best 12 gauge ammo for bear defense

A rifled slug has the rifling on the slug instead of the barrel. I have a Rossi 1892 in .454 Casul. The smaller the number, the larger the pellets. Purchasing 250 rounds will save you more money per round than buying 20 shells at a time. However, much depends on the shotshells you load into your gun for personal defense. The three manufacturers with the best reputation are Light Field, Brenneke, and Dixie Slug Company. Shot size selection will be the primary determining factor of the knockdown power of birdshot. Because they're designed for defense purposes and they're a reduced recoil load, they are expensive compared to other rifled slugs. The 308 battle rifle would be a great choice for this, shoot the biggest meanest one first. Also, you wont have time to dig through your pack when an angry brown bear is breathing in your face. Honestly, I wouldn't feel comfortable with anything less than a .300 Win Mag for a grizzly. I personally have a .308 Russian ak variant with a heavy duty steel side folding stock. Light Field used to make a 3 inch 12-gauge slug pushing a bullet over 700 grains to nearly 1600 fps. Thankfully, most bears go out of their way to avoid humans. I carried a 338 Win Mag on bear hunts. They've gained a positive reputation through years of crafting high-quality ammo and exploring new ammunition technologies. More Alaskan guides rely on the .375 Holland & Holland Magnum than any other cartridge. From 12 ga rubber slugs to 12 ga signal flares, Margo Supplies has a large variety of 12 gauge options for bear and bird deterrence. I twist with my right hand forward and down ward, and do the exact opposite with my left, From shotguns to hand cannons to rifles, well dive into the pros and cons of the most popular bear defense weapons. 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. They take pride in producing hard-hitting, massive slugs with good penetration, specifically designed for sopping dangerous game with a trusty old shotgun. 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The rangers in AK have a stronger strength version than the general public. You still need the skills to use it effectively. Winchester Super X #1 Buckshot Review Product Name: Winchester Super X #1 Buckshot 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. ..I would stoke the shotgun with slugs..preferably a brenneke sp? 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. Main thing is to have control and reliable pistol that will cycle reliably. As a general rule, go as big as possible without sacrificing your ability to put lead on target. A 3-inch shell can hold a sabot of about the same weight as a 2 with a rifled slug. That is why I want the ultimate deterrent. Big hard cast chunks of lead, don't bother with hollow points. I would run 180gr bonded or even copper matrix bullets like the Hornady GMX or something by Barnes like the tripple shock bullet. Rifle holds nine. The foster-style slug has been around a long time. 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. Some monster handguns can be brutal to shoot and an absolute pain to practice with. The popular Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 pump-actions are perfect for the job. There are different shot sizes of buckshot. There was no scent trail to the rifle, so it flew there. If youre in camp just make some noise. After being hit with that slug, or at least hearing the boom and then hearing that thing cut the air, then another boom that blinds it followed by it smelling its own hair burning, and then a face full of buckshot (with some cayenne and ghost pepper powder poured in for good measure), I don't l that beat all ever look at humans the same way again. The second drawback is the price. Surprisingly, our 18-inch-barrel riot gun exhibited 1480 fps. Glad you said it Just not enough power Not enough power, brudda What was that carbine that was chambered in .50 S&W? Jan 24, 2012. Ruger offers the Alaskan in a stubby 2.5-inch barrel. While 10mm doesnt pack the same punch as other magnum calibers, it still packs a lot of heat behind a relatively hefty round. BONUS: Shoot better. 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? Defense shotshells are often expensive due to the time and testing needed to perfect these loads before the manufacturers ship them to the public. However, one of the most outstanding long-range hunting cartridges has been around since 1962, when Remington introduced their Model 700 Rifle. And we don't know how to solve it, Well now you will know, My dad gave me a used 12-gauge shotgun for my 14th birthday. As with any defensive shooting situation, proficiency with your weapon is essential. This cartridge is available in fast-handling lever guns, like the 16.5-inch-barreled Marlin 1895 Trapper. The first thing the dog hit on was a stainless steel 270, a Ruger Model 77 with the bolt half closed on another round. With four 000-buck balls, this is a heavier load than some we have tested in the past. You get one shot at it with the sabot, then you light the day or night up with that 30 feet of magnesium or thermite flame, or whatever the hell that makes all of that fire! But when a big boar is looking for love in the spring, hell cover a whole lot of ground. in all seriousness, DO NOT USE 10MM against bears. Many consider buckshot the ultimate equalizer. 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. Stop all AR-15 and AR-10 calibers with this RTS Tactical level 3+ Armor Kit. They're fun, handy, and can be very practical. Sabot slugs start faster and dont slow down as quickly as rifled slugs. For spot-and-stalk bear hunting in cluttered country, this one is tough to beat. Handgun The Ruger SuperRedhawk Alaskan Model in .454 Casull is the choice for many who work in bear country. While Nelson advises anything .30/06 and bigger for a rifle caliber, he and others in the class were partial to the .375 H&H or the .375 Ruger. I live in the Northern Rockies. 1.4 4. Instead, it uses a design like a badminton birdie for stability. Marlins big .444 will for sure kill a deer, but given its ballistics its an outstanding choice for black bear in a wide range of hunting conditions. So it amounts to how nervous you are and situational awareness. 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. Ambush predators, from a tree hide, makes them a real concern for me. Cost is less of an issue than the other factors. 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. I've always said a shotgun is the best home defense firearm because of its reduced risk of over-penetration, increased stopping power, and accuracy. My big three in order (without ever having to use any of them yetand hope I never do) are: The Taurus Raging Bull revolver is also available in .454. Go here for more Realtree guns and shooting. The important thing here is to make sure you can use it proficiently. But they work well. You should make an informed decision, which you've made by reading this article, but in the end, you should test out several different brands and projectiles to determine which you like best. Do you want to gamble on being alive for as much as 1/2 hour while a grizz is eating you ?? So he and his dog took that opportunity to leave the area. The action is more reliable than most semi-autos. Of all the bear spray incidents in the study, only three out of 156 resulted in injuries, none of which were fatal. 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. 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. Another good, albeit expensive option is Hevi-Shot buckshot. Having a handgun you can shoot well and carry comfortably is important. 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 it does- you are unbelievably fortunate. You want your shooting to be as fast and smooth as possible when the proverbial bear poo hits the fan. 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. Self-defense loads are often hotter rounds, meaning they have more kick. I use my right hand as normal, But the extra weight means that it starts out with more power before the poor aerodynamics slow it down. Recoil is murder! In the US the minimum rifle barrel length is 16". Good choiceI use 45/70 or 444 marlin backed up by Ruger Superblackhawk 454 Bisley, or Redhawk 45 Colt,or Superblackhawk 44 mag. The term rifled slug is a misnomer. Personally, I've never had it not work. And stay in touch with newsletters of our best articles on techniques, guns, & gear. Like the key chain pepper spray carried by college co-eds for decades, bear spray uses capsicum (a red pepper extract) to deter bears at close range. Make sure you select a tough bullet that will hold up to rifle velocities. Flies accurately and delivers a painful but safe impact. Hornady has successfully ventured into shotgun ammunition. She grew up flinging arrows and bullets at Virginia whitetails, turkey, and game birds, but her favorite hunting experience is chasing bull elk in the Colorado backcountry. Knowledge of animals is important. 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. When a bear encounter makes a turn for the worst, youll want a weapon you can use confidently and effectively. It will probably be easier to access than your long gun. Semi-automatic pistols can jam, which is not what you want when a 600-pound grizzly is bearing down on you fast. As history proves there will be a Comment about how PPT is not paid by Glock. (Also available in .44 Magnum.) I took my largest spot-and-stalk beara 355 pounderwith a 6.5 Creedmoor. Free shipping . 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. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. She was concerned with something to her right. Ethangreat question, and one I've never heard before. For shotgun level power, one of the new Shockwave styled 'firearms' carried on a single point sling or similar arrangement might work well, so long as it's secured so that it isn't swinging about dangerously or getting in your way. Now I use the AR platform with a 458 SOCOM upper. If youve ever wandered into bear country, theres a good chance youve been within sniffing distance of a bear without even realizing it. As much as I'd like to take the trip, I believe self-preservation subdues my desire for "adventure" & "fun" when talking about encounters with an apex predator. He also runs his own Gun Blog and YouTube Channel. the maximum range of a foster slug is 100 yards on deer, and closer to 50 for a mid-sized bear. This is a full-power slug rated at 1600 fps in a standard hunting shotgun. 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