Suggestions for a bear defense shotgun

You cannot go wrong with a 12ga. Canuck enforcer right now with slugs. Perfect bear defense gun. Put the pistol grips on it to keep it easily packed or sling. You can also use it for hunting as it comes with a butt stock/chin pad and 4 chokes. I put a reflex site on mine too for this. I got mine at firearmsoutlet, special case and choke version. If can see if you can find a version that comes with the case, it was the same price and a even better value. I am extremely happy with the quality at this price point and accuracy. It is way better than the mossbergs.
https://outdoorpros.ca/product/canuck-enforcer-pump-action-combo/
https://www.firearmsoutletcanada.com/canuck-enforcer-12ga-2-3-4-or-3-16-barrel.html
 
There's been problems with FOC, just so you know..see the credit card thread.
Take a look at the Revolution Armory 16 inch from Marstar too. Really nice little Turk. There's a guy selling some NIB on the EE for 275. The pistol grip version.
The thing to keep in mind is you have to practice lots if you're relying on a firearm for bear defense and practicing with these short light guns can be unpleasant due to recoil. You could experiment with mini shells too.... some guns feed them without the adapter. The mini slugs pack a punch.
 
Arcosdad said:
There's been problems with FOC, just so you know..see the credit card thread.
Take a look at the Revolution Armory 16 inch from Marstar too. Really nice little Turk. There's a guy selling some NIB on the EE for 275. The pistol grip version.
The thing to keep in mind is you have to practice lots if you're relying on a firearm for bear defense and practicing with these short light guns can be unpleasant due to recoil. You could experiment with mini shells too.... some guns feed them without the adapter. The mini slugs pack a punch.
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Thanks for the tips! Yeah, I read about the issues with FOC. If I were to buy from them, I'll go there physically since I'm not too far way from them.

I already find shooting a full size 12 ga unpleasant. I have an older run of the mill winchester pump and boy does it kick hard on the shoulders with regular loads. Padding is not great either but will definitely get lots of practice time on a bear defense shotgun. It ain't going to do me any good if I can't shoot straight and fast with it. lol
 
I'd buy a Maverick 88 over any of the cheaper Turkish pump guns. Not to say there is anything wrong with some of the cheaper Turkish pumps just that the mav88 is proven reliable and can be supported by a vast aftermarket

Those who can't take the recoil of a 12ga should look at the Beretta 1301 tac or comp. Very soft shooting gun and reliable
 
brybenn said:
I'd buy a Maverick 88 over any of the cheaper Turkish pump guns. Not to say there is anything wrong with some of the cheaper Turkish pumps just that the mav88 is proven reliable and can be supported by a vast aftermarket

Those who can't take the recoil of a 12ga should look at the Beretta 1301 tac or comp. Very soft shooting gun and reliable
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The cheaper Turkey pumps more than stack up to the Mossberg Mavericks in every which way except price. The Beretta 1301 is gas operated - no comparison to a pump for recoil. A very soft shooting gun (of course) and as reliable as a semi-auto can be at 6 times the cost of a Turk.
 
If not on sale the Turkish pumps are the same or even more money than a 88 nowadays. There are usually lots of sales on Turkish guns though. I've seen Canuck regulators selling for around $400 nowadays. I bought mine for $269 when they first came out. Since returned from warrenty it's been great. 88 still has alot more aftermarket support and various barrels. I see new pricing of the 1301 is $1850 at some retailers now. I'm really liking mine
 
brybenn said:
If not on sale the Turkish pumps are the same or even more money than a 88 nowadays. There are usually lots of sales on Turkish guns though. I've seen Canuck regulators selling for around $400 nowadays. I bought mine for $269 when they first came out. Since returned from warrenty it's been great. 88 still has alot more aftermarket support and various barrels. I see new pricing of the 1301 is $1850 at some retailers now. I'm really liking mine
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There is always a Turk pump on sale. Buy the one you want, and then you won't need anything aftermarket. Buy two. A 1301 at 8 times the price of a Turk, is no comparison to a pump for recoil.
 
john777 said:
Would anyone consider a cheap $240 Churchill Pump Shotgun 12" for bear defense?

https://www.firearmsoutletcanada.co...2ga-2-3-4-or-3--12-barrel-5-shot-a13387-.html

I'm tempted based on price. If it feeds reliably as other brands costing 2-3x more, I'm game for this cheapo. On the other hand, it is just another what you pay is what you get scenario?
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Churchill shockwave is all right. Feed and ejects just fine..btw…the other similar shotgun that cost 2-3times the price were about $300 about a month ago. I asked in store why mossberg shock wave went up so much and was told that they will be in demand soon because they are US made and people tend to overpay for firearms anyway lol

I kid you not, that was what I was told.

Grab a Churchill and have fun, would not use 3inch shells as the blast is not much fun with 3 inch, the 2.75 inch are pretty decent to shoot with the bird’d head grip.
 
valczer said:
Churchill shockwave is all right. Feed and ejects just fine..btw…the other similar shotgun that cost 2-3times the price were about $300 about a month ago. I asked in store why mossberg shock wave went up so much and was told that they will be in demand soon because they are US made and people tend to overpay for firearms anyway lol

I kid you not, that was what I was told.

Grab a Churchill and have fun, would not use 3inch shells as the blast is not much fun with 3 inch, the 2.75 inch are pretty decent to shoot with the bird’d head grip.
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You got it, my man!
 
And if you use the 2.75" Challenger 'tactical' 1oz slugs, they're cheap and still offer close to 1,000fpe out of a little shotgun, probably decent enough energy to deal with a bear should necessity arise.
 
So next question, what Slug?
SST 300g 1793 ft/lbs energy at 100 yards or a 1 ounce lead slug at 1450 ft/lbs at 100 yards?

I fired both yesterday out of a Winchester Sxp tactical, at 100 yard target.

The SST was incredibly accurate and left a perfect 1/2 inch hole in the paper, whereas the lead slug shot about 10 inches low of point of aim and left a 1 inch ragged hole.
 
Doolittlethehyena said:
I am looking at getting a shotgun to pack for bear defense while I'm hiking. I like the simplicity of something like a side by side although a pump would have a faster reaction time but probably weigh more. What are your thoughts
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A bear will reach a speed of 52 feet per second when charging.... so you better have it loaded and in your shoulder or you are not getting a shot off at it
better off with bear spray. Not the cheap stuff, and don't let it freeze, and wear it on a holster close at hand....I deal with bears all through the spring to winter
Don't be this guy:
https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/man-arr...black-bear-near-jasper-parks-canada-1.6020716

and bear spray works on all the other things you might encounter
 
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In Alaska, a real favorite is the G20 Glock in 10mm. I'm not a fan of Glocks, you may not be as well, so a Norinco 1911 in 45 Auto is a cheap alternative. Perhaps an amendment on C-21 is in order, so that one can carry in wilderness areas. A potentially dangerous environment calls for carrying a equally potentially dangerous firearm.

I've carried my 35 Rem 336 on short jaunts. I don't do long hikes but an extra 6 to 8 pounds of firearm is not something I want to drag along for any distance.

https://www.outdoorlife.com/guns/best-bear-defense-handguns/

https://www.ballisticmag.com/glock-20-gen-4-pistol-review/

Bear spray for sure.

Mares leg in 44 Mag may work, a bit lighter and several carry options.
 
jmcgee said:
A bear will reach a speed of 52 feet per second when charging.... so you better have it loaded and in your shoulder or you are not getting a shot off at it
better off with bear spray.
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If you don't have time to chamber a round and shoot, what makes you think there will be time to draw a can of spray, get the safety off, and dispense an accurate dose of spray? The biggest drawback to firearms is most people can't shoot well enough to hit a fast moving bear.
 
9.3mauser said:
If you don't have time to chamber a round and shoot, what makes you think there will be time to draw a can of spray, get the safety off, and dispense an accurate dose of spray? The biggest drawback to firearms is most people can't shoot well enough to hit a fast moving bear.
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Indeed, and if the spray fails to demotivate a charging bear, going for a backup firearm isn't going to happen. Just too late. Occasionally someone gets lucky, through persistence, like that guy up the coast who managed to get a cheap folding knife out of his pocket while the bear was chewing on his left leg, crushing and tearing away muscle... he made that large bear bleed out, or at least bleed enough to leave him alone (if memory serves, a CO killed it with a rifle the next day), then rode his bike some number of kilometres for help while hoping his kidney didn't fall out of the hole in his back. Astonishing bit of luck there. I suspect he'll be carrying a 12ga on hikes and rides for the rest of his life.
 
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