Slugs for grizzly defense

mtbore

mtbore

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Hi all. I've been getting comfortable with a 12.5" 12-gauge lately. It's primarily a remote wilderness defense. I have no concerns with black bears, obviously. (?) But for the larger brown variety, what are your thoughts on the significance of 2.75" vs. 3" slugs, hollowpoint vs. non, 1 oz vs. ++. Etc.

I know... Placement, placement, placement. But if I'm going to pick something and stick to it, what's the wisdom on the technicalities of grizzly penetration and removal of threat with slugs?

A couple of slugs shown...
Winchester Super X Rifled Hollow Point 2.75" 1600 fps 1 oz.
Winchester Super X Magnum Rifled 3" 1760 fps 1 oz.
and not shown...
Fiocchi Aero Hollow Point 2.75"
TwoSlugs.jpg
 
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Lazy Ike said:
Why aren't you concerned with Black Bear?
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I guess because they're slightly more "familiar" to me but maybe I shouldn't assume anything because I've never shot either kind! Their size, to me, suggests that if I'm in the right ballpark with with a slug for a grizzly, that slug will really take care of a blackie. Assuming it's roughly on-target...

In in terms of maximum bear tissue disruption, can anyone speak from seeing the difference between hollow point or not? I know I'm talking to the meat experts here in the hunting forum but I'm only thinking about most effective threat removal in this case.

geologist said:
Brenneke 2 3/4".
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Thank you, geologist. I've been reading up a bit on that flavour of slug now.
 
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Looking at the slugs that I regularly pick up from a 50 yard berm, I am getting impression that Brenneke Is a way to go. The hollow base slugs expand into a lead puck, but they lack weight, while Brenneke does not expand so much, but it's heavier. I think that a 5/8" diameter hole that goes deeper into the tissue is better than a 1" hole that stops sooner.
 
mtbore said:
I guess because they're slightly more "familiar" to me
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I get it.

When I went to retrieve my stand, that I mistakenly hung on a tree that was being used to mark territory. I loaded up 3 breneke's and a couple of buck. That combination proved so deadly that the bear didn't even show up.
 
Be honest with yourself, and pick whichever load you can shoot FAST and ACCURATELY.

It will likely be a 2 3/4". I've heard that the Brenneke are very good WRT terminal performance, but the more easily available lead slugs will do the job too, if you can shoot them FAST and ACCURATELY...
 
Silverado said:
Be honest with yourself, and pick whichever load you can shoot FAST and ACCURATELY. ... It will likely be a 2 3/4"
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Yup, agree with that. Spent the afternoon shooting more brands and types of slugs. Lots of 3" today. Good fun. But 2 3/4" does buy me slightly less recoil and the ability to put one additional slug in the magazine (4 versus only 3 of the 3") so decision is made on length for now.

Static target practice is going well enough at 50 yards. I'll have to try some moving target practice soon. I'm picturing a big tumbling bucket hurtling toward me, tied to a rope a friend runs away with behind me. I think I read something like on the forum here.

Silverado said:
I've heard that the Brenneke are very good WRT terminal performance, but the more easily available lead slugs will do the job too, if you can shoot them FAST and ACCURATELY...
Click to expand...

I'll check the local shops. I suppose mail order is an option but I bet shipping is brutal for slugs in any quantity.
 
Try Accuracy Plus out of Peterborough, Ontario.
Or closer to you the Italian Sporting Goods store in Van.

The Shooting Edge in Calgary is in the process of importing too.
Check out the Ammo forum 'sticky' here on CGN, relating to Brennekes.
 
Brenneke is likely the best choice.

As to 2.3/4 vs 3 - unless you're protecting other folks where you might have to reach out and touch someone, you'll actually get slightly better penetration at very close ranges with the SLOWER slug. Either way tho - even a brown bear will have it's day ruined by a slug shot close in no matter what if you hit it. If you miss - probably won't make much of a difference which one you go with :)

Practice will be more important than anything. Guys who successfully defend themselves are the ones who practice with their guns in 'bear attack' scenarios. You dont necessarily need to use slugs to practice all the time (gets expensive) but you DO need to run as many rounds as possible out of your gun in situations approximating what you'll find if you're attacked by a bear.
 
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Nice. Lots of good suggestions. Keep 'em coming (because I'm sure others want to know). But thanks!
 
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