigger before it's necessary.
My standard move is put the sights in front of its path and the instant you see hair, pull the trigger. You likely won't kill it but it will certainly stop it long enough for a second shot to be placed where it will do the most good.
If you're serious about carrying a shotgun for Bear protection, be more worried about a Black. They don't give any warning an as often as not seem to come out of nowhere.
One thing you need to do is practice taking a fast shot without warning and no time to aim.
My now deceased hunting partner from almost two decades back had a good reaction trail set up on his property. There was a trail we used to take to the tree stands on the power line on the hill above and often encountered Bears along the way. Only had a couple that were aggressive. One wanted the freshly killed Deer we were packing out and the other was just curious and succumbed to a heavy dead fir branch smacking it on the snout.
If you have your shotgun slung over your shoulder, it will take most of your time to react and get a round chambered and into a position to fire it in such a manner that you're actually going to make some sort of difference in the Bear's attitude. That type of reaction takes practice, anything else is FLUFF.
My old bud and I would park ourselves along the trail with an old tire and roll it out at the least expected time. Believe it or not, the tire won a lot.
This isn't just something you do lightly. We had to be extremely careful to make sure we weren't on the receiving end of the buckshot, when rolling out that tire.
That's why we stuck with "00"Buckshot. The pattern was only about 6-8 cm across at ten yards but that's a lot bigger than a half inch (1 cm) and it makes all the differnce in the outcome of the situation.
Another thing to consider, which choke tube you're using in your shotgun. I don't know if your Benneli is cylinder bore or not.
Excellent advice. I too can attest to the fact that they know you're there, well before you're aware of them. I've never had one charge at me, but several charge away from me and it will stop your heart. The speed at which they cover ground, even in the thickest of bush, is mind boggling. I've often thought about all the conversation about what pistol chambering is best for bear defence, yada, yada...anyone who's actually encountered bear knows you likely don't have time to get to your holster if he's charging. It'll be an explosive commotion occurring within feet of you, and it'll be fast. So fast, unless you train, as bearhunter suggests, it'll be too fast for your comprehension.
I hope it never happens to anyone, but I believe the best advice is to: a) have an armed hunting buddy as scout/look out when dressing an animal, and b) if actually attacked, keep to your feet. Even if knocked over, get back up. Keeping upright and thinking is the most important thing that just might get you out of the circumstance.
Bear bells on your pack are worth their weight in gold imho.
I hope it never happens to anyone, but I believe the best advice is to: a) have an armed hunting buddy as scout/look out when dressing an animal, and b) if actually attacked, keep to your feet. Even if knocked over, get back up. Keeping upright and thinking is the most important thing that just might get you out of the circumstance.
Bear bells on your pack are worth their weight in gold imho.
I'm not prepared to rely on Buckshot. I might revisit that opinion if the High Density loads (Federal) or Predator loads (Apex) become available.
I take an SKS or a short barreled Auto 5 (with Tru Ball) berry picking and late summer fishing.
I take an SKS or a short barreled Auto 5 (with Tru Ball) berry picking and late summer fishing.
Buckshot would be better than nothing but you are already compromising a lot with a shotgun regardless of the load. As little as 4" of green wood will stop a 1 1/4oz Federal Foster slug. If you insist on a shotgun spend the money on premium slugs.
We don't have many of the best choices available to us. Loads like the Challenger Gualandi slug are good but the company itself is hit and miss with QC. I got a box with half the shells partially crushed in the past. Inconsistent charges/velocities have also been an issue. That is unacceptable for ammo that runs $30/box.
We don't have many of the best choices available to us. Loads like the Challenger Gualandi slug are good but the company itself is hit and miss with QC. I got a box with half the shells partially crushed in the past. Inconsistent charges/velocities have also been an issue. That is unacceptable for ammo that runs $30/box.
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At the close ranges involved buck shot isn't going to have much spread and will not penetrate like a good slug. For Blacks it might be ok, but I would not choose it for Grizzly defense. Practice close range fast shots with slugs before you need to do it real with a bear.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Buckshot is no substitute for a hard cast slug and practice with your particular gun you will be carrying. Load it full of slugs and be familiar with the gun and how it operates so it’s second nature if you need to fire it.
Well, he was only off by a day, but I lost track of Monday "Rant" threads a long time ago,
I do concur with you though on choice of slugs considering thats all that was available in the shop when I went in to buy some.
Rob
