Whether you're looking for buckshot, birdshot, slugs or specialty rounds, we've got you covered with the best 12-gauge ammunition for your favorite shotgun. When you wander into bear country, you could still find yourself face-to-face with a bruin. Bear spray is a relatively new invention, and many hunters, hikers, and outdoorsmen arent particularly comfortable using it. It is also possible to find higher buckshot-pellet . Youll want to burn through some practice ammo before you head into the backcountry. If a 200lb cougar lands on your head and you dont die or pass out instantly, it will be on top of you trying to bite the back of your neck straight through or even the top of your skull. Also, if you regularly train with your EDC handgun, you might be more confident and accurate with it than with a rifle you only pull out once a year. The password should contain at least 8 characters with at least one number or special character. Your options are limited in 20 gauge shotgun shells, but we'd choose Winchester Super X #3 buck or Federal Power Shok #4 buck. Go here for the Realtree APG version. Depending on weather, terrain, and flora, these are what I use in my neck of the woods where moose, cougar, and elk are also concerns; yes, elk. I personally belive the question shouldn't be "is bear spray better" but rather "how big does a gun have to be before it's better than bear spray". From shotguns to hand cannons to rifles, well dive into the pros and cons of the most popular bear defense weapons. The 12-gauge pump shotgun is the top choice of most Alaskans Although most any shotgun will work in a pinch, those who carry for bear defense favor tactical models with shorter barrels and extended magazines. There was no scent trail to the rifle, so it flew there. Bears can continue to maul you for several minutes even after receiving wounds that will ultimately be fatal. Rated for 850 fps muzzle velocity out of a handgun, we tested the 2.5-inch Federal Personal Defense load in our reliable pump shotgun. Learn all the important stuff about handgunswith none of the attitude. While a semi-automatic Glock 17 makes a great weapon for encounters with dangerous humans, it isnt nearly as effective for encounters with dangerous bears. Bear spray, if used wrong, merely seasons you for the bear's taste in human flesh. As history proves there will be a Comment about how PPT is not paid by Glock. The amount of savings will depend on the brand and amount of ammo you purchase. ), Read Next: Hunting Black Bears with Hounds in the Famed Bruin Swamps of North Carolina. I felt very comfortable with my 12 ga on guiding on Kodiak and Afognak, although I'd love the Ruger Super Redhawlk Alaskan for this same area. 3.454 Alaskan Everything you need to know before hunting raccoons, Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Bears are fast. Handgun The Ruger SuperRedhawk Alaskan Model in .454 Casull is the choice for many who work in bear country. Want negotiating capability that keeps me on top. Well, they don't have anything to do with shotguns, but a rifled or sabot slug does, and they make good personal defense rounds. If youre looking for a one-cartridge answer for all methods of black-bear hunting, it boils down to the .308 Winchester, as it does for just about every other type of big-game hunting in North America. Download our exclusive shooting targets for FREE ($47 value) Buckshot requires pretty good aim. Unfortunately those who have these guns and others say no to them, because of misfire (OHOH) there is a big problem ! Bear Ammo; CCI Ammunition; Federal Premium Ammunition; Fiocchi Ammunition; . Reason: If I am being charged by a grizzly, I will have less than 7 or 8 SECONDS to stop the charge, in most cases. Match one with a great .44 Magnum load and youll drop bears stone dead, no matter how tall the tree he climbed into is. barrel. The resin fractures during the firing process and works to preserve pellet integrity as it passes through the choke. Unfortunately, most of them are. Bear spray is great! Jan 24, 2012. Hornady is one of the most trusted brands for self-defense ammo, with choices like the Hornady Critical Defense for handguns. There was a black bear roaming around the loading docks of my local Home Depot last fall and another one that had taken up residence in the median of Interstate 5 less than a 30 min drive from Boeings largest assembly plant, you know the one that's the in the Guinness book of world records for being the largest building in the world by square footage. Here are three to avoid. Pistols are more highly regulated in my world. It also expands into a cone-shaped cloud. Top Load: Hornady Dangerous Game Superformance Interlock SP. The right rifled and sabot slugs can be adequate. They work by creating pain and discomfort that a bear learns to avoid. The popular Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 pump-actions are perfect for the job. The minimum gun recommended for protection from 600 lb Bears was the 30-06, with the 338 recommended. Really though, if you are going to use a slug for bears, I recommend you not use a foster, and still keep it within 50 yards. Even among slugs, there are multiple types with different actions and properties. Any gun with Alaskan in its name even if it is a revolver deserves some serious consideration for backcountry defensive shooting. Make sure you select a bullet that will hold together at close range and still deform at distance, because you never know how far you might have to shoot. Here are five new and old cartridges that can be used in a variety of ways, and they all deserve an honorable mention. Bang some pots and pans and have the bear spray with you at all times. Basically, buckshot is too lightweight to have any effectiveness. A handgun is lighter and much easier to carry, and if thats what you need to tote through bear country, thats what you should tote. 00 buckshot, frequently referred to as double-aught, is the most popular at .33" in diameter. Avoiding feeding them (purposefully or by accident) & we each let the other animal alone. $725.00. Big revolvers only hold five or six rounds. However, these are worth looking into if you're needed more knockdown power. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Big hard cast chunks of lead, don't bother with hollow points. Yet, just because you're not paying as much doesn't mean you're losing terminal performance or quality, as it reliably works in pump-action and semi-auto shotguns. What would you recommend that two hikers carry in Alaska for self-defense against bears? 1-oz. The .338 Federal is the modern version of the .358but even better. Even a moderately hardened Brenneke Black Magic rifled slug might glance off the bear's skull, or just flatten out and not penetrate his skull. The largest buckshot is 000. A handgun is not going to stop a bear attack. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site. Hollow-base slugs, also called Foster-style, and solid slugs. Any on your list would definitely take care of whatever wanders into camp. :). Semi automatic handguns were considered too weak to be useful. When loaded with the right ammo, all are capable of bear-stopping cartridges. Click below for a FREE LESSON! Like the key chain pepper spray carried by college co-eds for decades, bear spray uses capsicum (a red pepper extract) to deter bears at close range. Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan. When you buy bulk 12-gauge ammo, sometimes you can save $0.15 per shotshell. A reliable Winchester pump-action shotgun and Brenneke Black Magic Magnum slugs. The sabot slug has a plastic case or sabot around it that causes it to spin in a smoothbore shotgun; there's much debate as to which slug is best, but many consider the sabot slug to be technologically superior. However, these loads are more expensive due to the unique design of the segmenting slug. $15.79. their not they'rei know i was typing fast. We'll only use the information provided according to our privacy policy. Or you could go with the original for this type of situation a side by side stopping rifle in something like a 600 nitro express thats what they were made for or rather for stopping much larger things than a grizzly bear. The field barrel is a smooth bore 28 in. These are mostly made by boutique ammo manufactures and may be a special-order item at your local gun store. For the most versatile bear-defense gun on the market, the Smith & Wesson 460V is an ideal option. A big brown bear pumped on aggression could eat that many rounds in quick succession and keep coming. The rifling causes the slug to spin, making it more accurate. Bore ammo that can be used in the Rossi too. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. As you observed, a Winchester Super X hollow point rifled slug is inadequate for bear defense. buckshot has an extremely limited range, and a poor track record when used against bears. It will probably be easier to access than your long gun. The CZ 550 is also an attractive rifle, and with this level of quality, youll be proud to pass it down to your grandkids. This is mainly because the undergrowth at lower elevations is so dense, the encounters I've had were too close! But a black bear is not a deer. Sabot slugs start faster and dont slow down as quickly as rifled slugs. If you do spot a bear, give him a wide berth. Buffalo Bore .454 Casull ammunition was popular with those in the bear-defense class. I wouldn't say its a "idiotic" comment. Editorial in the name of powder, steel, and ammo. He has earned black belts in four martial arts and is a certified Krav Maga instructor. Here are 10 of the very best black bear cartridgesthree for each hunting method and one all-round top choice. towards your level. If I lived in grizzly country (and I hope to one day) but could afford a good magnum rifle, Id have some dixie slugs in a heartbeat. Find the best 12 gauge shotgun ammo, whether you're planning for hunting and home defense. You need to carry a handgun in the most comfortable magnum load you can accurately fire. Not good. 30-06 rifle is the bare minimum to actually stop a brown bear, and you better be able to hit the heart at >50 yards, or it will get to you and kill you before it falls. Cynthia lost both arms as a result of the attack but went on to recover; she did not have a firearm with her when the attack occurred. A guide I knew in BC once used a 350 Remington Magnum with heavy bullets as a back up where lots of horse ridding occurred. Premium magnum slugs are probably your best bet for stopping a charging bear. Im no expert, but have read a lot and many others with real world experience also say semi-auto handguns are not powerful enough and capacity is irrelevant. in all seriousness, DO NOT USE 10MM against bears. Smith & Wesson 500 Another fantastic option for bear defense from Smith & Wesson, the 500 model packs a serious punch and will certainly stop any living threat. MY left hand, it grabs with my thumb behind this lip, NOT FORWARD AS MOST PEOPLE TELL YOU> youll want to go with a controlled expansion sabot to ensure deep penetration in a big animal. I fish in bear country often. Attach a reflex sight and youll have a nimble rifle chambered for a cartridge thatll hammer black bears of any size. So he and his dog took that opportunity to leave the area. I honestly think the best option, especially for bears is a reliable .308 semi auto rifle with a 16" barrel, a folding or collapsible stock and loaded with stout loads that have been proven to work well in the rifle. A rifled slug doesnt really spin as a rifle bullet does. While most rifles in the .30 caliber range are fine for bear hunting, you may want something bigger and heavier for bear defense. Would love a pistol, but .44 is too much. As I mentioned earlier, there are various types of projectiles in shotgun shells. That .375 H&H has some buck, but that should be expected from a rifle capable of handling the biggest bears on Planet Earth. 4s to eight 000s. Later I had an 18" barreled rifle built on a pre 64 Win Mod 70 action, chambered for 458 Win Mag. Good choiceI use 45/70 or 444 marlin backed up by Ruger Superblackhawk 454 Bisley, or Redhawk 45 Colt,or Superblackhawk 44 mag. Hornady Critical Defense 12-gauge 00 Buckshot. But if it had charged me I had no doubt that the 9mm was enough , and what it lacked in power it made up for with accuracy and capacity. Maybe a solid slug but not a hollow based Winchester el cheapie from Walmart. The CZ 550 American Safari Magnum is one of the most popular rifles chambered for this hard-hitting cartridge. From the basic to the advanced, we will cover the world of firearms (and maybe the occasional slingshot and air rifle) in a manner that puts hunting and in-the-field practicality first. I use my right hand as normal, Read story of a guy on AllOutDoor who used a glock 10mm versus a bear, and the bear got on top of him even though hit the bear numerous times with 10mm. Their classic magnum, black magic magnum, and magnum crush are applicable options. Which is why I'm surprised there is no discussion of Brown bear vs Polar bear. Flies accurately and delivers a painful but safe impact. The Hornady American Gunner Reduced Recoil Rifled Slug is perfect for those who find shotgun slugs uncomfortable to shoot because of all the recoil. The USCG helicopter crew had seen the bear moving down hill from the vicinity with blood on its front shoulder. Winchester Super-X 12 Gauge 00 Buckshot. (Also available in .44 Magnum.) A Glock 20 has the most firepower in the smallest lightest package and should only be used as a last resort. Thats because its the perfect slug gun built on top of the 870s steadfast, low-maintenance receiver. Available in .44 Magnum, .454 Casull, and .480 Ruger, the Super Redhawk Alaskan packs a lot of power into a small package. They are faster and more accurate than foster slugs, and penetrate much better in the tough tissue of a bear. Lots of big nasties in Africa, name a real PH who prefers a shotgun. Slug. Brenneke has some slugs specifically made for a dangerous game that will work well for both black bears and grizzlies. I went the other direction and avoided using lethal force. Sportsman's Warehouse offers a broad selection of 12 gauge buckshot, slugs, shells, and loads for the shooting range or the backcountry. I've always thought the consensus was to deploy Bear Spray first? The best shot to stop a charging bear is in his skull. A shotgun with a short barrel and a long magazine works best for bear defense. The 12-gauge shotgun comes highly endorsed in most bear country circles. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. Invented as a replacement for the .45/70, which appeared to be becoming obsolete in the mid 1960s, Marlin introduced the .444. Thanks for reading! Black bears are fatty, hard-boned creatures. Do you know which one youd pick for a bear? Theres lots of Seven-Mag loads that will work for black bear but if you want something that shoots flat and delivers deep, bone breaking penetration, pick one loaded with a Barnes Tipped Triple Shock. The average shooter doesnt have the skills to remain calm, draw, fire, and fatally wound a charging bear. I wonder how this will work if I go from 44 to 50 cal? A slug is a single large bullet fire out of a shotgun There are 2 primary types of slugs. In 1978, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon was severely mauled by a black bear in the Yukon wilderness of Alaska. The three manufacturers with the best reputation are Light Field, Brenneke, and Dixie Slug Company. Segmented Rifled Slug will help you stop the threat with similar ballistics as the Federal Power Shok shotshells. The Hornady Reduced Recoil Rifled Slug is an excellent defense load, but it can double as a solid hunting slug at close range. Many consider buckshot the ultimate equalizer. The Federal Tactical Truball Low Recoil 2-3/4" 1 oz is a cheaper option. Ammo can be a bit difficult to find, but two years ago Hornady added the .307 to their LeverEvolution line, and it delivers damn near 308 Winchester performance. you a link to reset your password. If you're looking for a buckshot load with a few more pellets, check out Winchester Super-X 3-1/2" 18 Pellets 00 Buckshot. Hard cast chunks of lead, do n't bother with hollow points slugs, also called,. 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Item at your local gun store on this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of.! Close range ( OHOH ) there is no discussion of brown bear Polar! A shotgun with a bruin what would you recommend that two hikers carry in Alaska for ammo. The mid 1960s, marlin introduced the.444 are capable of bear-stopping cartridges rifles in most! 454 Bisley, or Redhawk 45 Colt, or Superblackhawk 44 Mag new and old cartridges that can used! Penetrate much better in the.30 caliber range are fine for bear defense on a pre 64 Win 70... Privacy policy obsolete in the smallest lightest package and should only be used in a variety ways... Slugs, there are multiple types with different actions and properties be becoming obsolete in the Rossi.. Charging bear 458 Win Mag thatll hammer black bears with Hounds in Rossi. Hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe a relatively new invention, and they deserve. Pots and pans and have the skills to remain calm, draw, fire and! 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