......AKDFG has penetration tested 00 lead buckshot on brown bear skulls at like 25yds. It failed to penetrate the skull on a frontal shot......../QUOTE]
.......Tungsten sounds intriguing, never been much of a shotgunner, never had much luck with the various buckshots penetrating.
.....Used a couple of 870's with little issue. Heavy slug loads did seem to batter the one open.
.....Back in time when we pushed the envelope with black bears (although towards the end there was the possibility of surprises). I had a single shot cut just legal, loaded with a slug. In tight places at flashlight distance I didn't see more than one shot happening, before contact.
I've begun loading some Tungsten shot pellets in my 12ga for sandhill cranes. Dropped one yesterday at 95yds with a 1 7/8oz load of #5s.
The density of lead is about 11gr/cc.
This TSS shot weighs 18g/cc. Heavy as gold and platinum.
I've tried to get some in single 0 buckshot. Or 00 buck. It would be the ultimate brown bear self defense load.
Tungsten is hard and will not deform under recoil, or upon impact with bone. I shoot 50% of my #5 pellets inti a 30" diameter circle at 100yds. That's no typo. 50% @ 100yds. That's how round the pellets are and how true they fly.
One pellet of tungsten single 0 buckshot weighs 78gr.
One pellet of tungsten double 00 buckshot weighs 85.7gr.
One pellet of lead 000 buckshot weighs 68gr, based on the data I collected.
AKDFG has penetration tested 00 lead buckshot on brown bear skulls at like 25yds. It failed to penetrate the skull on a frontal shot.
My supplier could order some, but si far has been unwilling. Tungsten pellets cost about $55/lb. My reloads cost me about $7/shell.