12GA Rounds for Grizz?

Guessing you're going to either be in Shoshone National Forest or in my neck of the woods, Bridger-Teton National Forest?


When tales are told and opinions are given this is generally the shotgun load that's recommended.
I have an old 870 Police for just this set up. I have yet to use it.
I'm not exactly sure where, my buddies from college are taking us into wilderness on horseback.
 
If I had to shoot some big aggressive beast with a weapon basically intended for birds:


No way ever, would I consider buck shot for anything over 200 pounds. Buck shot basically useless over 25 yards for qualified use.
I love Brenneke ammo, but to stop a Grizzly? Skip the hunting rounds and go to their law enforcement ammo.


Able to penetrate an engine, may stop a Grizzly. Also is a harder alloy and higher velocity round than the black magic.
 
Hey guys, we have a long hunt in the heart of grizzly territory this year in Wyoming (archery)

We will have the call guy carry the short shotgun for defense in the timber.

Curious what rounds everyone uses or suggests would be the best? Slugs? Buck?

Thanks!
Both is my understanding in defense against bears. I have done some reading on the use of shotgun, and that seem to be the way to go. I know of a hunter for Pheasant up in N. Montana used a shotgun to defend himself. I had noted a lot of birds in that area. I was told that were 11 Grz in the 11 mile there. Guess what? Me with my 28 gauge didn't go there. It was the third shot that put the bear down. I would guess you wouldn't need a plug in the shotgun at that time.
 
Saw a seminar a bear defence specialist put on one time. At a range he took about a hundred feet of stout twine, tied a weight on the end of it and stretched it out from the firing point. Then he tied a helium filled balloon on the far end of the rope near the weight using a couple feet of string so it would float about waist level. When he said go he would take off running away from the firing point so the balloon was coming toward you and your job was to hit it. It's a neat trick and afterward most of the people who attended carried a shotgun with buckshot for bear defence.

Another thing you learn when you try these games is the very short shotguns being marketed as defence weapons are difficult to control, especially with three inch magnum full house loads. You might get one good shot away but recovering from the recoil and getting back on target doesn't happen in a hurry.
 
Hey guys, we have a long hunt in the heart of grizzly territory this year in Wyoming (archery)

We will have the call guy carry the short shotgun for defense in the timber.

Curious what rounds everyone uses or suggests would be the best? Slugs? Buck?

Thanks!
Seriously I think you'll just p$$$ him off with buckshot. Old foster style slugs flatten out like pancakes. I grew up with shotgun slugs and if they flatten out on deer and don't always penetrate through on deer they definitely won't with a bear esp a big one.

My thoughts:
If you're wanting great penetration and something to hold together go with a bonded slug (accutips, partition, dual bond, of that type) or even better go with full 1oz Barnes slugs. They shouldn't break apart and penetrate well. All I see with a lead foster style is flattening out and not making it past the shoulder of a big bear.
 
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I love Brenneke ammo, but to stop a Grizzly? Skip the hunting rounds and go to their law enforcement ammo.


Able to penetrate an engine, may stop a Grizzly. Also is a harder alloy and higher velocity round than the black magic.
I like what you have to say. Too many times either target practicing or hunting I've seen the foster style slugs break right apart on deer or find them a few inches into the dirt broken in many pieces and especially on a deer when dressing them out I've found pieces of the slug and no pass throughs. I will not feel comfortable using them as bear defense much less buckshot or even bird shot.

Another thought is a 450 bushmaster AR
 
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Great Speculation. In preparation for a Navanute kayak expedition we researched defending our camps and taking out Polar Bear (Brown Bear only with great Winter camo) and found this: PB and BB are at least twice as fast sprinters as the best humans. Twenty (20) yard trap times for humans TWO (2) Seconds. Forty yard trap times for humans four and one-half seconds. How FAST is your unprepared draw? Sights? You gotta be dreaming if you believe you will have time! The solution is vigilance and an effective BIG, BRIGHT and LOUD double WARNING perimeter around your camp.
I stalk hunt with Bore Big Airguns but carry a short (4") S&W .44 Magnum in a chest rig; i practice my unprepared draw with dry fire and live HOT loads regularly.
I pray to God I will NEVER be called upon to test the SKILL!
 
I'm going to bet that few of these guys have seen a brown bear in person, fewer still seem one shot with a shotgun. I have and it was underwhelming at best. Foster style slugs are soft and flatten out, buckshot didnt even make it into the body cavity. The shotgun turned the bear but a rifle killed it.

F&G and the troopers use the Brenda's black magic 3", they kill several bears a year with them but the ones I have known preferred a 45/70 loaded stout.

It's all about placement, if you can place your shot and are within the shotguns limitations (feet, not yards) it is much better than a sharp stick.

I live and hunt in bear country, I wouldn't want to carry a shotgun, and none of the outdoorsman I know or hunt with do either.
 
Just my .02. But a charging bear 🐻 is coming head on. As mentioned earlier birdshot is kinda two fold 1- deter the the attack and 2- take out the face & eyes. Then the slugs follow up to stop & dispatch.

No matter what your using sure hope you have nerves of steel and a change of shorts!
 
I suggest googling the ADFG (Alaska Dept of Fish and Game) for firearms for Alaska hunting and bear protection. They have at least 2 articles with relevant guidance. There is also an interesting article on the Forest service site (fs.fed.gov) ranking different firearms for bear protection. It is a bit dated (1983) from the perspective of bullet construction but it is relevant. Proficiency and coolness of hand are important. . . . . My wife carries a 22 for protection when we go berry picking. She says she only has to be the fastest runner if we have bear trouble. Not sure what she means.
 

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