Let her know we were there with a bear popper. Heck yeah. As expected she went straight up into the Forrest, avoiding us and the probable male to her right. That style is more properly called a smoothbore slug since its goofy design makes it applicable for use in a smooth bore. Do you know which one youd pick for a bear? The extra weight and barrel length make the recoil a smidge easier to handle. Cost is less of an issue than the other factors. Free shipping for many products! Glad you said it Just not enough power Not enough power, brudda What was that carbine that was chambered in .50 S&W? This can also be a drawback because it's difficult for beginners to understand the various shot sizes and types. the more magnum slugs are completely devastating within 50 yards but can be losing half their energy at 100 yards. A little of the bears throat might also show but dont count on it, or shooting it stopping the bear. Even among slugs, there are multiple types with different actions and properties. But when your up close and personal, bring enough gun. A well placed shot or even 5 or 6 half placed shots will stop a bear. Any gun with Alaskan in its name even if it is a revolver deserves some serious consideration for backcountry defensive shooting. I've always thought the consensus was to deploy Bear Spray first? Situation awareness is key, most bear attacks can be avoided, and who wants to kill a animal unless you absolutely have to. If you plan to carry a 12-gauge through bear country, you might want to ditch the birdshot and 00 Buck. Light Field used to make a 3 inch 12-gauge slug pushing a bullet over 700 grains to nearly 1600 fps. For DEFENSE AGAINST A CHARGING GRIZZLY: Stop all AR-15 and AR-10 calibers with this RTS Tactical level 3+ Armor Kit. Birdshot has much smaller pellets than buckshot; therefore, it doesn't have the same stopping power, but if you have a good choke that keeps a tight pattern, birdshot is deadly, especially at close range. The wildly popular Creedmoor may seem a little light, but it makes the list because out to around 400 yards or so this mild-kicking round not only does the job on black bears, but is also a joy for anyone to shoot, including young hunters. The Winchester Defender 1 oz. A guy I know who lives up in Alaska says when he's guiding people, his plan of action is Bear Spray, Shotgun Slugs, Glock 10mm with hard cast bullets. The Best 12 Gauge Ammo for Home Defense I've always said a shotgun is the best home defense firearm because of its reduced risk of over-penetration, increased stopping power, and accuracy. Weve built dozens of ARs and well cover all the best AR-15 upgrades such as handguards, triggers, BCGs, gas blocks, and more. 1 7 Best Home Defense Shotgun Ammo You Need to Invest In. This classic pump-action shotgun is just as reliable, affordable, and iconic as the Model 870. 1.3 3. Mate is Ruger Blackhawk .45 Colt w/ Buffalo However, if you remain calm and have a defensive plan and a weapon at your disposal, the chances of coming out of the encounter unscathed are much higher. Long guns, if you are hunting carry a long gun, if you have enough time/distance to use a long gun effectively you are typically far enough away to avoid a bear. I have a Rossi 1892 in .454 Casul. Important thing to remember with any firearm you carry is that it does no good if you cant place a shot or not comfortable and familiar with its operation. Segmented Rifled Slug will help you stop the threat with similar ballistics as the Federal Power Shok shotshells. I would run 180gr bonded or even copper matrix bullets like the Hornady GMX or something by Barnes like the tripple shock bullet. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. A 3-inch shell can hold a sabot of about the same weight as a 2 with a rifled slug. 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. Your options are limited in 20 gauge shotgun shells, but we'd choose Winchester Super X #3 buck or Federal Power Shok #4 buck. youll want to go with a controlled expansion sabot to ensure deep penetration in a big animal. Ruger. Luckily, many choke manufacturers, such as Carlson's and Patternmaster, make the needed choke tube. A popular hunting guide and personal friend was killed while skinning an elk. While a well-placed shot from a 10mm can no doubt do the trick, the. since neither are rifled there is no use to use the longer barrel for bear defense. The price doesn't reflect the quality of these rounds, as law enforcement agencies trust these rounds in training and real-world situations daily. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. Brenneke makes the best traditional slugs for bear. What auto load rifle would fit my needs? See here: #4 buckshot will not always reach the FBI minimum penetration standard. I went the other direction and avoided using lethal force. Another good, albeit expensive option is Hevi-Shot buckshot. Rifles are easy to put down. Imagine hitting a grapefruit-size target rushing toward you at 30 miles per hour while bobbing up and down and side to side. We aren't paid by Glock, and the other Glock-related articles that were posted were coincidental as we're going through our older articles and updating them, so they are more accurate for today. You should be using Sabot slugs in your shotgun. If you can't find the perfect home-defense round, you might try crafting your own by handloading. The 8 Best Bear-Defense Handguns 1. He had a 10mm with him but not on him at the time. Editor's note: This Realtree.com post was first published July 25, 2017. anything extra and your Most of them, like the Brenneke, have a plastic wadding that is firmly attached to the rear of the lead bullet and act to give a front-heavy profile. Purchasing 250 rounds will save you more money per round than buying 20 shells at a time. Standard .35 Rem loads will do the job, but Buffalo Bores Heavy load operates at the maximum allowable pressure for this cartridge and delivers more copper and lead than any black bear can handle. If you use a rifled barrel, you can shrink that down in half. I would even bet someone with some decent practice under thier belt could dump all 20 rounds in a few seconds. You may already be familiar with Critical Defense since the ammo line is extremely popular for concealed handguns and AR rifle platforms. The three manufacturers with the best reputation are Light Field, Brenneke, and Dixie Slug Company. Yep, its old-fashioned, but with modern ammunition the .45/70 is far from antiquated. A 12-gauge shotgun and slug will deliver impressive energy and is effective to moderate ranges. After being hit with that slug, or at least hearing the boom and then hearing that thing cut the air, then another boom that blinds it followed by it smelling its own hair burning, and then a face full of buckshot (with some cayenne and ghost pepper powder poured in for good measure), I don't l that beat all ever look at humans the same way again. Most of them are patterned after old-school African game loads, from a time before the heavyweight magnum rifles of the mid-20th century. Here are 10 of the very best black bear cartridgesthree for each hunting method and one all-round top choice. Plus, the shorter barrel length of most lever guns makes them easy to maneuver, which is an asset when facing an unpredictable bear. Even so, due to the high levels of power, they seem to be effective on animals under 400 pounds within their effective maximum range. But some hunters want to whack a black bear hard enough to rattle his claws. Simply put, "don't be where you ought not be.". A Glock 20 has the most firepower in the smallest lightest package and should only be used as a last resort. A standard 2 -inch 12 gauge shotshell contains 15 pellets of #1 . However, there are a couple of drawbacks to this load. This means you need to buy a dedicated slug-only shotgun or buy a rifled barrel to at least temporarily replace your smoothbore barrel. I don't know, I trust that Mossberg way more than A Remington. Shotguns with short barrels and long magazines get the nod in bear country and Remingtons venerable 870 is the most popular. MY left hand, it grabs with my thumb behind this lip, NOT FORWARD AS MOST PEOPLE TELL YOU> 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. Unfortunetly i will be heading into the bush faster than originally anticipated, therefore i will unable to purchase a revolver and become comfortable enough with it before i leave. The USCG helicopter crew had seen the bear moving down hill from the vicinity with blood on its front shoulder. ammoland.com/2018/02/defense-against-bears-with-pistols-97-success-rate-37-incidents-by-caliber/#axzz5rFOSeyt9, Ammoland has since went back and updated the article with even more cases supporting the 97% success rate. Rifled slugs are heavier than sabots but are slower and less accurate. Type your email address and well send 12 gauge shotgun slugs are great bear loads. However, you should only rely on your gun if you can use it confidently and proficiently. Great article. You'll now receive newsletters of our best articles on techniques, 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". Rifled Slug 86231 We bought this for $10.50/5 from Hornady.com. You may be more likely to bump into a bruin in New Jersey, which surprisingly has one of the densest bear populations in the lower 48. Federal 5 Rounds 2 Rifled Slug. Learn the 3 most popular shooting stances & more. Glock 20 If you're used to toting around a 9mm Glock 19, you might be more comfortable with that. The term rifled slug was originally a marketing ploy. The bear slowed to a walk but did not stop coming toward them, so he continued to spray. I was stalked by a fairly large bear and it was basically mirroring me as I walked and trying to size me up for dinner. I have always liked the 45-70 as a camping gun. Winchester Expedition Long Range Accubond, Hunting Black Bears with Hounds in the Famed Bruin Swamps of North Carolina, The 6 Best Big-Game Loads for the .308 Winchester, Remington introduced their Model 700 Rifle, Muzzle Velocity: 1,600 fps (rifle); 1,300 fps (pistol), Muzzle Energy: 1,364 ft/lbs (rifle); 901 ft/lbs (pistol). BEST 12-GAUGE AMMO FOR UPLAND BIRDS Winchester Elite Rooster XR Winchester Rooster XR features copper-plated lead pellets surrounded by resin in the shotshell. The 270 did not do the job, and the hunter's next round never finished the ride to the chamber. A handgun is not going to stop a bear attack. It is 20% more dense than lead making it a good choice for dangerous critters as well. They're fun, handy, and can be very practical. Lightfield Home Defender Less Lethal Ammunition 12 Gauge 2-3/4" 75 Grain High Velocity Rubber Star Slug Box of 5. Check out our Winchester 12 Gauge ammo or our Fiocchi 12 Gauge ammo page to get the best match for your needs. Hornady Critical Defense 12-gauge 00 Buckshot. If you carry bear spray, dont let it give you a false sense of security. most decent shooters can only get a 10-inch group at 100 yards with rifled slugs in a smooth barrel. Youll want to burn through some practice ammo before you head into the backcountry. You want to be ready just in case the bear becomes aggressive. Which parts are you from and what firearm works best for you? Birdshot is not a recommended load for home defense; however, if it's all you have, use it, especially if it's a turkey load. Best 12 Gauge Ammo for Deer Hunting We suggest: 0-000 Buckshot & Slugs Aptly named buckshot is ideal for hunting deer including whitetail and elk. It's true! Theyre a bit easier to find on the used market. 3.454 Alaskan The right rifled and sabot slugs can be adequate. I wouldn't say its a "idiotic" comment. Yogi and his picnic basket fetish arent too far off the mark. A mild Hey, Bear is often enough. A shotgun with a short barrel and a long magazine works best for bear defense. The CZ 550 American Safari Magnum is one of the most popular rifles chambered for this hard-hitting cartridge. Invented as a replacement for the .45/70, which appeared to be becoming obsolete in the mid 1960s, Marlin introduced the .444. Federal Power Shok 12 Gauge #4 Buckshot. Some are as fast as 2200 fps. In 2008, the same researchers examined the effectiveness of pepper spray in Alaskan bear encounters. That said, a handgun is just a handgun. gear. Learning which brands and loads your shotgun likes best will take time and testing. There are a number AR-15-compatible cartridges that you can hunt bears with, but this is my top choice. And if a particularly curious or aggressive bruin tries to climb into your treestand, youll be glad youve got a fully loaded slug-slinger in your hands. No need for a 17 round magazine as you would be lucky to get off 3 shots before the bear is on you. If you plan to hike, hunt, fish, or live in bear country, you should have a solid defensive plan for dangerous bear encounters. You need to carry a handgun in the most comfortable magnum load you can accurately fire. Go here for more Realtree guns and shooting. Your only opportunity might be brief, and it might max out the limits of your skill and equipment. Thats a bit of heft to be lugging around the backcountry, so you might want to squeeze in a few extra sets at the gym. And the best bear defense gun is no substitute for plain old common sense. The best firearm in the world is useless without good ammunition. The Ruger SuperRedhawk Alaskan Model in .454 Casull is the choice for many who work in bear country. Despite the reclusive nature of most bruins, there has been an increase in human encounters with wild bears over the past decade. However, penetration was 18 inches. This method I described to you, does not need much practice, as both hands are contrary to each other. Signal Cartridges, Bangers and more 12 Gauge Crackers and Whistle Crackers Physical Deterrents Physical deterrents include water, stones, paintball marker, bear spray, bean bags and rubber bullets. 1.4 4. At bear-baiting distances, the Wilson Combat 300 HAMR will do anything the .30/30 Winchester will, and from a lighter package that holds more ammunition. GLOCK 29SF is my go to, im comfortable carrying 180 gr bonded JHPs, xtreme penetrators/xtrem hunters, round ball and cast flat nose rounds. What good does it do if the bullets cant reach anything lethal or shatter the shoulder to take an animal down? Like some of the other slugs, the Hornady broke up on impact. Shotguns with short barrels and long magazines get the best match for your needs multiple types different. Probable male to her right old-fashioned, but this is my top choice 2 -inch 12 Gauge or. 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