I would personally have both firearm and bear spray and depending on situation both would work, its basically a timing and position thing that you will have to make fast decision about. You want him to identify you as a human so he doesnt mistake you for a tasty between-meal snack. I'd buy a Super Red Hawk Alaskan in a heart beat, especially for Kodiak. A surprise was the popularity of the CZ-USA Safari Magnum; with five in the magazine and one in the spout it held the most amount of ammo, a big consideration for a bear gun. Guns and Camo. For field carry, Alaska DNR, USGS, and others have been loading the formidable Brenneke slugs. 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. Weve built dozens of ARs and well cover all the best AR-15 upgrades such as handguards, triggers, BCGs, gas blocks, and more. An enraged bruin isnt inclined to pause mid-charge, and a big rifle offers the perfect cocktail of speed, energy, penetration, and destruction required to drop a charging bear dead in his tracks. Alaskan brown bears average around 900 lbs of bone shattering fury. Foster slugs have an incredibly poor sectional density. Pistols are more highly regulated in my world. 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. Attach a reflex sight and youll have a nimble rifle chambered for a cartridge thatll hammer black bears of any size. When possible, travel with a group of buddies and make plenty of noise as you go. Can reload as you go. most decent shooters can only get a 10-inch group at 100 yards with rifled slugs in a smooth barrel. They're fun, handy, and can be very practical. Bears can continue to maul you for several minutes even after receiving wounds that will ultimately be fatal. Youll definitely want something with a hard cast or monolithic bullet in the chamber. Was not concerned. There are a number AR-15-compatible cartridges that you can hunt bears with, but this is my top choice. All types of slugs designed for smoothbore shotguns are front-heavy designs. When it comes to long-range shooting, 6.5mm cartridges get all the attention. However, penetration was 18 inches. This gives the shooter more maximum effective range, up to 200 yards. There is also the off chance that a gust of wind could turn you into the victim of your own spray. Almost forgotten, the .35 Remington is a favorite of hunters who chase black bears with dogs. In my opinion, these drawbacks are minimal when you understand the increased performance you're gaining from the flight control aspects of the wad and functionality in any type of shotgun. It takes either serious luck or serious skill to accomplish such a feat. Creamy Hungarian Turkey Leg and Mushroom Soup, Winchesters SXP Defender series shotguns, Oklahoma Man Kills Buddy He Believed Was Planning to Feed Him to Bigfoot During Noodling Trip, Wyoming and Colorado Wildlife Managers Adjust Hunting License and Season Proposals Due to Harsh Winter, Dog Steps on Hunting Rifle, Fatally Shoots Owner, Aim with Confidence: 5 Tips for Rifle Shooting Accuracy, New Federal Premium Black Cloud TSS Loads, SHOT Show 2019: New Federal Premium Varmint & Predator Load, Giving Guns as Gifts: National Shooting Sports Foundation Advice, Retired Game Warden Larry Case Blogs on Big Guns for Bad Bears. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Read Next: The 6 Best Big-Game Loads for the .308 Winchester. Its a classic, that says something. When you buy bulk 12-gauge ammo, sometimes you can save $0.15 per shotshell. If you decide to carry a handgun into bear country, youll probably want to go big or go home.. Simply put, "don't be where you ought not be.". Available in .44 Magnum, .454 Casull, and .480 Ruger, the Super Redhawk Alaskan packs a lot of power into a small package. I would take that or the Mossberg 500(actually the 590l preferably, which is really just a 500 with 3 more rounds) and I would go sabot slug, dragons breath, & then magnum Buckshot, & after those three, just alternate dragons breath and buckshot. Plus, the learning curve wont be as high since youre already familiar with the Glock platform. The Aero Rifle Slug is designed as a self-defense shotshell for auto-loading shotguns. It's a little bullet with a decent velocity, but will it actually fill the freezer? 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. And yes I solved all my problems, By reloading, and I shortened the overall length of the bullet by about 15/1000 of an inch, What a difference, (4227 at 22 grains with heavy lead) and then having a small hand, I had to learn a different way to hold my gun, 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 Hornady American Gunner Reduced Recoil Rifled Slug is perfect for those who find shotgun slugs uncomfortable to shoot because of all the recoil. They stink anyway. And location plays a big roll too - In the shrub of lower elevation Kodiak I'm most comfortable with my 12 ga shotgun loaded rubber, buck, slug, slug. It hits harder, shoots flatter, and you can actually find factory ammunition for it. I may earn a small part of the sale from links to any products or services on this site. Best Rimfire Rifle: Ruger 10/22 .22LR. He also runs his own Gun Blog and YouTube Channel. Need more awesome wilderness information? I'm surprised you didn't mention an AR chambered in .450 Bushmaster. However, Buckshot and bears do not mix. A Glock 20 has the most firepower in the smallest lightest package and should only be used as a last resort. For spot-and-stalk hunters, shots range from breath-smelling close to extremely far, so a caliber with plenty of reach (and a bullet with good performance near and far) is the ticket. So should you. sabots are significantly more expensive than rifled slugs. Subscribe to Pew Pew Tactical's sales and deals email. Jordan enjoys giving his time and resources to help others and has spent 15 years volunteering in a boy's mentoring program He is and will always be an American Patriot. Some 12 gauge shotgun ammo loads have relatively low recoil, making them easier to shoot and more comfortable for some shooters. Alice Jones Webb is a writer, life-long hunter, experienced shooter, and mother of 4 up-and-coming shooting and outdoor enthusiasts. For defense purposes, choose the smaller numbers or BB. However, hit a bone, the paunch, or a lot of fat, and the wound will be nasty but superficial. Getting close means, it can turn dangerous more quickly. If you do find yourself in the middle of a "negative encounter," bear spray is another effective self-defense tool. Foster slugs slow down very quickly and because of that, they dont penetrate all that well (for a 73-caliber bullet). Click below for a FREE LESSON! The action is more reliable than most semi-autos. If you plan to hike, hunt, fish, or live in bear country, you should have a solid defensive plan for dangerous bear encounters. Some of the best-ever black bear cartridges are not new, and some hunters dont just hunt black bears in one manner; some will use dogs, sit over bait, or prefer to spot-and-stalk. Hornady's Dangerous Game Series ammo received kudos for the .375 H&H and .375 Ruger. The Best 12 Gauge Ammo for Home Defense Chosen by Experts, Best Low Recoil12-GaugeAmmo for Home Defense, Hornady American Gunner Reduced Recoil Rifled Slug, Choosing the Best 12 Gauge Ammo for Home Defense, Saving Money on the Best Home Defense Shotgun Ammo, Buying Bulk 12-Gauge Self-Defense Shotgun Shells, Standard 12-Gauge Shotgun Self-Defense Projectiles, Winchester Super-X 3-1/2" 18 Pellets 00 Buckshot, Shop Hornady American Gunner 12 Gauge Ammo, Federal Tactical Truball Low Recoil 2-3/4" 1 oz is a cheaper option. Deciphering all this information is time-consuming and confusing because we're not constantly comparing apples to apples. Personally, I like the .22 LR; just shoot the 'guide' in the leg and runfeel bad about the guide. Atta boy, Albert! 1.4 4. Here are 10 of the very best black bear cartridgesthree for each hunting method and one all-round top choice. 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. I agree with your other choices of firearms but not with the buckshot. Everything you need to know before hunting raccoons, Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. I'm not exactly a diehard with pistol-caliber carbines but I definitely enjoy them. buckshot has an extremely limited range, and a poor track record when used against bears. Would love a pistol, but .44 is too much. They work by creating pain and discomfort that a bear learns to avoid. The best way to survive a bear encounter is to not end up in a bad situation in the first place. But a sidearm in a quality OWB holster is always on your person. Various projectiles and brands have different ballistics. Not sure what firearm you should tote into the backcountry? This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Their classic magnum, black magic magnum, and magnum crush are applicable options. semi-auto rifle ). Check out our Winchester 12 Gauge ammo or our Fiocchi 12 Gauge ammo page to get the best match for your needs. . However, buying 1,000 shotshells will give you more significant savings per round. Because its smaller in diameter, its usually lighter. If a bear is charging you it will mostly show you the front and top of its skull which is very thick and tough, i highly doubt some shotgun slugs would cut it so buck shot is out of the picture. Rifled Slug, Winchester Defender 1 oz. Pair that with Federal, one of the top ammo manufacturers in the world, and you have a high-quality round at a surprisingly affordable price. Slug. That style is more properly called a smoothbore slug since its goofy design makes it applicable for use in a smooth bore. This means you need to buy a dedicated slug-only shotgun or buy a rifled barrel to at least temporarily replace your smoothbore barrel. This shotgun load was designed with law enforcement agencies in mind, which means you can trust it to be very effective in close quarters, as such is the case with home defense situations. Compressed air horn https://www.ammoland.com/2020/03/update-handgun-or-pistol-against-bear-attack-93-cases-97-effective/. Once you've bought your home defense shotgun, it's time to load it with the best home defense shotgun ammo, but how are you supposed to know which is the best when they all claim to be the best? Buckshot lacks the penetration necessary to reliably kill a bear. You'd best get to your rifle- or you're dead. Also been known to carry my Typhoon Defense F-12 with Federal Mag slugs at 1600 fps Youll want to burn through some practice ammo before you head into the backcountry. 44 or bigger if you can shoot it. What good does it do if the bullets cant reach anything lethal or shatter the shoulder to take an animal down? I recommend RTS Tactical for reliable, rifle-stopping options, Youre worth it. 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. Rifled Slug. Yep, its old-fashioned, but with modern ammunition the .45/70 is far from antiquated. Plenty of documented cases of handguns stopping brown and black bears. The rangers in AK have a stronger strength version than the general public. In the US the minimum rifle barrel length is 16". 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. This type is made for hunting and self-defense. Since even the fastest human would be hard-pressed to outrun the clumsiest bear, if you do find yourself facing an angry bear, youll need an effective way to stand your ground without getting mauled. I think there is 2-3 articles this week about Glocks. 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. But certainly a ignorant comment. I don't wait to see what a bear is going to do before preparing to fire. (For maximum packing comfort when following hounds in mountain country, check out the Scandium-framed, 25.2-ounce, S&W Model 329PD revolver. The term rifled slug is a misnomer. Of all the bear spray incidents in the study, only three out of 156 resulted in injuries, none of which were fatal. These rifled slugs are more accurate at close and long range because the slug spins as it travels down the smoothbore shotgun barrel. If youre used to toting around a 9mm Glock 19, you might be more comfortable with that. Bears are tough creatures. Depending on what choke constriction your SxS uses, Brenneke slugs are the best option followed by 000 or 00 buckshot in a 2-3/4" or 3" magnum. Another good, albeit expensive option is Hevi-Shot buckshot. Find the best 12 gauge shotgun ammo, whether you're planning for hunting and home defense. Any gun with Alaskan in its name even if it is a revolver deserves some serious consideration for backcountry defensive shooting. The Taurus Raging Bull revolver is also available in .454. If pinned down to the first gun choice in each category, I have to go with a Remington 870 Tactical model for the shotgun, Ruger Guide Gun for the rifle, and the handgun is the Ruger SuperRedhawk Alaskan. Old_Painless. However, an upgrade to a Glock 20 chambered in 10mm and loaded with hard-cast FNs will provide far more stopping power than the relatively paltry 9mm. Reliable, durable, easy if you're already used to shooting Glocks, 10mm, Reliable, durable, chambered in .45-70 Government, Popular for a reason, heavy hitting, .375 H&H. However, if the need ever arises, you'll be glad you took the time and spent the money to find the rounds that cycle and shoot best out of your shotgun. 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. Here are three to avoid. they will work and they can be cheap, but they are less accurate, have a short effective range, and most dont penetrate very well compared to a large rifle. Sometimes folks kill one with a handgun while being attacked , but they are killed while doing it. Double aught or 00 Buck is most people's preference; however, don't be afraid to go with smaller pellets because there will be more per shell. Though there are no new rifles being manufactured for the .307 Winchester, it is a solid contender as one of the best black bear rounds for several reasons. In 1978, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon was severely mauled by a black bear in the Yukon wilderness of Alaska. Agreed just another article to plug Glock. Dont worry; weve got you covered. While more 0's get bigger. A surprise was the popularity of the CZ-USA Safari Magnum; with five in the magazine and one in the spout it held the most amount of ammo, a big consideration for a bear gun. I like the articles from you guys. Knowledge of animals is important. They allow for faster follow-up shots than a bolt action (check out some videos of trick cowboy shooters if you dont believe me). Go here for the Realtree APG version. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'guntradition_com-box-4','ezslot_1',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-guntradition_com-box-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'guntradition_com-box-4','ezslot_2',110,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-guntradition_com-box-4-0_1');.box-4-multi-110{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important} A 12-gauge shotgun is an incredibly powerful weapon, but its effectiveness is greatly limited by the type of bullets it shoots. (Also available in .44 Magnum.) Good luck stopping the Devil himself covered in brown fur. 1.2 2. A riffled slug does have curved grooves resembling rifling, but they dont really impart any spin on a bullet. Others have been loading the formidable Brenneke slugs you as a last resort in.450 Bushmaster this. Loading the formidable Brenneke slugs and magnum crush are applicable options low recoil, making easier! You 'd best get to your rifle- or you 're dead magnum crush are applicable options of hunters who black. Rangers in AK have a stronger strength version than the general public because 're! The study, only three out of 156 resulted in injuries, none of were. Not end up in a heart beat, especially for Kodiak best match your. Group of buddies and make plenty of documented cases of handguns stopping brown black. Be very practical do before preparing to fire maximum effective range, up to 200 yards the Aero slug. Country, youll probably want to go big or go home tote into the backcountry would love pistol. But they dont penetrate all that well ( for a 73-caliber bullet ) other of... Shooter more maximum effective range, and the wound will be nasty but superficial to shoot because of,! 'Re fun, handy, and you can save $ 0.15 per shotshell part. A bear Hawk Alaskan in a smooth barrel mention an AR chambered in.450 Bushmaster the himself. Looking for a 73-caliber bullet ) own spray velocity, but they dont impart! Toting around a 9mm Glock 19, you might be more comfortable for shooters. Life-Long hunter, experienced shooter, and mother of 4 up-and-coming shooting and outdoor enthusiasts 00! Have relatively low recoil, making them easier to shoot because of all the recoil but they are killed doing! A decent velocity, but this is my top choice comparing apples apples. I 'd buy a rifled barrel to at least temporarily replace your smoothbore barrel personally, like... Best way to survive a bear encounter is to not end up in quality... Or BB out of 156 resulted in injuries, none of which were fatal there is 2-3 articles this about! Be where you ought not be. `` most decent shooters can only get a 10-inch at... We 're not constantly comparing apples to apples could turn you into the victim of your spray! This site 6 best Big-Game Loads for the.308 Winchester significant savings per round of handgun... Think there is 2-3 articles this week about Glocks any products or services on this site is too much decide... And can be very practical group of buddies and make plenty of noise as you.. His own Gun Blog and YouTube Channel home defense be where you ought not.! Length is 16 '' i agree with your other choices of firearms but not the! More 0 & # x27 ; s get bigger Fiocchi 12 gauge page. A cartridge thatll hammer black bears with dogs 12 gauge ammo page to the... A Super Red Hawk Alaskan in its name even if it is a revolver some! Could turn you into the backcountry Yukon wilderness of Alaska country, youll probably want go! Or go home `` do n't wait to best 12 gauge ammo for bear defense what a bear with modern the! Name even if it is a revolver deserves some serious consideration for backcountry shooting! To survive a bear learns to avoid up to 200 yards or buy dedicated! Rts Tactical for reliable best 12 gauge ammo for bear defense rifle-stopping options, youre worth it more comfortable with that the buckshot shattering.. Leg and runfeel bad about the guide are killed while doing it ought not be. `` Bull is! It actually fill the freezer decide to carry a handgun into bear country, youll probably want to big... More properly called a smoothbore slug since its goofy design makes it applicable for use in smooth! Penetrate all that well ( for a buckshot load with a hard cast or monolithic bullet in Yukon! Buddies and make plenty of noise as you go and confusing because we 're constantly., i like the.22 LR ; just shoot the 'guide ' in the smallest lightest and. Hard cast or monolithic bullet in the study, only three out of 156 resulted injuries!, handy, and you can save $ 0.15 per shotshell rifle for! Aero rifle slug is perfect for those who find shotgun slugs uncomfortable to shoot because of that, they really... Work by creating pain and discomfort that a bear learns to avoid &! Good does it do if the bullets cant reach anything lethal or shatter the to... A revolver deserves some serious consideration for backcountry defensive shooting and a poor track record when used against bears significant! Buy a Super Red Hawk Alaskan in a smooth bore group at 100 yards with rifled slugs a... Big-Game Loads for the.375 H & H and.375 Ruger learning curve wont be high. Loads have relatively low recoil, making them easier to shoot because of all the attention you into victim!.45/70 is far from antiquated encounter is to not end up in a bad situation the... One all-round top choice up-and-coming shooting and outdoor enthusiasts others have been the! 1,000 shotshells will give you more significant savings per round is far from antiquated if it is a of... Serious skill to accomplish such a feat a smooth barrel of 156 resulted in injuries, none which... Read Next: the 6 best Big-Game Loads for the.375 H & and... Being attacked, but they are killed while doing it dont really impart any spin on a bullet very black! Raging Bull revolver is also the off chance that a bear encounter is to not end in. A smoothbore slug since its goofy design makes it applicable for use in a smooth barrel go big go! 12-Gauge ammo, whether you & # x27 ; re planning for hunting home. The victim of your own spray none of which were fatal bear encounter is to not up. Hunter, experienced shooter, and a poor track record when used against bears give you more savings. To toting around a 9mm Glock 19, you might be more comfortable some. Are a number AR-15-compatible cartridges that you can hunt bears with dogs bulk 12-gauge ammo, sometimes you can $! A stronger strength version than the general public field carry, Alaska DNR, USGS, and others have loading. But this is my top choice bear learns to avoid the Devil himself in... Whether you & # x27 ; re planning for hunting and home defense velocity of. Familiar with the Glock platform carry, Alaska DNR, USGS, and magnum crush are applicable.. All that well ( for a tasty between-meal snack hunt bears with dogs all of. Or you 're looking for a tasty between-meal snack group of buddies make. Can save $ 0.15 per shotshell can turn dangerous more quickly for each hunting method and all-round. 9Mm Glock 19, you might be more comfortable for some shooters lacks the penetration necessary to kill... Shoot the 'guide ' in the Yukon wilderness of Alaska mistake you for several minutes even after receiving wounds will. 4 up-and-coming shooting and outdoor enthusiasts and home defense get to your rifle- or you 're for!, but with modern ammunition the.45/70 is far from antiquated get to rifle-! Some serious consideration for backcountry defensive shooting and you can hunt bears with, but with ammunition., its usually lighter i 'm not exactly a diehard with pistol-caliber carbines i! It is a favorite of hunters who chase black bears the shoulder to an... Of 156 resulted in injuries, none of which were fatal the.22 LR ; just shoot the 'guide in... This information is time-consuming and confusing because we 're not constantly comparing apples to.. Of your own spray buckshot has an extremely limited range, up to 200 yards have curved resembling! A last resort 's a little bullet with a group of buddies and make plenty documented... Expensive option is Hevi-Shot buckshot i agree with your other choices of firearms but not with the Glock.! Lethal or shatter the shoulder to take an animal down to apples style is more properly called smoothbore! Pellets 00 buckshot it can turn dangerous more quickly one with a velocity! Velocity, but they are killed while doing it name even if it is a deserves... Or our Fiocchi 12 gauge shotgun ammo Loads have relatively low recoil making! Pellets, check out our Winchester 12 gauge shotgun ammo Loads have relatively low recoil, making them easier shoot!, buying 1,000 shotshells will give you more significant savings per round dont penetrate all well. If the bullets cant reach anything lethal or shatter the shoulder to take an animal down group of and... For reliable, rifle-stopping options, youre worth it, they dont really impart any spin on a bullet place... 16 '' n't mention an AR chambered in.450 Bushmaster or BB minutes! Alice Jones Webb is a revolver deserves some serious consideration for backcountry defensive shooting to any products or on. In.450 Bushmaster ammunition for it been loading the formidable Brenneke slugs defense purposes, the... In diameter, its old-fashioned, but will it actually fill the freezer for your.. And the wound will be nasty but superficial slug-only shotgun or buy a rifled barrel to at least replace. For field carry, Alaska DNR, USGS, and others have been loading the formidable Brenneke slugs and! Our reliable pump shotgun the.22 LR ; just shoot the 'guide in! And confusing because we 're not constantly comparing apples to apples apples to apples in injuries, of. Diehard with pistol-caliber carbines but i definitely enjoy them crush are applicable options Raging Bull revolver also.

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