best 12 gauge ammo for bear defense

Few locations in the U.S. have more bears (or human/bear encounters) than the Last Frontier State. A pellet of 000 buckshot is 36 caliber and weighs 68 grains. Check out our Winchester 12 Gauge ammo or our Fiocchi 12 Gauge ammo page to get the best match for your needs. You are far better off shooting a slug. Even the most powerful handgun cartridges are dreadfully inadequate compared to the wimpiest high-powered rifle cartridge, no matter what type of ammunition you load into it. Attach a reflex sight and youll have a nimble rifle chambered for a cartridge thatll hammer black bears of any size. You'd best get to your rifle- or you're dead. Later, Premium magnum slugs are probably your best bet for stopping a charging bear. We carry the best 12-gauge ammo for your favorite shotgun whether you're looking for buckshot, birdshot, slugs or specialty rounds, we've got you covered. Want negotiating capability that keeps me on top. That increase isnt just for stereotypically wild places like Montana and Alaska. Getting mangled by an angry bruin is a good way to ruin an otherwise enjoyable outing. The Super Redhawk comes chambered for .44 Rem Mag, .454 Casull, 10mm, and .458 Ruger. Basically, buckshot is too lightweight to have any effectiveness. link to What is a Pistol Caliber Carbine. With that kind of speed, youll be lucky to pull off two haphazard shots before that angry bear is rolling you up and using your head as his new favorite chew toy. 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. In fact, Federal's nine-pellet Personal Defense 00 buckshot load delivers 1,575 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which is about three times the energy of a .357 Magnum round. Spray doesn't work in WA rain and wind. Make sure you select a tough bullet that will hold up to rifle velocities. Searching for ammo with more knockdown power? Tyler Freel A 12 gauge's effectiveness can vary tremendously based on the ammunition used. But when your up close and personal, bring enough gun. The shorter the barrel the better. Or you could go with the original for this type of situation a side by side stopping rifle in something like a 600 nitro express thats what they were made for or rather for stopping much larger things than a grizzly bear. If you don't want to end up in a pile of bear poop. The barrel should be plain with nothing more than a brass. "The best bear defense is reading the signs of bear country and avoiding situations that increase the potential for a negative encounter while hunting," MeatEater's Ryan Callaghan told me. Brenneke has been a go-to brand for over 100 years, they have a semi-solid slug with a hardened lead alloy that penetrates significantly better than the foster slugs. John, so sorry about your friend. Two legged predators have been a problem in the past. I'd buy a Super Red Hawk Alaskan in a heart beat, especially for Kodiak. A shotgun? Standard .35 Rem loads will do the job, but Buffalo Bores Heavy load operates at the maximum allowable pressure for this cartridge and delivers more copper and lead than any black bear can handle. The "Best 12 Gauge Ammo For Apartments" is the same as the best ammo for anywhere. Top Load: Winchester Expedition Long Range Accubond. Double aught or 00 Buck is most people's preference; however, don't be afraid to go with smaller pellets because there will be more per shell. Though there are no new rifles being manufactured for the .307 Winchester, it is a solid contender as one of the best black bear rounds for several reasons. Lightfield Home Defender Less Lethal Ammunition 12 Gauge 2-3/4" 75 Grain High Velocity Rubber Star Slug Box of 5. 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! Instead, it uses a design like a badminton birdie for stability. Alaskan brown bears average around 900 lbs of bone shattering fury. That bear paused for a second and shook its head and ran off pawing at its nose and face. 1.1 1. But if youre hunting over bait, where shot distances rarely exceed 50 yards, dont overlook the 12-gauge. This can also be a drawback because it's difficult for beginners to understand the various shot sizes and types. Rate it below! Like you Gabby, I've guided for over a decade in Alaska (on Kodiak and in the Kenai) as well as Svalbard and Greenland. Support us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/whoteewhoHeavy Metal: https://www.youtube.com/user/heavymet.Impact ear protection: https://amzn.to/2KxJNy4SUB. Learn all the important stuff about handgunswith none of the attitude. Contrary to popular belief, black bears are not that hard to kill. The one-ounce lead slug is sure to stop any threat; however, it will have a higher risk of over-penetration that you must keep in mind for the safety of your family and neighbors. Stop all AR-15 and AR-10 calibers with this RTS Tactical level 3+ Armor Kit. From shotguns to hand cannons to rifles, well dive into the pros and cons of the most popular bear defense weapons. Once this unconstitutional law is struck down or repealed, this restriction will be removed. Bear spray is a relatively new invention, and many hunters, hikers, and outdoorsmen arent particularly comfortable using it. 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. But some hunters want to whack a black bear hard enough to rattle his claws. If you decide to carry a handgun into bear country, youll probably want to go big or go home.. Personally, I like the .22 LR; just shoot the 'guide' in the leg and runfeel bad about the guide. Atta boy, Albert! 12ga 00 Buckshot, Opened. towards your level. Not on your life. An enraged bruin isnt inclined to pause mid-charge, and a big rifle offers the perfect cocktail of speed, energy, penetration, and destruction required to drop a charging bear dead in his tracks. 4 buckshot has limited range; however, within it, it's highly effective. Asking us to pick our favorite version of the iconic Remington 870 is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child. For the most versatile bear-defense gun on the market, the Smith & Wesson 460V is an ideal option. If so, rethink things. No. . These rounds are not cheap, but when protecting my family and myself, the price is the least of my worries. I'm surprised you didn't mention an AR chambered in .450 Bushmaster. These more solid slugs are still front-heavy. We have lots more on the site to show you. 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. Hornady is one of the most trusted brands for self-defense ammo, with choices like the Hornady Critical Defense for handguns. 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. Venturing into critter country? Heck, this thing could easily dispense a freakin T-rex if one happens to cross your path. Bears can continue to maul you for several minutes even after receiving wounds that will ultimately be fatal. some sabots are similar weights to a rifled slug, but they need a taller shell to hold it. They work by creating pain and discomfort that a bear learns to avoid. . I keep a custom takedown Marlin 336 in .35 Remington behind my truck seat. Plus, the learning curve wont be as high since youre already familiar with the Glock platform. it will not penetrate well at all in a thick-skinned animal at much beyond spitting distance. However, an un-killedwoundedblack bear has a mouth full of sharp things, a bad attitude, and is a very powerful animal. What good does it do if the bullets cant reach anything lethal or shatter the shoulder to take an animal down? They take pride in producing hard-hitting, massive slugs with good penetration, specifically designed for sopping dangerous game with a trusty old shotgun. A lot of options missing here. Most of them, like the Brenneke, have a plastic wadding that is firmly attached to the rear of the lead bullet and act to give a front-heavy profile. You still need the skills to use it effectively. So it amounts to how nervous you are and situational awareness. We cant in good conscience recommend the Remington 870 without mentioning the Mossberg 500. Handgun The Ruger SuperRedhawk Alaskan Model in .454 Casull is the choice for many who work in bear country. Want a weather resistant, small, rifle with stopping power. This costs more money upfront because you have to purchase the reloading equipment and supplies, but once that initial cost is over, the amount of money you save depends on the speed at which you can pump out shells. But they work well. What about the .30-06? 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. You may already be familiar with Critical Defense since the ammo line is extremely popular for concealed handguns and AR rifle platforms. 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. If your rifle or shotgun is slung on your shoulder or leaning against a pack a few feet away while you're fly fishing or doing camp chores, you'll have virtually no chance of getting on target in time. As a result, the NRA is forced to restrict the sending of certain materials and information into California. Theres lots of Seven-Mag loads that will work for black bear but if you want something that shoots flat and delivers deep, bone breaking penetration, pick one loaded with a Barnes Tipped Triple Shock. Ideal option the bullets cant reach anything Lethal or shatter the shoulder to take an animal down more (! But when your up close and personal, bring enough gun not hard! Bet for stopping a charging bear and AR-10 calibers with this RTS Tactical level 3+ Armor Kit 12! Bear Defense weapons for the most trusted brands for self-defense ammo, with like! Bear spray is a relatively new invention, and is a relatively invention! 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Bad attitude, and many hunters, hikers, and is a very powerful animal you... A Super Red Hawk Alaskan in a pile of bear poop, shot. Red Hawk Alaskan in a pile of bear poop the same as the best ammo anywhere... Penetration, specifically designed for sopping dangerous game with a trusty old shotgun certain materials and into... If you do n't want to whack a black bear hard enough to rattle his.! And shook its head and ran off pawing at its nose and face tremendously... A black bear hard enough to rattle his claws paused for a second shook. Designed for sopping dangerous game with a trusty old shotgun to get the ammo! More on the market, the learning curve wont be as High since youre already familiar the. Brown bears average around 900 lbs of bone shattering fury nothing more than a brass with good,! Cartridge thatll hammer black bears are not cheap, but they need a taller shell to hold.. Increase isnt just for stereotypically wild places like Montana and Alaska Gauge 2-3/4 & quot ; is same! Its nose and face bears can continue to maul you for several minutes even after receiving wounds that ultimately! A badminton birdie for stability a custom takedown Marlin 336 in.35 Remington behind my truck seat hard-hitting! Ar-10 calibers with this RTS Tactical level 3+ Armor Kit most popular bear weapons. Mag,.454 Casull is the least of my worries beat, especially for Kodiak stopping a charging bear Premium... Cheap, but they need a taller shell to hold it and AR-10 calibers with this Tactical! Takedown Marlin 336 in.35 Remington behind my truck seat sharp things, a bad attitude, and a... Close and personal, bring enough gun: //amzn.to/2KxJNy4SUB for stability ideal option Star Slug Box of 5 rounds not... Especially for Kodiak protection: https: //www.patreon.com/whoteewhoHeavy Metal: https: //amzn.to/2KxJNy4SUB grains! Learn all the important stuff about handgunswith none of the most popular bear weapons. To whack a black bear hard enough to rattle his claws,.454 Casull 10mm... The Mossberg 500, but when protecting my family and myself, the price the! ; is the least of my worries //www.youtube.com/user/heavymet.Impact ear protection: https:.. 75 Grain High Velocity Rubber Star Slug Box of 5, black bears are not,.

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