Bear Defense

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EHCRain10

New member
This is a highly unlikely situation but it is possible anyways........

I have a black bear that lives in the woods behind my house, unsure of the size but i know its there.

What would be a suitable gun to use in the unlikely event that it tried to attack my dog or even worse one of my family members?

my choices are:
12ga pump with buckshot (8rd mag)
308win bolt action with 150gn SP (5rd mag)
AK with 125gn SP (30rd mag)
AR with 55gn SP (30rd mag)
9mm carbine with 147JHP (20rd mag)

the distances involved would be less than 75 yards and im able to hit gallon milk jugs with all of the guns out to that distance.

i listed the AR because i think that multiple hits would be able to end the threat through volume of fire, same idea with the ak and 9mm
308 seems to be a bad choice because of the rate of fire (not very fast with the bolt quite yet, its a new purchase)

just looking to get some opinions
 
Of your choices, I'd buy some 12-ga slugs and use the shotgun. Second choice would be the .308.

Do NOT use the .223 unless you want to be chasing a wounded bear. I would not rely on the .223 to stop the bear quickly and it may run off before you can finish the job. Some twit tried it with a Mini-14 here in CA a while ago and it was a hairy job looking for the bear around sunset.

The 9mm carbine is likewise too light to do the job, especially on a bear fattening up for the winter.

The AK 7.62x39 might work, though I'd rather use a good .308 JSP round or a 12-ga slug to hammer the bear.
 
308 seems to be a bad choice because of the rate of fire (not very fast with the bolt quite yet, its a new purchase)
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Keep in mind youre not going to be fighting off an army of devil bears. :D The .308 will work fine as long as you hit the bear in the vitals. 1 shot should do it. Plenty of black bears have been taken cleanly with a .308 win.
If youre really really not comfortable with the .308 then 12 guage slugs will really do a number on the critter. But you still have to find a slug that performs accurately in your gun and shot placement will still be critical. So that means you gotta take your 12 guage and punch some holes in paper to see how she performs with different slugs. Slugs in a smooth bore can be very inaccurate.
 
Gotta agree...... the best bet would be the 12 ga. with slugs or the .308.


i listed the AR because i think that multiple hits would be able to end the threat through volume of fire
308 seems to be a bad choice because of the rate of fire (not very fast with the bolt quite yet, its a new purchase)
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I gotta feeling in the event of an actual attack, those 55 grainers would be like bee stings to an already angry bear. You'd be surprised at how fast a man can work a bolt when need be....and as some have already said, with a gun that size, on your everyday run of the mill black bear, one well placed shot would likely be all you'd need.

The dog of which you speak. regardless of size.... is probably your best defense.
 
use the ..

12ga with good slugs (like brenneke if smoothbore and / or a choke) sabot with rifles barrel.

Then .308 with 165gr Sierra SPBT or similar style.
Don't get rattled just be deliberate and take a good shot.

Just you making the shots or a female of lite build youth doing any shooting?
Then may want to have a 30/30 form them???
 
im a small guy by pretty much anybodys standards (5'10" 130lbs).
id be the only one taking shots, mother is completely against guns and father would be able to get to the guns fast enough plus they're all mine and are under lock and key.

the 12ga is either gona be an 18in or 23in cylinderbore barrel and both shoot slugs pretty well.

Im not looking to kill the bear, im perfectly fine with making it run off and having animal control take care of it.
 
Im not looking to kill the bear, im perfectly fine with making it run off and having animal control take care of it.
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You certainly don't want to wound the animal. A wounded bear could be a highly dangerous mofo. Try bird bombs if you just want to scare the critter.
 
I'm not looking to kill the bear, I'm perfectly happy with making it run off and have animal control take care of it.
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Then just burn his arse with a load of #4 steel shot and not the nitro magnum stuff either. I use the Remington Express Steel for bear work.

Make sure he's about 25-35 yrds out turned away from you and not looking toward you when you shoot to avoid hitting his face.

That rule is with short barreled shotguns. Longer barrels you want to increase the range by a few yards or use an open choke to make sure you have a good pattern spread and spill off some velocity.

It works on our big brown dumpster divers. They usually don't come back. If they do they are very wary to avoid humans.
 
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