Rio 00 Buckshot is reliable, has a good pattern, and is reasonably priced. Bang some pots and pans and have the bear spray with you at all times. 1 7 Best Home Defense Shotgun Ammo You Need to Invest In. All were well-fed. You don't use buckshot for bear defense, that's terrible advice. Black bears are typically gotten after in one of three ways: behind hounds, over bait, or via spot and stalk. Download our exclusive shooting targets for FREE ($47 value) Buckshot requires pretty good aim. Read Next: The 6 Best Big-Game Loads for the .308 Winchester. Personal defense pepper spray is milder and deploys a more targeted stream. However, you must buy in bulk to get this price. MOLON LABE. Pistols are more highly regulated in my world. Should always have as backup but not PRIMARY. 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. We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe. Hornady is one of the most trusted brands for self-defense ammo, with choices like the Hornady Critical Defense for handguns. Get proficient on YOUR time. I live in a semi-congested suburban, residential neighborhood 15 miles southwest of Hartford, CT. We regularly get bears walking through our yards. You should not hunt bear with any buckshot. Concerning the pics, 870 or 500, a shotgun is a shotgun, brand doesn't matter. Was not concerned. Jan 24, 2012. When you wander into bear country, you could still find yourself face-to-face with a bruin. And it definitely improves my placement, And another fact, It reduces the amount of overall time you practice, Because when you double hold any gun as the most used methods, Your muscles need to be trained and strengthened to hold for practice, A weak muscle never hits the same place, Black bears are not that hard to kill, and they are not necessarily known for attacking hunters. And those rifleslike the Marlin 1894 or Ruger 77/44are lightweight, compact, and ideal for hound hunting. For a fair number of people, that weapon is a firearm. Firing out of a smooth bore, its more like a magnum musket than anything else really. A rifled slug doesnt really spin as a rifle bullet does. Had the same experiences when I lived in congested NJ. Also, you wont have time to dig through your pack when an angry brown bear is breathing in your face. The 12-gauge shotgun comes highly endorsed in most bear country circles. 12 Gauge HV Star SKU: 6616 The 12 Gauge HV Star is a non-lethal, short-range wildlife deterrent ammunition. The Alaska State Troopers that accompanied us on this particular search both carried 12 ga. Remington 870 shotguns with slugs. 00 Buck at 10 Yards, Shooting Illustrated. With the Lyman pee sights it was lighter than the shotgun. A sabot is a smaller bullet in a plastic sleeve thats loaded into the shotshell. However, they didn't stop with handgun ammo. Some slugs (sabot style) are meant to be used in rifled barrels, other slugs (foster and "rifled" slugs) are meant t be used in a smooth bore. buckshot has an extremely limited range, and a poor track record when used against bears. Shotgun shells are reloadable, which means there's an opportunity to save money by reloading instead of buying factory ammo. ..I would stoke the shotgun with slugs..preferably a brenneke sp? Black bears are not that hard to kill. If they go much faster, they will experience major deformation in a short wound but wont penetrate as it should. Hornady's eight-pellet Critical Defense . 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. Another good, albeit expensive option is Hevi-Shot buckshot. Agree, practice with any tool is required. The 308 battle rifle would be a great choice for this, shoot the biggest meanest one first. Instead, it uses a design like a badminton birdie for stability. You do not pay I'm surprised you didn't mention an AR chambered in .450 Bushmaster. Their magnum line of slugs is nothing to talk down about. It is also possible to find higher buckshot-pellet . Two legged predators have been a problem in the past. Want a weather resistant, small, rifle with stopping power. Heck, this thing could easily dispense a freakin T-rex if one happens to cross your path. Many consider buckshot the ultimate equalizer. A reliable Winchester pump-action shotgun and Brenneke Black Magic Magnum slugs. Let her know we were there with a bear popper. The average shooter doesnt have the skills to remain calm, draw, fire, and fatally wound a charging bear. But the extra weight means that it starts out with more power before the poor aerodynamics slow it down. Later I had an 18" barreled rifle built on a pre 64 Win Mod 70 action, chambered for 458 Win Mag. Rifle holds nine. A rifled slug has the rifling on the slug instead of the barrel. Like you Gabby, I've guided for over a decade in Alaska (on Kodiak and in the Kenai) as well as Svalbard and Greenland. Lets take a closer look at the different types of rifled slugs. Winchester Super-X 12 Gauge #1 Buckshot. Type your new password and hit button below to confirm it. The classic foster style slug has a thick round nose, but a thinner-walled, hollow back portion to keep it quite front heavy. As a brand, Rio is often less expensive than other brands, which is also the case in this instance. How's it impossible to stay out of bear territory? link to What is a Pistol Caliber Carbine. The rifling causes the slug to spin, making it more accurate. FMJ bullets work great on paper and steel, not so much on critters. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'guntradition_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-guntradition_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'guntradition_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_4',115,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-guntradition_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-115{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} The pellets of 000 buckshot are comparable to a 308acp. Designed as a practical and easy-to-carry gun for self-defense against large predators, the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan is a great choice as a bear-defense gun. With semi-auto .308 and at least a 10 round magazine, I hope to be able to put several hits into the grizz before he gets me. Defense shotshells are often expensive due to the time and testing needed to perfect these loads before the manufacturers ship them to the public. The resin fractures during the firing process and works to preserve pellet integrity as it passes through the choke. https://www.ammoland.com/2020/03/update-handgun-or-pistol-against-bear-attack-93-cases-97-effective/. (, We noticed that you have previously logged in with your, Check what do you get by creating an account, Bookmark and compare your favorite firearms, Best Bear Defense Guns for Hikers and Backpackers. 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. You can use sabot slugs in a smooth . Even among slugs, there are multiple types with different actions and properties. Plus, the learning curve wont be as high since youre already familiar with the Glock platform. 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. A 12-gauge shotgun is an incredibly powerful weapon, but its effectiveness is greatly limited by the type of bullets it shoots. 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. 1-oz. It also flies flat and the sectional density of the best 6.5 bullets helps them penetrate deeply. You can target practice all you want but a charging bear wont stay still or wait for you to aim. This type is made for hunting and self-defense. As a general rule, go as big as possible without sacrificing your ability to put lead on target. This classic pump-action shotgun is just as reliable, affordable, and iconic as the Model 870. Big revolvers only hold five or six rounds. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time. And if you need a quick second shot, nothing is faster than an AR-15. Sounds like you have an interest in not mentioning them. 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. You need to carry a handgun in the most comfortable magnum load you can accurately fire. The 270 did not do the job, and the hunter's next round never finished the ride to the chamber. 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. 3.454 Alaskan Somehow these neighbors were never mentioned by the real estate agents when I bought the house. 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. Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan. Personally, I like the .22 LR; just shoot the 'guide' in the leg and runfeel bad about the guide. Atta boy, Albert! We'll send you the latest guides and training tips geared No. What auto load rifle would fit my needs? When bear were know to be an issue I carried my Mossberg 500 12 ga. with slugs also. 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. 12-Gauge slugs can be a perfect bear hunting option. Bear attacks happen fast, typically unexpected and at very short range. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'guntradition_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-guntradition_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Before I go any farther, I will let you in a secret. Because its smaller in diameter, its usually lighter. The .30/30 is not just a proven bear killer, it is probably the most-proven bear killer. If you need to retreat, do it slowly and keep your eyes on the bear. This cartridge is available in fast-handling lever guns, like the 16.5-inch-barreled Marlin 1895 Trapper. 12 gauge shotgun shells are effective at short to medium ranges, making it ideal for close quarters combat and hunting in dense brush or wooded areas. 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. One notable study found that rifle and handgun users suffered the same injury rates during aggressive bear encounters, whether they fired their weapons or not. Cougar, wolf, moose country too. But a black bear is not a deer. But some hunters want to whack a black bear hard enough to rattle his claws. Shotgunning for bear is not preferred but it can be done well if need be. Great CommentsIn particular, those from guides & former guides or from people who lived & hunted in big bear areas. Basically, buckshot is too lightweight to have any effectiveness. I am more of a rifle guy myself, but there is no doubt the 12-gauge pump shotgun has become the most popular bear-defense gun, said Steve Nelson from Anchorage, Alaska. If it does- you are unbelievably fortunate. Sabot slugs are also capable of holding a much more aerodynamic shape. Surprisingly, our 18-inch-barrel riot gun exhibited 1480 fps. I listened to many stories about hand guns, And one that gets a bad rap is the desert eagle In 1978, Cynthia Dusel-Bacon was severely mauled by a black bear in the Yukon wilderness of Alaska. Since revolvers rarely malfunction, many backcountry hunters and residents trust their safety to a wheel gun. Its also a good idea to talk calmly to the bear. Segmented Rifled Slug will help you stop the threat with similar ballistics as the Federal Power Shok shotshells. Premium magnum slugs are probably your best bet for stopping a charging bear. In Glacier Bay, AK. But a semi auto rifle with well aimed shots to the dome piece will switch it right off like a light. A 12-gauge shotgun and slug will deliver impressive energy and is effective to moderate ranges. It is one of the most powerful cartridges available in a traditionally styled lever-action rifle; it will hit much harder than a .30-30 Remington and fly flatter. But when a big boar is looking for love in the spring, hell cover a whole lot of ground. Most effective 12 gauge load for bear defense Last week i asked about people's opinions on a S&W 500 for bear defense. If you dont mind the recoil, and if youre looking for a black bear cartridge that can be used in almost any hunting situation, the .375 Ruger hits hard and shoots reasonably flat. 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. The Winchester Defender 1 oz. In 2003, Remington also offered the .350 Magnum in their Model 673 rifle, which was modeled after the older 600. This rifle was a good 30 feet away from the site where the hunter had a close encounter of the most miserable kind. I think there is 2-3 articles this week about Glocks. That is not successful. PS A dog team from the mainland had an encounter with a black bear where he deployed bear spray hitting it right dead center in the face. A rifled slug makes an excellent defense round because it is accurate and creates a big hole in the intruder. Please remember though, to keep the distance short. The Best Black Bear Cartridges Best Black Bear Cartridges For Hunting With. No matter how big you go with a handgun, they all lack the damage-wrecking velocity of a heavy rifle. $725.00. 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? 5 Reviews. 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