And I promise you wont have time to reload. 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. Venturing into critter country? The main thing is, unless you are hunting (or hiking in Alaska) with the gun in both hands where it belongs, a long arm isn't practical. However, these are worth looking into if you're needed more knockdown power. Rifles are easy to put down. 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. Shotguns can work great for bear, but load them with slugs, not buckshot. The longer shell has more room for the double-aught buckshot pellets and powder, so don't expect this to be a low recoil12 gaugeammo for home defense because it will kick much more than the 2 3/4" shells. Well I too had some problems starting out with this DE, (My first hand pistol or hand gun) Yes it did misfire and lock up, But I was just a beginner learning to shoot with a small hand. purchase helps support my work in bringing you more awesome gun and gear articles. 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. 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. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. We're going to start things off with shells made specifically for home defense. For a fair number of people, that weapon is a firearm. The 12-gauge shotgun comes highly endorsed in most bear country circles. Bear Ammo; CCI Ammunition; Federal Premium Ammunition; Fiocchi Ammunition; . I carried a 338 Win Mag on bear hunts. But certainly a ignorant comment. Out of the box, this one doesnt look much like the 870 weve come to know and love. These rounds are not cheap, but when protecting my family and myself, the price is the least of my worries. Situation awareness is key, most bear attacks can be avoided, and who wants to kill a animal unless you absolutely have to. Learn more . Free shipping . Buffalo Bores 225-grain Heavy load is the best option still going, but the .358 has largely gone the way of the dodo. Believe it or not, its true. Your shoulder should probably send them a nice thank you card. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'guntradition_com-leader-1','ezslot_12',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-guntradition_com-leader-1-0'); Originally, they hoped it would work, but it didnt. He had a 10mm with him but not on him at the time. From shotguns to hand cannons to rifles, well dive into the pros and cons of the most popular bear defense weapons. Handgun The Ruger SuperRedhawk Alaskan Model in .454 Casull is the choice for many who work in bear country. Check out standard 00 buck at 10-yards. All carried in front of an LL Bean Rapid River Vestpack for quick access. Hey George, as you know Alaska is so varied and what works in the Tundra might not be the best for the Rainforest. I suggest finding a reduced recoil round if you're sensitive to recoil. 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. Learn the 3 most popular shooting stances & more. Ask, and you shall receive, lol. A 12-gauge, 2-inch load generally contains from 21 to 34 pellets, while the 3-inch variant is loaded with a whopping 41. In the end the best bear defense firearm is the one that you handle and shoot the most effectively. 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. Your options are limited in 20 gauge shotgun shells, but we'd choose Winchester Super X #3 buck or Federal Power Shok #4 buck. 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. In 2003, Remington also offered the .350 Magnum in their Model 673 rifle, which was modeled after the older 600. The Aero Rifle Slug is designed as a self-defense shotshell for auto-loading shotguns. Not everyone who travels through or lives in bear country relies on the same type of weapon. (For maximum packing comfort when following hounds in mountain country, check out the Scandium-framed, 25.2-ounce, S&W Model 329PD revolver. For lead, you'll want. Bear spray is significantly stronger than regular pepper spray. Rifle or ghost ring-type sights were preferred. So if you're a pump-action lover, this probably isn't the round for you. 44 or bigger if you can shoot it. A mild Hey, Bear is often enough. Itd be almost like shooting a bear with twelve 380acp bullets at the same time, right? These bullets dont deliver the massive wound channel you get with an expanding bullet, but youll need that solid construction to get adequate penetration. Here are 10 of the very best black bear cartridgesthree for each hunting method and one all-round top choice. You'll now receive newsletters of our best articles on techniques, Semi automatic handguns were considered too weak to be useful. Learning which brands and loads your shotgun likes best will take time and testing. The resin fractures during the firing process and works to preserve pellet integrity as it passes through the choke. 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. However, there are a couple of drawbacks to this load. Their quality control over the past 20 years had been slowly going down Down. DOWN.. Buckshot is for thin skinned game. If you cant find one, the Barnes Custom Shop can help you out. No. Never one to sit still and look pretty, Alice is also a self-defense instructor and competitive archer. Federal Power Shok 12 Gauge #4 Buckshot. Black bears are not that hard to kill, and they are not necessarily known for attacking hunters. However, they didn't stop with handgun ammo. For all search call outs statewide I carried my 44 Mag Colt Kodiak (Colt custom shop 4" Anaconda). 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. 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. PD4122JGE-000 2.5-inch 000 Buckshot, $12.40/20. You have no idea what you are talking about or the person you asked is a terrible liar. What do you think of the Glock 20? ), Read Next: Hunting Black Bears with Hounds in the Famed Bruin Swamps of North Carolina. If thats a 10mm Auto, so be it. 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. $725.00. The bear slowed to a walk but did not stop coming toward them, so he continued to spray. I know people kill grizzly with .270 and 30-06. 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. A well placed shot or even 5 or 6 half placed shots will stop a bear. 68 grains is light and the spherical shape of buckshot means a low sectional density as well. The best way to survive a bear encounter is to not end up in a bad situation in the first place. Not on your life. 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. A standard 2 -inch 12 gauge shotshell contains 15 pellets of #1 . 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. Bullet options are endless for the .308, and it offers a great ballistic balance for shooting up close and far away. Theyre a bit easier to find on the used market. 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. Load it with the latest .45/70 ammo, and it will provide all the short-range bear-busting muscle youll ever need. Strapping on a sidearm isnt a bad idea, even if you have a high-caliber rifle. You might stop a little black bear with a stiff load from a big pistol, but a big bear will tear you out of your frame after eating six big pills. Firearms are the only deterrent that can lethally stop an aggressive bear. The right rifled and sabot slugs can be adequate. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. My dad gave me a used 12-gauge shotgun for my 14th birthday. Winchester Super X #1 Buckshot Review Product Name: Winchester Super X #1 Buckshot 1 7 Best Home Defense Shotgun Ammo You Need to Invest In. The rangers in AK have a stronger strength version than the general public. Ruger is popular in Alaska and the Ruger Guide Gun rifle got the most dances with those in the class. Bears are strong runners, and even a beefy 700-pound grizzly can cover 50 yards in under 3 seconds. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. The 8 Best Bear-Defense Handguns 1. Weve got a dedicated section for the AR-15 here. I like the articles from you guys. Spray doesn't work in WA rain and wind. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Just $1 per month , The best caliber for black bear hunting depends on how you plan to hunt, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. It will serve you better in a crisis than a monstrous revolver you rarely shoot and are tempted to leave in the truck. Compressed air horn But a sidearm in a quality OWB holster is always on your person. 12ga 00 Buckshot, Opened. However, shooting .44 Rem Mag from a squat barrel produces recoil as difficult to tame as Alaska. Hollow-base slugs, also called Foster-style, and solid slugs. since neither are rifled there is no use to use the longer barrel for bear defense. Shotgunning for bear is not preferred but it can be done well if need be. Before hunting people I was a seal hunter and registered assistant bear guide (guiding before Alaska got organized didn't require a license). 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